Virgin Partners dropping like flies

As a VA FF Platinum its quite disheartening to see that Borghetti and the team are that stubborn not to join a proper alliance like Sky Team or Star Alliance, in the past 18 months we have seen Air Berlin go into Administration, Alitalia struggle with interests for it to be sold off, Etihad on its major losses and cost cutting, HNA selling off assets due to its MAJOR debts and SAA filing for bankruptcy now.

At the moment it seems that SIA and Delta are the only somewhat stable partners Virgin have, the only reason I am still with Virgin is because they family pool points and SC’s and I have been able to get my partner Platinum out of that but other than that with their confusing alliance I wonder why anyone else is still a FF with VA?

Please feel free to list why you are a FF with VA and if you are happy or unhappy with their alliance

And don’t forget Air NZ gave them the flick as well’

I have been a big supporter of Virgin for a long time now, they are a “decent” competition for Qantas. They brought in Premium lane entry, free upgrades to business, affordable business class fares. Ofcourse, they have struggled with decent lounge offering and partner relations, however, they do not a have major international network themselves, which means they can get away with this.

Virgin doesn't exactly have spare money lying around to join an alliance considering their financial situation.

Plus VA are 'persona non-grata' to the Star Alliance thanks to NZ and UA, both will use their veto to block VA's entry into the Star Alliance should SQ (or someone else) try to sponsor VA. I can't see SQ or anyone else pandering to NZ's alleged demands to scrap VA's entire international network and feed all traffic to NZ or UA.

Joining one of the alliance wont assist its pure advantage is to the guest experience.VA needs to have its remaining shares fully brought by SIA or Nanshan group.

For me it’s 737 jets on flights that Qantas fly Q400-8 such as NTL-BNE. This means business class although I wouldn’t pay it for just NTL-BNE but have when it’s part of a bigger trip such as NTL-BNE-LAX. But mostly because even on regional flights on VA turboprops you can pay a fee for baggage up to 32kgs unlike Qantas on their dash 8 services which are 23kgs no exceptions even with status (officially anyway)

Virgin’s international partners certainly aren’t up to scratch with others but i accepted the fact long ago. The only reason I continue to fly virgin and earn velocity gold is because of their often cheaper domestic fares, great domestic network and easy to earn yet excellently treated gold and platinum status. I view virgin as a great domestic airline and since basically all my travel is domestic, that’s all that matters. Earning gold is super easy with family pooling and that is a plus. Their domestic lounge offerings with premium entry and exit, domestic lounge are on pare with Qantas domestic business lounges. Happy to fly virgin domestically and partners don’t matter as such. But, i do fly with Singapore to enjoy their partnership and hope they join Skyteam at least to have more flexibility when I am planning an international trip and redeeming my velocity points.

Dropping like flies?. Etihad, Alitalia, HNA have they all gone? Hold on they are still there! Please stop creating fake news and getting emotional.

I would like to see SQ allow seat selection on VA issued tickets, along with better lounge access across the entire SQ network (Where SQ is not operating the lounge, velocity gold/platinum do not have access). The tie up with Delta is sensational and never had any issues, nor with Eithad (it can take some time to get points credited to your account). However, we will see what happens with Eithad if they merge with EK.

Yes, better lounge access for VA gold/plat when travelling SQ Y would be good. Eg, SilverKris where available (for VA Platinum) and third party lounges to which SQ status passengers have access. But that is just nit-picking, really, because the SQ product is excellent in all other areas so the alliance is positive for VA customers.

VA also has the Etihad alliance, and VA Platinum have access to the EY first lounge in AUH - how good is that!!!

Originally Posted by stmaus

The limited lounge availability with SIA is FRUSTRATING! But yes the first class lounge in AUH is AMAZING!

I actually stopped traveling SIA and started to travel Etihad but then the Etihad cost cutting began so back to SIA it is!

Two things for me - the service on VA I find consistently very good and the J Class across the Pacific is excellent

If Virgin could do just one thing with their myriad of partners and the service offering I would be suggesting 'simplify' - I do find I have to invest too much time in keeping up with what I am entitled too on what airline/what class/what destination. 'Lounge Lotto', as we all like to call it, does become frustrating. I miss the *A lounge in LAX but the EK lounge is still pretty good. I would go as far too say that I would rather they reduce their number of partners if that means an improved and consistent service offering

SQ covers my international trips to Asia and Europe (despite the average Gold Kris lounge experience in SIN when travelling Y). They do need to plug that hole in Europe though - Alitalia does not cut it - too few intra European services for me.

We are pretty spoilt here in this small country when it comes to airlines.....

Cheap Y(X) with VA, without having to book J/phone up to buy a comfort seat request.