Air New Zealand / Virgin Australia Trans-Tasman Alliance Information
Nov 18, 2011, 8:03 pm
#211
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Sydney, Australia
Programs: NZ*G ELT, VA-G
Posts: 3,599
Arrghh...
No sense from the DJ call centre so I'm turning to the FT bods.
Noticed on the SQ website that I can book itins originating in CBR (in my case CBR-SYD-SIN-BKK) with the CBR-SYD flight logically on DJ... presumably this IS one PNR...
NZ FAQ's says Lounge access is available on "domestic Australia only" flights.. so presumably that works here... BUT.. do the other benefits get offered as well?
Baggage? Interlining?
No point flying to SYD if I have to pay extra for bags, then pick up bags/schlep them across to International/ check in again....
Anyone have any ideas???
No sense from the DJ call centre so I'm turning to the FT bods.
Noticed on the SQ website that I can book itins originating in CBR (in my case CBR-SYD-SIN-BKK) with the CBR-SYD flight logically on DJ... presumably this IS one PNR...
NZ FAQ's says Lounge access is available on "domestic Australia only" flights.. so presumably that works here... BUT.. do the other benefits get offered as well?
Baggage? Interlining?
No point flying to SYD if I have to pay extra for bags, then pick up bags/schlep them across to International/ check in again....
Anyone have any ideas???
I just wish DJ could join *A asap so all the confusion could disappear.
Last edited by Xiaotung; Nov 18, 2011 at 8:08 pm
Dec 11, 2011, 7:02 pm
#213
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: AKL
Programs: NZ Silver
Posts: 1,817
Is this correct? If so, where's the reciprocity?
From AusBT: http://www.ausbt.com.au/virgin-austr...tasman-flights
Velocity Platinums and Golds can:
Avoid the extra fees for luggage when booking: Platinum members will get 69kg of luggage and Gold a 32kg bag no matter which ticket type they buy anywhere on the Trans-Tasman Alliance -- even Air New Zealand's "no bags" Seat fares
Avoid the extra fees for luggage when booking: Platinum members will get 69kg of luggage and Gold a 32kg bag no matter which ticket type they buy anywhere on the Trans-Tasman Alliance -- even Air New Zealand's "no bags" Seat fares
Dec 11, 2011, 8:20 pm
#214
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: NZ
Posts: 731
Given recent comments about NZ long haul and the very recent downgrading of earning on NZ is NZ about to be taken over by DJ.
Most cheap flights to AUS are on DJ, DJ giving status match to NZ HVC's, maybe it is DJ taking over rather than the other way around.
Most cheap flights to AUS are on DJ, DJ giving status match to NZ HVC's, maybe it is DJ taking over rather than the other way around.
Dec 11, 2011, 10:38 pm
#215
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Auckland, NZ
Posts: 929
Is this correct? If so, where's the reciprocity?
From AusBT: http://www.ausbt.com.au/virgin-austr...tasman-flights
From AusBT: http://www.ausbt.com.au/virgin-austr...tasman-flights
Virgin Australia's top-tier frequent flyers receive a wealth of benefits, in some ways more than Air New Zealand's own Gold Elite and Gold Airpoints members.
Platinum members will get 69kg of luggage and Gold a 32kg bag no matter which ticket type they buy anywhere on the Trans-Tasman Alliance -- even Air New Zealand's "no bags" Seat fares.
Dec 12, 2011, 6:57 pm
#217
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: NYC
Programs: Amex Plat, CX Gold, VA Gold, BA paeon, VS rabble, NZ A$ bru
Posts: 235
(Disclaimer: my article; I generally don't respond to FT threads about my own stuff but wanted to explain where this came from.)
I was as stunned as you when the Virgin Australia spokesperson told me about the entitlements -- as I stated in the article, I know that GE and *G don't get that even remotely.
I expressed my surprise to the spokesperson, who went back and double-checked with the trans-Tasman alliance bods, and yep, that's the official line, along the logic that Velocity members have an alliance-wide expectation of their benefits.
Obviously, writing an article for AusBT (the "Aus" there is a bit of a giveaway) I focused on Velocity. In theory, that also suggests that NZ FFs should get their NZ luggage allowances on DJ flights.
(It really doesn't help that the PDF that many of us rely on for benefits, and to which I link in many of those trans-Tasman alliance articles from last week, is markedly out of date and has not been updated.)
Super-happy to clarify or answer any further Qs, either here, in DMs or on Twitter. (If there's a question here, drop me a DM to point me towards it? I'm on the road and thread following is slightly too much to handle right now.)
NHM, Virgin Australia won't status match you from NZ or EY, but they were matching earlier this year from just about everything else. Maybe call up the Velocity people and see what they say?
I was as stunned as you when the Virgin Australia spokesperson told me about the entitlements -- as I stated in the article, I know that GE and *G don't get that even remotely.
I expressed my surprise to the spokesperson, who went back and double-checked with the trans-Tasman alliance bods, and yep, that's the official line, along the logic that Velocity members have an alliance-wide expectation of their benefits.
Obviously, writing an article for AusBT (the "Aus" there is a bit of a giveaway) I focused on Velocity. In theory, that also suggests that NZ FFs should get their NZ luggage allowances on DJ flights.
(It really doesn't help that the PDF that many of us rely on for benefits, and to which I link in many of those trans-Tasman alliance articles from last week, is markedly out of date and has not been updated.)
Super-happy to clarify or answer any further Qs, either here, in DMs or on Twitter. (If there's a question here, drop me a DM to point me towards it? I'm on the road and thread following is slightly too much to handle right now.)
NHM, Virgin Australia won't status match you from NZ or EY, but they were matching earlier this year from just about everything else. Maybe call up the Velocity people and see what they say?
Last edited by ThatJohn; Dec 12, 2011 at 6:58 pm Reason: comma fail
Dec 12, 2011, 8:33 pm
#219
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: NYC
Programs: Amex Plat, CX Gold, VA Gold, BA paeon, VS rabble, NZ A$ bru
Posts: 235
Dec 12, 2011, 8:55 pm
#220
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Auckland, NZ
Posts: 929
yes that was the official t&c however there were a number of NZ Gs/GEs (both here on FT and Aus FF forum) that was grant for VA G/Plat.
Dec 12, 2011, 9:11 pm
#221
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: AKL
Programs: NZ Silver
Posts: 1,817
Thanks ThatJohn, appreciate your response. Would give me great satisfaction making a seat only booking as a NZ*G and flashing my VA*G card at NZ check-in to claim the free bag. I wonder if there is an official reference on their website if challenged at check-in
Dec 12, 2011, 11:29 pm
#223
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 5,984
Dec 15, 2011, 1:02 am
#225
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Sydney, Australia
Programs: NZ*G ELT, VA-G
Posts: 3,599
(Disclaimer: my article; I generally don't respond to FT threads about my own stuff but wanted to explain where this came from.)
I was as stunned as you when the Virgin Australia spokesperson told me about the entitlements -- as I stated in the article, I know that GE and *G don't get that even remotely.
I expressed my surprise to the spokesperson, who went back and double-checked with the trans-Tasman alliance bods, and yep, that's the official line, along the logic that Velocity members have an alliance-wide expectation of their benefits.
I was as stunned as you when the Virgin Australia spokesperson told me about the entitlements -- as I stated in the article, I know that GE and *G don't get that even remotely.
I expressed my surprise to the spokesperson, who went back and double-checked with the trans-Tasman alliance bods, and yep, that's the official line, along the logic that Velocity members have an alliance-wide expectation of their benefits.
Are you sure the free bags issue the DJ spokeman told you is not another "they have got it all wrong" moment?