VA Alliances

[dfcatch]

Pie in the sky question for everyone....

(Perhaps mods could make a poll?)

All things being equal - if VA had the choice of joining a global alliance - which would you prefer (which is most likely to sway your business towards Virgin?):

1/ Star Alliance

2/ Skyteam

3/ A new truly integrated Global Virgin Alliance (aka all Virgin-branded airlines forming their own Alliance).


Personally I would take 1 or 3.
The partnerships don't do it for me, and TBH, the lack of an alliance is the number 1 thing that stops me jumping fully to Virgin.

Food, IFE etc are all lower order issues IMO.

 

[leemin]

*A for sure.

Option 3 doesn't have any intra-Europe options. Nor, I might add, does the current partnership model.

 

[JohnK]

I would go for Star Alliance but Skyteam could suit as well.

Partnerships do nothing for me and to be honest a global Virgin alliance would have limited coverage in Asia and Europe.

 

[amaroo]

* A for me......if they did I reckon I'd convert!

 

[Noob]

The issue with Virgin Australia joining Star on their own is they would be a very small partner and would hence have little power within the alliance dominated by the new United, Lufthansa, and Singapore Airlines. Along with this is the cost of being part of the alliance, would this be the right investment for Virgin Australia right now?

 

[serfty]

... Along with this is the cost of being part of the alliance, would this be the right investment for Virgin Australia right now?

Methinx Virgin Australia agree with you, hence the close alliances being formed with EY, DL, NZ and (soon to be) SQ.

 

[777]

I think all other things being roughly equal i'd prefer to see them in *A but it's not a deal breaker for me and the rate of improvement in status recognition, earn and burn opportunities, and destinations over the last few years has been phenomenal.

 

[Awesom Andy]

Although, if it's a combination of 1 and 3 (i.e. the entire Virgin group join *A), then it might work out quite well for me. Still, being based in SIN, the SQ/VA tie up has already been quite tempting, if VA does decide to join *A, that would probably get me away from the OW camp despite (most likely) becoming QF Gold within the next 6 weeks.

 

[The Rok]

What I really want to see is when DJ/VA move to the new combined Domestic/International terminal they start to send some of those 777's to SIN from Perth and VV

 

[Awesom Andy]

What I really want to see is when DJ/VA move to the new combined Domestic/International terminal they start to send some of those 777's to SIN from Perth and VV

I would imagine that the A332s would be a better fit for the mission profile, unless they can really fill up those 77Ws?

 

[Mh4k]

*A please. In the interim I'd be happy if they partnered with BMI.

 

[Noob]

*A please. In the interim I'd be happy if they partnered with BMI.

I agree BMI would be great, but I doubt it if BA do take it over - Best case scenario VS get BMI then the europe travel hole will be filled.

#Off-topic, but if BA do get BMI it would be a competition disaster...

 

[MarkD]

OT. but why is a 777-300 called 77W ?

 

[mannej]

OT. but why is a 777-300 called 77W ?

I believe each type of plane has a 3 character code that help distinguish it from other types.
It can get quite complicated, as technically the base 777-300 is just the 773, whilst the ER version is the 77W. Another funny one is the 737-800, which you have the 73H (with Winglets), and the 738 (without).
Here is a list to help IATA aircraft type designator - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[MarkD]

Great, thanks for that