Virgin Australia missing a European partner?

[leemin]

I know that through VA's partners (Virgin Atlantic, Etihad) you can get to Europe, earning points and status credits. But, what about within Europe?

Please correct me if I'm wrong - please - but there appears to be no airline to get you from say Paris to London and then later up to Stockholm earning Velocity points.

While I haven't been too concerned about VA's preference for partnerships over an alliance, the strategy (or at least the current number of partners) appears to have a large hole here.

 

[Jack Melon]

They do have Etihad for the major European destinations, but i agree, not much choice for within Europe.

But i guess you have to make your own way around, or a $1 fare with Ryanair .

 

[Noob]

Maybe something for the future? Lufthansa or BMI?

At this stage that is a problem.

 

[DJ737]

Air Berlin would be a good choice, all VA need to do is send their 777's on from Abu Dhabi to Dusseldorf, AB go from DUS to just about anywhere in Europe, plus DUS has an excellent high-speed train service to a lot of towns and cities.

 

[markis10]

Maybe something for the future? Lufthansa or BMI?

At this stage that is a problem.

Lufthansa = BMI , and an obvious choice given the tie up with VS

 

[leemin]

Air Berlin would be a good choice, all VA need to do is send their 777's on from Abu Dhabi to Dusseldorf, AB go from DUS to just about anywhere in Europe, plus DUS has an excellent high-speed train service to a lot of towns and cities.

I know nothing about Air Berlin, but that sounds good. They do appear to fly everywhere. Alternatively,

Maybe something for the future? Lufthansa or BMI?

BMI would work. Another partnership all set for when VA join *A

 

[leemin]

Lufthansa = BMI , and an obvious choice given the tie up with VS

You beat me to it..

 

[medhead]

Forgive my ignorance. But does Virgin Atlantic fly within Europe?

Related in a way, is there still virgin trains? would they ever be a partner?

 

[samh004]

Air Berlin would be a good choice, all VA need to do is send their 777's on from Abu Dhabi to Dusseldorf, AB go from DUS to just about anywhere in Europe, plus DUS has an excellent high-speed train service to a lot of towns and cities.

I believe they’re joining OneWorld… so probably not such a good tie-up.

Forgive my ignorance. But does Virgin Atlantic fly within Europe?

Related in a way, is there still virgin trains? would they ever be a partner?

I didn’t realise Virgin Atlantic was so focused away from Europe (just the UK), I wonder why they don’t want to fly a more domestic network and compete with BA and others there…

And the trains are only the UK too.

 

[theintelligent1]

Air Berlin would be a good choice, all VA need to do is send their 777's on from Abu Dhabi to Dusseldorf, AB go from DUS to just about anywhere in Europe, plus DUS has an excellent high-speed train service to a lot of towns and cities.

Air Berlin are due to join oneworld early next year.....

 

[theintelligent1]

I believe they’re joining OneWorld… so probably not such a good tie-up.

just beat me.....

 

[mannej]

Is Air Berlin not joining Oneworld?

 

[serfty]

I know nothing about Air Berlin, but that sounds good. They do appear to fly everywhere. Alternatively, ...

Air Berlin is to join oneworld[SUP]®[/SUP] early next year.

oneworld - News

It's Europe's fifth largest airline and Germany's second biggest carrier.

I'm not sure Qantas would be happy if VA form an alliance with AB:shock:

 

[leemin]

Forgive my ignorance. But does Virgin Atlantic fly within Europe?

Unfortunately, no. I've tried the 'UK' and 'Europe' versions of the site and although they fly from many European destinations, they don't go between. At least, the website doesn't allow you to set up a booking for the latter.

is there still virgin trains? would they ever be a partner?

Sure is. That would make sense and would be quite handy for those travelling in the UK.

Trains from London Euston | Virgin Trains

 

[DJ737]

Related in a way, is there still virgin trains? would they ever be a partner?

Virgin Trains operate London Euston to the West Midlands, the North West & up to Glasgow on the West Coast Mainline.
Lounges are available at major stations. (Euston has showers) and onboard meals & refreshments are complementary for First class passengers.

 

[leemin]

Air Berlin is to join oneworld[SUP]®[/SUP] early next year.

So BMI it is then.

What say you, Virgin Australia? :mrgreen:

 

[The Rok]

I believe they’re joining OneWorld… so probably not such a good tie-up.



I didn’t realise Virgin Atlantic was so focused away from Europe (just the UK), I wonder why they don’t want to fly a more domestic network and compete with BA and others there…

And the trains are only the UK too.

European travel is largely dominated by LCC. most governments dictate BFOD except for very senior staff and most flights are less than 3 hours anyway so being on a premium carrier does not matter. Effectively air travel in europe is really a heap of cheap busses in the sky and Europeans are generally happy with that. It would be silly of VS to try to compete and easier for them to stick to long haul premium.

 

[notzac]

Being very selfish, I would like to see Velocity sign an agreement with the Miles and More group of airlines (LH, LX, OS, LO, SN etc etc) ..

 

[kamchatsky]

Being very selfish, I would like to see Velocity sign an agreement with the Miles and More group of airlines (LH, LX, OS, LO, SN etc etc) ..

Or they can just join Star Alliance :mrgreen:

 

[Jack Melon]

You can already fly to more then 600+ destinations world wide with virgin's alliance partners.

Just imagine how many destinations you would get if they did join star alliance!

I think in an article and on AFF they said virgin is the most global virtual airline the world with there alliances and destinations or something like that.