Just got word a press conference is scheduled for 12 noon today where VA CEO John Borghetti will announce VA will be joining the OneWorld alliance, effective immediately. Borghetti was buoyed by the recent increase in Oneworld member Air Berlin's elite status customers flooding into the VA lounges while still crediting flights to Velocity and feels the Oneworld fit will be a natural one.
VA has mulled joining an alliance for several years and after the laughter subsided when he suggested to the VA board that VA join SkyTeam aka 'the best of what's left', a decision was made between Star and Oneworld. While Star was a logical fit due to existing alliance partners SQ and NZ Borghetti felt the best way to compete with arch rival Qantas was to compete on a level playing field in the same alliance so selected Oneworld. VA will keep its ad-hoc lounge access with existing alliance partners which will continue the simple and logical lounge access policies Velocity members already enjoy around the world. While Borghetti acknowledges the benefits of the global, logical Oneworld lounge access policy he thinks VA's existing lounge policy is far easier to understand, so will keep both. There will be a special First Class Section of the new Alice Springs lounge for Oneworld Emerald and Velocity Platinum passengers. Borghetti also intends to grow services to New Zealand where there has been a sharp increase in Qantas Gold status passengers this year.
As an additional perk for domestic flights, those passengers holding elite Oneworld status will receive a complimentary gourmet Luke Mangan cube of cheese on those flights where a complimentary gourmet Luke Mangan snack is not offered until March 31 2016. Velocity status passengers will not be receiving this benefit but can purchase this gourmet cube of cheese for 10,000 Velocity points onboard.
Velocity will also run a status match campaign for Qantas Chairmans Lounge members, offering a compimentary Velocity Silver with 2 free lounge passes in exchange for Chairmans Lounge members surrendering over their card.
More news at noon.
VA has mulled joining an alliance for several years and after the laughter subsided when he suggested to the VA board that VA join SkyTeam aka 'the best of what's left', a decision was made between Star and Oneworld. While Star was a logical fit due to existing alliance partners SQ and NZ Borghetti felt the best way to compete with arch rival Qantas was to compete on a level playing field in the same alliance so selected Oneworld. VA will keep its ad-hoc lounge access with existing alliance partners which will continue the simple and logical lounge access policies Velocity members already enjoy around the world. While Borghetti acknowledges the benefits of the global, logical Oneworld lounge access policy he thinks VA's existing lounge policy is far easier to understand, so will keep both. There will be a special First Class Section of the new Alice Springs lounge for Oneworld Emerald and Velocity Platinum passengers. Borghetti also intends to grow services to New Zealand where there has been a sharp increase in Qantas Gold status passengers this year.
As an additional perk for domestic flights, those passengers holding elite Oneworld status will receive a complimentary gourmet Luke Mangan cube of cheese on those flights where a complimentary gourmet Luke Mangan snack is not offered until March 31 2016. Velocity status passengers will not be receiving this benefit but can purchase this gourmet cube of cheese for 10,000 Velocity points onboard.
Velocity will also run a status match campaign for Qantas Chairmans Lounge members, offering a compimentary Velocity Silver with 2 free lounge passes in exchange for Chairmans Lounge members surrendering over their card.
More news at noon.
