New Darwin Routes, a Darwin Lounge and SQ Frequent Flyer recognition

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Great news!

We have today announced with our alliance partner Singapore Airlines, the first two milestones of our recently approved alliance: new international and domestic routes to Darwin and the launch of frequent flyer programme co-operation.

As part of a joint plan to increase services to northern Australia, Singapore Airlines’ regional full service airline, SilkAir will begin a four-times-weekly service between Singapore and Darwin from 26 March 2012, and Virgin Australia will complement these services with a daily service between Sydney and Darwin from 2 April 2012.

We have also confirmed that from 20 December this year, we will commence reciprocal frequent flyer recognition, enabling KrisFlyer members to earn and redeem frequent flyer points on Virgin Australia’s network and Velocity members will be able to earn and redeem frequent flyer points on Singapore Airlines operated flights. Reciprocal lounge access is also available for eligible customers.

Singapore Airlines Executive Vice President Commercial and SilkAir Chairman, Mr Mak Swee Wah, said: “We are delighted to be adding Darwin to our network and providing more travel options for our customers as a result of our alliance with Virgin Australia. Our partnership enables us to better service this important market, particularly with the introduction of a strong business class product and extensive international connections.

“The launch of reciprocal frequent flyer programme ties will also be particularly exciting news for our loyal customers. Our partnership with Virgin Australia will be delivering tangible benefits to customers, with more choice for domestic and international travel combined with seamless service.”

Virgin Australia Group Executive of Alliances, Network & Yield Management, Ms Merren McArthur said: “The alliance with Singapore Airlines enables us to open up important new routes in Australia and Asia and we have moved quickly to identify and realise this opportunity with our new partner”.

“Darwin is the gateway to the Northern Territory’s popular tourist destinations and is an increasingly important commercial hub. Together with Singapore Airlines we will be able to offer visitors from Singapore, Asia and Europe the opportunity to visit the Northern Territory and then travel onto Sydney and the East Coast of Australia. Our services will also be attractive to business travelers who now have the option of a quality business class service from Sydney to Darwin and on to Singapore and beyond.”

“From next week, Virgin Australia customers will be able to enjoy the first benefits of the alliance, with the ability to earn and burn frequent flyer points and status credits on Singapore Airlines’ network of destinations and access over 14 lounges around the world. We look forward to bringing our customers further exciting benefits as the alliance develops,”, Ms McArthur said.

We can also announce that we will open a lounge at Darwin Airport for our eligible Virgin Australia guests as well as those of its alliance partners.

We expect to commence codesharing on each other's services from early 2012.
 
A DRW lounge - Yeeeesssss! Now to get flights to the East Coast that dont leave at OMG O clock, more of the late afternoon departures so that a full days business can be done without a redeye at the end would be nice!
 
Awesome! More fights to Singapore is a huge bonus for Northern Australia! And direct flights to Sydney from Darwin will be great for me to maintain my Virgin Gold Status!
 
This is great news.

I have a question if someone (maybe the VA rep) could help me out with.

I read this on the VA website - KrisFlyer Elite Gold members receive complimentary entry to the Virgin Australia Lounge, at airports in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth and Canberra.

What I want to know is if it VA lounge access will be available to KrisFlyer Solitaire PPS Club which I believe is a higher level than KrisFlyer Elite Gold. It will seem odd that while KrisFlyer Elite Gold members would be allowed lounge access, higher tier members would not but as the VA website does not mention PPS club I thought I had better ask.

Cheers
NW
 
Excellent - but with all this increased activity in SE Asia, any chance that international lounge access for short haul flights can be implemented for Business class passengers / Gold and Platinum VFFs? Feels like that's the one missing piece from an otherwise extremely competitive product at the moment.
 
A DRW lounge - Yeeeesssss! Now to get flights to the East Coast that dont leave at OMG O clock, more of the late afternoon departures so that a full days business can be done without a redeye at the end would be nice!

Thought you might appreciate that news!

Yippee!! What is the DRW/SYD timetable?

We haven't yet announced the flight schedule, so stay tuned for news in early 2012.

This is great news.

I have a question if someone (maybe the VA rep) could help me out with.
I read this on the VA website - KrisFlyer Elite Gold members receive complimentary entry to the Virgin Australia Lounge, at airports in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth and Canberra.

What I want to know is if it VA lounge access will be available to KrisFlyer Solitaire PPS Club which I believe is a higher level than KrisFlyer Elite Gold. It will seem odd that while KrisFlyer Elite Gold members would be allowed lounge access, higher tier members would not but as the VA website does not mention PPS club I thought I had better ask.

Cheers
NW

PPS and Solitaire PPS will receive access to our Lounges (also have one accompanying guest) when flying on Virgin Australia.
 
Virgin Australia,

Does this mean Gold/Platinum Velocity members will be able to access SQ lounges in Australia when flying on VA "short-haul international" flights (ie to the Pacific Islands and Bali)?

Thanks
 
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Ooh very nice, whle the departure times out of darwin still make me tired just thinking about it, being able to chill out at a Lounge beforehand will be nothing but good. :D Any hint as to when we might be able to expect to see it? Sometime before March 26 2012 one would hope ;)
 
Earn table has been released on the velocity site. Burn table should be posted shortly..
 
The Velocity website has just been updated with the DJ/SQ Earn information for those interested.

Points Earn Table:

SQvelocitypoints earn.jpg

Updated Status Credit Earn Table:

statuscreditearntable.jpg

Velocity points redemption table will be published on December 20th, when these come into effect.
 
This is really good news as I have just booked a trip on the Ghan.

I'm hoping DJ 459 has a time change.
 
This is great news. I have some travel booked on SQ in March 2012. Good Work VA.
 
Firstly, two words, Cool bananas!

Secondly, yay more options to fly to Asia now!!! bring it on.

And its good to see the status credit earn rate for SQ is matched as VA, Etihad etc :) not like the cheapie VS earn rate.

Although the points per mile is so-so for pax in Business, First, Suite. But hay better than nothing! :)

Will we earn points on silk air flights? because it mentions Silk air will be flying between Darwin - Singapore.

anyway next year i'll be doing alot more Melbourne - DRW trips, and i've always being sad that darwin didnt have a lounge, so thats another YAY! Darwin lounge!!

Now you just have to negotiate to kick Qantas/Jetstar out of those daytime/afternoon slots so we can fly to-from Darwin at decent hours, instead of the 1AM flights.

or according to AusBT, "SilkAir's flight MI802 will leave Darwin on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at the ungodly hour of 2.30am, arriving into Singapore Changi Airport at an only slightly more sane 5.30am"

Darwin Airport needs more terminals/slots, because the current ones are all locked up by QF/Jet*
 
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