United Airlines new Virgin Australia/Velocity Partner

[henrus]

If UA restarted the Cairns-Guam route and/or the Sydney-Guam route I wouldn't mind having Guam as a stopover to Japan or South Korea as well. Think for Sydney-Guam an A320neo might be required though, which UA is getting in 2023.

VA's current 737's could make a BNE-GUM-HND route which would allow them to use the HND slots however I can't see that happening anytime soon given VA can't even make international flights to Fiji work.

 

[Mattg]

VA's current 737's could make a BNE-GUM-HND route which would allow them to use the HND slots however I can't see that happening anytime soon given VA can't even make international flights to Fiji work.

Would this not require passengers travelling to Japan to get an ESTA and clear US immigration and customs? Not really an attractive proposition, especially with the whole flight on a 737.

 

[henrus]

Would this not require passengers travelling to Japan to get an ESTA and clear US immigration and customs?

Guam doesn't require ESTAs for 11 passports. Notably Australia and Japan are both exempt.

Not really an attractive proposition, especially with the whole flight on a 737.

United makes it work with some very short transit times (some around an hour) connecting to/from 737s. It's much more laid back and efficient in Guam.

 

[HS-TQE]

If a hypothetical BNE-GUM-HND was to 'ever happen' (if at all), I would think VA/UA would have to apply for a JV (sharing the costs, etc) on this particular route, thus to try to sell BNE-GUM-HND as largely two separate legs, similar to the old NZ's AKL-LAX-LHR where they were mostly sold as separate legs with very few through travellers.

 

[henrus]

If a hypothetical BNE-GUM-HND was to 'ever happen' (if at all), I would think VA/UA would have to apply for a JV (sharing the costs, etc) on this particular route, thus to try to sell BNE-GUM-HND as largely two separate legs

100% I don't think there'd be much BNE-GUM-HND traffic given there'd be direct competition from QF on the route although it does open up an interesting network in the Pacific including a few more Japanese destinations if they were to fly to Guam.


United who is trying to move flights away from NRT to HND might also be interested in the slot given they could reduce their GUM-NRT frequency in exchange for codesharing on a VA operated flight. All of this is just dreaming as I can't see it happening but I guess anythings possible these days espically if Japan does open up and VA really wants to retain the HND slot.

 

[dajop]

What a turn this thread has taken, full of absolute fantasy discussions. I'd say there's about as much chance of VA flying to BNE-GUM-HND as there is of them flying BME-SIN or DRW-MNL or NTL-NAN.

 

[luxury-lizard]

So I jumped into this thread a bit late - but really Guam !!! Mr LL and I went there back in the heyday (2015) of US Air (buy points galore) when you could fly SYD-NRT-GUM for 30,000 return in J (with a stopover in Japan). We booked a week in Guam and after a couple of days we dumped out return flights and flew home via ICN (with a few days stopover). Guam was a huge disappointment - happy to share more details if anyone is tempted to visit.

 

[henrus]

What a turn this thread has taken, full of absolute fantasy discussions. I'd say there's about as much chance of VA flying to BNE-GUM-HND as there is of them flying BME-SIN or DRW-MNL or NTL-NAN.

I agree it's total fantasy however it's a little less fantasy then the other routes you've mentioned because VA have a slot at HND that even in the last 6 months they've said they're still keen to use. Obviously with just the 737 in the mainline fleet BNE/CNS/DRW through to GUM then onwards to HND would be the only way to use it.

Traffic rights from Australia to Guam would be easy to acquire and Guam to Japan shouldn't be too difficult given there has been low cost Korean carriers able to apply for Seoul to Tokyo to Guam.

So I jumped into this thread a bit late - but really Guam

As above, right now if VA was required to use it at short notice they'd either need to find aircraft and crew or use the existing 737 fleet which is where Guam would come into play.

 

[HS-TQE]

VA has until October of this year to use the HND slot, iirc. The slot can not be 'wet leased' out to another operator as the slot if for 'Australian Carriers' and it'll has to be on their own aircraft.

Out of the previously discussed "fantasy hypothetical" decisions, either via 'GUM' 737 or a 'damp lease' of widebody aircraft (VA providing the FAs and the pilots from elsewhere), the aircraft would have be painted in VA livery as well (perhaps with a small operated by (AOC number/operator) below the door, for the HND slot is minimal.

If VA were to damp-lease widebody aircraft (where chances are almost close to zero), it would likely be paired with BNE-LAX, as UA will not be flying BNE-LAX for the foreseeable future unless if UA gets a 'favourable' Queensland Government subsidy (or effectively Queensland taxpayers paying for the 'charter' of up to '2 UA jets') to fly BNE-USA for the (quote Premier) "sake of tourism and competition in Queensland, which is 'good for Queensland'" - (/quote Premier).

 

[ozstamps]

Let's hope United do not copy Delta's new Playbook.

Worrying signs.

In a stunning move by a major U.S. carrier – especially at a time when airlines are still trying to lure back travelers they lost to the pandemic – Delta Air Lines has announced it will no longer award frequent flier miles to customers who purchase Basic Economy tickets, the lowest fare available on the carrier.

It is believed to be the first time a major U.S. airline has stripped loyalty points from customers who purchase the cheapest fare, according to the Minneapolis Star-Tribune.

The newspaper said customers will not receive credit toward increasing their tier status in Delta’s Medallion program. Passengers who change a basic economy fare will receive a bonus flight credit before the new rule goes into effect starting next year, and they will be able to make ticket changes without the change fee.

 

[justinbrett]

So I jumped into this thread a bit late - but really Guam !!! Mr LL and I went there back in the heyday (2015) of US Air (buy points galore) when you could fly SYD-NRT-GUM for 30,000 return in J (with a stopover in Japan). We booked a week in Guam and after a couple of days we dumped out return flights and flew home via ICN (with a few days stopover). Guam was a huge disappointment - happy to share more details if anyone is tempted to visit.

Your opinion. I spent a month there in 2014 and absolutely loved it. Many of my friends share the same opinion.

We all have different tastes.

 

[CPMaverick]

Your opinion. I spent a month there in 2014 and absolutely loved it. Many of my friends share the same opinion.

We all have different tastes.

Agreed, if people expect Guam (or anywhere in Micronesia) to be full of activities catering to tourists or with plentiful high-end resorts, they'll be sorely disappointed. But I found that part of the world to be an amazing place to travel.

Traffic rights from Australia to Guam would be easy to acquire and Guam to Japan shouldn't be too difficult given there has been low cost Korean carriers able to apply for Seoul to Tokyo to Guam.

The biggest reason I'd say a connection in GUM is unlikely, is I-I connections in the USA are a huge pain, and unlikely to get any easier. I doubt many would be keen to take that route to Japan.

 

[AisleSeat]

Inserting appropriate gif.

 

[jakeseven7]

What a turn this thread has taken, full of absolute fantasy discussions. I'd say there's about as much chance of VA flying to BNE-GUM-HND as there is of them flying BME-SIN or DRW-MNL or NTL-NAN.

Probably more likely VA will fly to Antarctica they don’t even have the capital or capability to fly to NZ yet so I think pretty much all of this is fantasy airline league chuckles

 

[HS-TQE]

Probably more likely VA will fly to Antarctica they don’t even have the capital or capability to fly to NZ yet so I think pretty much all of this is fantasy airline league chuckles

The former is correct. The later is wrong.

The laters' aircraft is on Domestic Runs for the foreseeable future.

 

[jakeseven7]

The former is correct. The later is wrong.

The laters' aircraft is on Domestic Runs for the foreseeable future.

None of this makes any sense. Did you mean to use the word latter?

 

[ozstamps]

Probably more likely VA will fly to Antarctica they don’t even have the capital or capability to fly to NZ yet so I think pretty much all of this is fantasy airline league chuckles

Agree .. if Virgin cannot see a buck in adding back the NZ flights, they will NEVER try Guam.

They lost their shirt on Hong Kong .. let that be a permanent lesson.

I've visited GUAM dozens of times. Anyone who wants to sit on a beach in a resort, and sip a beer only needs to book a domestic flight. Why choose GUAM????

Lots of wonderful things to see and do there. Their Spanish history is fascinating. Masses of evidence of the many year Japanese WW2 occupation are still there. Tanks still stranded in the shallows etc.

The Banzai Cliffs in Saipan I will never forget visiting. The densely forested inland (Guam is a VERY large island) few tourists visit, and are fascinating. The Enola Gay took off from Tinian etc. to end the War etc.

 

[HS-TQE]

US DoT has approved the UA/VA codeshare & FF agreement until March 2024.
That's a 2 year term before renewal to the US authorities.

 

[aaronm]

US DoT has approved the UA/VA codeshare & FF agreement until March 2024.
That's a 2 year term before renewal to the US authorities.

Hopefully an announcement is imminent. All ready to book some flights...

 

[Matty F]

Hopefully an announcement is imminent. All ready to book some flights...

My thoughts exactly - we’re a little starved of details here.

On the other hand, gives me some time to get covid over and done with before heading out. Couldn’t imagine anything worse than having to recover mid-trip and having to scramble to change flights/hotels or deal with insurance while sick