Virgin Global Frequent Flyer link up announced.

[markis10]

SAN FRANCISCO, LONDON and SYDNEY, March 19, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Virgin America, Virgin Atlantic Airways and Virgin Australia, today announce that all three award-winning Virgin airlines are fully linking their frequent flyer programs to offer global benefits to Virgin flyers. Known around the world for their stylish, innovative and value-based flying experience, the three airlines have agreed to a global partnership that for the first time allows each airline's loyalty program members to redeem miles or points when taking flights on any of the sister-branded airlines across their respective route networks. This new initiative will allow those earning points on any Virgin airline to be able to use them to fly to any of the Virgin destinations around the world, knowing that they will get the unique Virgin experience wherever they fly. The new benefit builds on the airlines' 2010 move to enable miles and points earning across the Virgin airline family.

Read more:

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/virgin-airlines-take-flight-rewards-global-2012-03-19

 

[Greggsy]

I can feel a Virgin RTW ticket coming soon.


Greg.

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[rtyuiop]

I can feel a Virgin RTW ticket coming soon.

I think there's one already, isn't there? Somewhere on the virgin atlantic site. And quite reasonably priced, just limited in destination choice!

I must admit I'm a bit confused - wasn't this (FF reciprocity) already in place for all three?

Cheers,

Danny

 

[Noob]

Be great if they rebranded the three as "Virgin Global Frequent Flyer" - IMHO it would add value and be beneficial to all three companies. But hey, just layman speculation, there are probably reasons why this isn't the case.

 

[markis10]

I think there's one already, isn't there? Somewhere on the virgin atlantic site. And quite reasonably priced, just limited in destination choice!

I must admit I'm a bit confused - wasn't this (FF reciprocity) already in place for all three?

Cheers,

Danny

There has never been a RTW with Virgin as a redemption, and as for reciprocity, until now it's been poor in terms of benefits etc, for instance a VS pax with DJ status has no lounge access at SYD, let's hope this is a step in the right direction.

 

[Fruitcake]

There has never been a RTW with Virgin as a redemption, and as for reciprocity, until now it's been poor in terms of benefits etc, for instance a VS pax with DJ status has no lounge access at SYD, let's hope this is a step in the right direction.

Although this article contains little in the way of meaningful details, it doesn't seem that it covers anything beyond award redemptions. VX 'Elevate' doesn't have tiers, so there's no status benefits to be shared anyway (even paid first class ticketholders on VX need to purchase lounge access with each flight). Unfortunately I don't see this announcement in itself leading to resolution of the lounge access problem in SYD (or at other non-clubhouse VS ports) for Velocity status pax.

 

[markis10]

Although this article contains little in the way of meaningful details, it doesn't seem that it covers anything beyond award redemptions. VX 'Elevate' doesn't have tiers, so there's no status benefits to be shared anyway (even paid first class ticketholders on VX need to purchase lounge access with each flight). Unfortunately I don't see this announcement in itself leading to resolution of the lounge access problem in SYD (or at other non-clubhouse VS ports) for Velocity status pax.

it's not an article per se, it's a PR piece, and I see it as another step in the march towards the end game, one Virgin FF across the globe. Note JBs comments : “A good frequent flyer program remains one of the key drivers for customers globally when choosing an airline. One of the most important features for our frequent flyers is the ability to earn and redeem points and enjoy status privileges wherever they fly, and we are pleased to offer our guests the opportunity with leading airlines such as Virgin America and Virgin Atlantic,” said Virgin Australia CEO John Borghetti.

 

[simongr]

Be interesting to see if the SC earning on VS is adjusted to match other partners - it is anomalous to earn fewer SCs on VS than on EY flying to LHR...

 

[BAM1748]

Here I was thinking they had already passed that milestone. Obviously they hadn't, but good to read they are there now.

Matt

 

[Fruitcake]

it's not an article per se, it's a PR piece, and I see it as another step in the march towards the end game, one Virgin FF across the globe.

Having a look through the various websites, Velocity members can already earn and burn on both VS and VX. Flying Club members can currently earn but not burn on VX (although they can earn and burn on VA). Elevate members can earn and burn on VS, but on VA can only earn (burning becomes available 22 March).

So based on what the press release says, there doesn't seem to be anything here for Velocity members. Elevate members gain burning rights on VA, and Flying Club members gain burning rights VX.

 

[markis10]

So based on what the press release says, there doesn't seem to be anything here for Velocity members. Elevate members gain burning rights on VA, and Flying Club members gain burning rights VX.

You seem to have again missed the comment by JB that I read as being indicative of more changes:

One of the most important features for our frequent flyers is the ability to earn and redeem points and enjoy status privileges wherever they fly, and we are pleased to offer our guests the opportunity with leading airlines such as Virgin America and Virgin Atlantic, said Virgin Australia CEO John Borghetti.


Keep in mind that PR piece has been published by VX, where free flights is the main aspect of their current program and hence the main focus of the piece. A better tie up should also result in a more seemless experience across the brands, including fixing the earn rates to be equitable with non Virgin offerings or better!

 

[Fruitcake]

You seem to have again missed the comment by JB that I read as being indicative of more changes:

One of the most important features for our frequent flyers is the ability to earn and redeem points and enjoy status privileges wherever they fly, and we are pleased to offer our guests the opportunity with leading airlines such as Virgin America and Virgin Atlantic, said Virgin Australia CEO John Borghetti.


Keep in mind that PR piece has been published by VX, where free flights is the main aspect of their current program and hence the main focus of the piece. A better tie up should also result in a more seemless experience across the brands, including fixing the earn rates to be equitable with non Virgin offerings or better!

I agree with your views. Just that I'm looking at this strictly in the context of what's being announced concretely, and you're looking for improvements that might flow from this move. There's a lot of room to improve the VS/VA/VX tie-up (especially VA/VS - not sure anything can be done with VX until they introduce a tier program) and I agree that the spirit of JB's comments point toward a willingness to keep working on it, and I hope things do move in that direction!

 

[markis10]

Interestingly its only VX that seems to have done any PR!

 

[Fruitcake]

Interestingly its only VX that seems to have done any PR!

I've just noticed that Virgin Australia 'tweeted' about it earlier today:
https://twitter.com/#!/VirginAustralia/status/181906159421235200

Our friends @VirginAmerica have just announced that their Elevate members can now redeem onto our international flights down under!

But no indication was given that Velocity members would be seeing anything new from the deal.

 

[dfcatch]

It's a good step in the right direction.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

I wonder if this may be an opening to the variable points double dip with HH. Can points be transfered (so to speak) between the Virgins or must one do a complete burn with just one Virgin per PNR?

 

[pshepvic]

I'm seeing a RTW in my future all on Virgin... MEL-SYD-SIN-LHR-JFK-LAX-MEL

Or maybe via Abu Dhabi on VA, then Dubai to LHR on VS ... with a quick sprint up the freeway in a sports car from Abu Dhabi to Dubai - now if I could redeem points for that segment...!

Hopefully VX First is aligned with VS Upper Class and DJ Business. I guess Main Cabin Select could then be aligned to PE.


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[Noob]

I'm seeing a RTW in my future all on Virgin... MEL-SYD-SIN-LHR-JFK-LAX-MEL

Or maybe via Abu Dhabi on VA, then Dubai to LHR on VS ... with a quick sprint up the freeway in a sports car from Abu Dhabi to Dubai - now if I could redeem points for that segment...!

Hopefully VX First is aligned with VS Upper Class and DJ Business. I guess Main Cabin Select could then be aligned to PE.


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But VX is a domestic airline? Or do you mean in the case that they start international services?

I like the sports car idea

 

[pshepvic]

But VX is a domestic airline? Or do you mean in the case that they start international services?

I like the sports car idea

Yes it is domestic, although they do international to Toronto and Cancun from memory now too.

What I mean though is if I buy or burn points for a Business RTW ticket, I'd expect to be in J on VA and VS flights, and F on VX flights as part of that. Otherwise the cabin classes available are not really aligned. That's the problem with PE now on Longhaul VA - there is no domestic PE anymore so for connections on the same ticket you get seated in shorthaul Y. In the past if you flew PE international, you'd also be in PE on the domestic legs. I'd certainly not be happy to purchase a J ticket connecting from VA or VS to a VX flight and get seated in Y or MCS on VX.


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[Casual Class]

Well I guess I am not the only one that is more than confused. It this just saying that VX Elevate members can now earn and burn on VA. Seems that should be a more low key announcement. I thought that VA, VS & VX were begrudgingly working together. Does this mean that they are playing on more nicely now? Can we expect VS earn rates to be inline with other Velocity partners?

Our friends @VirginAmerica have just announced that their Elevate members can now redeem onto our international flights down under!

https://twitter.com/#!/VirginAustralia/status/181906159421235200

Could help notice that VA's twitter's post say international flights, could it be that this applies to VA but not DJ?

Yes it is domestic, although they do international to Toronto and Cancun from memory now too.

VX did fly to Toronto, however they terminated the route less than a year after its introduction. Internationally VX flys to Los Carbos, Puerto Vallarta and Cancun.

If there was more to this announcement I don't understand why that wouldn't be highlighted in the press release.

I hope that closer to cooperation between the Virgin brands would see them eventually join an alliance together.

My first thought about a single FF program was LH's miles and more as that is shared by multiple airlines. Not that I know a lot about LH or Miles and More but I believe that all participating airlines are owned by LH. Despite the common names the various virgins don't exactly share a single parent.