Should Virgin Australia join Star Alliance?

[AirportAddict]

Should Virgin Australia join Star Alliance? They seem to be chossing Star Alliance airlines to code share with at the moment. If you go by this. Who thinks they will? if so, when?

 

[MarkD]

They have said they have no intention, no need, and I am inclined to agree ( provided they can sort out the current partner earning / lounge access issues)

 

[dajop]

I believe a smart move would be to continue picking and choosing from non-QF partners. Perhaps CZ and either the KL/AF group or LH group and they would be very well positioned against OW.

 

[harvyk]

I see it happening, but I don't see them rushing into it.

 

[serfty]

Alaska Airlines (AS) do this very well, having relationships with quite a few other carriers including codesharing with such as QF, DL, AF, KE, NZ & AA.

Posted on a wing and a prayer

 

[drron]

Actually I feel it is becoming slightly less likely that they will join an alliance.It is strongly rumoured that Etihad wants to take a stake in DJ.It has just taken slightly more than 29% stake in AB.EY is now codesharing with a range of other airlines including members of each of the 3 alliances.Maybe this model is more to DJs liking.Full list here-
Our Airline partners

The interesting thing with their stake in AB is that quite quickly major changes are happening for example EY and AB 787s are going to be configured in the same way
Etihad ties up with Air Berlin on 787 introduction

EY is also taking over maintenence for AB.
This model could well be much cheaper than joining an alliance.

 

[Justchecking]

Not this again...no I don't see it actually. The megabucks required to join and maintain membership are onerous for a small airline. And DJ is a small (predominantly domestic) airline. Although they are now a major player in Oz, they are pretty small in global terms. There's other places they could spend that money on that would improve the bottom line.

 

[trooper]

Add me to the "unlikely" group...

Awfully happy however with their SQ and NZ tie ups!!!

 

[maninblack]

Add me to the "unlikely" group...

Awfully happy however with their SQ and NZ tie ups!!!

Absolutely, the real clincher for me. Au revoir Qantas. (well for now anyway)

 

[BAM1748]

Just remember there is a cost for everything, this is no exception.

Matt

 

[dfcatch]

Should they - yes!!

Would that be the clincher to win me across - most probably!!

Is it the one major item holding me back - without question!!

 

[The Rok]

I think the cost would be too high. What is the benefit of joining Star Alliance given all the tie ups they currently have? All they really need now is a better European partner to serve the destinations that Etihad do not fly to.

 

[browski]

If you join either Singapore Krisflyer or NZ airpoints, does it not mean you have both the airline partner benefits of Star Alliance plus also Virgin Australia as a partner? So, why would it matter if DJ joined Star Alliance, essentially they already have.

 

[dajop]

If you join either Singapore Krisflyer or NZ airpoints, does it not mean you have both the airline partner benefits of Star Alliance plus also Virgin Australia as a partner? So, why would it matter if DJ joined Star Alliance, essentially they already have.

Not quite. In both Krisflyer and NZ airpoints, DJ/VA flights do not count towards status in either program, so using either SQ or NZ does not work for those predominantly flying on DJ/VA

 

[Kolo]

What they are missing at the moment is a European partner, to enable earning and lounge access for flights within Europe. To me this is the only chink in their armour. I'm slowly moving from QF to DJ and this would speed it up. Joining *A would work for me.

 

[bigjobs]

Should they - yes!!

Would that be the clincher to win me across - most probably!!

Is it the one major item holding me back - without question!!

finally, someone who reads a thread title.

yes, they should.

 

[Timba-Jet]

Perhaps oneday. For the time being it may be more beneficial to focus their resources in the domestic market.

Then again for some customers them not being in an Alliance is a roadblock to switch their domestic flying from QF.

 

[Paddy55]

I think it would be a good idea... Access to Europe as earlier noted

 

[travelislife]

It would be great if they did but I can't see it happening in the short term. Just out of interest does anyone know the cost to enter Star Alliance and maintain membership? Or even OneWorld?

 

[sydstar]

In a nutshell - yes they should, but do they need to? No, not really. JB seems to have built up a fairly good network of partners, however, there are still a few major black-spots, including continental Europe, Africa, and Northern Asia (maybe ANA or a Chinese carrier).

If they don't want to join *A then at least make the benefits between airlines clearer, including baggage allowances and priority benefits. The lounge access seems to be all over the place. I see that both *A and OW have thier anomolies, but consider these scenarios:
* Flying to SYD-HKG on VS - no SYD lounge access as it is a VS partner lounge
* Flying SFO-SYD on NZ - no SFO lounge access as NZ does not own the lounge
* Flying STD-DPS on DJ - no facilities available at SYD for DJ passengers

A VA elite should be able to access the operating carriers (VS) lounge at the port (NZ for SYD). Sure, make VA pay for it, but lounge access at one end (HKG) and not the other (SYD) does not make any sense

I know there are rules with 'partner lounges', but these are key citites (maybe not DPS ) that VA should be encouraging elites to travel with their partner airlines on. In contrast, a QF elite travelling on BA can access a CX lounge. VA need to pick up their game in this respect.