Star Alliance courts Virgin Blue

[crazydave98]

Thought this report would interest members:

Star Alliance courts Virgin Blue | ATW Online

cheers

CrazyDave98

[oz_mark]

Will certainly be good if Virgin Blue can join Star. I know Star used to have reservations about it due to the business model of DJ - so certainly a positive.

[drewbles]

*crosses appendages and prays to every Deity*

*A has been missed since AN went under, leaving QF a virtual monopoly alliance wise.

This would indeed be excellent news if they did manage to convince JB to have DJ join

[moa999]

interesting, particularly the Board Meeting invite

yet earlier in the year

Virgin hints at signing up to SkyTeam

At the moment DJ probably gets feed from both skyteam and *alliance. If they shift to one or the other presumably will only drive some traffic away.

Can't see Delta being pleased

[stuartfaz]

If this goes through, along with the DL and EY deals, Virgin and Velocity will go from also-rans to being ridiculously connected.

Can't help but think if something will give.

[drron]

Well crazydave brings this article to AFFs attention,JB is quoted as saying he expects a decision soon and there is this-
Exodus of senior staff from Qantas continues
And a guy to supervise services including the Lounge.
And Christmas is associated with a star-Hmmmm.
All I want for Christmas is..............

[serfty]

I was at a presentation by Bruce Parton (Air NZ Group GM "Australasia") on Saturday morning and he alluded to the likelihood that NZ and DJ would be permitted by the regulatory authorities to get their act together with an announcement on that imminent. He did state that all parties who initially lodged objections have dropped them.

Interesting if it happens with *A; I'd become top level with two *A FF programs rather than with *O wich would have been more probable in years gone past ...

[lovetravellingoz]

Hopefully this would allow you to fly VB...but award points to a *A program with a decent FF program, unlike VB's which is poor.

[edison]

Hopefully this would allow you to fly VB...but award points to a *A program with a decent FF program, unlike VB's which is poor.

Yes please bring DJ to *A. That would be huge. I expect that DJ will revamp Velocity Rewards at the same time once it is the case.
But expect their alliance with Delta to get dropped if this becomes reality.

[oz_mark]

Hopefully this would allow you to fly VB...but award points to a *A program with a decent FF program, unlike VB's which is poor.

I'm hoping they give the program a makeover as part of the current review.

Even if they were to go down the *A path, I suspect it will be quite a while before it happens. A good year, if not longer.