Air NZ/ Virgin Australia Trans-Tasman Alliance

[serfty]

Interesting information: Air NZ Agents Information.

Interesting news on lounge access.

Brochure trans-tasman ALLIANCE.

Airpoints members must purchase a NZ code fare for status earn, but Velocity fares earn status with DJ or NZ code - Star Alliance status rule driven?

Some Pacific Islands exceptions, guessing this is due to competition authority.

 

[serfty]

Hmm ... almost Complete Elite Reciprocity, except for some NZ/Pacific Island Flights.

Velocity Gold is the new

Gold and

Gold is the new Velocity Gold.

I guess the same goes for

Gold Elite and Velocity Platinum¹.

¹ Or whatever DJ will call their Uber Gold level

 

[adamonline]

Wow. To me it seems like a pretty complicated arrangement with product semi alignment. No wonder it has taken them a while to release details. It's good that they have produced that brochure as I imagine travel agents will need it by their side whenever making a booking Trans-Tasman. It looks positive overall though.

 

[kamchatsky]

This could be an interim agreement before DJ/VA relaunch Velocity. But so far it looks good to me.

 

[Undercover Brother]

Loving the lunge access for DJ Gold to/from NZ, however I was really hoping that Air NZ lounges would allow Pacific Blue flyers to access these lounges.

IMO it still leaves a decent hole in the network in terms of lounge access.
Still it's nearly all positive! Good stuff

 

[dajop]

Loving the lunge access for DJ Gold to/from NZ, however I was really hoping that Air NZ lounges would allow Pacific Blue flyers to access these lounges.

The way I read it, access is allowed for TT on Pacific Blue, but not for Pacific Island flights:

Lounge access is not permitted when flying on Pacific Blue or Polynesian Blue Pacific Island flights.

 

[Ricardo]

Interesting information: Air NZ Agents Information.

Interesting news on lounge access.

Brochure trans-tasman ALLIANCE.

Airpoints members must purchase a NZ code fare for status earn, but Velocity fares earn status with DJ or NZ code - Star Alliance status rule driven?

Some Pacific Islands exceptions, guessing this is due to competition authority.

Nice one serfy, thanks for the info....

 

[pshepvic]

Some very interesting things I noticed in the document:

1. Seating zones on DJ flights - in particular of interest are the Suit Zones (Gold maybe?), the Flexi Zones and Airport Use Only



2. It indicates that NZ members get Priority baggage on DJ domestic flights - considering DJ don't currently have Priority Baggage, maybe this is a sign of things to come? (Or maybe an error in the doc?)




3. Priority baggage is also mentioned for Velocity members when flying on NZ

 

[Noob]

Also it is mentioned that Virgin Australia flights offer free "tea, coffee and water" on saver fares. That's new!

Tea/coffee and water cost near to nothing but make passengers feel more like a guest in a home than a customer in a shop.

 

[LiamR]

Thanks for this Serfty! I've got something to read on my OOL-SYD tomorrow.

 

[allitsab]

The PDF was a good read, but for me the web link did not work. If I was a conspiracy theorist, I'd suggest that our friendly airline reps are using this board (and others) to find and remove premature information, or loopholes in their systems (like the Virgin Australia flight sector shebang that was recently closed down).

 

[Virgin Australia]

The PDF was a good read, but for me the web link did not work. If I was a conspiracy theorist, I'd suggest that our friendly airline reps are using this board (and others) to find and remove premature information, or loopholes in their systems (like the Virgin Australia flight sector shebang that was recently closed down).

No conspiracy theory, though I dare say that document wasn't created to be published on AFF.

 

[carpenteria]

It states near the end that:

Velocity members will earn Velocity Points and Status Credits on NZ flights (excluding Pacific Island flights)

Do you think that include flights other than the trans-tasman routes? Does it include Air NZ's other international services like to the USA? Or is it just TT for now?


PS first post here, Hi.

 

[serfty]

...
PS first post here, Hi.

Welcome to AFF

...
Do you think that include flights other than the trans-tasman routes? Does it include Air NZ's other international services like to the USA? Or is it just TT for now? ...

Yep, see page 16 (specifically the part I have bolded):

ACCRUAL OF AIRPOINTS DOLLARS,
VELOCITY POINTS & STATUS POINTS/CREDITS

When the alliance is launched operationally an Airpoints Member will earn Airpoints Dollars for flying on any regularly scheduled Virgin Australia Group of Airlines operated flight which carry the NZ, VA or DJ code (excluding Pacific Island flights).

Similarly Virgin Australia will offer Velocity Points accrual benefits and Status Credits in accordance with the rules of the Velocity Program which carry the NZ code (excluding Pacific Island flights). Airpoints members must purchase an NZ fare to earn Airpoints Status Points. Velocity members can earn Status Credits on the NZ or DJ fare structure.

Note that Airpoints members will not earn Status Points on VA or DJ flight numbers, but can earn

'S.

Velocity members will be able to earn both status and reward points on NZ, VA or DJ flight numbers.

 

[leemin]

I haven't read the document in this forum, but what I did read was that Virgin Lounge members (paid membership) will also have access to AirNZ Dom lounges.

Please correct me if this is incorrect, but I see this as one of the best changes. Particularly with the new pricing, it starts coming into line with the QP access offering, making paid membership more palatable.


Sent from my iPhone using Aust Freq Fly app

 

[serfty]

I haven't read the document in this forum, but what I did read was that Virgin Lounge members (paid membership) will also have access to AirNZ Dom lounges.

Please correct me if this is incorrect, but I see this as one of the best changes. Particularly with the new pricing, it starts coming into line with the QP access offering, making paid membership more palatable. ...

That is correct.

For me, the best change is that Air NZ Gold/GoldElite will get access to Virgin Lounges when travelling Virgin.

 

[sydstar]

Welcome to AFF Yep, see page 16 (specifically the part I have bolded):Note that Airpoints members will not earn Status Points on VA or DJ flight numbers, but can earn

'S.

Velocity members will be able to earn both status and reward points on NZ, VA or DJ flight numbers.

Looks good serfty, this was the main question I had as well. I'm in the early stages of planning a trip to North America and was actually considering starting in Vancouver. Obviously I'll wait for the full details to be released but my preferred option would be to take NZ SYD-AKL-YVR, (maybe Y+ on the 777) and therby eliminating transit through LAX. If DJ recognised this with points/SC's I would probably start here and use V Australia to return to SYD

 

[777]

As of this morning ANZ trans tasman flights are bookable of Virgin Australia's web site for dates from the end of July. Still no mention of ANZ on the velocity site though.

 

[Noob]

Looks good serfty, this was the main question I had as well. I'm in the early stages of planning a trip to North America and was actually considering starting in Vancouver. Obviously I'll wait for the full details to be released but my preferred option would be to take NZ SYD-AKL-YVR, (maybe Y+ on the 777) and therby eliminating transit through LAX. If DJ recognised this with points/SC's I would probably start here and use V Australia to return to SYD

Sounds like a plan mate, Y+ on the 777-300ER will be awesome after August when they increase the legroom by the removal of a row. I am incredibly impressed by Air NZ management in how quickly they identified and have solved this problem from feedback given by customers.

 

[serfty]

Sounds like a plan mate, Y+ on the 777-300ER will be awesome after August when they increase the legroom by the removal of a row. I am incredibly impressed by Air NZ management in how quickly they identified and have solved this problem from feedback given by customers.

Don't jump the gun on that one. See here from AirNZ:

We will be removing one row of Premium Economy seating from August 2011, based on passenger feedback, to provide travellers in this cabin with up to six inches (15cm) of additional legroom. The changes will result in the following change to seat pitch:

* Front row - no change

* Outboard seats - increase from 36 inches to 42 inches

* Centre four rows aft of the front row - increase from 36 inches to 41 inches

* Centre four rows aft of 41 inch pinch - increase from 36 inches to 40 inches

It is important to note that due to the angle of the seat, the effective seat pitch is approximately 3 inches more than the figures stated above. As well as providing extra room to stretch out, the change will also address people finding it difficult to get into and out of the window seat. Tray tables and in-flight entertainment will not require adjustment at the increased pitch.

So the effective pitch is going from ~39" to ~43"/44"/45" (~99cm to ~109cm/112cm/114cm).

I'm 183cm and was unable to stretch out (my knees were still bent when up against the end of the "Tunnell") - this should alleviate that.

I do hope this works - one of the biggest problems for those over 180cm is there is really only one "comfortable" position to place one's feet - up the tunnel (Not good for DVT); this does not really address that issue. i.e. There is no room for lateral movement. My ankles needed to be together and in the tunnel (which is about 30cm wide).

FWIW, I still see my beanbag heading up to the OHSB or under the centre seat armrests as there's not enough room for both my feet and beanbag in that tunnel.