Interesting Announcement by DJ [Virgin Blue / Air New Zealand alliance]

[notzac]

The thing I would like to know is what will happen to DJ's lounge single entry passes available for purchase ($30 if prepurchased, $35 if purchased at the airport).

I would expect that the single entry passes would continue to be only valid for The Lounge and not partner lounges.

 

[777]

As a DJ FF, i think this is great news - particularly the FF reciprocity and access to NZ lounges. I can only hope/ assume that the NZ lounges will become the VA lounges in MEL, SYD, and BNE at some point?

Interesting it says nothing about Pac Blue on the NZ domestic routes. I wonder if their fate is up for grabs as part of this.

 

[harvyk]

Koru lounge has always had a single entry buy at the door option if capacity allowed, however it was not $35 but $55.

So it makes my question \ comment even more valid, as that is effectively half price...

 

[SimonM]

Virgin Blue / Air New Zealand article

Air NZ and Virgin Blue seek permission for trans-Tasman alliance | BUSINESS News

 

[harvyk]

Interesting it says nothing about Pac Blue on the NZ domestic routes. I wonder if their fate is up for grabs as part of this.

Very well could be... AirNZ\DJ targetting their common enemy - QF\JQ... We very well could see DJ (pac blue) pulling out of the NZ domestic market as part of this...

 

[777]

Another thing to note is the foreshadowed "airline of the future" announcement in DJs ASX statement:

http://www.asx.com.au/asxpdf/20100503/pdf/31q449z2g28ylj.pdf

Every hint and indication is that they are going to seriously overhaul their product in the not-too-distant future.

They have been quite systematically putting the pieces in place for a while now for a major re-launch with some kind of full service offering and some kind of revamped P/E / Business class. I know they are pretty close to finishing a major IT overhaul that will give them a lot more flexibility and every indication appears to be that they will unify the brands (you'd be unwise to bet against V Australia being the new name and maybe V Pacific for NZ domestic).

It's a better than even bet that the new jets will come with at least three rows of proper two abreast seats, wifi connectivity, enhanced IFE and a proper galley more in the mold of Virgin America than the original Virgin Blue.

We shall see...

777.

 

[markis10]

So it makes my question \ comment even more valid, as that is effectively half price...

That was NZD$55, or $42 AUD, I would expect to see DJ raise it to $40 to keep it on par, hardly half price though!

 

[straitman]

That was NZD$55, or $42 AUD, I would expect to see DJ raise it to $40 to keep it on par, hardly half price though!

A price rise such as that would make both similar prices and possibly push them toward reciprocal rights.

 

[anat0l]

Well if this all goes ahead (and I see no reason as to why it won't - no dragons in this deal), this will be a good alliance to shake on QF/JQ and the other crossing the Tasman.

It still surprises me how JQ could possibly be doing well on Tasman and NZ domestic, but whatever.

Probably works sort of well with this alliance and NZ paring back J on their Tasman / Pacific Islands markets. They could use some extra support, and some DJ customers could indulge in a bit more luxury (although PE was introduced in Tasman not too long ago as well, which is semi-similar to what NZ would call The Works or Works Deluxe).

I'd be very interested as well with the reciprocal FF benefits.

 

[harvyk]

That was NZD$55, or $42 AUD, I would expect to see DJ raise it to $40 to keep it on par, hardly half price though!

Fair enough, I didn't realise you where talking NZD vs AUD. I though that you where talking AUD only...

 

[notzac]

...and the press release *finally* makes it to the DJ site:

Virgin Blue > News and Press Releases

 

[ric_melb]

Certainly isn't doing much for the Virgin share price which has declined from 70 cents to 53 cents over the last week or so.
Mind you the Qantas price was down 10 cents today also.