Virgin Australia enters codeshare partnership with Air Canada
By David Flynn, December 15 2016
Virgin Australia will partner with Air Canada on flights to Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal and Calgary from early 2017 under a new the 'strategic cooperation agreement' between the two airlines.
But it's a two-stage process, with the first step covering only Air Canada's flights from Los Angeles as connections with Virgin's flights from Sydney and Brisbane to LAX.
Only under "a subsequent stage of the agreement" – and one without a timeframe attached – will Virgin Australia place a VA flight number onto Air Canada's direct Sydney-Vancouver and Brisbane-Vancouver flights.
Likewise, the frequent flyer benefits will initially be limited to earning Velocity points on those ex-LAX Air Canada flights.
Earning status credits, enjoying a boosted baggage allowance, access to Air Canada's Maple Leaf lounges (below) and other reciprocal frequent flyer benefits – including the ability to use your Velocity Points to book an Air Canada flight – will also kick in "in a subsequent stage of the agreement, with further details to be released in 2017", the airline promises.
A member of the Star Alliance group, Air Canada is the sole airline offering year-round daily flights between Australia and Canada, with Qantas settling for a seasonal schedule with three flights a week between Sydney and Vancouver during December/January and June/July.
Stock up on your Velocity points with our roundup of December's top Virgin Australia credit card sign-up deals
David Flynn is the Editor-in-Chief of Executive Traveller and a bit of a travel tragic with a weakness for good coffee, shopping and lychee martinis.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
25 Jan 2013
Total posts 246
Great to hear connections will be come easier. Getting from MEL to Montreal (YUL) or Toronto (YYZ) is always a little challenging. I had to go MEL to SYD to DFW to ORD to YUL.
Bizarrely, on the way home I could just go YUL to LAX to MEL. Do you think VA will also offer this connectionf for Melbournians?
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
06 Feb 2012
Total posts 31
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
31 Jan 2012
Total posts 108
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
06 Feb 2012
Total posts 31
21 Jul 2012
Total posts 125
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
25 Jan 2013
Total posts 246
Assuming you're looking for one stop options.
21 Jul 2012
Total posts 125
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
29 May 2013
Total posts 45
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
13 Dec 2015
Total posts 11
agreed. Westjet also has a Co-op with Qantas with QF code-shares but WJ are not oneworld, so no lounge access in Canada from the terminals that WJ operate from. Aeroplan miles are not so beneficial in redemptions, but in the second stage of this tie-up, using velocity points to get redemeptions on AC flights, that will be brilliant.
21 Jul 2012
Total posts 125
VA Platinum
21 Nov 2013
Total posts 20
Well done VA!
03 Aug 2015
Total posts 59
QF
11 Jul 2014
Total posts 300
08 Apr 2011
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20 May 2015
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From what I know, VOz has pushed for Delta to expand its presence in the Australian market and so far Delta hasn't done so. Perhaps that's one of the reasons Virgin went with Air Canada (it would also make things easier for international connecting passengers than going via the US with Delta).
13 May 2016
Total posts 32
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
13 Dec 2015
Total posts 11
https://www.airclublounge.com/AC/en/memberships/canada.aspx
01 Apr 2013
Total posts 6
Singapore Airlines, South African Airlines, Air NZ and now Air Canada...Its only a matter on time!!!
29 Oct 2016
Total posts 35
AC's, then AC to YYC or YYZ, and reverse.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
09 May 2013
Total posts 118
And also can someone please help me find the way to start a new topic, with the website upgrade, i'm a little lost and cannot find this link. David?
24 Oct 2010
Total posts 2343
2. To start a discussion, click the Community tab at the top of the screen, then choose the discussion group that's most relevant to your topic and click into that group, then start a new discussion.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
09 May 2013
Total posts 118
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
28 Jan 2016
Total posts 9
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
27 Jan 2017
Total posts 7
Delta from LAX to VYC is fine but the times don't line up great from va1 or va7. The maple leaf lounge is also great at LAX.
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