Westpac Altitude Velocity Black Review (2026)
Westpac Altitude Velocity Black Review (2026)Offer and details verified 1 October 2026
Rates can change without notice. Last verified: 1 October 2026 (AEST). Please confirm details on the bank’s official page.
Bonus Velocity Points
150,000
90k yr1 + 60k yr2
Annual fee
$295
$200 first year + $155 Velocity
Min spend (yr1 bonus)
$6k
within 90 days
Westpac changed this card on 30 September 2026. The earn rates are lower, dining now earns at the lowest rate, and the Velocity Rewards Program fee and purchase rate went up. The fees and earn rates on this page are the new ones. Existing cardholders pay the new program fee from their next card fee date.
Current Offer
The Westpac Altitude Velocity Black earns Virgin Australia Velocity Points directly. It's the Velocity equivalent of the Altitude Qantas Black — same fee structure and bonus point splits, but rewarding Virgin flyers instead. The current offer launched 1 May 2026.
| Milestone | Bonus points | Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 bonus | 90,000 pts | Spend $6,000 within 90 days of approval |
| Year 2 bonus | 60,000 pts | Spend $6,000 within 90 days of card anniversary |
| Total | 150,000 pts | Over 2 years |
Fees
- First-year card fee: $200 (for eligible existing Westpac customers; otherwise $295)
- Ongoing card fee: $295/year
- Velocity Rewards Program fee: $155/year (additional, always applies)
- Interest-free days: Up to 45 days on purchases
Key Benefits
- Direct Velocity Points earning — no conversion required
- Complimentary Virgin Australia lounge passes
- Economy X seat upgrades on Virgin Australia (eligibility applies)
- International travel insurance
- Purchase security and extended warranty insurance
- Concierge service
Ongoing Earn Rates
| Spend | Velocity Points per $1 |
|---|---|
| international spend | 1.5 pts |
| everyday spend (supermarkets, department stores, petrol, utilities) | 0.8 pts |
| all other purchases, including dining | 0.4 pts |
| Beyond $10,000 spend per statement cycle | 0.25 pts |
Getting Qantas Points with this card
Velocity Points cannot be converted to Qantas Frequent Flyer points — if Qantas Points are your goal, this card isn't the path to them.
Perks and Extras
| Lounge access | Virgin Australia domestic lounge accessPasses land in your Velocity account after a direct spend with Virgin Australia each year; Westpac does not state a count |
| Travel insurance | IncludedComplimentary; cover, limits and activation rules are set by the issuer |
| Concierge | Included |
| Foreign transaction fee | 3% |
- 2 Economy X seat upgrade vouchers a year on Virgin Australia domestic flights
- Up to 6 months' international travel insurance cover
- Extended warranty and purchase protection insurance
Perks as listed on Westpac's card page on 10 September 2026. Eligibility, registration steps and cover limits are set by the issuer and can change.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- ✓ 150,000 Velocity Points — strong two-year total
- ✓ Direct Velocity earning — no conversion step
- ✓ Virgin Australia lounge passes and Economy X upgrades
- ✓ $200 first-year fee (eligible Westpac customers)
- ✓ $6k in 90 days is achievable for regular spenders
Cons
- ✗ $155/year Velocity Rewards Program fee on top of card fee
- ✗ Ongoing earn is modest after the September 2026 cuts, with dining in the lowest category
- ✗ $6k must be spent within 90 days — tighter window
- ✗ Not available if you've held eligible Westpac Altitude/Earth in last 24 months
- ✗ Economy X upgrades and lounge passes subject to eligibility conditions
Qantas vs Velocity — Which Variant?
The Altitude Qantas Black and Altitude Velocity Black have identical fees and bonus point structures. The choice comes down entirely to which airline you fly most.
- Fly Qantas/Jetstar? Choose Altitude Qantas Black for direct Qantas Points earning
- Fly Virgin Australia? Choose Altitude Velocity Black for Velocity Points and lounge access
- Flexible? Consider Altitude Black (Rewards). Its Altitude Points transfer to Velocity and other airline programs, but not to Qantas
FAQs
How do I earn the 150,000 bonus Velocity Points?
90,000 points when you spend $6,000 within 90 days of approval. A further 60,000 points in Year 2 when you spend $6,000 within 90 days of your card anniversary.
What is the annual fee?
$295 card fee ($200 in year 1 for eligible Westpac customers), plus $155/year Velocity Rewards Program fee.
What Virgin Australia benefits are included?
Complimentary Virgin Australia lounge passes and Economy X seat upgrades (eligibility conditions apply), plus travel and purchase insurance.
Information is general in nature and may change without notice. Offer details verified 1 October 2026. Confirm current offer, fees, and eligibility on Westpac's website before applying. This is not financial advice.