Partner Status Recognition

[justinbrett]

Is there a single source that clearly states what status benefits VA members get on partner airlines?

I’ve got flights coming up with HA, SQ and SA and it all seems so haphazard. On the QF website, there’s a table on each (non-oneworld) partner page spelling out exactly what is and isn’t included in the agreement, and whether it needs to be a codeshare code to get benefits. Surely this exists for VA also?

 

[TMP]

This is the official source (for Platinum, you can navigate to other status levels, and then to Airline Partners): Platinum Membership

 

[Mattg]

There is a basic overview in a table here:

Beginner's Guide to Velocity Frequent Flyer

New to Virgin Australia's Velocity Frequent Flyer program? Learn how to earn & redeem Velocity points, and all about Velocity status tiers!

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

 

[Milefest]

Had 3 flights with SA last week, I struggled to get them to recongise virgin australia as a partner airline.

I had to show them this page in conjunction with my physical card:


In some instances they still weren't convinced and told me that these benefits are for star alliance only and VA is not part of star alliance. If they say that show them this first party page and tell them they're a non-star alliance partner:

https://www.flysaa.com/au/zh/voyager/AboutVoyager/flysaa_VoyagerPartners.html

You might have to be patient with them as they got a bit aggressive with me thinking I was trying to trick them. YMMV depending on the staff at check in, the lounge and at the gate

 

[justinbrett]

This is the official source (for Platinum, you can navigate to other status levels, and then to Airline Partners): Platinum Membership

Ah thanks, I knew it must have existed somewhere.

So absolutely nothing on Hawaiian?

 

[jase05]

Ah thanks, I knew it must have existed somewhere.

So absolutely nothing on Hawaiian?

I don’t think so currently. VA was working on something with them but not sure how far down the path they are in offering reciprocal benefits

 

[justinbrett]

I don’t think so currently. VA was working on something with them but not sure how far down the path they are in offering reciprocal benefits

Not sure I'm a fan of this patchwork alliance

 

[Princess Fiona]

Not sure I'm a fan of this patchwork alliance

It’s being generous to even call it that I think.

Dogs breakfast more like.

 

[jase05]

Not sure I'm a fan of this patchwork alliance

Works for some but not for others.
Of course I’d like it to be better but I’ve learnt to know its limitations and work within it.
I can’t see too much changing until after the float

 

[justinbrett]

Works for some but not for others.
Of course I’d like it to be better but I’ve learnt to know its limitations and work within it.
I can’t see too much changing until after the float

It's quite remarkable a QF WP will get treated better by QR than a VA WP even though QR and QF are archrivals.

I'm not attacking VA, I'm attacking the premise that these patchwork alliances are better than the established alliances. Obviously now is not the time to join, but why didn't they during the VA1 glory years?

 

[jase05]

It's quite remarkable a QF WP will get treated better by QR than a VA WP even though QR and QF are archrivals.

I'm not attacking VA, I'm attacking the premise that these patchwork alliances are better than the established alliances. Obviously now is not the time to join, but why didn't they during the VA1 glory years?

I’m not sold on the whole alliance thing TBH and believe a number of partnerships instead would work just fine provided that partnerships offer similar benefits throughout.
The current arrangements are a mess but if they could just tidy it up in a few areas it would make a massive difference. I just can’t see VA joining an alliance unless another airline becomes the majority shareholder

 

[RooFlyer]

Not sure I'm a fan of this patchwork alliance

We all have our tolerance limits with airlines and their networks.

Works for some but not for others.
Of course I’d like it to be better but I’ve learnt to know its limitations and work within it.
I can’t see too much changing until after the float

Yes; I don't use VA for its partner network except SQ. I collect VA points for conversion to SQ Krisflyer and then book 'native' SQ Saver awards.

I'm surprised VA2 resurrected any of its partners, to be honest; I guess they were the ones which can be shed relatively easily (and so some maybe not properly implemented). With the float coming up, tying the airline up in alliances beforehand may be consuming of current management time and limiting on future owners' plans and also introduces a complication for valuing the business. Not a biggie that, but I can understand why they haven't put a lot of time into the alliance issue.

 

[justinbrett]

We all have our tolerance limits with airlines and their networks.



Yes; I don't use VA for its partner network except SQ. I collect VA points for conversion to SQ Krisflyer and then book 'native' SQ Saver awards.

Whereas I use QF because of its oneworld membership. On a normal year I get up to 75% of my SCs on AA/AS/BA vs QF/JQ.

It's the times when flying airlines like HA/SQ/SA etc that a second membership is useful, but I'm thinking I might be better off joining SQ and parking star alliance points and status there than bothering with VA. Status with VA itself doesn't really concern me as I don't really fly domestic much at the moment.

 

[RooFlyer]

It's quite remarkable a QF WP will get treated better by QR than a VA WP even though QR and QF are archrivals.

That's an interesting issue isn't it . Notwithstanding that OneWorld is not so much an alliance than a loose confederation of warring tribes, that alliance has had a formal global structure for many years, so maybe not really surprising that QF WP gets treated better than a VA WP, given that the QR/VA 'alliance' is pretty new. That said, I know after years and years of OneWorld, QR still won't let a QF WP into either the Al Mourjan Business Lounge or Al Safwa First at DOH, based on status.

 

[RooFlyer]

I'm thinking I might be better off joining SQ and parking star alliance points and status there than bothering with VA.

I agree. Use a Star Alliance airline for crediting star alliance points is sensible. But crediting domestic VA points to VA, and then converting them to KF as required, gets you the double opportunity to use them for 'native' domestic or international redemptions.

Aeroplan is also a VA partner (for redeeming on) and they are my other StarAlliance program (mainly because of their good purchase miles opportunities and then redeem on many non Alliance airlines, not simply the VA connection).

 

[jase05]

QR still won't let a QF WP into either the Al Mourjan Lounge or Al Safwa at DOH.

Or release award seats to them
I like that there is good availability on both EY and QR with VA so for us it serves its purpose.
Since deciding to always fly J now we are lucky that holding high status with one of the big alliances is no longer crucial thankfully

 

[justinbrett]

That's an interesting issue isn't it . Notwithstanding that OneWorld is not so much an alliance than a loose confederation of warring tribes, that alliance has had a formal global structure for many years, so maybe not really surprising that QF WP gets treated better than a VA WP, given that the QR/VA 'alliance' is pretty new. That said, I know after years and years of OneWorld, QR still won't let a QF WP into either the Al Mourjan Lounge or Al Safwa at DOH.

But that's the whole point, they may be warring tribes at the enterprise level - but in terms of each other's passengers, they are (almost) treated equally, with a few notable exceptions. It's peace of mind and insurance that your parked status is worth something regardless of which CEOs hate each other. There are rare examples of an airline leaving an alliance (eg LATAM) but I'm fairly confident QF won't leave oneworld, nor will the other airlines I mainly use - AA & BA.

The VA/HA deal is how many years old? SA? Then there was NZ which is no more.

I agree. Use a Star Alliance airline for crediting star alliance points is sensible.

I might do that then.

QR still won't let a QF WP into either the Al Mourjan Business Lounge or Al Safwa First at DOH, based on status.

But my understanding is they don't let any WPs in from any airline unless flying J or F. They do however give access to their WP lounge so I don't see anything wrong with that.

I'm lucky enough to be flying QR on a VA ticket using my QF status, so I'm definitely playing both sides.

 

[RooFlyer]

The VA/HA deal is how many years old? SA? Then there was NZ which is no more.

As I mentioned, I don't take any notice of the VA alliances other than SQ, so I wouldn't know (or care).

But my understanding is they don't let any WPs in from any airline unless flying J or F.

Unless flying QR J or F, but we were talking about the closeness (or otherwise) of QF-QR.

I'm lucky enough to be flying QR on a VA ticket using my QF status, so I'm definitely playing both sides.

Yes, I saw that - nifty. Let us know how any lounge dragon you encounter reacts

 

[justinbrett]

Unless flying QR J or F, but we were talking about the closeness (or otherwise) of QF-QR.

Yes but QF is in the same boat as the rest of the alliance - so it's more of a QR-oneworld closeness question (and to be honest, they are probably the least "team oneworld" airline in the alliance)

To be fair, BA does the same with its Concorde lounge. In both cases, they still provide SG and WP lounges for oneworld elite pax regardless of cabin.

Yes, I saw that - nifty. Let us know how any lounge dragon you encounter reacts

I imagine like any oneworld lounge the process is automatic after scanning the BP.

I'm already getting WP benefits such as seat selection etc, so the system works.

 

[RooFlyer]

imagine like any oneworld lounge the process is automatic after scanning the BP.

Hmmm ... yeeeeeesssss ... mostly!! .