Virgin Australia extends travel period for COVID credits after backlash

Virgin Australia has announced it will extend the travel period for its COVID credits program, after the airline faced calls to reverse its decision to expire them in the coming weeks.

Customers were issued with the credits after bookings between April 21 in 2020 and July 31 in 2022 were cancelled due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Anyone with travel credits remaining was previously required to both book and complete their journey before June 30, 2026.

Customers will still only have until June 30, 2026 to redeem their credits.

However, Virgin has confirmed any flights booked using those credits can now be taken up to May 27, 2027.

“For customers who still hold a remaining balance, this extension provides additional flexibility to plan and take future travel,” Virgin Australia Chief Executive Officer Dave Emerson said in a statement.

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He said more than 90 per cent of COVID credits have already been redeemed by passengers.

“We’re extending the travel period for COVID credits and stepping up our customer outreach and awareness efforts to encourage customers to check their balances and use any remaining value for a booking before 30 June 2026.”  

Travellers have been able to use their credits on all flights operated by Virgin Australia, as well as flights on its partner airlines.

Earlier this week, Senator Bridget McKenzie called on the aviation company to remove the expiry dates.

“COVID travel credits are not loyalty points, they are customer money,” Senator McKenzie said.

“If Virgin can hold approximately $93 million in unused customer credits, Australians deserve answers about how much of that money is expected to return directly to the company rather than back to consumers.”

The announcement comes after rival airline Qantas agreed to a $105 million settlement after a class action was brought against the airline over its controversial COVID-19 flight credits.

The sum, which is subject to approval by the Federal Court of Australia, comes with what the airline says is “no admission of liability”.