Virgin Australia Trans Tasman Business Class

[AdMEL]

I've just noticed on the VA website that they are now selling both premium and business class seats to AKL!

A random check of flights shows that business class seats are only on the Air NZ operated flights.

My understanding was that under their joint arrangement, Virgin were unable to fit business class seats in their NZ registered planes, as Air NZ did not have business class seats and the product had to be similar.

Is my understanding incorrect, or has something changed?

This seems to favour Air NZ!

 

[Fruitcake]

This seems to favour Air NZ!

Like the former BA/QF and current EK/QF arrangements, the VA/NZ agreement includes revenue sharing. VA should be (in revenue terms) nearly indifferent to whether you fly on any combination of NZ or VA code or metal.

If VA decided to operate BNE-AKL-LAX using a 77W you'd probably find them selling J and W tickets on those services.

 

[TomVexille]

The NZ flights operated with their 77W, 77E and 763 all have business class, and NZ sell them as such. The A320's do not.

 

[Intra]

This has been the case for some time (Being able to purchase J seats Trans-Tasman on AirNZ flights via. VA website) - In fact, one wonders why the 737s that do Trans-Tasman aren't just reconfigured to J (I'm sure someone has the answer...)
Trying to compare VAs PE with AirNZ is....well... I'll let you be the judge (Atleast when on the 777s anyway)

And for the record, as Gold's/Plat's you can obtain PE seating on 777s ect., even by just purchasing from the Seat fares - Has to be booked via. the AirNZ website though, so points earning then becomes rubbish... Pros and Cons I guess. Now if they flew the 777s BNE-AKL at 1800 rather than 1100....