VA Patnerships Self-congratulations

[kevrosmith]

Interesting post from the head of VA Partnerships on LinkedIn recently. Amazing what you discover through connections.

They have an interline agreement with BA…? Didn’t know that. What,with getting in bed with QR, and now BA, should we expect an invitation to join OneWorld soon…?!? Imagine that.

 

[TheInsider]

Interline agreement? They are literally everywhere with many airlines. Not really something they should be proud of, it's just business.

 

[MELso]

Interline agreement? They are literally everywhere with many airlines. Not really something they should be proud of, it's just business.

True, although given Qatar Airways owns 26% of IAG (BA's parent), it could be the signal of deeper ties between VA and BA/IB incoming.

(Where does it leave QF I wonder? They're not particularly close to any Oneworld airlines except AA and FJ.)

 

[williamsf1]

Win some lost some .... lost 2 longterm partners in EY and HA, with HA to QF .... Also FlyPelican gone as Velocity partner and doing interline with QF

 

[AuSammy]

Could be wrong, but I have always thought interlining was small biccies to airlines and some almost interline with anyone.

 

[TheInsider]

Could be wrong, but I have always thought interlining was small biccies to airlines and some almost interline with anyone.

Correct. Interline agreements in its simplest form is just allowing flights to be sold on the other airlines ticket stock.
Then you have interline baggage agreements as something additional.

Post automatically merged: Yesterday at 5:57 PM

(Where does it leave QF I wonder? They're not particularly close to any Oneworld airlines except AA and FJ.)

The same as where it was. It's an interline agreement, it's not really that meaningful.
It's not a "partner airline", it's not a codeshare agreement and it's not a joint service agreement.

 

[MELso]

...

Post automatically merged: Yesterday at 5:57 PM

The same as where it was. It's an interline agreement, it's not really that meaningful.
It's not a "partner airline", it's not a codeshare agreement and it's not a joint service agreement.

It's an interline agreement for now. But with QR owning 26% of BA/IB and 25% of VA, it remains to be seen whether 'new connectivity' means just bog standard interline stuff like through-checked bags on the same ticket, or whether QR has more plans to bring VA, BA and IB together over time. That is what's interesting about the shoutout to BA here...

 

[TheInsider]

It's an interline agreement for now. But with QR owning 26% of BA/IB and 25% of VA, it remains to be seen whether 'new connectivity' means just bog standard interline stuff like through-checked bags on the same ticket, or whether QR has more plans to bring VA, BA and IB together over time. That is what's interesting about the shoutout to BA here...

I get the sentiment, but there really isn't anything interesting. It's always this way with VA it seems. Star Alliance anyone?

 

[HS-TQE]

I get the sentiment, but there really isn't anything interesting. It's always this way with VA it seems. Star Alliance anyone?

With Qatar Airways taking control as VA's cornerstone shareholder as Bain starts to gradually wind down their stake from their current 40%, it seems unlikely unless Qatar Airways is sure having a foot in two Alliances is sure to make revenue for them.

 

[justinbrett]

Correct me if I’m wrong but the VA/QR JV and the QR/BA/IB JV are mutually exclusive - and it’s likely to always be (ACCC has not authorised any codesharing or JV between VA and BA). In fact there’s probably a risk to the QR/BA JV being renewed now VA that is on the scene.

Also keep in mind BA still codeshares on some QF long haul routes so the relationship isn’t as frosty as some would like to think. And yes that’s codeshare, not just interline which just shows that this is nothing to be excited about.

It's an interline agreement for now. But with QR owning 26% of BA/IB and 25% of VA, it remains to be seen whether 'new connectivity' means just bog standard interline stuff like through-checked bags on the same ticket, or whether QR has more plans to bring VA, BA and IB together over time. That is what's interesting about the shoutout to BA here...

For what it’s worth, QF interlines with Virgin Atlantic, and I don’t think anybody expects there’s a conspiracy going on there.