VA and SQ Alliance Final Approval

[SeaWolf]

Fair enough if that's their policy, but I guess we all get abit confused because the velocity website tells us these are the benefits but then the other airline's computer says nooooo....

Yeah, it is a bit confusing, it happens because in every other port they have one lounge and they call it the SilverKris lounge. SIN is the only port with KrisFlyer Gold lounges.

 

[codash1099]

VA's release only refers to ports in Asia, India and Africa. For me, the alliance has little benefit unless Europe is also included, and even better if they tie up with a European airline.

Roll on *A.

 

[blankman]

Fair enough if that's their policy, but I guess we all get abit confused because the velocity website tells us these are the benefits but then the other airline's computer says nooooo....

Looks like they've made the velocity lounge access page a little clearer in this respect..

Singapore Airlines

Singapore Airlines owned and operated SilverKris lounges worldwide plus the KrisFlyer Gold Lounge in Changi Airport, Singapore^^

You and a guest on presentation of membership card and boarding pass for same day travel on Singapore Airlines

 

[dajop]

otherwise it's the infamous no-toilets, no-showers KrisFlyer Gold lounge. Which is very pleasant other than the lack of toilets and showers. I believe that SQ doesn't even let its own elites into the T3 SIN SilverKris lounge unless they're flying business. This obviously doesn't apply in any other port, where SQ will have just the one lounge for everyone.

It's also the same in T2 SIN, there is a separate SilverKris lounge and a KrisFlyer Gold lounge, though I believe the Gold lounge is actually a contract lounge. This one does have showers though but isn't as nice as the Gold lounge in T3. I seem to recall it being mentioned that the T2 Gold had been renovated very recently though, so I'll be curious to see what it's like when I'm up there in a few weeks.

As part of the renovation of the T2 lounges SQ has cut off part of the Silver Kris Lounge and established a new KF Gold lounge along the style of the KF Gold lounge in T3, of course no showers and toilets. Therefore I assume golds can no longer access the contract lounge in T2. For those who need a shower, being Changi, one can have one for a fee - around $6.60 AUD - which isn't exactly a huge sum of money to part with, but I guess it's the principle of the matter!

 

[airtraveladdict]

Yeah, it is a bit confusing, it happens because in every other port they have one lounge and they call it the SilverKris lounge. SIN is the only port with KrisFlyer Gold lounges.

That makes sense.

Oh well as long as we can use the lounges elsewhere around the world, even flying in Y class, im happy.

I don't fly J class very often, so I rely on my status benefit to get me into lounges.

 

[maninblack]

VA's release only refers to ports in Asia, India and Africa. For me, the alliance has little benefit unless Europe is also included, and even better if they tie up with a European airline.

Roll on *A.

In my 'excitement' I didn't notice this. If it does not include SQ into Europe then it's a very half-hearted alliance and of little use to me as well.

Roll on Oneworld

 

[airtraveladdict]

In my 'excitement' I didn't notice this. If it does not include SQ into Europe then it's a very half-hearted alliance and of little use to me as well.

Roll on Oneworld

From our interpretations of the alliance, the codeshare applies to flights from Perth with SQ to Europe/UK (and east coast USA if you fly via Frankfurt), because Perth is not serviced by Etihad or V Australia.

But I'm sure the ally will include travellers from Syd, Bris, Melbourne who fly Singapore Airlines to Europe will also earn SC/points.

I know this ally is meant to boost Virgin's offering for Asian destinations via Changhi, but they wouldn't be able to stop travellers from booking an onward flight to Europe/UK. But I guess they worded the media release to focus more on the "Asia" side, so they wouldn't upset Etihad Airways which no doubt wouldn't want to lose customers to SQ on the Kangaroo route.

FYI Virgin Australia’s Velocity Gold members will also have access to 14 Singapore Airlines-operated lounges worldwide when travelling with Singapore Airlines.

 

[lovestotravel]

I was initially very excited about this, as I thought I'd be able to fly MEL-SIN-LHR on an A380 (once SQ works out if the A380 is coming back to MEL)


But of course the fineprint from a few news sources:

"However, Virgin Australia's codeshare agreements with Singapore Airlines are only likely to open up flight routes not already served by its existing partnerships with Etihad and other airlines. For example, flights to London via Singapore would be available only from Perth, as Virgin's current partner Etihad doesn't tap the WA capital but has other capital cities covered, and Virgin wants to avoid treading on the toes of its several codeshare pals."

 

[maninblack]

But I'm sure the ally will include travellers from Syd, Bris, Melbourne who fly Singapore Airlines to Europe will also earn SC/points.

I'm not so sure about this at all. Maybe point/SC's into SIN but perhaps not beyond and if you are flying for example on a single booking MEL-SIN-LHR perhaps no points/SC's at all.

 

[lovestotravel]

I'm not so sure about this at all. Maybe point/SC's into SIN but perhaps not beyond and if you are flying for example on a single booking MEL-SIN-LHR perhaps no points/SC's at all.

Yep refer to my post above!

 

[airtraveladdict]

I'm not so sure about this at all. Maybe point/SC's into SIN but perhaps not beyond and if you are flying for example on a single booking MEL-SIN-LHR perhaps no points/SC's at all.

Uh oh...that won't be good, it would be like going to Carol Beer to book your ticket, computer says nooo....

 

[dajop]

What I don't understand is the following statement:

This is excellent news for Australian travellers as it provides our guests with access to around 70 additional destinations across Asia, India and Africa, with one of the best airlines in the world

Whereas SQ itself only operates to around 60 destinations globally :!: And many of them are not additional (eg MEL, SYD, BNE, ADL, PER, DPS, SIN, HKG, LHR, LAX, AUH, etc) I assume therefore that it must also include SilkAir (~30 destinations).

 

[serfty]

AFP article Here's a little further detail and timeframe:

... Virgin said reciprocal frequent flyer schemes would begin by the end of 2011 and codesharing early next year. ...

Well, there's not much left of 2011!

 

[maninblack]

AFP article Here's a little further detail and timeframe:




Well, there's not much left of 2011!

Hmm. But the question about which SQ destinations are included in the commercial agreement is the BIG issue. If it doesn't include MEL/SYD through to Europe it's pretty lame.

 

[777]

I think people are confusing two issues here. One is the codeshare destinations (flights operated by SQ on which you can buy a VA ticket and sold as a VA flight) and the other is FF program reciprocity. It's quite possible/ likely that the arrangement will allow you to earn/ burn on all SQ flights but only book some of them as "Virgin Australia" codes. This is more or less how it works with Etihad. You can buy a range of destinations on the Virgin web site operated by Etihad but still earn points and Status credits on all other Etihad flights.

The issue for the ACCC (and probably VA's other partners) is that Virgin can't codeshare to the same destinations on more than one carrier so if you want to get to London and you book it via VA from SYD/ MEL /BNE they will send you on Etihad. But you can still book an SQ ticket, access their lounges and earn points or SC's.

At least that's what i hope!

 

[oz_mark]

The issue for the ACCC (and probably VA's other partners) is that Virgin can't codeshare to the same destinations on more than one carrier so if you want to get to London and you book it via VA from SYD/ MEL /BNE they will send you on Etihad. But you can still book an SQ ticket, access their lounges and earn points or SC's.

At least that's what i hope!

This was my impression as well. Folk are getting a bit hung up on which flights will have a VA code, versus what the overall alliance will allow.

 

[maninblack]

I think people are confusing two issues here. One is the codeshare destinations (flights operated by SQ on which you can buy a VA ticket and sold as a VA flight) and the other is FF program reciprocity. It's quite possible/ likely that the arrangement will allow you to earn/ burn on all SQ flights but only book some of them as "Virgin Australia" codes. This is more or less how it works with Etihad. You can buy a range of destinations on the Virgin web site operated by Etihad but still earn points and Status credits on all other Etihad flights.

The issue for the ACCC (and probably VA's other partners) is that Virgin can't codeshare to the same destinations on more than one carrier so if you want to get to London and you book it via VA from SYD/ MEL /BNE they will send you on Etihad. But you can still book an SQ ticket, access their lounges and earn points or SC's.

At least that's what i hope!

Right, but thats the $64 question. I don't mind at all what airline code is on the ticket as long as I can fly to say MXP or ZRH and get the Virgin points and SC's. Just like I can fly QF MEL-LHR on a QF code but elect for the points and SC's to go into my CX Marco Polo account at the time of booking.

 

[777]

Right, but thats the $64 question. I don't mind at all what airline code is on the ticket as long as I can fly to say MXP or ZRH and get the Virgin points and SC's. Just like I can fly QF MEL-LHR on a QF code but elect for the points and SC's to go into my CX Marco Polo account at the time of booking.

Yes, i am not saying it will definitely work like that but there's no reason to assume it won't until we hear otherwise.

 

[albatross710]

Where will the VA Gold and Plats sit when they are in the Brisbane SilverKris lounge. The lounge is nice but it is really only big enough for a cabin full of J pax.

I am looking forward to being able to redeem VA flights with SQ miles.

 

[Fruitcake]

Current arrangements clearly point to you being able to earn on any route flown by partners. For obvious reasons, V Australia don't codeshare with NZ on SYD-AKL-LAX. But if you were to book that route with NZ, in full fare Y you'd earn 110 SCs. Similarly, V Australia don't codeshare on VS to LHR via HKG, but you could book it directly with VS and you'd earn points/SCs (albeit under the special VS rates).

The key difference is that the VA codeshares count as 'eligible sectors'. So the way I see it, you can

(a) book discount Y on VA codeshares SYD-LHR via AUH return and pick up four eligible sectors, points, and discount SCs.
(b) book discount Y on EY directly over the same route and earn points and full Y SCs (no EY fare class earns discount Y SCs) or
(c) book discount Y SYD-LHR via SIN on SQ to earn points and SCs (with earn rates not disclosed yet).

I've used discount Y only to highlight the 'loophole' of discount Y EY fares earning full SCs. The tradeoff for doing this, rather than booking on EY codes, is that you lose eligible sectors.