Here’s how to check, redeem and make the most of your Virgin travel credits before they’re gone for good.

Aussies with unused Virgin Australia travel credits issued during the pandemic are being urged to check their accounts, with an expiry date now officially set. In a recent announcement shared via its app, the airline revealed that all eligible credits must be used before the deadline – giving customers less than a month to act.

Do you have an eligible Virgin travel credit?

If your travel plans with Virgin Australia were disrupted or cancelled during the pandemic, there’s a chance you still have unused points sitting in your account. And now, you’ve got until the end of the financial year to use them or lose them.

According to the national carrier, all flight credits issued between 21 April 2020 and 31 July 2022 must be redeemed before 30 June 2026. But simply locking in your holiday dates isn’t enough. For credits to count, travellers need to not only book their trip before the deadline, but complete it too.

Once considered the country’s most passenger-friendly airline, Virgin is now facing backlash over the short redemption window, especially given its refusal to provide refunds.

The policy also does little to account for passengers originally travelling for one-off events like weddings or funerals. Nor does it consider the fact that airfares have increased since many of the bookings were first made, leaving customers to cover the difference.

While the rules around when customers can use their credits are proving tight, there is some leeway when it comes to who can use them. To help provide greater flexibility, Virgin is allowing eligible credits to be used by passengers not included on the original booking, such as family and friends.

How to check and redeem your travel credit

Currently, there’s an estimated $93 million worth of travel credits that have yet to be claimed by customers. Here’s how to find out if any belong to you – and how to use them before they expire.

The first step is logging in to your Virgin Australia Travel Bank account, either online or via the airline’s app, where you can view your credit balance. From there, search for the flights you’d like to book via Virgin’s website.

Any fare displayed on the flight selection page can be purchased using a travel credit. After deciding on your flights (remembering travel dates must occur prior to 30 June), enter the passenger’s details, whether that’s you or someone travelling on your behalf.

Next, select Travel Bank as your payment method and you’ll be prompted to log in to your account. Once confirmed, your credit will be applied and you’ll receive a flight confirmation email as normal. If you encounter any issues along the way, simply contact Virgin on 136789 for assistance.

What about Jetstar and Qantas?

When it comes to Australia’s other major airlines, Qantas and Jetstar, COVID flight credits are treated a little differently. Unlike Virgin, eligible credits issued during the pandemic do not expire.

The policy was introduced following public backlash in 2023, when Qantas introduced its own expiry date for flight credits issued during COVID. At the time, the airline owed approximately $570 million worth of travel credits to both domestic and international passengers.

Now, Qantas customers with eligible travel credits can apply for a refund, an especially handy option amid the carrier’s ongoing flight cuts. Meanwhile, Jetstar customers can continue using their credits as travel vouchers indefinitely.

Those wanting to check their eligibility can do so via each airline’s website. Who knows, your next holiday could be closer (and cheaper) than you think!