Virgin Australia and Delta alliance to challenge Qantas

[connieguy]

As Sherlock Homes says to Watson. "Seems the games afoot".

APPROVED: Virgin Australia and Delta's Pacific joint venture challenging Qantas' US-Australia dominance - Flights | hotels | frequent flyer | business class - Australian Business Traveller

BTW "DELTA" is 5 letters....... Is this the 5 letter announcement Velocity Rewards was hinting at?

 

[Noob]

I'm hoping the "5 letter word" was JUMBO, as in a Virgin Australia 747-8!

Maybe not something Velocity Rewards would tell us because they are more about the reward side of things so mmm I think it's probably COLES.

 

[dk4]

I wonder if this means that Delta will now put the hard word on Virgin Australia to ditch all relationship ties with Virgin America?

 

[connieguy]

I wonder if this means that Delta will now put the hard word on Virgin Australia to ditch all relationship ties with Virgin America?

Virgin America would be much smaller that Delta and doesn't seem to have a real FF program (no tier Silver/Gold/Platinum, etc structure) other than gathering miles for free flight. No free lounge access for FFers from other FF programs that I can see from their web site. Their First class, Main Cabin select and Elevate members can buy ClubHouse access for US$35 per head. Seems a bit old fashion and not mainstream to me.

Airport Lounge And Clubhouse | Virgin America

Helps to understand why DJ have made the Delta agreement as Delta will be able to match or better DJ FF benefits.

 

[xtoss]

Virgin America would be much smaller that Delta and doesn't seem to have a real FF program (no tier Silver/Gold/Platinum, etc structure) other than gathering miles for free flight. No free lounge access for FFers from other FF programs that I can see from their web site. Their First class, Main Cabin select and Elevate members can buy ClubHouse access for US$35 per head. Seems a bit old fashion and not mainstream to me.

Airport Lounge And Clubhouse | Virgin America

Helps to understand why DJ have made the Delta agreement as Delta will be able to match or better DJ FF benefits.

I liked flying with Virgin america when I was over there... but interested to see how this all plays out... surely Delta and Virgin America are ovelapping?

 

[connieguy]

I wonder if this means that Delta will now put the hard word on Virgin Australia to ditch all relationship ties with Virgin America?

Virgin America would be much smaller that Delta and doesn't seem to have a real FF program (no tier Silver/Gold/Platinum, etc structure) other than gathering miles for free flight. No free lounge access for FFers from other FF programs that I can see from their web site. Their First class, Main Cabin select and Elevate members can buy ClubHouse access for US$35 per head. Seems a bit old fashion and not mainstream to me.

Airport Lounge And Clubhouse | Virgin America

Helps to understand why DJ have made the Delta agreement as Delta will be able to match or better DJ FF benefits.

I should point out that while Delta and V Australia do exchange miles flows, they do NOT apparently exchange miles for status earning.

Delta do allow DJ Golds lounge access as does DJ.

So Delta and DJ need to fix the miles earning status on each other flights.

 

[Nigelinoz]

I'm hoping the "5 letter word" was JUMBO, as in a Virgin Australia 747-8!

Interesting,but what route would you suggest they could use an aircraft that has a capacity of over 450 seats on? fleet utilization is a complex matter and it's not just a matter of buying the latest design and hoping that you will have the passengers to fill it so whilst I would love to see the '8 in service in Australia I frankly can't see Virgin operating them,and I doubt that QF will either.
I think the most interesting question is the one posed on Crikey yesterday,and that is what VA will do with DL's 777's.

http://blogs.crikey.com.au/planetalking/2011/06/11/what-will-virgin-australia-do-with-delta-777s/
Cheers
N'oz

 

[concorde71]

Interesting,but what route would you suggest they could use an aircraft that has a capacity of over 450 seats on?N'oz

Geez just put them on SYD-PER like QF do

 

[yogi]

I think it's quite likely, that the five letter word and what will be announced on Tuesday is the marketing and launch for a tie-up with Delta. See other threads related to this theme, if you have just joined us.

 

[pshepvic]

If you're wanting to see if this is part of the announcement tomorrow, keep an eye out as there will be a new thread on here either tonight or tomorrow morning.

Also stay tuned to Twitter - can't promise we'll be Tweeting every step of the way , as we do plan to enjoy the event, but there will be some Tweets I promise! Look out for #VirginAusAFF ​on Twitter

 

[yogi]

If you're wanting to see if this is part of the announcement tomorrow, keep an eye out as there will be a new thread on here either tonight or tomorrow morning.

Tease!!!!!

 

[pshepvic]

Tease!!!!!

lol - except that I don't even know if it's part of the announcement tomorrow or not!