Apr 23, 2024, 1:36 pm
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
VA is now listed on Earning Premier qualifying credit on partner airlines
United to partner with Virgin Australia -- UA elite benefits starting 23 May 2022
Dec 13, 2021, 11:51 pm
#16
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2003
Programs: UA*Lifetime GS, Hyatt* Lifetime Globalist
Posts: 12,337
Fantastic news.
VA is my choice down-under. For years, I have been using my SQ PPS to access its lounge and earn SQ miles. With Covid and less flying on SQ, I now have UA to maintain elite benefits when flying VA.
VA is my choice down-under. For years, I have been using my SQ PPS to access its lounge and earn SQ miles. With Covid and less flying on SQ, I now have UA to maintain elite benefits when flying VA.
Last edited by UA_Flyer; Dec 14, 2021 at 8:25 am
Dec 14, 2021, 4:23 am
#17
Join Date: Oct 2019
Location: Adelaide
Programs: VA Platinum, QR Platinum, QF Gold, ITA Executive, HH Diamond, Accor Plus Diamond
Posts: 71
I fly a heap with VA and QF and the meals on VA now are often as good as before. The lounges have undergone a transformation in ADL and MEL with other to be spruced up in the coming months. Food in the lounges is far better now. I find the food, beverages and service on VA to be far better than QF personally
Dec 14, 2021, 6:39 am
#19
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Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Floating around
Programs: UA 1K (1MM), DL Gold (1MM), Marriott LTT
Posts: 10,346
Add me to the list of those happy to see this news. I used to head down under 1-3x a year before Covid and always wanted better options to hop around. I do wonder what DL is going to do.
I think you mean VA 
VS = Virgin Atlantic.
VS = Virgin Atlantic.
Dec 14, 2021, 9:21 am
#21
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: BNE/OOL temporarily-permanently at CAK/PIT
Programs: UA*1K & UA Club, National Ex. Elite, Hertz Pres. Circ., Amex Plat., CLEAR
Posts: 1,703
One of the best airplane meals in domestic J I’ve had was on a 2 hour flight from SYD to LST. Was a cheap upgrade too (about A$250). VA also runs great lounges.
Downsides? I liked QF a bit better for last minute business travel, generally more flexible and less strict about last minute changes. But UA’s connections to domestic QF flights seem to always be really bad.
I also liked crediting DL flights to VA as the status points accrued quickly with Comfort+ or domestic First Class DL tickets.
Overall this is great news for UA flyers especially who want to get to places like BNE, MCY… or like LST or BWT.
Downsides? I liked QF a bit better for last minute business travel, generally more flexible and less strict about last minute changes. But UA’s connections to domestic QF flights seem to always be really bad.
I also liked crediting DL flights to VA as the status points accrued quickly with Comfort+ or domestic First Class DL tickets.
Overall this is great news for UA flyers especially who want to get to places like BNE, MCY… or like LST or BWT.
Dec 14, 2021, 9:42 am
#22
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: San Francisco/Sydney
Programs: UA 1K/MM, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Something, IHG Gold, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 8,162
Will it? It'll change the landscape for UA flyers, but that's about it. VA had a similar partnership with Delta up to now, which they are breaking as a part of this. From the perspective of most Australian travelers, this (at least initially) is simply a change in carrier for the US segments, and possibly for the AU->US segment (but VA used to fly that themselves too). Of course, if this proceeds to more (eg, VA joining Star Alliance) then yes, that's a real change.
Dec 14, 2021, 9:52 am
#23
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: BNE/OOL temporarily-permanently at CAK/PIT
Programs: UA*1K & UA Club, National Ex. Elite, Hertz Pres. Circ., Amex Plat., CLEAR
Posts: 1,703
Will it? It'll change the landscape for UA flyers, but that's about it. VA had a similar partnership with Delta up to now, which they are breaking as a part of this. From the perspective of most Australian travelers, this (at least initially) is simply a change in carrier for the US segments, and possibly for the AU->US segment (but VA used to fly that themselves too). Of course, if this proceeds to more (eg, VA joining Star Alliance) then yes, that's a real change.
For your typical Australian flyer who is not UA loyal, this just means a few more connection options.
Dec 14, 2021, 4:53 pm
#24
Join Date: Feb 2019
Posts: 40
Keep in mind the new agreement is just a codeshare and FF reciprocation deal. It's not a JBA like the outgoing DL/VA deal.
Chances are that the new UA/VA partnership will likely remain as a codeshare and FF deal past the initial intro period, unless if the QF/NZ codeshare partnership dissolves to enable a 3-way JBA with NZ.
The chances of the QF/NZ codeshare partnership dissolving is likely to remain low for the foreseeable future considering reports that NZ's codeshare partnership with QF was bringing more revenue than NZ's former JBA partnership with VA pre-pandemic.
Chances are that the new UA/VA partnership will likely remain as a codeshare and FF deal past the initial intro period, unless if the QF/NZ codeshare partnership dissolves to enable a 3-way JBA with NZ.
The chances of the QF/NZ codeshare partnership dissolving is likely to remain low for the foreseeable future considering reports that NZ's codeshare partnership with QF was bringing more revenue than NZ's former JBA partnership with VA pre-pandemic.
Dec 14, 2021, 5:41 pm
#25
Suspended
Join Date: Feb 2009
Programs: DL, UA, AA, VS
Posts: 5,226
Read that VA no longer flies to the US.
Too bad.
But yeah, one of the flights I took was SYD-AKL and they served the most perfect salmon filet anywhere. Certainly on any plane but maybe in the restaurants I've been to as well.
Before their bankruptcy, presumably.
Dec 14, 2021, 8:46 pm
#26
Join Date: Jan 2005
Programs: SQ, QF, UA, CO, DL
Posts: 2,890
Will it? It'll change the landscape for UA flyers, but that's about it. VA had a similar partnership with Delta up to now, which they are breaking as a part of this. From the perspective of most Australian travelers, this (at least initially) is simply a change in carrier for the US segments, and possibly for the AU->US segment (but VA used to fly that themselves too). Of course, if this proceeds to more (eg, VA joining Star Alliance) then yes, that's a real change.
VA is emerging from bankruptcy and needs to focus on their core business. From their side I can see why they are looking for a partner who will deliver the most passengers into their domestic system. DL with one flight a day is of limited benefit.
Dec 14, 2021, 11:09 pm
#27
Join Date: Feb 2019
Posts: 40
Apart from DL being the biggest loser, the other loser would have to be BNE/Queensland, leaving BNE-USA as a QF monopoly.
No immediate plans by UA to fly to BNE for the short term, and will rely on VA codeshares for the foreseeable future.
Only chance of UA entering BNE in the short term is if the Queensland State Premier offers taxpayer money UA's way to start BNE to LAX or SFO under the Attracting Aviation Investment Fund, which would effectively make the UA flight from BNE a (Queensland) taxpayer funded lease/charter.
No immediate plans by UA to fly to BNE for the short term, and will rely on VA codeshares for the foreseeable future.
Only chance of UA entering BNE in the short term is if the Queensland State Premier offers taxpayer money UA's way to start BNE to LAX or SFO under the Attracting Aviation Investment Fund, which would effectively make the UA flight from BNE a (Queensland) taxpayer funded lease/charter.
Dec 14, 2021, 11:33 pm
#28
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 21,030
IMHO will make no difference at all. Just different airline for tag on flights for some pax from USA or folks wanting to earn/burn ff miles in AU. UA would sell QF & JQ as tags ons, and have seen reference to VA tags on's. Just UA being a travel agent to get long haul pax. Those on DL now will or may fly a different airline for AU domestic flights, but limited choice: QF JQ & VA and REX trying to be a bigger airline. And as a guess no ff miles for DL freq flyers or lounge access. For VA just a simple swap DL<--->UA.
VA long haul to USA now even further in the future, if at all.
VA2 have stated are planning to resume flying trans Tasman to NZ. SYD-AKL is closer than SYD-PER
From VA Newsroom (14 Dec 21)--->Virgin Australia takes flight with United Airlines
- Virgin Australia Group will partner with United Airlines from April 2022, tripling the number of U.S. cities Virgin Australia customers can reach, while providing United customers seamless connectivity to Australia’s most popular destinations.
- United Airlines will offer Virgin Australia customers more non-stop flights from Australia, and 92 seamless one-stop connections to points across the USA.
- Members of Virgin Australia’s Velocity Frequent Flyer loyalty program will have the ability to earn Points, Status Credits and receive tier benefits when travelling on United’s extensive services.
- Virgin Australia and United Airlines to offer reciprocal lounge access.
Commencing in April 2022, the partnership will establish codeshare co-operation, as well as reciprocal loyalty benefits for Velocity Frequent Flyer members to earn, redeem and receive tier benefits when travelling on United’s vast domestic and international network, connecting from the carrier’s multiple Australian gateways.
The partnership will also extend United’s large Australian presence, as the airline offering more flights to Australia than any other U.S. carrier, including daily direct flights from San Francisco and Los Angeles to Sydney, with flights from Houston and direct services to Melbourne expected to resume later in 2022. Under this new partnership United’s customers will now have seamless access to top Australian cities right across the country through Virgin Australia’s extensive domestic network.
<snip>
Velocity and Mileage-Plus tier benefits
Eligible Velocity and MileagePlus members will receive the following benefits when travelling on Virgin Australia and United services worldwide:
- Priority check-in
- Priority boarding
- Priority baggage delivery and additional baggage check allowance
- Priority security clearance
- Lounge access
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virgin_Australia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virgin_Australia_Holdings
Last edited by Mwenenzi; Dec 14, 2021 at 11:54 pm
Dec 15, 2021, 1:28 pm
#29
Suspended
Join Date: Feb 2009
Programs: DL, UA, AA, VS
Posts: 5,226
But I'd like to see VA fly to LA and SFO, so there would be more competition, maybe more awards supply.
Tough to do though. If travel ever returns to pre-pandemic levels, maybe that will change.
My sense was American tourists to Oz and NZ were increasing.
Tough to do though. If travel ever returns to pre-pandemic levels, maybe that will change.
My sense was American tourists to Oz and NZ were increasing.
Dec 15, 2021, 1:55 pm
#30
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Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 21,030
A lot of competition USA<---->AU