Virgin Australia/Etihad partnership future?

[Jusrus]

I’m a long term Virgin Platinum/Gold flyer, largely earning this status flying Etihad economy between Australia and Europe, with a bit of family pooling to get me over the line.
I’ve really enjoyed the benefits over the years - priority queuing/boarding, lounge access (though this has been reduced over time), extra baggage etc etc.
However, I’m finding that the benefits are really starting to dwindle, and the partnership with Virgin Australia isn’t being acknowledged or recognised.
Today departing Madrid flying economy, I had to politely argue/explain at every single point - joining business class check in, priority fast track security, lounge access, priority boarding.

The plane is quite full, however the emergency row seats are empty. I asked as a platinum partner member if I could be moved, and they advised no. This was not an issue as recently as 6 months ago.

Further, across all their promotional materials, I see Virgin promoting their partnerships with Qatar, United & Singapore - Etihad is barely to be seen.

I’m going to give Qatar a go in August/September. I have other Etihad flights booked for later in May and November. I do hope they don’t end the partnership with a short timeline, as I’d be annoyed to lose what benefit is left on these bookings.
What does everyone think? Am I alone in my experiences/views?

 

[jakeseven7]

Possibly you are right, I’m sure Etihad was not thrilled with VA2 putting out for QR, many assumed QR would then take a stake in VA2 which still may happen I guess.

I much prefer Etihad to Qatar personally for many reasons.

 

[roby]

I suspect you would have to argue/explain your VA status at most of VA partner airlines' out stations. This is the trouble of not belonging to an alliance when nowadays agents rely on the status printed on boarding passes. Does VA status appear on any of their partner airlines' boarding pass? The only time I saw that was when they partnered with NZ with "VA-G" printed on boarding passes.

 

[Human]

I suspect you would have to argue/explain your VA status at most of VA partner airlines' out stations. This is the trouble of not belonging to an alliance when nowadays agents rely on the status printed on boarding passes. Does VA status appear on any of their partner airlines' boarding pass? The only time I saw that was when they partnered with NZ with "VA-G" printed on boarding passes.

Remember, though, that Etihad doesn't belong to an alliance either -- so not recognising Virgin as an alliance member really shouldn't be an excuse given that all their partner airlines are in the same boat. I wonder whether your experience in Madrid was a one-off or a sign of an increasing trend?

I also want to defend Virgin a little here. Etihad's only current Australian destinations are Sydney and Melbourne: great if you live there, but not great for Virgin customers outside of those cities. And Qatar flies into far more destinations worldwide than Etihad does. Partnering with Qatar really was a no-brainer as far as increasing the benefits of Velocity membership was concerned.

 

[henrus]

Does VA status appear on any of their partner airlines' boarding pass?

Yes VA status does.

On United, Virgin Atlantic, Singapore Airlines, Etihad and Qatar, VA status appears in some way.

On Etihad it actually lists the VA status and I had no issues in Abu Dhabi accessing lounges with just the boarding pass.

Some of them like Singapore airlines are also good enough to print group 3 (same as Star Alliance Gold boarding) when VA status is applied.

 

[HS-TQE]

I’m going to give Qatar a go in August/September. I have other Etihad flights booked for later in May and November. I do hope they don’t end the partnership with a short timeline, as I’d be annoyed to lose what benefit is left on these bookings.
What does everyone think? Am I alone in my experiences/views?

If VA 2.0 does end their relationship with EY, there would likely be a 'transition period' with a considerable window before the changeover/cessation. More likely it would work In the same way as the DL to UA transition, if VA decides to go with QR exclusively as their Middle East partner.

 

[HS-TQE]

Possibly you are right, I’m sure Etihad was not thrilled with VA2 putting out for QR, many assumed QR would then take a stake in VA2 which still may happen I guess.

I much prefer Etihad to Qatar personally for many reasons.

They can only blame Borghetti's BFF Hogan when he ran EY. Clearly overspent plus spending $$ on failed investments which almost sunk EY to a point where bankruptcy administration/a government loan was required.

 

[henrus]

If VA 2.0 does end their relationship with EY

Australia is still an important market to all the middle eastern carriers. QF and EK are tight meaning if EY want domestic connections VA still really the only other option (sure there is Rex but look at the speed of the DL and ZL partnership to see how that's working - DL is still selling VA connections to this day).

VA don't care about their 2nd tier partners in the sense they've still got HK Airlines, Hainan and South African which provide basically zero benefit to VA, in the same way these partners haven't ripped up the deal so why remove them.

EY is now in a similar position, EY would be dumb to rip up the deal because VA frequent flyers are still booking EY to/from Australia. The only change I could see long term is the removal of lounge access like the Hainan group because this is probably the only thing costing EY money out of the deal but at the same time things like that could cause VA Gold/Plats to go elsewhere.

I could be totally incorrect here but I suspect VA does not pay a very much if anything at all for VA Gold/Plats to access partner lounges. It does make sense given all partners (except QR/EY) only allow access to their own operated lounges (therefore not having to pay a 3rd party).

 

[jase05]

Will be sad if the relationship ends as we have always been well looked after as VA Plats and have had some top notch flights with them.
We did have 2x F reward seats on the A380 booked for December this year but have had to unfortunately cancel them as we can’t travel until March now

 

[justinbrett]

QF and EK are tight meaning if EY want domestic connections VA still really the only other option (sure there is Rex but look at the speed of the DL and ZL partnership to see how that's working - DL is still selling VA connections to this day).

Why? Nothing stopping EY using QF for domestic connections - they already have an interline agreement.

NZ does and they're still fierce competitors internationally.

EK and EY are getting closer and closer - Emirates and Etihad announce interline expansion, offering better itinerary options to boost UAE tourism

 

[HS-TQE]

In addition, EY could sign up ZL as an interline partner, and of course switch their 'preferred' interline to ZL on some routes, whilst keeping VA/QF for other routes ZL don't serve.

Considering VA's primary partner on the ME/Europe corridor is QR, I'm sure VA wouldn't mind if they (EY) added ZL to their interline and/or FF redemption list as well. 2 partners from the same region/country is fairly common those days.

 

[TMP]

I've had a couple of good experiences with EY as a VA Gold travelling to Europe. And two of us are booked as VA Platinum travelling over in December. At the time we were searching a few months back, EY had the best availability for VA - was very little on QR or SQ. Would be sad to see them end the partnership, but have no reason to think it's imminent.

To the OP's initial post, I find I need to sometimes explain VA partner benefits to international airlines - always carry my physical card and a print out / link of benefits. Alitalia was particularly bad back in the day.

 

[Rebus]

I recently flew DUB-AUH-MEL in Y as a VA Gold. Overall my experience was good but I didn't have the same level of confidence that my status would be recognised compared with the EK flight MEL-DXB-DUB a few weeks previously as QF SG.

Experience on EY

• Priority check-in granted but the agent had to add my Velocity number to the booking despite it being on the system whenever I interacted with it on the EY website.
• Additional checked bagged - received my allowance.
• Boarding pass - had no mention of my VA status
• Priority boarding - granted on both flights
• Lounge access at DUB - granted access for me, Mrs Rebus and 2 x children. I had only expected to guest one and pay for the two kids but the person on the desk was new and didn't seem quite sure of the rule, so that was a big win.
• On-board - on DUB-AUH received at seat greeting from CSM and choice of meal for me and Mrs Rebus. Nothing on AUH-MEL.
• Lounge access in AUH - didn't try as I knew it would be the Al Rheem

 

[justinbrett]

I doubt EY was thrilled when VA signed up with QR. Pretty much how QR felt when QF signed up with EK.

Not to mention the cash they lost on VA1.

Understandable for them to stay with the status quo coming out of Covid (and coming out a fair bit weaker in this market, it must be said) - but that won't necessarily continue when the next agreements are up for renewal.

 

[hossein_au]

I wonder how the recent tie up of EY and EK is going to affect this? If EY and EK become close enough, QF could become EY's preferred local carrier?

 

[SilverFlamingo]

I recently flew DUB-AUH-MEL in Y as a VA Gold. Overall my experience was good but I didn't have the same level of confidence that my status would be recognised compared with the EK flight MEL-DXB-DUB a few weeks previously as QF SG.

Experience on EY

• Priority check-in granted but the agent had to add my Velocity number to the booking despite it being on the system whenever I interacted with it on the EY website.
• Additional checked bagged - received my allowance.
• Boarding pass - had no mention of my VA status
• Priority boarding - granted on both flights
• Lounge access at DUB - granted access for me, Mrs Rebus and 2 x children. I had only expected to guest one and pay for the two kids but the person on the desk was new and didn't seem quite sure of the rule, so that was a big win.
• On-board - on DUB-AUH received at seat greeting from CSM and choice of meal for me and Mrs Rebus. Nothing on AUH-MEL.
• Lounge access in AUH - didn't try as I knew it would be the Al Rheem

Note that VA Gold are now directed to the Etihad business class lounge. The old Al Rheem was fully taken over by Plaza Premium.

 

[Rebus]

Note that VA Gold are now directed to the Etihad business class lounge. The old Al Rheem was fully taken over by Plaza Premium.

Thanks for the tip. Any idea how many guests (if any) can be admitted along with the VA Gold?

 

[SilverFlamingo]

Thanks for the tip. Any idea how many guests (if any) can be admitted along with the VA Gold?

One guest included and children under 5 are admitted free of charge.

There’s an option to buy entry for any other guests and kids between 5 and 12 are half the price. I do vaguely remember that the cost was fairly steep.

 

[HS-TQE]

I wonder how the recent tie up of EY and EK is going to affect this? If EY and EK become close enough, QF could become EY's preferred local carrier?

I would say EY would still keep the status quo of interlining with QF/VA. Perhaps add JQ (if not already) and ZL.

FF-wise EY could potentially change their FF partner in Australia to QF in line with a potential EY/EK deepened partnership where it's close to (if not a) 'AF/KL' style merger rather than EK 'gobbling up' EY.

 

[levelnine]

Would love for EY and VA to divorce, as it'd leave more EY reward seats for me to scoop up with Aeroplan points .