Virgin Australia announces strategic alliance with Singapore Airlines

[Mrmaxwell]

Poor Alan Joyce...he will again have to put off that long awaited trip to the dentist. More work to do sir...

 

[dk4]

Given the Skywest ATR's, which are on the way to the east coast, I wonder if this agreement will effect ZL's relationship with SQ?

 

[malmacdowall]

Woo! FTW! Nailed it!

At the risk of sounding like a 70 year old technophobe .... What does FTW mean?

 

[Keith009]

CAPA has a detailed article on the alliance here including a timeline of its implementation:
Virgin Australia and Singapore Airlines to change the balance of power with long-term alliance | Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation - CAPA

From 01-Aug-2011:

* Singapore Airlines customers will be able to interline on Virgin Australia’s domestic network, allowing them to travel through to a range of destinations with one ticket, through-checked baggage, terminal transfers and inclusive meals; and
* Virgin Australia Velocity Gold members and Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer Gold members will have reciprocal access to each airline’s airport lounges.

From 'Late 2011':

* Singapore Airlines and Virgin Australia will lodge an application with the ACCC in the coming weeks. Subject to approval, customers should be able to experience the full benefits of the alliance from late this year.

 

[AaronBradford]

At the risk of sounding like a 70 year old technophobe .... What does FTW mean?

For The Win ie, awesome

 

[Necoflier]

It is a good news for Australian fliers. Should be some changes in Qantas front too

 

[Keith009]

O hai crazydave98, Velocity Rewards or Virgin Australia,

Just wondering out loud - I hope J and F awards on SQ 77W and A380 aircraft will be made available to Velocity members at reasonable redemption rates?

Currently these are shut out off from Star Alliance redemptions, and Krisflyer members have to pay considerably more miles for Standard Awards rather than the base Saver Award to gain access to these seats. This is got to a point where it's farcical as SQ replaces more and more of its routes with the 77W and A380 aircraft. On some SQ routes you can't even get Saver or Star Alliance awards as they've gone 77W or A380 only.

If Velocity manages to negotiate access to J and F awards on 77W and A380 aircraft at sensible redemption levels (as Miles&More has done on certain services), it will enhance its appeal considerably. And might just get me to switch over from the oneworld camp even more.

 

[The Rok]

Oh hai crazydave98, Velocity Rewards or Virgin Australia,

Just wondering out loud - I hope J and F awards on SQ 77W and A380 will be made available to Velocity members at reasonable redemption rates?

Currently these are shut out off from Star Alliance redemptions, and Krisflyer members have to pay considerably more for Standard Awards rather than the base Saver Award to gain access to these seats. This is got to a point where it's farcical as SQ replaces more and more of its routes with the 77W and A380 aircraft. On some SQ routes you can't even get Saver or Star Alliance awards as they've gone 77W or A380 only.

If Velocity manages to negotiate access to J and F awards on 77W and A380 aircraft (as Miles&More has done on certain services), it will enhance its appeal considerably. And might just get me to switch over from the oneworld camp even more.

These seats are not just blacked out to Star Alliance, VS, who SQ own 49% of cannot use Flying Club Miles for Business Class seats on ANY SQ flight.

 

[Ansettaddict123]

Re: VA to partner with SQ

Finally, something for the people of Perth to get excited about. Maybe now I can get to Europe without having to travel to Mel or Syd.

Hear hear!
From what I have been hearing of late though Etihad has been looking into starting its own ops into Perth - now that would be a real plus.

 

[The Rok]

Re: VA to partner with SQ

Hear hear!
From what I have been hearing of late though Etihad has been looking into starting its own ops into Perth - now that would be a real plus.

Etihad non stop from PER - AUH would be ideal, but I will settle for SIN and onto LHR.

My understanding of Etihad's current allocations of flights out of AU is that the only other international flights they can operate have to be from a regional city.... so coughhole of nowhere - PER - AUH...

I always felt PER was neglected by VA internationally... No AUH, no LAX, no JHB, just DPS.... This tie up with SQ changes that..... now roll on Platinum.....

 

[kevrosmith]

While *A and OW seem to get mentioned here a lot, & yes, an alliance with SQ does make VA membership to *A seem likely, let's not forget that SkyTeam is also another alliance around the place: and Delta is a founding member of that. In fact, according to wiki, it carries more pax than OW and has 28% of the North America market, compared to 15% OW. The same picture shows 0% in Oceania market share: looks like some growth potential there from my perspective... :shock:

 

[LiamR]

Re: # Virgin Australia announces strategic alliance with Singapore Airlines

you forgot:
Tuesday - Codeshare with SQ AND also the birthday of one of the DJ social media team!

Oh! Well Happy Birthday to you! Sorry I didn't respond earlier. I had to turn off my phone so I did something productive today and not just read AFF!

I'll have to remember to bring a cake next time I'm in Sydney. Where can I drop it off?

So no clues as to what I'll find when I wake up tommorow?

 

[elbarto]

Re: VA to partner with SQ

Umm, is my watch 1 year behind?

You fell into the hot tub time machine

 

[Alanslegal]

Re: Singapore airlines and virgin australia unveil long-term partnership

If it's a tennis match, Qantas took two early sets with ease 6-2 6-1. Third set went to VA 7-6 (a horrible line call that will be forever known as the "Jetstar incident") and i think VA are current 5-1 up and serving in the fourth. A long way from winning but definitely have the momentum on their side while the other mob are looking ragged as we head into the decisive fifth set.

Nice analogy!

I've been to a few market research / focus groups re: QF and its competitors, and when they ask me "if QF was a person what type of person would it be?" its similar to how you describe it ..... probably in their 50's, male, getting old, tired, and lucky that people are still flying them because they have the old mens club supporting them.

Then they would ask how would you describe VA/DJ and most of the responses is like they're probably in the 30's, cool, younger, fresh, more appealing, wanting to be well known, relaxed, and being more fun. New but hopefully will grow and develop into something substantial.

Anyway the good news with VA is that the only way is upwards .... whilst QF has everything to lose - and yes they are going backward. FWIW I don't give a toss what their supposedly new WP1 3600 SCs status is ..... they need to get back to their roots and work out REAL improvements, work on NEW routes, and not just relying on protesting/whinging/complaining to the ACCC every single time COMPETITION flies head on into them.

 

[Keith009]

These seats are not just blacked out to Star Alliance, VS, who SQ own 49% of cannot use Flying Club Miles for Business Class seats on ANY SQ flight.

Hopefully it won't be like Flying Club! Makes the whole VAust-SQ arrangement much less attractive if Velocity miles can't be used for premium awards on SQ. And here I was preparing to whinge if Velocity members can only access non A380/77W premium awards. :-|

Oh well, look forward to when they announce more details on FFP reciprocity. As they're filing for ATI, one would hope that the FF arrangements will be more comprehensive than there currently exist between SQ and*A or VS.

 

[gumpy]

While *A and OW seem to get mentioned here a lot, & yes, an alliance with SQ does make VA membership to *A seem likely, let's not forget that SkyTeam is also another alliance around the place: and Delta is a founding member of that. In fact, according to wiki, it carries more pax than OW and has 28% of the North America market, compared to 15% OW. The same picture shows 0% in Oceania market share: looks like some growth potential there from my perspective... :shock:

I will eat my own head if Virgin go Skyteam.

 

[The Rok]

Hopefully it won't be like Flying Club! Makes the whole VAust-SQ arrangement much less attractive if Velocity miles can't be used for premium awards on SQ. And here I was preparing to whinge if Velocity members can only access non A380/77W premium awards. :-|

Oh well, look forward to when they announce more details on FFP reciprocity. As they're filing for ATI, one would hope that the FF arrangements will be more comprehensive than there currently exist between SQ and*A or VS.

The ability to book SQ award flights on the Velocity website would be a HUGE benefit. The VS system of calling up flying club, requesting the flights, waiting 24 hours for a call back only to be told "not available", pick new dates is a joke....

 

[Timba-Jet]

Well done Virgin Australia!

In business today, there is a lot of talk, but not action. This together previous enhancements this year shows how serious VA are in changing the Australian airspace. DJ did it for in the LCC market a decade ago, now its game on all the way.

 

[herman_aussie]

Now this is a real game changer.

I was so disheartened when MH goes with QF instead of DJ.
But this is trully a great news..... i am smilling even reading it.

now just wait for the FFP arrengments.....

 

[Keith009]

The ability to book SQ award flights on the Velocity website would be a HUGE benefit. The VS system of calling up flying club, requesting the flights, waiting 24 hours for a call back only to be told "not available", pick new dates is a joke....

Makes the BMI ICC sound like a slick, efficient operation. :mrgreen: