With Velocity, Gold and Platinum members can upgrade their Flexi Fare and Premium Economy seats to business class (if they are available).

With Velocity, Gold and Platinum members can upgrade their Flexi Fare and Premium Economy seats to business class (if they are available). With the virtual Network, does that mean Etihad, Singapore and AirNZ Gold Members can upgrade a VA flight? It's not really a reciprocal program if they can't. A holder of Gold or Platinum (equiv) of another program can get lounge access, priority boarding, extra baggage...they should be able to upgrade a flight with VA points. Too hard basket I suppose.

Like most alliance/ virtual network programs, FF members of the home airline will generally have more priveliges than third-party members.

eg. You can only use QF points to upgrade on QF metal, not EK or AA, or CX.  Albeit you can use AA points to upgrade on BA/IB (but this is an additional benefit beyond the oneworld requirements).

Its possible, but I think airlines prefer the ability to provide home members more benefits - otherwise everyone would just flock to the perceived easiest/best program within the alliance

Good points moa999. Definitely agree that airlines prefer to provide home members with more benefits, that's to be expected. I guess I am looking at it from the perspective that if I am a Gold member and my status drops to silver and I have 200,000 points to use on an upgrade on an international flight I can't upgrade. If I was Etihad Gold and wanted to upgrade I wonder if they would let me?