Virgin Australia announces strategic alliance with Singapore Airlines

[Keith009]

I guess with the impending tie to oneworld, even if they are orphaned in MH there may opportunities for the 17k miles you will earn then. Also with MH's renewal of Enrich (15% online booking discount, one-way awards at half of return now) their redemption levels are becoming quite attractive (earlier this month I did a one way for 33K pts in J SIN-KUL-MEL), that they may be a better place for credit card points - for oneworld - than QF.

I've yet to investigate what the new burn rates are like. The old ones (back in 2005) as I recall were rather unappealing, though comparable with QFF. But I'm told they have all these redemption specials even in F and J. The new website isn't very helpful for finding this info. I don't mind burning miles on MH themselves as they're a very nice airline, but hopefully their oneworld membership doesn't get delayed beyond the 3 year hard mileage expiry on Enrich.

 

[JohnK]

Aha!

Too much information to digest all at once but I would be really interested in finding out if all VA airfares would credit to SQ at 1:1. If that is the case then I can shift some additional travel from QF to VA and credit to SQ.

I have never been a fan of VA award rates and SQ does have very competitive award rates to Asia as well as transfers from Amex.

And yes I am being selfish....

 

[pauly7]

Aha!

Too much information to digest all at once but I would be really interested in finding out if all VA airfares would credit to SQ at 1:1. If that is the case then I can shift some additional travel from QF to VA and credit to SQ.

I have never been a fan of VA award rates and SQ does have very competitive award rates to Asia as well as transfers from Amex.

And yes I am being selfish....

Thinking positively, I'm expecting a huge increase in attractiveness of Velocity (if it's even called that) when it is relaunched!

Will reevaluate then. But agree, at the moment it is very average.

 

[Noob]

Thinking positively, I'm expecting a huge increase in attractiveness of Velocity (if it's even called that) when it is relaunched!

Will reevaluate then. But agree, at the moment it is very average.

I do hope they either call it "Virgin Australia Frequent Flyer" or "Virgin Australia Flying Club" - either way it is an improvement on "Velocity" which most people don't even know is a frequent flyer program.

 

[leemin]

I do hope they either call it "Virgin Australia Frequent Flyer" or "Virgin Australia Flying Club" - either way it is an improvement on "Velocity" which most people don't even know is a frequent flyer program.

Agree 100%. Although, based on the recent release of the Velocity Amex, I fear the name might stay. I think this would be a (big?) branding mistake.


Sent from my iPhone using Aust Freq Fly app

 

[gumpy]

Application lodged to the ACCC today. From application- "For commercial reasons, Virgin Australia does not intend to codeshare on Singapore Airlines routes where it has codeshare coverage with Etihad"
(Virgin Australia ends Malaysia Airlines relationship for Singapore)

So I guess this means SIA to Europe is out

Hehehe Etihad is hardly a bad choice though =)

Not like you're picking between QF and AA to the US for instance...

 

[Jack Melon]

Virgin 1 step closer to Singapore Alliance

Great news!

QANTAS will not stand in the way of its main rival, Virgin Australia, pursing a close tie-up with Singapore Airlines, arguing the two Australian carriers need alliances because they are at a huge disadvantage to their government-owned competitors.


In giving tacit support to the planned deal, the national flag carrier said heavy regulation, ''extremely high fixed costs'', competition from government-owned airlines and the tyranny of distance made it ''very difficult'' for Virgin and itself to recover their cost of capital on international routes.

Read more: Qantas backs Virgin-Singapore link

 

[Justchecking]

Re: Virgin 1 step closer to Singapore Alliance

A little odd, one would expect even a token protest rather than avid support, especially considering the level of resistance to the other tie-ups. Wow, QF must really want to prove how unprofitable their own international arm is.

 

[BAM1748]

Re: Virgin 1 step closer to Singapore Alliance

I think it's more like 'we will not object to this because we have something coming ourselves'.

 

[oz_mark]

Re: Virgin 1 step closer to Singapore Alliance

I think it's more like 'we will not object to this because we have something coming ourselves'.

Indeed. Hard to argue against something you might be about to do!

 

[Justchecking]

Re: Virgin 1 step closer to Singapore Alliance

So it begs the question, given many QFFers objection to network extension through alliances, how will they feel if the qantas brand is withdrawn from most international routes, replaced with Jetstar and premium traffic is shunted onto an alliance airline? How is that any different to Virgins strategy which is often maligned as being inferior?

 

[TonyHancock]

Re: Virgin 1 step closer to Singapore Alliance

So it begs the question, given many QFFers objection to network extension through alliances, how will they feel if the qantas brand is withdrawn from most international routes, replaced with Jetstar and premium traffic is shunted onto an alliance airline? How is that any different to Virgins strategy which is often maligned as being inferior?

....but you are forgetting....QF knows best!

 

[Noob]

Re: Virgin 1 step closer to Singapore Alliance

I think the key is 'streamlining' their alliances with various airlines so it doesn't seam messy with one rule here, and another there etc.

 

[nlagalle]

Re: Virgin 1 step closer to Singapore Alliance

I think the key is 'streamlining' their alliances with various airlines so it doesn't seam messy with one rule here, and another there etc.

THey would be better off applying to join *A now then they wouldn't need to worry about streamlining...

 

[kamchatsky]

Re: Virgin 1 step closer to Singapore Alliance

Joining *A would probably be too expensive with all those IT upgrades on background, not to mention membership fees. Also they already have alliance with DL so it would be hard to break that.


They will probably join *A in a few years though.

 

[Jack Melon]

Re: Virgin 1 step closer to Singapore Alliance

As i said, Virgin have enough on there plate at the moment to deal with, like they just opened the new lounge on Wednesday! They have so much more coming and they will think about an alliance next year or so. But i strongly belive JB will join an alliance, but the problem is Delta is Skteam, and the rest are Star Alliance, but all will be revealed soon. Bring on the new IFE!

 

[kamchatsky]

Re: Virgin 1 step closer to Singapore Alliance

If they are going to join an alliance it would definitely by *A, given NZ owns 14.99% of VA anyway, not to mention VA's agreement with SQ to use Virgin Australia as a name.


SQ had agreement with DL for a number of years since they became *A member 11 years ago before that agreement expired. So this would not stop VA being a *A member. But it probably not going to happen for a few years.

 

[nlagalle]

Re: Virgin 1 step closer to Singapore Alliance

As i said, Virgin have enough on there plate at the moment to deal with, like they just opened the new lounge on Wednesday! They have so much more coming and they will think about an alliance next year or so. But i strongly belive JB will join an alliance, but the problem is Delta is Skteam, and the rest are Star Alliance, but all will be revealed soon. Bring on the new IFE!

Opening a lounge shouldn't stop other areas of business operating in other areas. in the scheme of things it's quite minor. I know you keep saying so much more is coming, but at the moment it's not an enticing proposition. And big mistake not introducing IFE on the new planes straight away..

 

[BAM1748]

Re: Virgin 1 step closer to Singapore Alliance

Opening a lounge shouldn't stop other areas of business operating in other areas. in the scheme of things it's quite minor. I know you keep saying so much more is coming, but at the moment it's not an enticing proposition. And big mistake not introducing IFE on the new planes straight away..

I suspect that has something to do with the dollars, DJ running at a loss and all.

 

[Jack Melon]

Re: Virgin 1 step closer to Singapore Alliance

Opening a lounge shouldn't stop other areas of business operating in other areas. in the scheme of things it's quite minor. I know you keep saying so much more is coming, but at the moment it's not an enticing proposition. And big mistake not introducing IFE on the new planes straight away..

I agree about the IFE. Now the new BSI's will have to be re-fitted to place the ife in, i think that it will be announced in time before the re-fitting of existing cabins start so they can put the new ife and seats/cabin in. But you never know it may not be a seatback option , but i hope it is, cant stand portable devices.