Virgin Australia and Air NZ to Form New Partnership

[bcworld]

I don't care about baggage transfer to the onward flight, but more so having these separate itineraries interlined onto 1 would be very helpful in case there are delays or cancelations on the domestic leg.
I suspect the answer will be no, but am interested to hear others thoughts on the possibility.

They're not going to protect you from delays and misconnects on separate tickets. The best you can hope for is bags being checked through, which as mentioned is also doubtful.

 

[Rayesfeg]

They're not going to protect you from delays and misconnects on separate tickets. The best you can hope for is bags being checked through, which as mentioned is also doubtful.

I thought that interlining flights meant that separate itineraries were joined to one, and the airline would 'cover you' in case of any delays throughout the journey?.

I'd say very unlikely. It's been reported in the past that VA has a policy of not interlining on separate bookings, even the second booking on their own services or their partners.

You'd pretty much require to grab travel insurance in case the VA leg gets delayed and causes you to miss your flight as separate bookings are not covered for missed connections.

I see, I did have a feeling this would be the case. Thanks for your insight.
Do you know if travel insurance would cover you in such a situation? I haven't read through a PDS in some time, but I thought this type of missed connection was not covered?

 

[justinbrett]

I thought that interlining flights meant that separate itineraries were joined to one, and the airline would 'cover you' in case of any delays throughout the journey?.



I see, I did have a feeling this would be the case. Thanks for your insight.
Do you know if travel insurance would cover you in such a situation? I haven't read through a PDS in some time, but I thought this type of missed connection was not covered?

Interlining is just a formal agreement between two airlines to connect baggage from one to the other.

If you have two airlines without an interline agreement even if it’s on the same PNR bags won’t be transferred.

With separate PNRs, if there’s an agreement, then it’s up to each airlines policy. They may be connected in one direction but not the other.

Interlining doesn’t protect connections. Single ticket bookings do.

 

[Rayesfeg]

Interlining is just a formal agreement between two airlines to connect baggage from one to the other.

If you have two airlines without an interline agreement even if it’s on the same PNR bags won’t be transferred.

With separate PNRs, if there’s an agreement, then it’s up to each airlines policy. They may be connected in one direction but not the other.

Interlining doesn’t protect connections. Single ticket bookings do.

Got it, I was under the impression that interlining made separate flights come under a single ticket.

Guessing that airlines won't put two separate flights under a single ticket?

 

[HS-TQE]

Got it, I was under the impression that interlining made separate flights come under a single ticket.

Guessing that airlines won't put two separate flights under a single ticket?

Some airlines may put two separate tickets together if requested, but all airlines have separate policies.

Some airlines may interline (baggage through-check) two separate tickets if asked by the customer, whilst at the same time some airlines have a policy to not interline two separate tickets together.

 

[bcworld]

Got it, I was under the impression that interlining made separate flights come under a single ticket.

You are proposing to have 1 VA ticket and 1 NZ ticket...so that will never happen. Neither ticketing carrier will touch the other's ticket...assuming that they even have access to be able to manage it.

 

[MarkD]

I used to do this all the time when delta was a partner. They would through check the bags every time. Unsure with this new arrangement, but it is certainly ABLE to be done.

 

[dajop]

To be pedantic, interlining is more than just through checking of luggage (although around many forums, colloquially that is what it is taken to mean). Interlining also involves ticket issuing, service recovery, airline invoicing etc. But usually around here people take it to mean through checking of luggage. But again to be pedantic, through checking of luggage on separate tickets in a separate reservations (PNRs) is simply through checking of luggage, it is not interlining, and therefore depends on the policies of the first carrier and whether or not they have an agreement to through check to the second carrier (if they have an interline agreement they would).

 

[jas]

So... back to the topic at hand.

Any clues when this is going to come together? I'm hanging out to book flights for Christmas but would much prefer on a VA code so I can take advantage of my VA WP status. ACCC authorisation says it comes into effect yesterday but it's crickets so far....

 

[prelude]

Still awaiting authorisation from the New Zealand side (Ministry of Transport).

 

[Rayesfeg]

To be pedantic, interlining is more than just through checking of luggage (although around many forums, colloquially that is what it is taken to mean). Interlining also involves ticket issuing, service recovery, airline invoicing etc. But usually around here people take it to mean through checking of luggage. But again to be pedantic, through checking of luggage on separate tickets in a separate reservations (PNRs) is simply through checking of luggage, it is not interlining, and therefore depends on the policies of the first carrier and whether or not they have an agreement to through check to the second carrier (if they have an interline agreement they would).

Thank you @dajop , your 'pedanticness' clarified my understanding - seems that others were under the impression that interlining was just about luggage through checking.
Very helpful.

 

[ben95]

first carrier and whether or not they have an agreement to through check to the second carrier (if they have an interline agreement they would).

To be even more pedantic, even when two airlines have an “interline agreement” and you have both segments issued in one ticket and PNR there’s no guarantee that you baggage will be checked through at a particular connection airport, regardless of whether the check-in agent was willing to “through check” the baggage for you (that is to tag the connecting flight on your bagged tag). The actual transfer of your baggage will depend on agreements between specific airlines/airport ground handler/customs and immigrations.

A simple example is that your bagged are never automatically transferred at Australia international terminals to an onward domestic flight even though your baggage can be tagged through with your domestic connection. A contrary example would be that some Chinese airlines have specific agreements with customs at their hub airport to automatically transfer your baggage to your domestic connection and clear them through customs on your behalf.

Some airlines may choose to allow through checking of baggage only at specific airports due to contractual agreements with the ground agent even when connecting between flights by the same airline.

Others may require specific condition to be met (say QF will not accept interline baggage at NRT from Japanese domestic flight if the connection time is >3 hours due to its agreement with Swissport).

With all of those said, it’s quite standard to have a formal baggage through check arrangements between airlines with interline agreements. Baggage transfer is also by default handled by airport operators with its central sorting system at major hub airports should the two airlines have no formal agreement yet some bags still came through with a connection tag.

 

[RSVKanga]

Any reason why VA still doesn't recognise AKL, WLG and CHC as destinations yet?

The ACCC have approved this, but NZ's Department of Transport haven't made a decision yet, but VA could still start selling the flights with *subject to government and regulatory approval, right?

 

[Human]

Any reason why VA still doesn't recognise AKL, WLG and CHC as destinations yet?

The ACCC have approved this, but NZ's Department of Transport haven't made a decision yet, but VA could still start selling the flights with *subject to government and regulatory approval, right?

Possibly because Virgin doesn’t want to get into any trouble for selling flights that may not actually take place? Maybe someone at VA has learned from Qantas’ mistakes in that regard?

 

[ETW]

It’s happening!
As someone who flies ADL-WLG a few time a year I can’t contain my excitement

 

[Mwenenzi]

VA media --> Virgin Australia and Air New Zealand to get back together

Virgin Australia and Air New Zealand’s trans-Tasman romance is set to be reignited following authorisation of a new codeshare agreement by Australian and New Zealand regulators.

Under the agreement, Virgin Australia customers will be able to directly book Air New Zealand flights into Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch, complementing Virgin Australia’s Queenstown services. Velocity members will also be able to earn and redeem Velocity Points, and eligible members and guests will have access to lounges when flying across the Tasman.

Virgin Australia Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer Alistair Hartley said the long-awaited partnership would give Virgin Australia’s customers access to a comprehensive network between Australia and New Zealand.

“Australians share our love of New Zealand and its national carrier and we can’t wait to reignite this partnership before the end of the year,” he said.
<snip>

More benefit to VA freq flyers than NZ freq flyers

 

[HS-TQE]

VA media --> Virgin Australia and Air New Zealand to get back together

More benefit to VA freq flyers than NZ freq flyers

As stated previously, it was a one-way unilateral agreement where VA buys seats (and lounge access) on NZ operated services from Australia to AKL/CHC/WLG.

There are no benefits for NZ flyers flying VA under the one way/unilateral agreement.

Basically VA are acting as an authorised travel agent for NZ where commission is involved for NZ seats sold under the VA code, just like the actual third party travel agents.

 

[henrus]

Unless the pricing is identical or within a few dollars of the same fare on the Air NZ website then it's really not going to be worth it. Let's hope this is the case but I don't like the chances.

 

[Bundy Bear]

Hopefully its like EK vs QF where if you want SCs and lounge you fly on the QF code similarity want VA code for SCs and lounge will cost more.

 

[HS-TQE]

Hopefully its like EK vs QF where if you want SCs and lounge you fly on the QF code similarity want VA code for SCs and lounge will cost more.

Due to the one-way/unilateral agreement, I'd suspect there would be zero benefit whatsoever for VA FF's booking NZ under the NZ code and benefits restricted to those booking under the VA code, thus trapping them to the VA codeshare fares.