VS future with United-Continental
Oct 19, 2011, 11:05 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 8
VS future with United-Continental
Any word on whether Virgin Atlantic will maintain a partnership with the new United once the merger is completed, or will that be a thing of the past now that Continental has become a part of United? What kind of mile sharing could there be?
Oct 28, 2011, 11:12 pm
#2
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: somewhere
Programs: their are many of them
Posts: 1,614
I think it would be best if virgin were to join the star alliance. it would make the airline more of a threat to british airways
I have been wondering what will happen to the partnership with continental
I have been wondering what will happen to the partnership with continental
Oct 31, 2011, 4:30 pm
#3
Join Date: Jun 2008
Programs: UA global, VS Gld , SPG plat
Posts: 287
You can still make CO rewar bookings on VS well into 2012 so whatever happens it will not be an over night termination.
Generally the codeshare benefits routes that UA do not currently serve and it makes commercial sence to maintain them.I am thinking particularly of LHR-JFK (where UA sold all their slots years ago) and onwards.
You can get a CO/VS codeshare from JFK to HKG which UA just cannot offer so.
However, what I would expect is codehare on certain roues only rather than pretty much all of them at present.
I also agree that VS should join * and resolve it otherwise they will get left out in the cold.
Generally the codeshare benefits routes that UA do not currently serve and it makes commercial sence to maintain them.I am thinking particularly of LHR-JFK (where UA sold all their slots years ago) and onwards.
You can get a CO/VS codeshare from JFK to HKG which UA just cannot offer so.
However, what I would expect is codehare on certain roues only rather than pretty much all of them at present.
I also agree that VS should join * and resolve it otherwise they will get left out in the cold.
Nov 12, 2011, 2:12 pm
#5
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 221
Just as a datapoint, Hawaiian has already noted their Mileage Program website that their partnership with CO is terminating at the end of the year. Partners who are intending to terminate their ties with COUA beginning 2012 would typically have noted their websites by now - or at least their phone agents would know.
A call to Flying Club's partner desk revealed that CO operated flights in 2012 continue to be bookable as usual and they have not been notified of any changes to Flying Club's ability to use CO numbered flights. However, their phone agent did not know if the UA flights would be bookable once the CO flight numbers ceased to exist. She also had not heard of any changes to Virgin's position of staying out of Star Alliance. Did not discuss the BMI bid angle.
A call to Flying Club's partner desk revealed that CO operated flights in 2012 continue to be bookable as usual and they have not been notified of any changes to Flying Club's ability to use CO numbered flights. However, their phone agent did not know if the UA flights would be bookable once the CO flight numbers ceased to exist. She also had not heard of any changes to Virgin's position of staying out of Star Alliance. Did not discuss the BMI bid angle.
Nov 22, 2011, 2:21 pm
#7
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: SAN
Programs: UA 1MM/1K, HH Diamond
Posts: 6,830
I also just booked a US-SE Asia award via Europe, with VS across the Pond in J. Very excited about this -- this is a rare, nice perk of this merger for us PMUA folks and I intend to take full advantage of it! 
For those of us who can't stand EWR, it's a pleasure to have some flat-bed J options ex-JFK that don't require connections... ^
For those of us who can't stand EWR, it's a pleasure to have some flat-bed J options ex-JFK that don't require connections... ^
Nov 23, 2011, 1:15 am
#9
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Australia
Programs: QF LTS, Marriott LTP, ALL GOLD
Posts: 2,440
Nov 23, 2011, 8:31 am
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: London & Sonoma CA
Programs: UA 1K, MM *G for life, BAEC Gold
Posts: 10,220
I'm certainly hoping that VS keeps its relationship with CO and even expands it to joining *A. However, I would have thought that the advantages of joining *A will diminish hugely if there's no *A BMI to provide short-haul feed to VS at LHR.
Nov 23, 2011, 10:42 am
#11
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: New Jersey
Programs: UA Plat 1MM, Hyatt Plat, SPG Gold/SVN 3 Star Elite, ICG Plat Ambassador
Posts: 242
Just booked EWR-LHR thru BOS and DUB-EWR thru LHR for Sept. 16-29 using CO miles, with VS Upper for both TATL segments. It's confirmed, so I guess it's solid!
Dec 1, 2011, 3:34 pm
#12
Join Date: May 1999
Location: Central New Jersey
Programs: UA-Platimum 2 MM, HH-Gold, MR-Lifetime Gold, Hyatt-Discoverist
Posts: 6,238
Two weeks ago I was able to book EWR-LHR using CO rewards for next Friday, one of the 'cheap' J options (50,000 miles o/w) was EWR-BOS-LHR with VS UC on the BOS-LHR portion. Checking today (8 days out), there is still seats available at the lower mileage cost. Also looking at various dates in early/mid 2012 VS is still showing as an option with CO rewards.
Dec 24, 2011, 2:44 pm
#13
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: PEK
Programs: Alas, the Gravy Train Hath Ended...just happy to be an OW Sapphire and a ST Ivory...whatever
Posts: 4,389
Dec 31, 2011, 5:06 am
#14
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Taunton, UK
Programs: BA Silver, Marriott Silver
Posts: 1,158
Newbie VS flyer here - Are you able to use Continental miles to book a VS flight then or is it only VS miles for Continental flights?
I have alot of UA miles which I was saving to use on UA, and obviously at some point in 2012 the Continental & UA programmes will merge, but you can still transfer UA miles to CO at present and vice-versa.
I have alot of UA miles which I was saving to use on UA, and obviously at some point in 2012 the Continental & UA programmes will merge, but you can still transfer UA miles to CO at present and vice-versa.
Dec 31, 2011, 5:12 am
#15
Join Date: May 2006
Programs: VS Au, Skywards Au, BA Exec Ag, HH Diamond, Taj Au
Posts: 1,389
Newbie VS flyer here - Are you able to use Continental miles to book a VS flight then or is it only VS miles for Continental flights?
I have alot of UA miles which I was saving to use on UA, and obviously at some point in 2012 the Continental & UA programmes will merge, but you can still transfer UA miles to CO at present and vice-versa.
I have alot of UA miles which I was saving to use on UA, and obviously at some point in 2012 the Continental & UA programmes will merge, but you can still transfer UA miles to CO at present and vice-versa.
If you do, ensure that you get confirmation from VS of your booking, there's been a reported glitch between CO and VS for some people, in that CO's system shows your booking but doesn't successfully transfer the booking to VS's system. A smart CO agent will sort this for you.