Virgin Australia and Air NZ to Form New Partnership

[Digicola]

The Virgin, Air New Zealand alliance is back (sort of)

Velocity points, status credits and lounge access are back on the table for AU-NZ flights.

www.executivetraveller.com

Well well well slowly going back to VA of old are we

 

[jrfsp]

The Virgin, Air New Zealand alliance is back (sort of)

Velocity points, status credits and lounge access are back on the table for AU-NZ flights.

www.executivetraveller.com

Well well well slowly going back to VA of old are we

Suggests that VA dont have interest in expanding into NZ with their own metal
I wonder if Queenstown flights will continue - seems a bit of an oddball as a standalone (although suits VAs leisure focused intl destinations)

 

[Silvia]

Well interesting. It seems VA will continue to rely on their mixed bag of partners rather than aiming to establish themselves in the market. Don't get me wrong, I actually really enjoyed the VA/Air NZ venture. At least to AKL from any of the golden triangle cities it will be much better to step on Air NZ where they may have some of their wide body aircraft, as opposed to QF or even a 737 VA

 

[HS-TQE]

The QF domestic codeshares will "remain" for now, as NZ putting their codes on VA domestic is not part of the application (yet). The proposed 'back to the future' proposal of VA codes on the NZ Tasman flights are subject to ACCC approval.

Basically NZ are proposing to be the 'Alliance Airlines' of the Tasman, until the QF domestic arrangement expires.

 

[jrfsp]

Hopefully there are also discussions on wider lounge access for VA Intl flights

 

[HS-TQE]

Suggests that VA dont have interest in expanding into NZ with their own metal
I wonder if Queenstown flights will continue - seems a bit of an oddball as a standalone (although suits VAs leisure focused intl destinations)

I'd be tipping a eventual scale back (if not pulling out entirely) of ZQN if this clears the ACCC.

Keeping in mind, this is NOT the Joint-Venture of old, and NZ would be carrying almost 100% of the costs in this partnership with VA basically only putting their codes on the Tasman flights with FF/Lounge access.

 

[jase05]

Disappointed that no one has mentioned joining Star Alliance yet

But with NZ, NH, UA, and AC they are doing a pretty good job of at least being in the mix.
Wonder if they will get into bed with TK when they start coming here

 

[HS-TQE]

Disappointed that no one has mentioned joining Star Alliance yet

But with NZ, NH, UA, and AC they are doing a pretty good job of at least being in the mix.
Wonder if they will get into bed with TK when they start coming here

Followed by the ol' "SQ WILL TAEK OVAH VA !!!!!1111!!" that generally follows the Will VA join Star Alliance?

 

[Digicola]

I think we can all agree that it was silly VA could get you to Tokyo but not to AKL. Should we dust off the *A accession talks?

 

[dajop]

What is amusing is that every time such a story comes out that I no longer expect people to mention “star alliance” or “SQ takeover” but I do expect one or both of you (?) to mention “that no one has mentioned star alliance membership” (or SQ takeover)! .

Maybe the rest of us should do preemptive strikes and say “I’m surprised no one has mentioned that no one mentioned star alliance membership”.

 

[Bagpuss]

Well interesting. It seems VA will continue to rely on their mixed bag of partners rather than aiming to establish themselves in the market.

One of the bigger issues for them to re-establish in to other markets is the lack of airframes they have available to them.
To re-enter on these routes they have to accept the upfront cash drain etc. There's no point pulling aircraft from profitable domestic routes.

Remember the reason why the VA Air NZ ownership went South and well, well well, how right Air NZ were!

 

[HS-TQE]

One of the bigger issues for them to re-establish in to other markets is the lack of airframes they have available to them.
To re-enter on these routes they have to accept the upfront cash drain etc. There's no point pulling aircraft from profitable domestic routes.

Remember the reason why the VA Air NZ ownership went South and well, well well, how right Air NZ were!

On top of the "too many cooks" in the VA 1.0 boardroom with the numerous owners. A lot of egos in those days, including both the then-NZ and then-VA CEOs.

 

[jase05]

A lot of egos in those days, including both the then-NZ and then-VA CEOs.

Seems Mr Luxon is running his government the same way

 

[SeatBackForward]

Can we make this happen in two weeks time? Lol going from Platinum on both QF/VA to nothing on NZ for a trip over there...

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Without Works Deluxe its a tough cookie, fly with premY into AKL and bear narrow body AirNZ dom or go with QFi direct.
---
Now who to credit flights to?
AirNZ or VFF, for SQ benefits (*A related etc).

 

[HS-TQE]

Considering there has been no pressers from VA or NZ yet, nor NZ informing the NZ stock exchange (and ASX) of this recent news, is it possible that AusBT/ET has yet broken another embargo?

 

[justinbrett]

Considering there has been no pressers from VA or NZ yet, nor NZ informing the NZ stock exchange (and ASX) of this recent news, is it possible that AusBT/ET has yet broken another embargo?

Does it need all that? It's only a unilateral codeshare agreement (not even bilateral).

It doesn't impact (air) NZ pax / Airpoints members at all. However it's a no brainer for NZ, it doesn't give anything up for this, it's just another avenue to sell more seats.

I'm guessing VA will resell NZ domestic flights (with NZ codes) so it can at least offer connections to the smaller ports, otherwise that's a fairly significant flaw in the deal.

 

[HS-TQE]

Does it need all that? It's only a unilateral codeshare agreement (not even bilateral).

It doesn't impact (air) NZ pax / Airpoints members at all. However it's a no brainer for NZ, it doesn't give anything up for this, it's just another avenue to sell more seats.

I'm guessing VA will resell NZ domestic flights (with NZ codes) so it can at least offer connections to the smaller ports, otherwise that's a fairly significant flaw in the deal.

Per the article in the link: "The airlines this morning confirmed their plans to apply to the regulatory bodies of their respective countries – the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission and New Zealand Ministry of Transport – “to enter into a unilateral trans-Tasman codeshare agreement.”

VA/NZ already have an interline agreement for onward Australian connections through third parties and even their own website. (even though the current NZ/VA interline is currently of little/no benefit for those with FF status).

I'm assuming this interline extends to VA's current ZQN services. So very much no change to the current onward/interline arrangements.

 

[justinbrett]

Per the article in the link: "The airlines this morning confirmed their plans to apply to the regulatory bodies of their respective countries – the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission and New Zealand Ministry of Transport – “to enter into a unilateral trans-Tasman codeshare agreement.”

VA/NZ already have an interline agreement for onward Australian connections through third parties and even their own website. (even though the current NZ/VA interline is currently of little/no benefit for those with FF status).

I'm assuming this interline extends to VA's current ZQN services. So very much no change to the current onward/interline arrangements.

NZ won't be able to codeshare on VA's ZQN, as this is a unilateral codeshare deal (as opposed to a bilateral codeshare deal). I don't think NZ will want to sell another airline's flight when it operates the same route.

Interline doesn't mean much, QF interlines with UA & SQ, amongst others.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Also, its only Au - NZ, and not further afield, ie, NZ - US/Japan...