Any prospect of Velocity FF ever allowing J upgrades on partner airlines

[Melburnian1]

VA's FF program does not allow one to upgrade from whY to J on SQ, for example.

SQ historically allegedly never upgrade Y passengers to J even if they book on SQ and not a codeshare VA or other carrier ticket.

Is there any prospect of the VA FF program ever permitting you and I to upgrade to J on carriers such as SQ?

This seems one of a number of deficiencies of the Velocity FF program. I assume that VA simply aren't willing to pay SQ or others enough to allow this benefit to be introduced.

 

[markis10]

Most programs dont allow upgrades on other carriers metal, it is a *alliance benefit however the restrictions on fare buckets etc make it practically unusable. To say its a deficiency in VAs program when it is in fact very rare to be able to do so with anyone else suggests more research is needed before such statements are made.

 

[Melburnian1]

If it looks like a deficiency and quacks like one, it's still a deficiency.

It's 'programs' not 'program's.'

 

[moa999]

Versus the main competitor program the rules are the same.

On QF, you can only upgrade on QF metal and flight number
You cannot upgrade on Jetstar, any other oneworld airline, or Emirates

 

[Deleted member 29185]

It's 'programs' not 'program's.'

Could be argued it's programmes not programs ..............(we are still part of the commonwealth whether we like it or not)

 

[TonyHancock]

Could be argued it's programmes not programs ..............(we are still part of the commonwealth whether we like it or not)

Definitely Programs!

Program was predominantly used up until the 19th Century in the United Kingdom and then programme became used more widely as a result of French influence. So obviously we need to ignore, some may say concrete over, the French influence.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

So obviously we need to ignore, some may say concrete over, the French influence.

I did say it "could be argued".......personally, I not sure which is the lesser of evils, a French influence or a yankee influence :shock:.
(please holster the voodoo dolls. I'm only joshing )

 

[grubbidok]

To say its a deficiency in VAs program when it is in fact very rare to be able to do so with anyone else suggests more research is needed before such statements are made.

The real problem is VA's program is deficient because it refuses to get involved in a real alliance, and therefore VA FFs just don't get the same benefits on partner airlines as you would if it were an alliance partner.

It will always be deficient no matter how much JB spruiks the benefits of the VA 'custom alliance' model. That being said, alliance benefits are diluting - and the trend is towards alliance members being treated the same as VA FFs, rather than VA FFS looking as though they'll be treated like alliance members any time soon.

 

[cove]

Our friends have a family of five and today they got 3 J seats and 2 Y seats using US Air Miles from PER to SIN on SQ. The rest of the trip is all J to the US and back to Sydney.
VA points are not as good as grubbidok is correct.

 

[moa999]

Our friends have a family of five and today they got 3 J seats and 2 Y seats using US Air Miles from PER to SIN on SQ. The rest of the trip is all J to the US and back to Sydney.
VA points are not as good as grubbidok is correct.

If those seats were available to us air, would also be available to velocity, admittedly at different earn/burn rates

 

[markis10]

The real problem is VA's program is deficient because it refuses to get involved in a real alliance, and therefore VA FFs just don't get the same benefits on partner airlines as you would if it were an alliance partner.

It will always be deficient no matter how much JB spruiks the benefits of the VA 'custom alliance' model. That being said, alliance benefits are diluting - and the trend is towards alliance members being treated the same as VA FFs, rather than VA FFS looking as though they'll be treated like alliance members any time soon.

Thats a bit of an old world argument these days, especially with the number of strategic alliances being forged around the world that are separate to the the structured ones, and the treatment of QP customers by BA re the lounges in LHR.

 

[moa999]

But the QF-BA issues are exactly what can happen in a strategic alliance, QP members were always outside the scope of oneworld

The ground rules are much less likely to change in the multi-lateral alliances where the rules are more enshrined.

 

[cove]

The particular thing I liked about the 5 travellers in the one party was that it is in Perth school holidays in one of the dates that they got the lot on board SQ with 3 in J out of PER. The rest of the flights are in J for the whole 5 but they switch to Asiana.

 

[777]

I could actually forsee Etihad offering this at some point with their partners in future as part of an argument for how their "Equity alliance" is superior to olde Worlde alliances. I have no particular reason to assume that but i wouldn't rule it out. Given they sell paid upgrades anyway it would largely be an IT issue and a question of pricing the points adequately for them. Could also be away of tipping VA flyers into a higher fare bucket. I'd look at it if i were them.

 

[Melburnian1]

777, Etihad is not VA's largest shareholder although the financial press is implying that EY wants to move to owning 19.9 per cent of VA. Are you suggesting EY could start a more formal, passenger focused 'equity alliance' even though it might not own 51 per cent of other airlines?

Essentially this would be a fourth major worldwide airline alliance wouldn't it?

 

[777]

777, Etihad is not VA's largest shareholder although the financial press is implying that EY wants to move to owning 19.9 per cent of VA. Are you suggesting EY could start a more formal, passenger focused 'equity alliance' even though it might not own 51 per cent of other airlines?

Essentially this would be a fourth major worldwide airline alliance wouldn't it?

It's not really a fourth major alliance because it's non exclusive and includes members of other alliances but "equity alliance" is Etihad's own term for what they are doing. They promise greater integration than traditional alliances so theoretically things like this should be on the table.

I'd argue that Etihad may not be VA's largest shareholder but they are probably the most tightly integrated partner in terms of what they offer.

 

[grubbidok]

Thats a bit of an old world argument these days, especially with the number of strategic alliances being forged around the world that are separate to the the structured ones, and the treatment of QP customers by BA re the lounges in LHR.

I would agree. But the fact is that as thing currently stand, the alliances offer more for FF members than most 'strategic alliances'. They have the potential to be as good, but they're nowhere near it yet.