Virgin Australia missing a European partner?

[awilcockson]

I'll be happy when I can book BNE-OSL-DFW/LAX-BNE on a single ticket with VA/affiliates.

I don't think this is humanly possible at the moment.

 

[leemin]

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.

You sound like an ad for Virgin there, Jack!

Yes, you can get there, but what we're pointing out is there is nothing to get you around Europe.

They have (or will have) this issue covered for USA, NZ and Asia. Despite JB's claims, without Europe, I don't see their network being as 'complete' as I did before.

 

[Jack Melon]

You sound like an ad for Virgin there, Jack!

Yes, you can get there, but what we're pointing out is there is nothing to get you around Europe.

They have (or will have) this issue covered for USA, NZ and Asia. Despite JB's claims, without Europe, I don't see their network being as 'complete' as I did before.

Hahaha true. Go back to my first post on this thread and you will see my thoughts on within Europe information.

 

[markis10]

You sound like an ad for Virgin there, Jack!

Yes, you can get there, but what we're pointing out is there is nothing to get you around Europe.

They have (or will have) this issue covered for USA, NZ and Asia. Despite JB's claims, without Europe, I don't see their network being as 'complete' as I did before.

600 destinations are useless if they are not where you want to go Europe and China have some work:

Good to see Darwin getting the attention it deserves!

 

[medhead]

Personally, I see little reason to fly in Europe. If you plan it right, the trains can cover 90% of travel needs.

Having said that, if I have to do it again, I'd fly Barcelona to Nice instead of getting the train.

 

[StevePER]

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

But if you could earn domestically with bmi, why would anyone credit to Velocity?

 

[awilcockson]

Personally, I see little reason to fly in Europe. If you plan it right, the trains can cover 90% of travel needs.

Can you let me know how to catch the train from LHR (or another Virgin hub) to OSL?

 

[777]

Can you let me know how to catch the train from LHR (or another Virgin hub) to OSL?

Well you could go this way: but seems kind of slow: How to travel by train or ferry from London to Oslo, Bergen & Norway to Norway by train

Singapore (from their route maps) offer connection to OSL via Frankfurt and Copenhagen. Etihad (according to their route map) offer connections via Brussels. Hope that helps.

 

[awilcockson]

Singapore (from their route maps) offer connection to OSL via Frankfurt and Copenhagen.

Cheers mate, will have to look into that. I'm guessing that Frankfurt will be a LH code share, which I don't think earns SC or points with VA.

 

[leemin]

But if you could earn domestically with bmi, why would anyone credit to Velocity?

I'm not sure what you mean.

Are you saying that if there was a partnership, people would join BMI and credit their DJ travel to BMI as opposed to the other way around?

 

[leemin]

Personally, I see little reason to fly in Europe. If you plan it right, the trains can cover 90% of travel needs.

Having never been to Europe before, I've been investigating all options for an upcoming trip, which is what lead me to discover the lack of earning potential with Velocity over there.

I still need to do a lot more research but I was finding that trains weren't that much cheaper and took much longer. Just trying to get the best balance in efficiency of time and money..

 

[777]

Cheers mate, will have to look into that. I'm guessing that Frankfurt will be a LH code share, which I don't think earns SC or points with VA.

Of course Singapore is not a partner, yet. Will be soon though.

 

[StevePER]

I'm not sure what you mean.

Are you saying that if there was a partnership, people would join BMI and credit their DJ travel to BMI as opposed to the other way around?

That's certainly what I would do. Even with the Velocity improvements (I'm reluctant to use the word enhancements) I think many people would rather have the super-generous burn rates on *A, eg PER-PPT return in business for 35k (or 17.5k + cash component).

 

[leemin]

That's certainly what I would do. Even with the Velocity improvements (I'm reluctant to use the word enhancements) I think many people would rather have the super-generous burn rates on *A, eg PER-PPT return in business for 35k (or 17.5k + cash component).

Fair point. Will that risk be there when Singapore some on board? Or is BMI just extremely generous? I recall BMI had a ridiculously generous offer that got you to *A Silver just by going to Thailand on Thai..

 

[medhead]

Can you let me know how to catch the train from LHR (or another Virgin hub) to OSL?

I guess that fits into the 10%. But I'm not sure what you mean by virgin hub. Virgin Australia destination? Or VS hub? As mentioned If you don't need to be in LHR flying to the continent would seem better with SQ or etihad.

I still need to do a lot more research but I was finding that trains weren't that much cheaper and took much longer. Just trying to get the best balance in efficiency of time and money..

It very much depends on route and availability of high speed trains. London- Paris eurostar beats flying just for getting you to and from the city center (as such). FRA-Munich while 3 or 4 hours on the train is better once you allow a sufficient connection time if flying into FRA at the same time. FRA-Paris can be done in about 5 hours but general around 6 to 7 hours, making flying better.

It also depends on the urgency of the trip. I've done Italy to Munich over the alps twice on the train. Flying would have been much quicker, but the scenery is magnificent.

Basically, it is worthwhile to check the options because you never know what you can find.

 

[awilcockson]

I guess that fits into the 10%. But I'm not sure what you mean by virgin hub. Virgin Australia destination? Or VS hub? As mentioned If you don't need to be in LHR flying to the continent would seem better with SQ or etihad.

You're right of course, I'm still coming to grips with the options for getting to Europe on VA points warning routes.

 

[dajop]

I guess the trouble with getting a European partner is what does VA bring to the table for them? With the likes of DL, VS, NZ, SQ & EY the benefits are clear and compelling for both parties as these carriers either have limited services (and therefore benefit from shared or co-ordinated long haul services and domestic feed DL, EY, VS) or can lock in VA flyers to their extensive services to/from Australia (such as SQ, NZ) in direct competition to QF. No doubt there are some good reasons for European airlines to partner with VA, but are there really compelling reasons?

 

[StevePER]

Fair point. Will that risk be there when Singapore some on board? Or is BMI just extremely generous? I recall BMI had a ridiculously generous offer that got you to *A Silver just by going to Thailand on Thai..

Maybe, but probably to a lesser extent. BMI is far more generous, though SQ also has the PER-PPT deal for 35k in business!

 

[leemin]

I guess the trouble with getting a European partner is what does VA bring to the table for them? With the likes of DL, VS, NZ, SQ & EY the benefits are clear and compelling for both parties as these carriers either have limited services (and therefore benefit from shared or co-ordinated long haul services and domestic feed DL, EY, VS) or can lock in VA flyers to their extensive services to/from Australia (such as SQ, NZ) in direct competition to QF. No doubt there are some good reasons for European airlines to partner with VA, but are there really compelling reasons?

That all seems far too logical. Is it not enough that it would just be convenient for me?

 

[DJ737]

European service under consideration
V Australia’s Abu Dhabi operation sees one of its three weekly B777 flights sit on the ground for 36 hours in Abu Dhabi. Virgin is understood to have evaluated European ports to send the aircraft to as a tag-on flight, with Athens understood to be an early contender but now losing favour to Rome since the latter has more B777 support in the event the aircraft experiences any technical difficulties.
Mr Borghetti acknowledged Virgin was evaluating uses for the B777 during the layover, and did not deny interest in Europe. “We’re looking at a number of options and we’ve got two or three options on the table but we’re holding off on doing things with it at this stage,” he said.

Full article here :

Storm and then calm as Virgin Australia posts loss | Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation - CAPA