Article: Get Virgin Australia Perks With These Star Alliance Gold Statuses

[AFF Editor]

Get Virgin Australia Perks With These Star Alliance Gold Statuses is an article written by the AFF editorial team:

Get Virgin Australia Perks With These Star Alliance Gold Statuses

When you have Star Alliance Gold status with United, Singapore Airlines, ANA or Air Canada, you'll also get to enjoy benefits with Virgin Australia. Plus, for a limited time when you get United status through the HSBC Star Alliance credit card, you can also earn 20,000 bonus United miles.

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

You can leave a comment or discuss this topic below.

 

[SYD]

With UA MP rapidly going down the toilet,

Not cool: United keeps raising partner award costs without notice

Last week, United MileagePlus increased the cost of partner airline first class awards by as much as 100% without giving any notice. One day a trans-Atlantic first class award cost 121,000 miles, and the next day it was 242,000 miles. (See Ouch: United MileagePlus Devalues International First...

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

SQ SK is probably the only credible option in relation to perks flying VA?

When I was flying VA domestically and a bit of SQ, NZ (during the deep partnership days between VA1.0 and NZ), I came to the reverse conclusion that I no longer required A*G if I had VA WP/SG. With DL out and UA in, that’s probably more compelling?

But yeah, the dogs breakfast arrangement VA gives their status PAX flying whY on international partners would be a turnoff for many.

 

[HS-TQE]

Plus the current owner's reluctance on JVs with other airlines or Alliance memberships in general, due to the costs and CapEx, probably doesn't help with international arrangements.

Either way, streamlining international arrangements for VA will likely have to wait until "whenever" the post-IPO may be (and whether if a 'cornerstone' investor(s) emerges in a trade sale alongside whenever the IPO may be).

 

[Dalavia]

It's a pity that *A flyers don't earn points when flying on VA.

I'm with SQ. In theory, according to the website, I can earn SQ points when flying on VA if the booking has an SQ flight number, BUT I can't book a domestic flight in Australia on VA with an SQ flight number on either the VA or SQ website.

 

[andye]

It's a pity that *A flyers don't earn points when flying on VA.

I'm with SQ. In theory, according to the website, I can earn SQ points when flying on VA if the booking has an SQ flight number, BUT I can't book a domestic flight in Australia on VA with an SQ flight number on either the VA or SQ website.

Yes it's only domestics tagged onto an international. Similar to QR on QF

 

[kittystar]

It's a pity that *A flyers don't earn points when flying on VA.

I'm with SQ. In theory, according to the website, I can earn SQ points when flying on VA if the booking has an SQ flight number, BUT I can't book a domestic flight in Australia on VA with an SQ flight number on either the VA or SQ website.

That's incorrect. Krisflyer miles can be earned on a VA or SQ flight number when operated by VA, just don't earn Elite Miles or PPS status

 

[Dalavia]

That's incorrect. Krisflyer miles can be earned on a VA or SQ flight number when operated by VA, just don't earn Elite Miles or PPS status

Not incorrect. I'm SQ PPS and *G, and I never receive points when flying VA. I can use the lounge but I get zero points. Invariably.

It's the main reason I almost always fly QF domestically and SQ internationally these days. (The other reason is that VA haven't re-opened lounges in several of the airports I use frequently since COVID, e.g. Cairns).

 

[kittystar]

Not incorrect. I'm SQ PPS and *G, and I never receive points when flying VA. I can use the lounge but I get zero points. Invariably.

It's the main reason I almost always fly QF domestically and SQ internationally these days.

I'm not sure why you wouldn't earn, I've earned KF miles on many VA flights (booked directly on VA website). It's all here

https://www.singaporeair.com/en_UK/au/plan-travel/local-promotions/national/virgin-australia-alliance-faq/

 

[Dalavia]

I'm not sure why you wouldn't earn, I've earned KF miles on many VA flights (booked directly on VA website). It's all here

https://www.singaporeair.com/en_UK/au/plan-travel/local-promotions/national/virgin-australia-alliance-faq/

To quote from the page you just linked, "KrisFlyer members can earn Elite Miles when travelling on a Singapore Airlines codeshare operated by Virgin Australia."

That's the point - no-one can book a "Singapore Airlines codeshare operated by Virgin Australia" as a stand-alone domestic flight within Australia.

 

[kittystar]

To quote from the page you just linked, "KrisFlyer members can earn Elite Miles when travelling on a Singapore Airlines codeshare operated by Virgin Australia."

That's the point - no-one can book a "Singapore Airlines codeshare operated by Virgin Australia" as a stand-alone domestic flight within Australia.

You are referring to Elite Miles, not points (or KrisFlyer miles as they are called). The Elite Miles contribute towards your status, the points do not. You will earn KF miles on a VA flight number, but not earn Elite miles (as you've pointed out). Not wanting to cause an argument but there is a difference.

 

[Dalavia]

You are referring to Elite Miles, not points (or KrisFlyer miles as they are called). The Elite Miles contribute towards your status, the points do not. You will earn KF miles on a VA flight number, but not earn Elite miles (as you've pointed out). Not wanting to cause an argument but there is a difference.

Yes, fair point. That's an important distinction I was conflating.

 

[henrus]

BUT I can't book a domestic flight in Australia on VA with an SQ flight number on either the VA or SQ website.

SQ marketed VA operated flights are only able to be booked together with a international SQ operated flight:

 

[Happy Dude]

SQ marketed VA operated flights are only able to be booked together with a international SQ operated flight:
View attachment 383670

Can that be booked as a reward using KF miles?

 

[Hornet]

As a PPS member do I get Platinum benefits when flying VA?

 

[SYD]

Can that be booked as a reward using KF miles?

It’s very rare to see a reward flight without the native operating carrier code.

As a PPS member do I get Platinum benefits when flying VA?

That’s the topic of the article. But you don’t get full VA WP benefits.

 

[henrus]

Can that be booked as a reward using KF miles?

Nope, reward seats book onto the VA number. Regardless award seats on SQ (or most airlines) don't earn status miles/credits and as the award charts are different they need to be booked separately when done online or I think over the phone they can combine the two.

As a PPS member do I get Platinum benefits when flying VA?

No and there is zero different between perks for Krisflyer Elite Gold and PPS Club on VA flights except baggage. Whilst Krisflyer Elite Gold get one extra bag on flights that include a luggage allowance, PPS Club get 2x extra bags included (which in economy matches the VA Platinum allowance and in business is actually one bag more):

	Regular Allowance	Krisflyer Elite Gold	PPS Club/Solitaire PPS Club
Economy Lite Fares	No Checked Baggage	No Checked Baggage	No Checked Baggage
Economy Choice/Flex/Reward Seat Fares	1x 23kg bag	2x 23kg bags	3x 23kg bags
Business/Business Reward Seat Fares	2x 32kg bag	3x 32kg bags	4x 32kg bags

 

[I love to travel]

@AFF Editor I am confused about the comment status is valid until the end of next year. I thought it was from 12 months of opening the account.

 

[Happy Dude]

Thanks @henrus. I did BNE-SIN recently as a SQ reward but couldn't find CBR-BNE on the SQ site. In the end I just paid for it on VA, to get some SCs mainly, but I would've preferred to have a SQ reward so the dom leg on the same booking as the int for the connection protection. Assuming the two could be combined of course.

 

[AFF Editor]

@AFF Editor I am confused about the comment status is valid until the end of next year. I thought it was from 12 months of opening the account.

Officially, you get status for at least 12 months with the sign-up offer. But there have been reports in the HSBC card thread that some people have been getting to keep their status until December of the following year (depending on the status airline chosen). Obviously I can't guarantee that this will be the case for everyone, but you can read the thread for yourself here:

HSBC Star Alliance credit card in Australia

Looks very interesting!! The HSBC Star Alliance credit card Earn Complimentary KrisFlyer *G status after spending $4,000 (in the first year) and 60K to retain.

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

 

[insomniaphd]

I have been Star Gold for years with United, and I have tried to use the extra benefits under the United agreement with Virgin a couple of times. Both times, I had significant problems because Virgin has not trained its staff in the rules or put the right automated systems in place. Lounge access has been fine, but staff and systems do not properly recognise the extra baggage allowance.

One time in Melbourne, the kiosk incorrectly tried to charge me at check-in for the extra bag my United status was supposed to get me for free. When I went to a human check-in agent, she was fine with taking the bag for free and told me that the kiosk just charges people incorrectly!

More recently, in Canberra, the check-in agent flat refused to accept the extra bag allowed with my United status. I raised the matter in the Virgin lounge, where staff do seem to be aware of the alliance rules, and she referred it to a check-in supervisor as a training issue.

My concern with these Virgin alliances is that Virgin seems to love the marketing benefits, but has not bothered to train its staff to actually implement the passenger benefits under the agreement.