Qantas was a founding member of the Oneworld alliance, which brings together a network of 15 airlines serving more than 170 countries worldwide. This structure makes it easier for travellers to earn and redeem points across multiple carriers when flying internationally and delivering a more seamless travel experience and rewarding your loyalty using your points frequent flyer program of your choice.
In contrast, Star Alliance has had limited historical presence in Australia. The last Australian airline to join the alliance was Ansett Australia, which held membership for just two years before ceasing operations in 2001.
Since then, determining where to credit Star Alliance flights has often been a challenge for Australian travellers. However, over time the Virgin Australia Velocity Frequent Flyer program has curated it’s own portfolio of airline partnerships while remaining outside a formal airline alliance structure.
The Velocity program partners with 6 of the 26 Star Alliance member airlines, allowing members to earn Velocity Points and, in most cases, Status Credits. Velocity members can also redeem velocity points for selected international flights making is a great way to access redemption flights.
| Airline | Countries Served | Key Regions | Network Strengths |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Canada | 60+ | North America, Europe, Asia, South America | Strong transatlantic network with extensive North American domestic coverage |
| Air New Zealand | 15+ | Oceania, Asia, North America | Strong Trans-Tasman network plus links to the Pacific and US West Coast |
| All Nippon Airways (ANA) | 20+ | Asia, North America, Europe | Premium Japan-based carrier with strong Japan–US and intra-Asia routes |
| Singapore Airlines | 30+ | Asia, Europe, Oceania, North America | Major global connector via Singapore with a premium long-haul network |
| South African Airways | 10+ | Africa, Europe | Regional African network with limited long-haul operations |
| United Airlines | 70+ | North America, Europe, Asia, South America, Oceania, Africa | Extensive global reach; dominant US domestic carrier with broad international coverage |
While not matching the global reach of a full airline alliance the Velocity Frequent Flyer’s partner network collectively covers approximately 80 countries with six Star Alliance partners.
Singapore Airlines is a key partner, offering extensive connectivity between Australia and major Asian hubs, as well as important long-haul routes into Europe and North America. This is complemented by All Nippon Airways and Air New Zealand, which strengthen coverage across Japan, the Trans-Tasman region, and select Pacific destinations. United Airlines further enhances the network with its well-known Pacific island-hopper services across Micronesia.
In North America, coverage is particularly strong with it’s partners United and Air Canada, also Air New Zealand also contributes limited but important access to select US destinations, particularly on the west coast.
Looking further afield, coverage is more limited across Africa, Central and South America, as well as intra-European routes within the Velocity partner network. In these regions, options are narrower, with South African Airways providing the primary African link within the Star Alliance network.
Velocity’s curated airline partnerships extend beyond the six Star Alliance carriers we’ve covered. The Velocity Frequent Flyer program also includes partners across the Oneworld and SkyTeam networks as well, providing a broader range of earning and redemption opportunities for it’s members.
For a more comprehensive understanding of the Velocity Frequent Flyer program including strategies for earning points and redeeming them effectively for business and first class travel start learning with our three-level online Points Mastery course. Start today to unlock unforgettable luxury travel experiences at a fraction of the retail price by deepening your knowledge through our Australia-focused points course.
