VA2.0 International Partners

[antycbr]

Why? They aren’t A grade but they aren’t horrific…. As long as they don’t go bankrupt or downsize anymore!

Carrier charges on premium awards. Horrific… like $300 a sector.

 

[jase05]

Why? They aren’t A grade but they aren’t horrific…. As long as they don’t go bankrupt or downsize anymore!

I like Etihad but their carrier charges for redemptions are quite high hence why I don’t often use points with them.

 

[jakeseven7]

Carrier charges on premium awards. Horrific… like $300 a sector.

I like Etihad but their carrier charges for redemptions are quite high hence why I don’t often use points with them.

Makes sense

 

[HS-TQE]

On a tad serious note, VA and TR do have an interline agreement. One might wonder if Scoot to ATH and BER may be a slight serious option (once TR ramps those flights back closer to pre-COVID levels).

Aegean and Lufthansa interlines (expanded from the basic interline) could also be possible, or if they go the Low.. (I mean 'Value' orientated) route, there is Wizzair or EasyJet.

 

[antycbr]

On a tad serious note, VA and TR do have an interline agreement. One might wonder if Scoot to ATH and BER may be a slight serious option (once TR ramps those flights back closer to pre-COVID levels).

Aegean and Lufthansa interlines (expanded from the basic interline) could also be possible, or if they go the Low.. (I mean 'Value' orientated) route, there is Wizzair or EasyJet.

If they go low, then I'll be switching airlines

 

[jakeseven7]

On a tad serious note, VA and TR do have an interline agreement. One might wonder if Scoot to ATH and BER may be a slight serious option (once TR ramps those flights back closer to pre-COVID levels).

Aegean and Lufthansa interlines (expanded from the basic interline) could also be possible, or if they go the Low.. (I mean 'Value' orientated) route, there is Wizzair or EasyJet.

And also a tad serious - Iceland Air now have Bain’s fingers in them. Are they of any scale in Europe?

 

[jase05]

And also a tad serious - Iceland Air now have Bain’s fingers in them. Are they of any scale in Europe?

I didn’t think they were huge but serviced most of the “major” cities. They do have about a dozen routes to North America too

 

[HS-TQE]

I didn’t think they were huge but serviced most of the “major” cities. They do have about a dozen routes to North America too

In addition, if VA was to partner with fellow Bain stablemate IcelandAir, the nearest destination would be BER, which is a Scoot served destination.

IcelandAir's hub is in KEF (Keflavik).

 

[henrus]

On a tad serious note, VA and TR do have an interline agreement. One might wonder if Scoot to ATH and BER may be a slight serious option (once TR ramps those flights back closer to pre-COVID levels).

I actually don't mind TZ scoot plus. Back in 2019 I flew on a work trip to Singapore and actually went TZ OOL-SIN instead. Not only was the price very good but by having a gogo subscription (via MasterCard) I got free wifi. The premium economy like seat plus wifi meant one of the most productive flights I've ever been on.

If VA could sell tickets on TZ connecting flights and the ability to earn points /status benefits then I'd find myself flying TZ quite a bit!

 

[jase05]

If they go low, then I'll be switching airlines

Have to agree.
I have had to use TR for some small legs but I’d never fly them long haul. I really do hope they can sort something out

 

[Mattg]

And also a tad serious - Iceland Air now have Bain’s fingers in them. Are they of any scale in Europe?

I'd be happy to see a partnership with Icelandair but it would serve very little benefit to most Velocity members, being based on the complete opposite side of the world and having no overlapping destinations with VA. The main benefit would be access to Icelandair's trans-Atlantic network (via KEF) but there's already Delta and Virgin Atlantic for that.

 

[BNEFlyer]

Devastating news if true. So the only way to Europe will be Etihad with their outrageous fees, won't be a good look for VA. Does anyone know when the SQ/VA agreement expires?

From a pax perspective I prefer SQ over EY, but one benefit on the EY partnership is that VA status pax can use the lounge that EY's would. Where with SQ VA pax could only use SQ lounges.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Maybe if SQ goes with QF, VA could go with TR, if they really want to to low cost/min/no service.
TR still have their version of min service J, granted no lounge access in Aust.

 

[dajop]

VA could throw in Priority Pass membership with SG and WP (restricted for use outside Australia, and say 2 visits per year for SG and 10 per WP), or something like that, especially now that DL lounge access is diminished. Keep half the punters happy anyway.

 

[jakeseven7]

VA could throw in Priority Pass membership with SG and WP (restricted for use outside Australia, and say 2 visits per year for SG and 10 per WP), or something like that, especially now that DL lounge access is diminished. Keep half the punters happy anyway.

Please don’t give them ideas… there is budget and there is boooojay

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Don't think anyone at Bain really care about us.
Its all about the saving $$$.
Lots of cost cutting since they took over.
Maybe its good in their eyes to do it, but the more benefits you cut, the more angst the members will feel.

 

[HS-TQE]

Maybe if SQ goes with QF, VA could go with TR, if they really want to to low cost/min/no service.
TR still have their version of min service J, granted no lounge access in Aust.

Scoot previously used SATs Lounge in T1 for an add-on to the base ScootPlus J fare. This is no longer the case though, as Scoot just lists the pay-per-use lounges in T1.

 

[MooTime]

Don't think anyone at Bain really care about us.
Its all about the saving $$$.
Lots of cost cutting since they took over.
Maybe its good in their eyes to do it, but the more benefits you cut, the more angst the members will feel.

ah there's been cost cutting cos the previous management run the company into the ground, spending was clearly out of control compared to revenue.

Hence why they've moved from apparent Top tier alongside QF to now a mid/hybrid tier.

I for one am quite happy with where they seem to have settled. Could've been lot worse!

Back on topic, re; VA2.0 Int Partners, Air Canada already ann & others very soon, well in time for O/S travel.

 

[Mattg]

Interesting to note that this VA press release from yesterday specifically mentions that you could get 7x return Business flights from BNE to HNL with one million Velocity points.

I would take this as a sign that Hawaiian Airlines will definitely remain as a partner, except that below this it also says you can fly from SYD to LHR via HKG for 59,800 Velocity points - a routing that is no longer possible since VA axed SYD-HKG flights.

 

[jakeseven7]

Interesting to note that this VA press release from yesterday specifically mentions that you could get 7x return Business flights from BNE to HNL with one million Velocity points.

I would take this as a sign that Hawaiian Airlines will definitely remain as a partner, except that below this it also says you can fly from SYD to LHR via HKG for 59,800 Velocity points - a routing that is no longer possible since VA axed SYD-HKG flights.

Hmmm so perhaps it means not much at all

What about Air Asia and all its affiliates? Would give good Asia coverage?