Weekly News Roundup: Aug 10 - Aug 16, 2026

This is a backfill of Australian rewards news from 10–16 August 2026. It covers two changes to how Velocity Points could be earned or used, plus a Qantas-linked hotel status challenge that closed during the week. The promotions below have expired; the booking change is separate from those deadlines.

Velocity's card referral bonus began on 10 August

Velocity opened its Refer a Plus One promotion on 10 August. Under Velocity's original terms, a member who received the targeted email could earn 20,000 bonus Velocity Points per successful referral, for up to five referrals. The person referred could earn 10,000 extra Velocity Points on top of the participating card's own sign-up bonus. That is a cap of 100,000 referral points for the referrer, not a guaranteed award.

The referred person had to activate the offer through their unique link and apply between 10 August and 30 September 2026, then gain approval and meet the card's first-year minimum spend. Velocity excluded people approved for a participating card outside that window. The terms named Westpac Altitude Velocity Black, Westpac Altitude Velocity Platinum, Virgin Australia Velocity Flyer Card, and Virgin Australia Velocity High Flyer Card. Velocity calls the latter two Virgin Money cards in its terms. A referrer needed the other person's consent and could not advertise a referral link publicly. The 10 August OzBargain post recorded the offer as it appeared that week.

This promotion expired on 30 September 2026. Its referral points were separate from the card sign-up points, and the card's own fees and eligibility rules still applied.

Hong Kong Airlines Business rewards appeared online

Velocity members could now search and book Hong Kong Airlines Business Class Reward Seats online, instead of calling for that cabin. Point Hacks reported the change on 12 August, and Australian Frequent Flyer reported it on 14 August. Both reported 75,000 Velocity Points one way for Business Class between Sydney or Melbourne and Hong Kong, with taxes and fees extra. That was a quoted reward price, not a promise that seats would be available on a chosen date.

The practical gain was being able to see Business reward inventory during an online search before deciding whether to use points. Velocity's Hong Kong Airlines partner page confirms online Business bookings, but says Hong Kong–Vancouver Business rewards still require a call. I would check the live reward search for current seats and charges; the August examples are historical.

Luxury Escapes' Qantas status challenge closed on 14 August

Luxury Escapes offered select Australian Société Bronze members with Qantas Frequent Flyer Silver status or higher a status challenge. Its dated promotion details say applications opened on 3 August and closed at 11:59pm AEST on 14 August 2026. Point Hacks covered the challenge on 14 August.

Qantas Silver mapped to Société Silver; Qantas Gold, Platinum and Platinum One mapped to Société Gold. Applying alone did not grant the tier. The member had to book and complete one qualifying hotel, tour or cruise stay of at least five nights within three months of applying, then wait for Luxury Escapes to review the stay. The offer mattered most to someone who already planned an eligible trip; the stay requirement carried a real cost.

The application window closed on 14 August. It is included here as a record of this week's deadline, not as an offer readers can apply for now.