VA to Colorado?

[thegurio]

We have access to a house in Estes Park Colorado which i am pencilling in for visiting in July of next year. What would like to know is there anyway in the Virgin Network that we would be able to make our way there. LA is a no-brainer, but i was thinking maybe Utah? Denver? If its Oneworld from LA then it's be a quick visit to LAS then who know from there. Woudltn mind driving around the US for a bit of fun.

But all i want is to take VA/DJ the whole way as that will ensure that i will get gold for next year...

If not I'll have to find some YUPPS/KUPPS and co-erce the wife into joining me!

 

[777]

We have access to a house in Estes Park Colorado which i am pencilling in for visiting in July of next year. What would like to know is there anyway in the Virgin Network that we would be able to make our way there. LA is a no-brainer, but i was thinking maybe Utah? Denver? If its Oneworld from LA then it's be a quick visit to LAS then who know from there. Woudltn mind driving around the US for a bit of fun.

But all i want is to take VA/DJ the whole way as that will ensure that i will get gold for next year...

If not I'll have to find some YUPPS/KUPPS and co-erce the wife into joining me!

Looks like Salt Lake City is an option. The connection is on Delta and seems to be timed OK. Won't let you book that far ahead though.

By then hopefully the DL DJ VA agreement will be up and running in full so i would expect that the options will increase.

 

[thegurio]

I know I'm getting in early... Just wanted to know what was in the pipeline I guess. I'm sure the drive from Salt Lake Coty would be fine and satisfy all the requirements - ill look forward to the advancements.

 

[docjames]

Hopefully by then the VA/DJ/DL alliance will be up and running and you can fly to pretty much anywhere on DL - DEN is the closest "major" airport.

 

[crazydave98]

We have access to a house in Estes Park Colorado which i am pencilling in for visiting in July of next year. What would like to know is there anyway in the Virgin Network that we would be able to make our way there. ....But all i want is to take VA/DJ the whole way as that will ensure that i will get gold for next year...

Our intention is certainly to have the codeshare, frequent flyer and lounge reciprocity arrangements with Delta in place well before then - that is we will have VA code on DL operated flights ex-LAX to the likes of Denver (via Salt Lake City - DL do not at present have non-stop LAX-DEN).

Have to say, I am pretty underwhelmed by the response to our announcement about the DL alliance. For all the moaning about Velocity's lack of international partners and VA's lack of distribution/codeshares in North America (yes Canada and Mexico too) the reaction has been close to zilch. Curious.

Just as an aside in case anyone missed it, the codeshare, frequent flyer and lounge reciprocity arrangements are not subject to regulatory approval - we are just doing it. The bit subject to regulatory approval is the proposed JV which involves revenue sharing and co-ordination of schedules and revenue management.

cheers

CrazyDave98

 

[777]

Have to say, I am pretty underwhelmed by the response to our announcement about the DL alliance. For all the moaning about Velocity's lack of international partners and VA's lack of distribution/codeshares in North America (yes Canada and Mexico too) the reaction has been close to zilch. Curious.

Hi Dave. I am certainly excited about it although i feel like there's a lack of detail so there is no point in getting too far aheaed of myself. I'm Velocity gold, i'm a lounge member and i'm one of the people who has been hoping that DJ will up it's international partnerships. What i don't know is when, how and if this will affect me.

Don't get me wrong. It's a great sign! I don't travel to the states much for work so it is not of massive use to me on that front - i usually make a trip to Europe and a couple to SE Asia each year..

But now that VA flies to the US it is high on my list of holiday destinations. I am 90% sure we'll do a trip to the US in November/December for our honeymoon. Lounge access in the states flying Delta would be great and it would certainly be enough to get me to fly my internal connections on DL. When will this come online? Is it likely to be up and running by the end of the year and if so, will i need to book a VA codeshare flight?

Of course VA haven't yet announced lounge access for my home port (MEL) so while access in the states would be great, i'm not even certain it will be at this end (BNE doesn't have it, Sydney does). What are the plans for that?

Just as an aside in case anyone missed it, the codeshare, frequent flyer and lounge reciprocity arrangements are not subject to regulatory approval - we are just doing it. The bit subject to regulatory approval is the proposed JV which involves revenue sharing and co-ordination of schedules and revenue management.

That's great news. As above, any idea when it will start, which lounges it will apply to and what we'll need to do to qualify? Will we earn status on DL codeshare flights or just points?

I note delta high status passengers don't get lounge access automatically under their scheme. will you need to tinker with the tiers or anything to bring the benefits in line at both ends?

thanks!

777.

 

[notzac]

Have to say, I am pretty underwhelmed by the response to our announcement about the DL alliance. For all the moaning about Velocity's lack of international partners and VA's lack of distribution/codeshares in North America (yes Canada and Mexico too) the reaction has been close to zilch. Curious.

Hi Dave,

I'm certainly very very interested - as I'm sure several members here are. I'm waiting for details though. Is it going to be worth my while jumping from QFF? Are there going to be other FF program/status reciprocities? Are there new lounges planned? Give us some more information!

- zac.

 

[thegurio]

Thanks for that CrazyDave. I am quite excited for one about the relationship, just wish I could utilise a bit more!

When will this alliance be started approx.? Don't want a concrete date - just want to know if it will be an option when we go.

 

[crazydave98]

Well, haven't I created a rod for my own back?!

I can't give you a start date because we want to save that for a launch event (i.e. keep quiet for the time being) but can safely assure thegurio it will be in time for his travel. Can't guarantee it for 777's honeymoon but will be close. Will see if I can get a date and PM you.

To notzac, yes we are planning expansion of relationship with our existing partners - Virgin Atlantic, Emirates and Malaysian - to include lounge and better frequent flyer reciprocity.

To 777, yes we are working on lounges at MEL and BNE (and improving situation at SYD). The Delta relationship will help significantly to make more options viable by also co-operating with SkyTeam airlines. This is not to say that we are joining SkyTeam!

Still some issues to be sorted on reciprocity but I understand we are getting the highest levels of reciprocity that Delta has ever given to non-SkyTeam airlines. The plan is that Lounge members (including Velocity Gold) and J class guests will get access to all Delta lounges when travelling on an international itinerary. I believe the intent is that Velocity members will get points + status on VA-coded flights and points only on DL flights without VA code.

We would like to get to this level of reciprocity with Atlantic, Emirates, Malaysian and maybe SkyTeam airlines such as Korean and China Southern. Frankly we would like Singapore but they don't seem to like us - something to do with them not being able to fly trans-Pacific and Richard Branson tearing up a check for the purchase of VB in Ansett's dying days . Also given our level of competition with AirNZ and United and indirectly Air Canada we are probably persona-no-grata within Star. Essentially we want to be able to offer the same benefits as alliances, but without the overhead and being able to pick and choose who we deal with.

cheers

CrazyDave98

 

[777]

Well, haven't I created a rod for my own back?!

Yes, and thanks for doing it. I've been scurrying around trying to find details and waiting for someone from DJ the post about it here!

Can't guarantee it for 777's honeymoon but will be close. Will see if I can get a date and PM you.

Surely, if ever there was a reason to bring it forward, my honeymoon is it right?

To notzac, yes we are planning expansion of relationship with our existing partners - Virgin Atlantic, Emirates and Malaysian - to include lounge and better frequent flyer reciprocity.

I assume this will take a little while. I'm going to Uk, Ireland, Dubai and China on a combination of Emirates and Malaysia in September. I assume i shouldn't be rushing to cancel my priority pass membership any time soon?

To 777, yes we are working on lounges at MEL and BNE (and improving situation at SYD). The Delta relationship will help significantly to make more options viable by also co-operating with SkyTeam airlines. This is not to say that we are joining SkyTeam!

I posted something to that effect in another thread. Surely with DL traffic, VA traffic, and expanded DL use of pacific blue connections the maths on your own lounge at MEL, BNE, and SYD starts to look a whole lot better?

Still some issues to be sorted on reciprocity but I understand we are getting the highest levels of reciprocity that Delta has ever given to non-SkyTeam airlines. The plan is that Lounge members (including Velocity Gold) and J class guests will get access to all Delta lounges when travelling on an international itinerary. I believe the intent is that Velocity members will get points + status on VA-coded flights and points only on DL flights without VA code.

So Lounge access wouldn't likely apply to a stand alone ticket bought say LA-NY on Delta? It would apply only when booking a leg as part of an international booking? I'm actually fiddling with the details at the moment about how to go about booking the honeymoon itinerary and that's handy to know.

We would like to get to this level of reciprocity with Atlantic, Emirates, Malaysian and maybe SkyTeam airlines such as Korean and China Southern... Essentially we want to be able to offer the same benefits as alliances, but without the overhead and being able to pick and choose who we deal with.

You have my enthusiastic support!

777.

 

[stuartfaz]

The Delta relationship will help significantly to make more options viable by also co-operating with SkyTeam airlines. This is not to say that we are joining SkyTeam!

At the risk of asking a question which I think sounds simple but the answer of which is likely very complex...Why not?

Great news about the JV with Delta, anything that keeps VA around and competitive is a good move. Who knows, could be a bit of a game-changer on the route...

 

[crazydave98]

At the risk of asking a question which I think sounds simple but the answer of which is likely very complex...Why not?

I'm not saying we won't ever do it. Just that SkyTeam is pretty weak in this part of the world and joining them could make it harder to have partnerships with airlines like Thai, Emirates and Malaysian and even say ANA that would be more useful to us.

There is a lot of baggage that comes will alliance membership which we can avoid with bilateral arrangements and still deliver most of the benefit of a global alliance to our guests.

 

[straitman]

crazydave98,

Great news thus far. Keep going as you have a big audience :!: