VA cancels all NZ flights up until NOV22

[HS-TQE]

UA916 is a 1450 departure from AKL, arriving SFO 0705. (note: moves to 1550 as of this weekend)
Air NZ already run an 0810 departure from BNE, arriving AKL 1430, so if VA were going to do something to pair up with UA916 then it would end up mirroring the NZ service.

TBH I'm thinking this would only be a minor consideration in the general scheme of things, and it's going to be based on how much traffic they can get in both directions.

The VA service would have to leave earlier (say around early 6am or slightly earlier) than NZ's early service to meet up with the UA service. This would also allow VA to pick up Queensland connections from UA's SFO-AKL service as well.

I've also why I've pretty much stated earlier that the UA partnership would play a minor factor (at most) in VA's decision to return to the major NZ cities, as there are numerous other factors (plus with basically all Australian states going around with private/public aviation funding to try to attract international services back to their states)

 

[AIRwin]

So are you suggesting I check in at T2, go to the lounge at T3 and then go back to T2 to go through security.

I take it by your reply, that I don't have access to any lounge in T2.

Unfortunately VA currently does not operate any international lounges (unless you're flying on a partner airline)

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

There is the House by Aspire in SYD, and MEL.
Hours varies daily though, which is a downside, esp if it does not fit into your time of departure.
Maybe PriorityPass might be better, more expensive of course.
Edit: Maharba in T2 is always open, so PriorityPass under that will let you have entry, if the Aspire is closed on your time of departure to AKL, Secco.
They also have pay on entry.

 

[jase05]

Unfortunately VA currently does not operate any international lounges (unless you're flying on a partner airline)

Which is why my belief is that VA shouldn’t be starting new routes until it has lounge access agreements in place. Simply unacceptable to not have lounge access before a International flight

 

[Secco]

Which is why my belief is that VA shouldn’t be starting new routes until it has lounge access agreements in place. Simply unacceptable to not have lounge access before a International flight

Yes, when I booked my flight, I just assumed there would be lounge access.

 

[Saab34]

It really is quite strange, and they keep sort of deflecting comments about it when asked.

One possibility, is that some lounges are perhaps a creditor and refuse to deal with Virgin Mark 2. From what I was told, is a few suppliers that have refused to deal with Virgin 2 until previous invoices have been paid, now Virgin can't do that otherwise that creates a huge legal minefield with the other creditors.

 

[Secco]

The annoying part is that it says you MAY have access to a partner airlines lounge.



But that is not the case. Every partner airline says you must be flying with them, to access their lounge.

 

[jase05]

It really is quite strange, and they keep sort of deflecting comments about it when asked.

One possibility, is that some lounges are perhaps a creditor and refuse to deal with Virgin Mark 2. From what I was told, is a few suppliers that have refused to deal with Virgin 2 until previous invoices have been paid, now Virgin can't do that otherwise that creates a huge legal minefield with the other creditors.

In which case VA needs to be giving a credit voucher to each and every eligible passenger when checking in. The voucher should be to the value which covers either paid lounge access or food and beverages.
Nearly all my domestic leisure travel is with VA in J but I won’t be flying with them internationally where I can’t get lounge access.

 

[HS-TQE]

It really is quite strange, and they keep sort of deflecting comments about it when asked.

One possibility, is that some lounges are perhaps a creditor and refuse to deal with Virgin Mark 2. From what I was told, is a few suppliers that have refused to deal with Virgin 2 until previous invoices have been paid, now Virgin can't do that otherwise that creates a huge legal minefield with the other creditors.

Not sure if Aspire had any outstanding statements owed by VA 1.0 from No 1 Lounges (the former owners) passed onto them. No 1 did operate the SYD/MEL and BNE lounges, and they had 'minor' VA branding at the door of those lounges (which I'm assuming they had been removed in SYD/MEL, whilst the BNE lounge still remains closed).

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

So does this mean that, flying VAi J, Aspire lounge is now a separate non laision group?
Thought there was still a link between VAi and Aspire, for J customers or VA SG and VA P1 customers flying internationally from MEL/SYD.
Meaning that VAi wont pay Aspire for a VAi J customer per entry.
I mean not having to buy lounge entry.

 

[jakeseven7]

Which is why my belief is that VA shouldn’t be starting new routes until it has lounge access agreements in place. Simply unacceptable to not have lounge access before a International flight

Is that tongue in cheek? This is VA2, hybrid/LCC whatever carrier now. I think we need to manage our expectations!

 

[jase05]

Is that tongue in cheek? This is VA2, hybrid/LCC whatever carrier now. I think we need to manage our expectations!

Not tongue in cheek at all.
I realise that the business model has changed but VA also has to realise that folks like us who have flown with them in the past Internationally and spend a hell of a lot of money with them will be forced to look elsewhere for options.
We are currently looking at a couple of short holidays and weekends away around January and February but most likely we would have to look at other airline options if we choose Fiji or NZ

 

[Zanzara]

VAs lounge offering before the Bain takeover wasn’t that great. There was no access to the RAR NZ lounge and lounge access at AKL (like a few of overseas ports they served) was a bit all over the place. From memory there was no lounge at ZHQ until the almost the end. VA won’t sweat if they loose a few customers due to no lounge. Most will probably assume they have it and will get a bit of a surprise. Even domestically VA have a busy port at CNS and that lounge was closed.

 

[BRIS_VA_HAWK]

Even domestically VA have a busy port at CNS and that lounge was closed.

CNS is busy in the context of Queensland perhaps (4-5 BNE, 2 SYD, 1-2 MEL & 1 ADL), however against the rest of the lounge network it's a non-starter. OOL has ~20-25 daily. Having said that VA having a lounge in CNS was nice, especially considering it was a 2+ hour flight to anywhere else with minimal food/drink unless you're in J.

 

[lovestotravel]

I'd do anything for a lounge at MCY, that place is a zoo with the constant Jetstar announcements about bag weighing, lining up and it's poor food options.

 

[jakeseven7]

Not tongue in cheek at all.
I realise that the business model has changed but VA also has to realise that folks like us who have flown with them in the past Internationally and spend a hell of a lot of money with them will be forced to look elsewhere for options.
We are currently looking at a couple of short holidays and weekends away around January and February but most likely we would have to look at other airline options if we choose Fiji or NZ

I do get what you are saying, but I guess my point is you didn’t fly / spend a hell of a lot of money with ‘them’ (being Bain/VA2) in the past, you did that with a company that collapsed and is dead, this new company basically just kept the name and has built a ‘new’, smaller and more ‘down market’ airline around the shell of the old one.

 

[AIRwin]

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[Sprucegoose]

Is that tongue in cheek? This is VA2, hybrid/LCC whatever carrier now. I think we need to manage our expectations!

It's more than VA2.

The current management is market responsive and provides a balanced product; the business metrics bear this out.

JH an Co clearly have a strategy and doing what should have been done over a decade ago.

Venture Capital has a reliability of getting to the answers quicker than ego.