VA2.0 International Partners

[Must...Fly!]

I booked my Air Canada velocity business reward seat Feb 17 for flight at beginning of June. At the time, there was good availability for SYD-YVR but not anymore. There seems to be no rhyme or reason as things come back online.

There is a small smattering of seats available BNE-YVR. I just picked up a J seat in November for 104,000pts + $110 taxes.

 

[Brittany]

There is a small smattering of seats available BNE-YVR. I just picked up a J seat in November for 104,000pts + $110 taxes.

That’s good to know! I’m hanging out for any news of their United partnership as I might try and book a return flight with them

 

[Must...Fly!]

That’s good to know! I’m hanging out for any news of their United partnership as I might try and book a return flight with them

I just got very, very lucky. Wanted to arrive/depart from YVR/west coast USA. Availability only 1 seat BNE-YVR through Velocity so I booked it as nothing available later in the month to return (will have to buy a positioning flight to BNE).

While poking around for the return on Qantas (I also intended to wait for UA announcement), couldn't find anything out of the USA but did find a seat YVR-SYD. However at some point during the afternoon, QF released a seat in J LAX-MEL on QF94 on an acceptable date - 108,400pts + $220.

Being single has its advantages...and a bucket load of luck.

 

[HS-TQE]

AC has increased their BNE services to daily as of 1 November in the booking engines. Aircraft on the BNE-YVR route however has changed back to the 788, seems forward bookings were strong enough to restore daily services reasonably quickly.

 

[jase05]

PIA (PK) are starting direct LHE-SYD flights on April 22nd and have just signed a interline agreement with VA for 8 Australian destinations. Flights are able to be booked on the PIA website as of now.

PIA announces to launch direct flights to Sydney - Pakistan Observer

Pakistan International Airline (PIA) on Thursday has announced to launch direct flights to the Australian city of Sydney. PIA will…

pakobserver.net

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Yes, that would be good for Aussies who live here, but have family or business in Pakistan, to where SQ does not fly, the flyer could go with PK.

 

[HS-TQE]

With the news of the new Qatar Airways and Virgin Australia codeshare and FF agreement announced today, both managements has done well at hiding this one.

 

[AIRwin]

With the news of the new Qatar Airways and Virgin Australia codeshare and FF agreement announced today, both managements has done well at hiding this one.

Crouching oryx, hidden Virgin

 

[RAM]

Am I right in thinking (remembering) that an Internaational partner redemption goes on total flying distance for redemption not on sectors?

So on Hawaiian Airlines it is the sum of distance to HNL + distance to other island, NOT 2 separate award redemptions.

 

[paros_fan]

Any idea on when we'll be able to buy cash tickets on VA's website for SQ flights?
Or QR / United, etc?
I know I can book rewards seats on SQ on VA's website, but not cash it appears.

Reason for asking is as a AIA Vitality member, I get 50% off economy / premium economy tickets on VA's website. I've previously booked a PE ticket via VA's website for a flight pre-Covid flying on SQ and saved about $2k.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Guess it would be when VA is ready to be onsold, but in the end, that info would have be okayed by JH, and she has not been too open about a lot of things in relation to VA.
There are a lot of things we would like to know more about, ie, as in your post Paros_fan, or when we can again transfer points from VA to KF or vv or even when (or IF) its going to restart, also some of us would like to know when and if VA had plans to join *A hush hush, like the QR announcement that came out of no where... if NH (ANA)'s ensign would appear on the list of partners on VA's website, etc.

 

[RAM]

Many (here & elsewhere) assume it is VA II's decision on resuming transfers of VFF points to other schemes.

It is not solely, the other airline has to be willing to use their valuable cash holdings to pay VA for the VFF point value transferred. Allowing VFF points to be used for a flight award means near instant revenue for the redeeming airline vs transferring points may be 3 years or more before the value can be booked.

Does anybody know if SIA/Krisflyer follows the Q approach (no cash value nor cash backing for QFF points) or the VA approach (full cash backing for VFF points)?

As of 31 Dec 2021 - Q had >$1,400m more in liabilities than tangible assets to pay them out. QFF point holders seem to be the lowest ranking amongst potential creditors.

 

[Bagpuss]

Guess it would be when VA is ready to be onsold, but in the end, that info would have be okayed by JH, and she has not been too open about a lot of things in relation to VA.
.

There's a thing called "commercial in confidence". It probably reflects staff not leaking information. It's been commented before that staff aren't informed because they would just tell customers.

Bottom line is that the revenue agreement with SQ is expired. So it wont come into play until there is a new agreement and authorized with the ACCC.

 

[HS-TQE]

There's a thing called "commercial in confidence". It probably reflects staff not leaking information. It's been commented before that staff aren't informed because they would just tell customers.

Bottom line is that the revenue agreement with SQ is expired. So it wont come into play until there is a new agreement and authorized with the ACCC.

Likely to be a while before any new revenue agreement between SQ and VA pops up, if any.

With the recent news, it's likely JH and co will want to 'bed down' the agreements with UA and QR first before renegotiating a new revenue agreement with SQ. The new 'big 3' going by the end of 2022 is likely to be headed by UA, QR and SQ.

 

[paros_fan]

I'm happy if can buy a cash ticket on QR or United via VA's website (as a codeshare flight), because then I'll be able to still get the discount. As long as its a VA flight number and paid with cash and not points/miles

 

[Bagpuss]

With the recent news, it's likely JH and co will want to 'bed down' the agreements with UA and QR first before renegotiating a new revenue agreement with SQ. The new 'big 3' going by the end of 2022 is likely to be headed by UA, QR and SQ.

Isn't that the job of the CEO of Velocity ?

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Velocity is the FF program.
But they need to have the agreements with other airlines, its the CEO of the airline itself that makes the decision, re agreements and revenue sharing, not the FF program, in the first instance.
The FF program of the airline gets part of the revenue, down the line, but they can make money later on trading points with non flying partners.
The money is earnt by the airline in the first instance, no?
Then the airline passes on down part of the revenue to the FF program, who can make extra more, by trading points with partners, non flights.
Edit: with automerge too.

I'm happy if can buy a cash ticket on QR or United via VA's website (as a codeshare flight), because then I'll be able to still get the discount. As long as its a VA flight number and paid with cash and not points/miles

This might come back soon, but who knows when.

 

[HS-TQE]

Virgin Australia looks at deepening the Hawaiian Airlines partnership to compliment the UA partnership. Previously, DL had larger clout that restricted what can be done with the previous VA/HA agreement, but with UA, HA now has more wriggle room.

Also explains why EY got 'demoted' in favour of upcoming 'VA/QR' partnership, with similar rationale to how UA replaced DL. (e.g QR served more Australian cities and European Cities than EY, similar to how UA had the larger Australian network than DL)

Virgin Australia eyes broader Hawaiian Airlines partnership as it spreads its international wings

In this exclusive chat with Point Hacks, Virgin Australia CEO Jayne Hrdlicka tips what's next with the airline's international partnerships.

www.pointhacks.com.au

 

[Revenge]

Virgin Australia looks at deepening the Hawaiian Airlines partnership to compliment the UA partnership.

I really hope VA also "deepens" the partnership with Air Canada.

 

[HS-TQE]

Speaking of partner updates, VA has updated their website, the 'Tier 1' one partners are QR, UA, SQ, HA, AC and NH (the last one a tad surprising). HA has been 'promoted'

Former 'major' partner EY has been 'demoted' to secondary partner status. I wonder if REX is interested in picking up EY as a second Australian interline and FF partner? Two former major VA partners (or VA's seconds ) wouldn't be a bad thing for REX.

Airline partners

Travel to over 600 destinations across Asia, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Americas with Virgin Australia's world-class airline partners. Earn or redeem Velocity Points with our global network of partners.

www.virginaustralia.com