IAG, British Airways & Niki
Dec 30, 2017, 5:55 am
#31
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: LON BCN SYD
Programs: BA, OZ, A3, VA, VS, DL, QF, former BD and others
Posts: 1,074
Where I would like IAG to take a leaf out of LH's book (and that of other other carriers with LCC subsidiaries/associated airlines too) would be (1) to offer Avios and TP/equivalent earning on all IAG flights across all IAG FFPs, (2) to allow spend of Avios across all FFPs, and (3) to extend applicable status benefits across all IAG airlines - while not all IAG airlines offer the same benefits, most offer some form of priority check-in/boarding/seat selection pax with status in their own programme. Extending status benefits in this way would cost IAG very little (maybe some lounge access costs at third party lounges, though they could exclude third party lounge access with other IAG-group FFPs), but would drive some sales to IAG airlines and increase customer loyalty.
Implementing these changes would also make things less confusing for passengers. At the moment flying on VY or IB and trying to earn BA Avios, or vice versa, is complex when it should be simple. At the moment with BA as my main programme, I am incentivised to fly on another OW airline if BA do not fly the route need, but there is little incentive to book VY, EI or Level if I need on a route not flown by BA or IB. If I want to earn Avios or TP flying with VY it gets complicated (book flight on BA site, then access on VY site to pay for seat selection and priority checkin etc).
If VY/a subsidiary is going to operate in Germany/Austria/Eastern Europe, at the moment there is more incentive for my to fly LH group and earn on *A and receive *A status benefits, however this could change if IAG offer earning, burning and status benefits across IAG.
Dec 30, 2017, 7:20 am
#33
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Feb 2010
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold; Flying Blue Life Platinum; LH Sen.; Hilton Diamond; Kemal Kebabs Prized Customer
Posts: 63,821
I find VY fine, you just have to work the system somewhat to get an empty seat next to you but that's usually easy enough.
Dec 30, 2017, 7:25 am
#34
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 6,349
Sounds a good play by IAG. A good infill and no doubt scope for efficiencies when integrated which WW seems to specialise in.
Plus my understanding from colleagues is that Niki has a better brand than Vueling so it could be the platform for selective expansion.
Plus my understanding from colleagues is that Niki has a better brand than Vueling so it could be the platform for selective expansion.
Dec 30, 2017, 2:41 pm
#35
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: Berlin, TXL
Programs: OW Emerald, *A gold, Skyteam elite plus, Hilton gold, SPG gold
Posts: 339
Vueling is not that bad actually, I have flown them a few times this year on routes BA/IB don't fly and if you pay for priority checkin and boarding and an extra leg room seat it is very pleasant, and with Priority Pass for lounge access it is no different to flying BA shorthaul in Economy.
Where I would like IAG to take a leaf out of LH's book (and that of other other carriers with LCC subsidiaries/associated airlines too) would be (1) to offer Avios and TP/equivalent earning on all IAG flights across all IAG FFPs, (2) to allow spend of Avios across all FFPs, and (3) to extend applicable status benefits across all IAG airlines - while not all IAG airlines offer the same benefits, most offer some form of priority check-in/boarding/seat selection pax with status in their own programme. Extending status benefits in this way would cost IAG very little (maybe some lounge access costs at third party lounges, though they could exclude third party lounge access with other IAG-group FFPs), but would drive some sales to IAG airlines and increase customer loyalty.
Implementing these changes would also make things less confusing for passengers. At the moment flying on VY or IB and trying to earn BA Avios, or vice versa, is complex when it should be simple. At the moment with BA as my main programme, I am incentivised to fly on another OW airline if BA do not fly the route need, but there is little incentive to book VY, EI or Level if I need on a route not flown by BA or IB. If I want to earn Avios or TP flying with VY it gets complicated (book flight on BA site, then access on VY site to pay for seat selection and priority checkin etc).
If VY/a subsidiary is going to operate in Germany/Austria/Eastern Europe, at the moment there is more incentive for my to fly LH group and earn on *A and receive *A status benefits, however this could change if IAG offer earning, burning and status benefits across IAG.
Where I would like IAG to take a leaf out of LH's book (and that of other other carriers with LCC subsidiaries/associated airlines too) would be (1) to offer Avios and TP/equivalent earning on all IAG flights across all IAG FFPs, (2) to allow spend of Avios across all FFPs, and (3) to extend applicable status benefits across all IAG airlines - while not all IAG airlines offer the same benefits, most offer some form of priority check-in/boarding/seat selection pax with status in their own programme. Extending status benefits in this way would cost IAG very little (maybe some lounge access costs at third party lounges, though they could exclude third party lounge access with other IAG-group FFPs), but would drive some sales to IAG airlines and increase customer loyalty.
Implementing these changes would also make things less confusing for passengers. At the moment flying on VY or IB and trying to earn BA Avios, or vice versa, is complex when it should be simple. At the moment with BA as my main programme, I am incentivised to fly on another OW airline if BA do not fly the route need, but there is little incentive to book VY, EI or Level if I need on a route not flown by BA or IB. If I want to earn Avios or TP flying with VY it gets complicated (book flight on BA site, then access on VY site to pay for seat selection and priority checkin etc).
If VY/a subsidiary is going to operate in Germany/Austria/Eastern Europe, at the moment there is more incentive for my to fly LH group and earn on *A and receive *A status benefits, however this could change if IAG offer earning, burning and status benefits across IAG.
Dec 30, 2017, 5:30 pm
#36
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Munich, Algarve, Sussex or S.F Bay Area
Programs: Mucci, BA Gold, A3*Gold, AA Plat, HH Gold, IHG Plat Amb, Marriott Plat
Posts: 4,163
Dec 31, 2017, 5:40 am
#37
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2017
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 325
It's been an interesting year for Austrian aviation... First easyJet Europe, now Vueling Osterreich. I don't know much about Austrian politics - do they have a particularly aviation-led transport strategy or is it just a happy coincidence?
Dec 31, 2017, 6:08 am
#38
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Munich, Algarve, Sussex or S.F Bay Area
Programs: Mucci, BA Gold, A3*Gold, AA Plat, HH Gold, IHG Plat Amb, Marriott Plat
Posts: 4,163
Perhaps it is seen as one of the more vulnerable *A hubs for the competition to make inroads. OS is well set up going east but less so going west if you don‘t want to connect in MUC, FRA or ZRH.
Dec 31, 2017, 7:08 am
#39
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 48,186
Niki was established by Niki Lauda after he sold NG to OS/LH in 2000-02. It was an LCC focused on the leisure market from the beginning, so it should fit nicely into the VY portfolio. This is IAGs response to E2 (Eurowings Europe based in Vienna). The aircraft are all leased so IAG is not buying any aircraft in this deal. Niki had cornered a niche in the leisure market, selling a significant share of their seats to tour operators in D/A/CH.
Dec 31, 2017, 9:10 am
#40
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Brexile in ADB
Programs: BA, TK, HHonours, Le Club, Best Western Rewards
Posts: 7,067
I believe the transport strategy is all about heading to the right...,
Jan 3, 2018, 7:26 am
#41
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Brexile in ADB
Programs: BA, TK, HHonours, Le Club, Best Western Rewards
Posts: 7,067
Bid to move insolvency proceedings from Germany to Austria may delay or end the IAG purchase.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-i...-idUSKBN1ER1O9
Staff can't be happy about that. I assume slots IAG are buying are use or lose, so delay could well kill the deal.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-i...-idUSKBN1ER1O9
Staff can't be happy about that. I assume slots IAG are buying are use or lose, so delay could well kill the deal.
Jan 3, 2018, 7:33 am
#42
Join Date: Dec 2015
Programs: BAEC Blue
Posts: 247
Bid to move insolvency proceedings from Germany to Austria may delay or end the IAG purchase.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-i...-idUSKBN1ER1O9
Staff can't be happy about that. I assume slots IAG are buying are use or lose, so delay could well kill the deal.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-i...-idUSKBN1ER1O9
Staff can't be happy about that. I assume slots IAG are buying are use or lose, so delay could well kill the deal.
Jan 3, 2018, 9:04 am
#43
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Switzerland
Programs: AY+ Platinum, SK Gold, BAEC Silver, airbaltic VIP, Radisson VIP
Posts: 6,531
For TPs that is correct. For Avios then there is a finicky one-off step to set up a Vueling account on Avios.com but once done it's fairly easy to earn Avios and indeed redeem on VY, as well as transfer Avios to and from BAEC. Those in a HHA have more problems admittedly.
I find VY fine, you just have to work the system somewhat to get an empty seat next to you but that's usually easy enough.
I find VY fine, you just have to work the system somewhat to get an empty seat next to you but that's usually easy enough.
Jan 3, 2018, 9:22 am
#44
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Feb 2010
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold; Flying Blue Life Platinum; LH Sen.; Hilton Diamond; Kemal Kebabs Prized Customer
Posts: 63,821
However as a Vueling Club member you can create an Avios account from Switzerland, linked just to Vueling, not the rest of Avios, and from there transfer Avios to and from BA and IB.
Jan 3, 2018, 9:31 am
#45
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Switzerland
Programs: AY+ Platinum, SK Gold, BAEC Silver, airbaltic VIP, Radisson VIP
Posts: 6,531
It's residency that matters, I don't think it's citizenship. I doubt Avios has anything against the Swiss. You do need to be a UK resident to have a UK / GB Avios account (which helps earning Avios with Tesco, Shell and the e-store). While I am sure you can flatshare with one of your many UK friends, the issue then is keeping your other IAG cards at the same address.
However as a Vueling Club member you can create an Avios account from Switzerland, linked just to Vueling, not the rest of Avios, and from there transfer Avios to and from BA and IB.
However as a Vueling Club member you can create an Avios account from Switzerland, linked just to Vueling, not the rest of Avios, and from there transfer Avios to and from BA and IB.