Zarmakuizz

Are you talking about this?
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/...w/59807311.cms

SEA-Flyer

This will make a huge difference for me on my business travel when DL is operating its winter schedule.

During the summer schedule, I often fly: CDG-SEA-AMS-CDG on DL. I do this routing because during the summer schedule SEA-AMS is 2x daily, and there is an evening departure option, which works out ideal for my schedule.

During the winter schedule, that isn't an option - AMS is 1x daily, and all the DL flights to Europe leave SEA by 1:30pm in the afternoon, which just sucks. DL used to have an evening departure to LHR (which was great), so I would use that during the winter months: CDG-SEA-LHR-CDG on DL/AF. But then DL handed the SEA-LHR route over to VS, which put a stop to it. Booking the following isn't currently possible with how the existing JV was setup:
DL CDG-SEA
VS SEA-LHR
AF LHR-CDG
(Oddly enough, it is available as an award routing, just not a revenue routing).

But now this new partnership should make that routing viable for me.

jdrtravel

RE: Europe connections at LHR. One factor that many not be considering is for those who are stopping over at LHR and then continuing on to Europe a few days later.

I am in this situation for an upcoming trip, and wish that I did not have to purchase a separate BA ticket for that inter-Europe flight. I am guessing it is fairly common for both business and leisure travelers to have business in both London and someplace in continental Europe on the same trip, so it's not just about making a quick connection, it's also about the ability to book on one ticket with one program.

Ber2dca

It's kinda like, you got a really close friend but he's also best friends with someone you don't know much at all. With time, you'll either grow to dislike that guy or you'll also be good friends with that guy. AF/KL decided it makes more sense to also be good friends with VS.

Calchas

I don't think T3 has capacity for that.

Not true, many countries impose taxes on connecting passengers. Not to mention the airport fees will be different.

You are right. VS tried to run some domestic flights in the UK for feed purposes for about a year, but they were not successful commercially. VS only flies long haul routes.

BALPA represents 85% of UK-based pilots so that almost certainly includes a few VS flight crew. Unite claims to represent some VS cabin crew. But VS staff are not unionized in a monolithic single union. Managing union relations is not that difficult in the UK if you are prepared to pay a fair wage.

People will crawl over broken glass to get a 2% saving.

UKtravelbear

75% of the VS pilots that are union member are members of the Professional Pilots Union which is (currently) made up of only VS pilots

Ber2dca

There's more to it than that because these aren't random corporations making pencils who merged. KLM and Air France both are national symbols for their respective countries and both have been owned by their governments in the past. The French, but not the Dutch, government still holds a significant share of the joint company.

The fact the joint company has a decidedly French slant to it is no doubt the reason why so much of the drama in these 'office politics' is reported giddily by the Dutch media. French industrial and economic policies are viewed with some suspicion in the rest of the EU as protectionist, and no doubt many Dutchmen feel that their hard work and thrift could be used to prop up a French workforce on cushy terms.

pvn

You can already do this today, with the limitation that VS metal is excluded from US-LHR segments.

jdrtravel

Right, and this is a significant limitation, especially if you want to purchase PE like I do.

Calchas

Interesting ^

irishguy28

That implies that AFKL didn't want to deal with VS. Except that Delta initially considered precisely this arrangement when they were investing in VS before deciding to cut AFKL out of the deal, who absolutely wanted a bigger slice of the UK-US market and have been trying since 2011 to get a share of VS.

irishguy28

India removed all foreign ownership restrictions on India-based airlines in June last year, so long as the government approves the shareholding.

Duke787

Per Bloomberg, Richard Branson is pulling out of the deal. No impact to the JV but can't imagine DL is too pleased about this:

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/artic...irgin-atlantic

IMO, seems short-sighted on Branson's part but then again this seems personal for him since I believe this is the last of his historical brands that he still has an ownership stake in

eneq

Yeah, I agree. His empire has gradually crumbled and/or been sold off, so I bet pride has a lot to do with it. But, the airline has been performing well recently, so maybe he sees a potential for long-term profitability and wants to cash-in on it.

Personally, I'm in favor of this move. My recent VS experience was phenomenal, and I don't want Virgin to lose any of their unique-ness. I would be worried AF/KLM/DL combined will force VS to abandon a lot of their distinct product.

fusionblue

Maybe its just me but the biggest change since the VS purchase has been to DL. It's almost as if various elements - JFK T4 and Seattle Skyclubs, branding and the D1 Suites - seem to feel like they handed design to VS.