VA2.0 International Partners

[Must...Fly!]

Yeah there’s no way I’d trust VAs ersatz alliance to look after me connecting between carriers in foreign ports thank you very much.

Transfers to/from DL in LAX were fine. Can't speak for when they were flying to AUH on VA metal or indeed connecting via HKT from PER. Yes some people flew that way then to AUH especially before EY started flying to Perth.

 

[N860CR]

I don't think it was too much of a problem. Most of the time you flew on a partner the whole way if international anyway.

SAA was a pain. They were good value redemptions, but VA wouldn't throw in (or even offer) the connection from the East Coast over east

 

[antycbr]

Transfers to/from DL in LAX were fine. Can't speak for when they were flying to AUH on VA metal or indeed connecting via HKT from PER. Yes some people flew that way then to AUH especially before EY started flying to Perth.

I was more thinking of say connecting between EY and VS or some other esoteric combination, HA to DL or anything involving HNA group airlines.

 

[HS-TQE]

ET/AusBT reporting those airlines will be resuming redemptions from November 1.

As of November 1, Velocity Points can be redeemed on flights with the following partners:

• Air Canada
• Delta Air Lines
• Etihad Airways
• Hawaiian Airlines
• South African Airways
• Virgin Atlantic

The big surprise, and I'd be happy to be proven wrong (on my initial prediction of the Transfers 'not returning') is that Singapore may return to the VA fold with a 'revised' Velocity-Krisflyer transfer program. Probably suggesting that Bain must've 'gotten something out of SQ' to resume the transfer program if its true.

However, Singapore Airlines being delayed from the November 1 date for the above mentioned airlines suggests that there may be other issues to sort out, including the rumoured 'switch' to QF for domestic codeshares.

Also missing is ANA, which is a surprise. But not returning will be Alitalia/ITA and the HNA group carriers, which is no surprise.

 

[jase05]

ET/AusBT reporting those airlines will be resuming redemptions from November 1.



The big surprise, and I'd be happy to be proven wrong (on my initial prediction of the Transfers 'not returning') is that Singapore may return to the VA fold with a 'revised' Velocity-Krisflyer transfer program. Probably suggesting that Bain must've 'gotten something out of SQ' to resume the transfer program if its true.

However, Singapore Airlines being delayed from the November 1 date for the above mentioned airlines suggests that there may be other issues to sort out, including the rumoured 'switch' to QF for domestic codeshares.

Also missing is ANA, which is a surprise. But not returning will be Alitalia/ITA and the HNA group carriers, which is no surprise.

Not too bad, doubt SA survive but mostly happy with that lot. Nice if NH does come on board and SQ gets sorted out though.
Hopefully scope for others to be added along the way.

 

[antycbr]

Full details are available here:

Velocity Help and Support

We've got your back with frequently asked questions, how to guides and details to get in contact with us.

experience.velocityfrequentflyer.com

The table has what you need to know...

Annoying: AC is available except for AU-YVR which is what you really want. Hopefully this is one of those Covid things and will go soon.

In summary the most profitable part of VA is the loyalty program, and having no international partners would have made the forthcoming bonus transfers from banks pretty, ahem, pointless...

 

[HS-TQE]

Per the recent Velocity website update, looks like Singapore Airlines is locked in.

However according to the VA website Bain and SQ are still sorting out the details of the 'revised' Krisflyer/Velocity transfer program.

So there's promise on that one for those still wanting to 'transfer' points out of Velocity, although I'd suspect the transfer rate will probably be devalued further than the pre-COVID rate.

 

[antycbr]

Per the recent Velocity website update, looks like Singapore Airlines is locked in.

However according to the VA website Bain and SQ are still sorting out the details of the 'revised' Krisflyer/Velocity transfer program.

So there's promise on that one for those still wanting to 'transfer' points out of Velocity, although I'd suspect the transfer rate will probably be devalued further than the pre-COVID rate.

Still handy if you want to get a *A award and have plenty of points and dont care about the burn rate. I'd rather have it there than not at all!

 

[http_x92]

Probably realised that the Velocity-Krisflyer transfer rate was unsustainable as it is. Think even 1.55:1 wasn't enough for the Velocity side of things.

 

[HS-TQE]

Probably realised that the Velocity-Krisflyer transfer rate was unsustainable as it is. Think even 1.55:1 wasn't enough for the Velocity side of things.

Which is probably why Bain and SQ/Velocity are trying to negotiate the resumption of the program at a 'sustainable' rate, if not in favour of Bain!

Considering the previous Velocity/Krisflyer program was a reported money drain in favour of SQ, which would've only been acceptable back when SQ had a stake in VA.

 

[jase05]

Per the recent Velocity website update, looks like Singapore Airlines is locked in.

However according to the VA website Bain and SQ are still sorting out the details of the 'revised' Krisflyer/Velocity transfer program.

So there's promise on that one for those still wanting to 'transfer' points out of Velocity, although I'd suspect the transfer rate will probably be devalued further than the pre-COVID rate.

Also

HNA Group Airlines: Our Reward Seat proposition on Hainan Airlines, Hong Kong Airlines and Capital Airlines is currently suspended. We will provide more information as these airlines rebuild their network of flights.

Perhaps a chance of retaining some ties with HNA Group should they survive

 

[antycbr]

Probably realised that the Velocity-Krisflyer transfer rate was unsustainable as it is. Think even 1.55:1 wasn't enough for the Velocity side of things.

Yeah, when you look at what the "currency" is worth - SQ points are worth more in dollar terms than VA points when redeemed so you need to have an appropriate transfer rate to make it attractive for SQ to take it on.

Most programs that allow transfers don't make it good value for you to do so, after all VA would prefer it that we used them on a 6am SYD-MEL service on a Saturday morning.

I'm interested in SQ filing for oncarriage on QF. SQ should realise that there's quite a lot of us that fly VA as our primary airline and it's not like VA is suddenly going to muscle in on the AU-SIN-xx_ traffic any time soon. A lot of us buy commerical tickets on SQ as a result of being mainly VA flyers, and if they aren't partners any more I'll fly someone else that's better value, which could mean QF all the way. Better value is generally not SQ.

 

[HS-TQE]

SQ and QF already interline across the Australian domestic network. It'll be interesting if SQ keeps the QF/SQ interline arrangement for Australia-SIN-India ports itineraries.

 

[oz_mark]

Virgin Australia Group ramps up international travel

newsroom.virginaustralia.com

Wednesday 27 October 2021: With restrictions for international travel further easing from Monday 1 November 2021, Velocity Frequent Flyer has today announced the first tranche of its post-lockdown international ‘earn and burn’ partnerships with seven leading airlines, to open up travel for members to hundreds of destinations.

By leveraging Velocity’s partnerships with leading global airlines and Virgin Australia’s own international network, the airline group is building an enviable international network, starting with:

• Virgin Atlantic
• Air Canada
• Delta Air Lines
• Etihad Airways
• Hawaiian Airlines
• Singapore Airlines
• South African Airways

• The network of available destinations will go live in stages as restrictions ease and international travel resumes.
  
  From 11.59pm AEDT Monday 1 November 2021, Velocity members will be able to redeem their Points for bookings on Reward Seats and earn Velocity Points and Status Credits for eligible regular fares on selected flights with Virgin Atlantic, Air Canada, Delta Air Lines, Etihad Airways, Hawaiian Airlines and South African Airways. Travel dates will vary for each carrier and Reward Seat and route availability is expected to grow in line with international travel demand returning to the market.
  
  Singapore Airlines will be next to offer Velocity members Reward Seats as the airline expands its network and services to and from Australia. Meanwhile, Velocity members will continue to earn Points and Status Credits when travelling on eligible revenue bookings made with the carrier.

 

[HS-TQE]

Recent notes added to the VA press release.

• Virgin Australia is in discussions with suppliers and partners regarding the airline’s resumption of long-haul international services.
• The following airline partnerships will not return to the Velocity redemption program:
  • Alitalia – Following its ongoing Extraordinary Administration period, Alitalia permanently ceased flight operations on 15 October 2021.
  • Silk Air – the airline brand has been discontinued by Singapore Airlines.
• Virgin Australia’s codeshare partnership with All Nippon Airways remains paused.

In other words, they're still in negotiations with Boeing and/or Lessors for widebodies to resume their own LAX/HND services. (unlikely that Airbus will be involved here).

Sad to see the ANA partnership remains paused for now considering the HND slot extension applications.

 

[jase05]

Recent notes added to the VA press release.



In other words, they're still in negotiations with Boeing and/or Lessors for widebodies to resume their own LAX/HND services. (unlikely that Airbus will be involved here).

Sad to see the ANA partnership remains paused for now considering the HND slot extension applications.

Might be a while before we head back to China but hopefully the HNA group remains. I really did enjoy flying with both HU and HX

 

[dajop]

However, Singapore Airlines being delayed from the November 1 date for the above mentioned airlines suggests that there may be other issues to sort out, including the rumoured 'switch' to QF for domestic codeshares.

The main issue I suspect with SQ is not VA specific. They have been blocking award redemptions from all of their partners during the pandemic. I haven't been following if they have recently opened up their inventories to star alliance partners, but if not, I expect that once SQ make the decision to open inventories once more, Velocity points will be able to be used to access those inventories.

 

[antycbr]

Might be a while before we head back to China but hopefully the HNA group remains. I really did enjoy flying with both HU and HX

Their lounge at HKG was pretty cool.

They might as well have put a pile of HKD and RMB in the middle of the lounge and burnt it though...

 

[Must...Fly!]

This bit intrigued me

More partnerships and more destinations will be revealed in the coming months.

And separately I was just about to apply for a QF AMEX Ultimate offer which expires tonight. I wonder if holding off for what comes next month might be better. Hmm!

 

[woodyren]

This bit intrigued me



And separately I was just about to apply for a QF AMEX Ultimate offer which expires tonight. I wonder if holding off for what comes next month might be better. Hmm!

I took a flyer last week and applied for a Citibank rewards card with 80k Velocity sign up bonus and a further 70k once you renew for the second year. Main reason was that I was out of QFF bonus options so I thought why not.

Feeling a lot happier about this now and for my 400k I left in Velocity after sending the majority of my points to Krisflyer before the halt.

Waiting eagerly to see what is on offer.