Virgin Business Class Better Value than Qantas in 2022?

In early 2021, I wrote that Qantas in-flight catering was miles ahead of Virgin Australia. But Virgin Australia has massively improved its Business Class offering since then… while also slashing its Business airfares. At a basic level, Qantas and Virgin Australia now provide very similar domestic Business Class products. Both airlines have lounges, the Boeing 737 … Continued

Virgin Australia Won’t Return to NZ Until November 2022

New Zealand will reopen its border to Australian tourists next month, with quarantine-free travel from Australia resuming from 13 April 2022. Following this announcement, Qantas quickly announced an increase to services from Sydney to Auckland from the date of the border reopening. It will also resume daily Brisbane-Auckland, Melbourne-Auckland and Sydney-Christchurch flights from 13 April, … Continued

What Airlines Does Bain Capital Own?

In 2020, Bain Capital purchased Virgin Australia out of voluntary administration after months of negotiations. The Boston-based US private equity firm now owns almost 95% of Virgin Australia, along with Richard Branson’s Virgin Group which owns around a 5% share. A small stake in the airline was also purchased by the Queensland government. Following the sale to … Continued

Virgin Boosts Status Credits Until 30 June 2022

Virgin Australia will now give 45-100% more Velocity status credits on all flights taken from October 2021 until June 2022, following a 3-month extension to this promotion which was previously due to expire at the end of March. This offer is available to all Velocity Frequent Flyer members and will even be applied retrospectively to … Continued

Velocity Reinstating Singapore KrisFlyer Transfers “Shortly”

Velocity Frequent Flyer members will soon be able to convert their points to Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer miles again, with Velocity CEO Nick Rohrlach promising to bring the option back within months. The ability to transfer points between the Velocity and KrisFlyer loyalty programs was a hugely popular program feature until it was suspended in April … Continued