Thanks for getting back VA.
1. *cough* A little bit. Spent a little time with ankle-biting vectors during Christmas *cough*
2. We all know what I mean by factual. VA's done great to get to where it has but joining an actual alliance has to happen soon to fill the gaps that still make QF attractive (and TBH OW is about the only thing attractive about QF right now). Things like the AB deal don't cut it (there's zero incentive to use them under current arrangements, with less points than I'd receive through OW and no SCs) and Europe is still a massive hole, as is a lot of Africa, Asia and South America. Elites still can't access things like lounges at most of the ports your partners in alliances serve (where they rely on alliance partner lounges). At other ports lack of lounge choice means some necessities (i.e. showers at SIN) are unavailable to elites. I know for some reason VA refuses to join *A (god only knows why - but it would be a game changer for sure), but if VA doesn't work on expansion can it at least work on getting more partners (or bennies that at least match alliance members on its current partners - i.e. luggage on DL) so VA elites travelling internationally aren't second class citizens compared to alliance members? There are one or two coups VA has managed, but on balance VA elite is still far below alliance elite internationally.
I don't want to criticise the great work VA are doing, but it appears the momentum isn't there anymore. I clearly believe in the product. But VA elite does seem a little 'unfinished' in the international recognition sense, and shouldn't be left idling. Most of us WP have been or are alliance elite with other airlines, so we just know exactly some of the deficiencies that exist. A lot of us at elite level also spend at least half our travel budget/time on OS trips, so our international needs very much inform our choice of domestic airline.
