Virgin Australia announces strategic alliance with Singapore Airlines

[Misha]

you forgot:
Tuesday - Codeshare with SQ AND also the birthday of one of the DJ social media team!

we're both June Geminis... hows abouts bending the rules for me?

If it's a tennis match, Qantas took two early sets with ease 6-2 6-1. Third set went to VA 7-6 (a horrible line call that will be forever known as the "Jetstar incident") and i think VA are current 5-1 up and serving in the fourth. A long way from winning but definitely have the momentum on their side while the other mob are looking ragged as we head into the decisive fifth set.

Game, set, match for that analogy!

Then they would ask how would you describe VA/DJ and most of the responses is like they're probably in the 30's, cool, younger, fresh, more appealing, wanting to be well known, relaxed, and being more fun. New but hopefully will grow and develop into something substantial.

You talking about me or DJ?

 

[eastwest101]

Definately a game changer. May also explain the sagging QF share price over the last while.

 

[kamchatsky]

Obviously I worked too hard today, I only just know this news.

I actually guessed it last year. But I won't take any credit for it. Any credit should all go to John Borghetti for pulling all these deals off!!!!!!:mrgreen:

This makes me feel even better after decided to pay my SYD-ADL return ticket on DJ for $340 (Fri night and Sun night flight) last night, and skip QF/JQ/TT completely.

 

[TiredOldFlyer]

Can someone tell me how this will work.

I see that most FF's think that it is a great move, but as I understand it
Singapore and Virgin have a different product.

Does it mean that Singapore will now have the opportunity to reduce award flights and re-direct me to Virgin and/or will the Virgin FF's "flood" SIN with requests for tickets on points and hence reduce the opportunities for Kris Flyers.


Perhaps there will be more saver awards in premium cabins ?

 

[markis10]

Can someone tell me how this will work.

I see that most FF's think that it is a great move, but as I understand it
Singapore and Virgin have a different product.

Does it mean that Singapore will now have the opportunity to reduce award flights and re-direct me to Virgin and/or will the Virgin FF's "flood" SIN with requests for tickets on points and hence reduce the opportunities for Kris Flyers.


Perhaps there will be more saver awards in premium cabins ?

Just because they have a different product should not mean an impact on how the reciprocate, look at QF and JQ!

SQ and DJ have very little crossover in terms of routes so it wont be an issue, just like its not an issue with EK, there will be award levels for redemption on SQ that may or may not be attractive and thus flood the market, history has shown such programs normally are not as attractive as redemptions within the airline or alliance, look at partner awards versus QF awards for instance!

 

[Dee Thom]

After the tie-up with SQ, it would be great to see ANA and VA code share on the direct BNE/NRT route which at the moment isn't flown by any airline direct. I won't fly JQ out of OOL, so go via BKK on TG which means an overnight at Novotel Airport hotel.
This will give VA a full coverage of North/South Asia and the "Suits" would use the premium cabins on say a A332 of VA's.
Dream on..........

Cheers Dee

 

[TiredOldFlyer]

Just because they have a different product should not mean an impact on how the reciprocate, look at QF and JQ!

I,am old and tired but I am lost.

A quick check this morning shows Virgin BNE to LAX Business at 188,000 Velocity
Point plus $635. SIN are 238,000 Miles plus $1,014.

If I book via SIN and am "coded shared to Virgin" am I charged the SIN price or the Velocity price ?.

Do Amex points convert to both systems at the same rate ?

 

[notzac]

A quick check this morning shows Virgin BNE to LAX Business at 188,000 Velocity
Point plus $635. SIN are 238,000 Miles plus $1,014.

If I book via SIN and am "coded shared to Virgin" am I charged the SIN price or the Velocity price ?.

Do Amex points convert to both systems at the same rate ?

Award seats generally are on the operating metal code - i.e., if you transferred AmEx points to SQ and paid the 238k miles for the return seat, you'd be flying BNE-SIN-LAX-SIN-BNE on SQ metal. If you instead transferred the points to Velocity and paid the 188k points, you'd be flying BNE-LAX-BNE on VA metal.

Does that make it clearer?

 

[TiredOldFlyer]

Thanks Notzac.

That helps.

 

[crazydave98]

Australian Business Traveller is doing a poll on whether this new alliance will change future choice of airline loyalties
Reader poll: will the new Qantas and Virgin Australia Asian alliances change your travel loyalties? - Flights | hotels | frequent flyer | business class - Australian Business Traveller?

 

[Keith009]

As I mentioned on Twitter - there should be an option for "I am more confused than ever." :-|

Love MH, pissed off with QF, liking what I see with VAust and wanting to support its vision, ambivalent about SQ though I do acknowledge that they're an awesome brand for VAust to partner up with.

SQ suffers from many of the same problems that now characterise QF IMO, many of which instituted under the previous CEO Chew Choon Seng and his management team who got drunk on their own kool aid. It was why I decided to switch most of my long haul flying from SQ to QF in the first place, amongst other reasons. Hopefully things will get better under the new SQ CEO. In particular, it'd be a little meaningless if Velocity members, like other *A FF members, are only able to access premium awards on regional aircraft. I am sure the destruction of the PPS scheme in 2006 along with many arrogant and idiotic management decisions are amongst the reasons why SQ's market share out of Changi has fallen by 15% in the last 3 years.

 

[Flying Fox]

Basically you can only codeshare on international flights where you have the right to operate yourself. So SQ can't code on our trans-Pacific services (or those of United Airlines). However AFAIK KF members will be able to earn points/status on our trans-Pac services. This will not make UA very happy with its *Alliance partner. :shock:

Oh I didn't know that. Thanks for clarifying. So I guess we will continue to hear SQ lobby for flights of its own.

 

[samh004]

Basically you can only codeshare on international flights where you have the right to operate yourself. So SQ can't code on our trans-Pacific services (or those of United Airlines). However AFAIK KF members will be able to earn points/status on our trans-Pac services. This will not make UA very happy with its *Alliance partner. :shock:

Thanks for the clarification there, useful bit of knowledge to store away

 

[Ansettaddict123]

Application lodged to the ACCC today. From application- "For commercial reasons, Virgin Australia does not intend to codeshare on Singapore Airlines routes where it has codeshare coverage with Etihad"
(Virgin Australia ends Malaysia Airlines relationship for Singapore)

So I guess this means SIA to Europe is out

 

[browski]

Application lodged to the ACCC today. From application- "For commercial reasons, Virgin Australia does not intend to codeshare on Singapore Airlines routes where it has codeshare coverage with Etihad"
(Virgin Australia ends Malaysia Airlines relationship for Singapore)

So I guess this means SIA to Europe is out

I think it means BNE-SIN-AUH is out, but all other routes look OK.

 

[anat0l]

Application lodged to the ACCC today. From application- "For commercial reasons, Virgin Australia does not intend to codeshare on Singapore Airlines routes where it has codeshare coverage with Etihad"
(Virgin Australia ends Malaysia Airlines relationship for Singapore)

So I guess this means SIA to Europe is out

Why so? You would still be able to fly SQ all the way to Europe, credit your flights to your Velocity account, and take advantage of your elite Velocity status for extra perks.

The fact that there is no codeshare would only mean that you couldn't purchase these fares from the VA website as a fully marketable routing product. This may or may not be important depending on how Velocity organise the earn rate.

I wonder if this rules out EY BNE-SIN services from the agreement then?

 

[Ansettaddict123]

I think it means BNE-SIN-AUH is out, but all other routes look OK.

It appears that way, but the keyword here i think is 'coverage'. VA has codeshare 'coverage' of Europe with EY, and hence wont double up so to speak with SQ.

Why so? You would still be able to fly SQ all the way to Europe, credit your flights to your Velocity account, and take advantage of your elite Velocity status for extra perks.

That said, this can be done just as easily- albeit the fact it makes connections (at least DOM-INTL and vice versa) a little more difficult.

From the article;
"While the alliance will provide Virgin Australia with the ability to codeshare on Singapore Airlines services between Brisbane and Singapore, Virgin Australia has an existing codeshare with Etihad on this route," it said.

 

[LiamR]

Interesting. I was keen to fly SQ to ZRH. (Etihad only fly to Geneva)

I wonder if they'll still do that.

 

[Keith009]

Eck... I do have a cheapie J ticket with MH to MLE for Easter. I hope the winding up of FF linkage with MH doesn't happen by Easter. Or if it does, hopefully MH will have hooked up with QF by then. Or I'd have nowhere to credit my miles but orphan them on Enrich. The lack of any meaningful mileage accrual opportunities was why I'd been reluctant to fly MH in the past.

Still, for the price I paid, would gladly forgo any miles compared to the prices SQ charges for the same itinerary.

 

[dajop]

Or I'd have nowhere to credit my miles but orphan them on Enrich. The lack of any meaningful mileage accrual opportunities was why I'd been reluctant to fly MH in the past.

I guess with the impending tie to oneworld, even if they are orphaned in MH there may opportunities for the 17k miles you will earn then. Also with MH's renewal of Enrich (15% online booking discount, one-way awards at half of return now) their redemption levels are becoming quite attractive (earlier this month I did a one way for 33K pts in J SIN-KUL-MEL), that they may be a better place for credit card points - for oneworld - than QF.