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).

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

T3 to T2 is just a short walk, assuming the SYD - MEL flight comes out through the one way doors, where the previous T3 screening was.
Of course, the plane might come into T4 zone.
Ask a relo to wait for the older relo, so you can check in together, and can get seats together, OR if you in J, she in Y.
International security screening is first at MEL T2, so passports and all other sundries has to be in bag, some people put passport into the tray, outside of bag but I think security prefers passport inside bag.
Then passport control second.
Some airports in Aus have it the other way around, ie, passport control first, then international screening.