Star Alliance courts Virgin Blue

[crazydave98]

It's even worse than that.

Doesn't fill me with confidence that DJ would be a worthwhile member of *A. Somewhat less good than Egyptair (MS), I would imagine.

Have you flown with Air China? I flew PEK-CGD in July on an A340 that was older than me, filthy dirty with overflowing toilets, no seat-back IFE and staff straight from central casting of "communist airline". But they couldn't say the words "Air China" in any announcement without tacking on "...a member of the Star Alliance". What an embarrassment - how could Star ever let them in?

Some people just have a pathological hatred of Virgin Blue and nothing we do will ever be good enough for them. That's their loss and probably fine by those who have actually gotten over the demise of Ansett.

 

[Mwenenzi]

....I wonder what Singapore Airlines take on things is, with its -

• TT investment
• VS investment
• SQ transpac (AU-US) expectations

And SQ being the former the major shareholder of Air NZ

 

[drewbles]

Have you flown with Air China? I flew PEK-CGD in July on an A340 that was older than me, filthy dirty with overflowing toilets, no seat-back IFE and staff straight from central casting of "communist airline". But they couldn't say the words "Air China" in any announcement without tacking on "...a member of the Star Alliance". What an embarrassment - how could Star ever let them in?

Some people just have a pathological hatred of Virgin Blue and nothing we do will ever be good enough for them. That's their loss and probably fine by those who have actually gotten over the demise of Ansett.

Have you flown AA? Aircraft that are almost older than me (MD80's which launched in Ocobter 79 just after I was born, the A340 was launched in 91). Shabby cabins and they can't say an announcement without tacking on "A Proud member of the OneWorld alliance". In fact, AA push the whole OW thing *extremely* heavily, everywhere (checkin, lounge, onboard, website etc).

That said, I will not fly with a lot of Asian carriers due to knowledge of their maintenance, regardless of the alliance they're in.

 

[drron]

Have you flown with Air China? I flew PEK-CGD in July on an A340 that was older than me, filthy dirty with overflowing toilets, no seat-back IFE and staff straight from central casting of "communist airline". But they couldn't say the words "Air China" in any announcement without tacking on "...a member of the Star Alliance". What an embarrassment - how could Star ever let them in?

Some people just have a pathological hatred of Virgin Blue and nothing we do will ever be good enough for them. That's their loss and probably fine by those who have actually gotten over the demise of Ansett.

And then again some of us have a pathological hatred of TT and a recently confirmed hatred of JQ so out of MCY DJ is the last standing-but afternoon services would help.

Have you flown AA? Aircraft that are almost older than me (MD80's which launched in Ocobter 79 just after I was born, the A340 was launched in 91). Shabby cabins and they can't say an announcement without tacking on "A Proud member of the OneWorld alliance". In fact, AA push the whole OW thing *extremely* heavily, everywhere (checkin, lounge, onboard, website etc).

That said, I will not fly with a lot of Asian carriers due to knowledge of their maintenance, regardless of the alliance they're in.

But on our last DONE 3 out of 6 sectors were on new 738s and only 1 of 3 MD80s was really shabby-they are slowly retiring them.

 

[drewbles]

But on our last DONE 3 out of 6 sectors were on new 738s and only 1 of 3 MD80s was really shabby-they are slowly retiring them.

True, and the AA 738's in F are quite nice (not as good as the 767's or the international config 757's with same seats as the 76's).

 

[Oneworldplus2]

Go go go! Definitely would like to see this get up, because it means some real options with respect to choosing carriers and alliances.

*A has a great network and some great carriers within it too. Notwithstanding that the subset of premium award carriers is concentrated and with more members it gets much harder to access premium awards (and it doesn't help with the USA scam FFPs making it too easy), having some real competition in Australia with respect to alliances is much needed! It is one of the main reasons I have been reluctant to move off ow and onto *A fully, which means I keep a leg in both camps (I might still keep on doing it, mind you).

Great post anat0l. I think that you summed it up.
If this happens, it will be great! Finally, some competition.

I have a sneaky feeling that if DJ do launch a J Class next year (which is pretty much a given), they will also re-launch (arhh..."enhance") Velocity

Now, question is, how many people will move from OW to *Alliance, essentially QF to DJ? I would be tempted.

The winners will be passengers for once.

 

[kamchatsky]

Have you flown with Air China? I flew PEK-CGD in July on an A340 that was older than me, filthy dirty with overflowing toilets, no seat-back IFE and staff straight from central casting of "communist airline". But they couldn't say the words "Air China" in any announcement without tacking on "...a member of the Star Alliance". What an embarrassment - how could Star ever let them in?

Some people just have a pathological hatred of Virgin Blue and nothing we do will ever be good enough for them. That's their loss and probably fine by those who have actually gotten over the demise of Ansett.

I am about to fly Air China C ..... I will be able to tell whether Air China is as bad as what you have described. But from what I heard about CA I am sure DJ would be better airline.

 

[codash1099]

From Upgrade: Travel Better | travel blog | Living the first class life... at coach prices

Upgraded, potentially: Star Alliance in Australia
Somewhat surprisingly, Virgin Blue is rumored to be interested in joining Star Alliance. Such a deal, if real, would likely make a pan-global Virgin alliance moot. So much for that theory. But for Star Alliance fans, a Virgin Blue tie-up would really open up a wide range of Australian destinations.

 

[anat0l]

Now, question is, how many people will move from OW to *Alliance, essentially QF to DJ? I would be tempted.

As you know I have a foot in both camps of oneworld and Star Alliance. I'm currently BD*G but I'm looking at other *A FFPs right now since it is inevitable that BD's Diamond Club will be enveloped by LH Miles & More, which I have bucky's chance of making good out of. If the Virgin Group joins *A, that's another FFP to potentially consider, depending on how they reshape the program to fit the alliance terms and cross-alliance earn and burn. The advantage is that, like QF, it would be a "natural" FFP for Australians to join, notwithstanding that the USA based FFPs are admittedly easier to gain status, burn miles and have more benefits if you fly their metal.

My domestic flying habits may well change. For example, if I finish requalifying for oneworld, I can shift all my domestic to DJ and quite potentially save $$$ (although my experience sadly usually finds that DJ prices are almost equal or more than QF prices, but I guess part of that is down to searching and purchasing strategy), especially if it means *G gets 20 or 23 kg of baggage on GO! or Blue Saver fares for free (or, they may not, viz. NZ Seat fares) plus The Lounge access.

Internationally it's also great because it may give more options for connecting to *A carriers. For example, I could book a SQ A380 flight ex-SYD and connecting flight BNE-SYD on DJ, with full interline and other benefits. Plus, if Virgin Group create their new lounge in SYD, that could be a great lounge that *A needs in Australia (the Koru Clubs for most part are doing an adequate job).

So will I hard defect to *A if Virgin Group joins? No, but I definitely look forward to having more options. Double status does have its advantages (although it does limit your earn and burn capabilities).

 

[Postcode]

Potentially very good news.

QF and OW due to a number of reasons, mostly parochial, have had a large proportion of the Australian travellers' market to themselves and charge premium prices with not as many partner airlines to fly/claim/redeem. And they know it.

Competition is good.

If the *A with DJ there with attractive benefits I'd be more than interested.

Wish I was on time for the status match offer.

 

[Oneworldplus2]

A point that l would like to make to Virgin is; If DJ do in fact join Star Alliance (which would be fantastic), can you please make the booking class a little bit more transparent during the booking process as Star is an alliance where booking classes really do matter for point accrual which determine status.

 

[Danger]

Page two of the below publication has any article from the outgoing Star Alliance chief saying DJ would be a good fit for them.

http://www.travelweekly.com.au/getattachment/f4e0a53c-5318-4b9b-bd70-785d1cb1123a/pdf.aspx

 

[clifford]

Virgin won't join the Star Alliance because Richard Branson (like Emirates) doesn't want to have anything to do with alliances as such.

They feel they don't need the cost, and they're probably right.

 

[harvyk]

I'd say it's now a matter of when, not if... *S has got this gap in AU (which they pretend doesn't exist as AirNZ flys here and SQ, but I can't see someone other than AFFer's flying via SIN or AKL to go from SYD to MEL) which I suspect they would really like to fill, and DJ is the only way to do that...

 

[dajop]

(which they pretend doesn't exist as AirNZ flys here and SQ, but I can't see someone other than AFFer's flying via SIN or AKL to go from SYD to MEL)

Just like OW pretending to think they can serve China from HKG.

But really, is someone with star alliance status, travelling from Europe, for example, going to deliberately switch to oneworld from Europe to Australia just to get benefits for their flight from SYD to MEL?

As there is only two serious domestic airlines in Australia - Virgin would seem to have more to gain by locking in strong relationships with a range of non one-world carriers including those that are from Star, Skyteam and non-aligned. Just like Jet and Alaska Airlines.

 

[serfty]

A FFer based in OZ that travels overseas on *A would do well to court AirNZ - for status - it's rewards scheme is ordinary (almost makes QFF's look generous).

That status would translate with DJ ...