America West FlightFund (Discontinued Program) - Virgin codeshare

Just saw a press release on HP site saying that HP and VS will begin codesharing. The press release talks about the benefits to VS passengers coming to the US from London but doesn't really talk about what's in it for us HP folks. Does anybody read this differently?

Press Release Source: Virgin Atlantic


Virgin Atlantic Announces a Codesharing Agreement With America West Airlines
Tuesday August 3, 11:18 am ET


NORWALK, Conn., Aug. 3 /PRNewswire/ -- Virgin Atlantic is pleased to announce that it has expanded its co-operation with America West Airlines to enable its passengers to enjoy Codeshare connections between the services of the two carriers.
Passengers will be offered convenient connections between Virgin Atlantic services from Los Angeles, San Francisco, Las Vegas and Washington Dulles, and America West Services from Phoenix, Las Vegas and San Diego.

From America West's Phoenix and Las Vegas hubs, onward connections are available to more than 90 destinations in the United States, Canada, Mexico and Costa Rica.

Willy Boulter, Virgin Atlantic's Commercial Director, commented:

"We are delighted to announce this new Codeshare with America West
Airlines. The Agreement offers passengers greater flexibility and
connections to more destinations in the US, together with fantastic value
and excellent standards of service throughout their journey."


Scott Kirby, Executive Vice-President Sales and Marketing for America West, commented:

"Code-sharing with Virgin Atlantic is the next logical step in expanding
our marketing relationship, Virgin's customers will have access to all of
the amenities of a full-service carrier along with amazingly low fares."


To celebrate the new partnership, Virgin Atlantic flying club members will earn double miles on all qualifying flights when traveling on America West between August 1 and November 30, 2004. America West FlightFund members will also earn double miles when flying qualifying flights in the same time period.

America West's FlightFund members and Virgin Atlantic's flying club members will continue to receive reciprocal benefits from both frequent flyer programs, meaning that respective miles can be accrued and redeemed on either airline.

Since it was founded in 1984, Virgin Atlantic Airways has become Britain's second largest carrier, serving the world's major cities. Now based at London Gatwick, London Heathrow and Manchester airports, Virgin operate long haul services to twenty-two destinations worldwide as far reaching as Las Vegas and Shanghai.

America West Airlines is the second largest low-fare airline in the US and the only carrier formed since deregulation to achieve major airline status. America West's 13,000 employees serve nearly 55,000 customers a day in 96 destinations in the U.S., Canada, Mexico and Costa Rica.


For further information please contact the Virgin Atlantic Press Office at
203-750-2570 or log onto http://www.virgin.com/atlantic

CONTACT:
Elizabeth Ciresi
203-750-2570




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Source: Virgin Atlantic

There's not much in it for us HP folks. It benefits HP as a company more than HP passengers/elite members. It gives HP more exposure.

Will you get access to the Club room if you're on an HP code share?

Will you get the limo to take you to your London destination?

Will you be able to get your luggage checked through? I just returned to PHX from LHR via SFO and wasn't able to do that. I had to collect my bags and walk a long, long way to the HP desk and check them in again.

There's not much in it for us HP folks. It benefits HP as a company more than HP passengers/elite members. It gives HP more exposure.
I have a ton of HP miles and do not like flying overseas in coach. I know I can use HP miles for free tix on Virgin, but then I get no mileage credit for the flights. It would be a big benefit (over BA in particular) if I could buy a coach seat on a Virgin/HP codeshare flight and use my HP miles to upgrade to first. Will this arrangement allow that?

So, as I understand the promo for HP and VS, it seems that folks who hold an American West Frequent Flyer membership card will receive double miles if they fly from US to LHR (or beyond) in FC? The kicker is, if you have an HA FF card, then those miles accrued on HP can be used to upgrade on HA interisland to the mainland? If this is true, that's an incredible asset for Hawaiian residents!!

Do you read it like that?

So, as I understand the promo for HP and VS, it seems that folks who hold an American West Frequent Flyer membership card will receive double miles if they fly from US to LHR (or beyond) in FC? The kicker is, if you have an HA FF card, then those miles accrued on HP can be used to upgrade on HA interisland to the mainland? If this is true, that's an incredible asset for Hawaiian residents!! Do you read it like that?

I don't follow what you're saying, so I'll tryo to walk through it. For the HP/VS promo, you can earn double miles in HP Flight Fund for flying Virgin on any eligible fare -- not just Virgin Upper Class. Seems pretty clear.

What does having a HA HawaiianMiles card have to do the HP/VS promo? (As far as I can tell, there is no similar program in effect with VS and HA.) If you are saying that you could use the double miles you earned into HP Flight Fund from a VS flight for an upgrade on HA, that is, unfortunately, not the case. HP Flight Fund does not offer an upgrade award on HA (whether it be interisland or any other HA route). You can only get HA free tickets, economy or first class, via HP. And, mileage-wise, they're pretty expensive, at that.

Did I miss something?

Does anybody know if you are ever going to be able to book the London stuff online? Or do you need to call reservations? I will look at the HP website again, but I don't believe that I saw anything about applicable fare classes, etc.

I don't follow what you're saying, so I'll tryo to walk through it. For the HP/VS promo, you can earn double miles in HP Flight Fund for flying Virgin on any eligible fare -- not just Virgin Upper Class. Seems pretty clear.

What does having a HA HawaiianMiles card have to do the HP/VS promo? (As far as I can tell, there is no similar program in effect with VS and HA.) If you are saying that you could use the double miles you earned into HP Flight Fund from a VS flight for an upgrade on HA, that is, unfortunately, not the case. HP Flight Fund does not offer an upgrade award on HA (whether it be interisland or any other HA route). You can only get HA free tickets, economy or first class, via HP. And, mileage-wise, they're pretty expensive, at that.

Did I miss something?

AZ - Check this out: www.hawaiianair.com

"Claim Hawaiian Airlines Awards from America West Airlines FlightFund members can redeem FlightFund miles for the following awards on Hawaiian Airlines:

Interisland roundtrip coach or First Class in conjunction with a Continental U.S. to Hawaii ".

Also, VS has a codeshare with HA:
"To request award tickets on Hawaiian Airlines call the flying club helpline at 01293-538888 They can also be reached by fax at 01293-747582, or e-mail at flying.club.Customer.Services@fly.virgin.com."

As I see it, award tickets can be obtained three different ways: HP, VS or HA. My question was: With VS FF points given for a flight on VS, does that mean that HP will double those VS points garnered by that flight? For those of us living on the most remote land piece in the world, this gives us an unusual opportunity to fly to the mainland easily. Thanks for your input, AZ......now you can fly HA to the islands with FF points from VS, HP, or HA!
Sydny

AZ - Check this out: www.hawaiianair.com

"Claim Hawaiian Airlines Awards from America West Airlines FlightFund members can redeem FlightFund miles for the following awards on Hawaiian Airlines:

Interisland roundtrip coach or First Class in conjunction with a Continental U.S. to Hawaii ". . . As I see it, award tickets can be obtained three different ways: HP, VS or HA. My question was: With VS FF points given for a flight on VS, does that mean that HP will double those VS points garnered by that flight? For those of us living on the most remote land piece in the world, this gives us an unusual opportunity to fly to the mainland easily. Thanks for your input, AZ......now you can fly HA to the islands with FF points from VS, HP, or HA!
Sydny

Sydny, I may have misunderstood your point. HA, VS and HP are all sources of miles for free tickets to Hawaii, which is definitely positive for the economy there on the Islands.

In the HP/VS relationship, frankly, I'm not sure who doubles the miles in this promotion, whether it is HP or VS. Clearly, though, the terms of the promotion are that you if you fly on VS and earn your miles into HP, they will be doubled when they hit your HP FF account. That helps to create an opportunity to accrue a bunch of miles that many people will no doubt use to visit your beautiful state -- a good thing for everyone involved.