Article: How Virgin Subtly Keeps International Flyers Loyal to Velocity

[AFF Editor]

How Virgin Subtly Keeps International Flyers Loyal to Velocity is an article written by AFF editorial staff:

How Virgin Subtly Keeps International Flyers Loyal to Velocity

Virgin Australia's agreements with its partner airlines disincentivise Australians from crediting Virgin flights to other loyalty programs.

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

You can leave a comment or discuss this topic below.

 

[mitchd]

Wish I could read it but the website is incorrectly displaying an error saying I’m using an adblocker (I don’t)

 

[Supersonic Swinger]

The title of the article should really be "How Virgin Subtly Avoids Making International Flyers Loyal To Velocity"

 

[henrus]

I don't think there has been enough discussion about the current ACCC authorisation under consideration.

Basically Virgin has applied to the ACCC to get permission to work with "partner carriers" allowing them to set fares, sell under a VA code and allow them to sell fares regardless of if a VA operated flight is included.

An expected decision is due sometime in the next two months but if granted would allow VA to sell tickets with a VA code operated by Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, ANA, Air Canada, Etihad, Virgin alantic, Hong Kong airlines, South African Airlines, Hainan, Captial and Tianjin Airlines. This would be in addition to the current United codeshare flights and become the larger than VA's pre covid international codeshare network.

 

[dajop]

There is a possibility for those flying international In premium cabins (J, F) to simultaneously earn Virgin status and become star gold - through KrisFlyer. If they are spending $25k p.a. on SQ J/F they could accrue PPS status in KrisFlyer (based on $ spend) whilst crediting miles - and earning status credits - on VA. This is one niche where you can leverage international flying to achieve SQ’s second top (or even top) tier whilst simultaneously moving towards VA Platinum (supplemented by enough VA flights).

 

[HS-TQE]

I'm wondering why VA had included the secondary partner carriers (Virgin Atlantic, Etihad, HNA group, South Africa et al) in the ACCC submission considering some or many of the carriers on that list could either eventually leave on their own accord (e.g pull out of Australia entirely, sign a codeshare with either ZL or QF) or find themselves on the outer considering the separate agreements.

 

[odysseus]

I'm wondering why VA had included the secondary partner carriers (Virgin Atlantic, Etihad, HNA group, South Africa et al) in the ACCC submission considering some or many of the carriers on that list could either eventually leave on their own accord (e.g pull out of Australia entirely, sign a codeshare with either ZL or QF) or find themselves on the outer considering the separate agreements.

It's simpler to have an agreement covering all code share arrangements (or partners) so this covers all the above. Those who don't serve Australia can still be sold in the same way e.g. VA selling a ticket to London with Virgin Atlantic connecting with UA in SFO, LAX or EWR.

Failing that they can't have it at all with those partners, or they have to do a separate secondary partner agreement for approval which just increases the overhead without benefits.

 

[DJDBA]

Wish I could read it but the website is incorrectly displaying an error saying I’m using an adblocker (I don’t)

open tab in Incognito mode

 

[oz_mark]

Isn't that largely the norm when you credit a partner that is not in an alliance?

For the most part, crediting non-oneWorld partners to Qantas doesn't get you status credits...

(There's always exceptions, but it struck me that that this is just the norm)