Hi all, I'm booked on Hainan Airlines Brisbane to Shenzhen in July and wondering what lounge they use. I'm assuming Plaza Premium, but thought with their tie-up with VA that Air New Zealand might be a possibility. Just curious :)
Hainan uses the Plaza Premium Lounge in Brisbane. Its partnership with Virgin Australia has nothing to do with Air New Zealand lounges, and in fact, because Velocity still hasn't ironed out a lounge access agreement with HNA (the company behind Hainan), Velocity Gold and Platinum members have no lounge access prior to these flights unless provided directly by Hainan (such as by flying business class).
Hainan uses the Plaza Premium Lounge in Brisbane. Its partnership with Virgin Australia has nothing to do with Air New Zealand lounges, and in fact, because Velocity still hasn't ironed out a lounge access agreement with HNA (the company behind Hainan), Velocity Gold and Platinum members have no lounge access prior to these flights unless provided directly by Hainan (such as by flying business class).
I still find it crazy that they haven’t ironed out their VA lounge access for HNA group airlines. The last I heard was it would be done back in Feb, but this obvious hasn’t happened.
Chris have you heard any timeframe being aimed for?
I still find it crazy that they haven’t ironed out their VA lounge access for HNA group airlines. The last I heard was it would be done back in Feb, but this obvious hasn’t happened.
Chris have you heard any timeframe being aimed for?
The original timeframe given in July 2017 was that everything would be sorted "in the coming weeks". After well and truly missing that deadline, Velocity hasn't provided a new one (which is understandable!).
They've made some progress with their HNA partnership, though - reward flights on Hong Kong Airlines and Hainan Airlines can now be booked through the Velocity website. I believe Beijing Capital Airlines isn't too far off either, although no progress yet on being able to use points to book flights on Tianjin Airlines (online or over the phone).
My understanding is that it's taking much longer than planned to get all this stuff in place (including lounge access) because things have to be ironed out and agreed across five airlines (VA, Hainan, Hong Kong Airlines, Beijing Capital and Tianjin) for the partnership to become active, rather than the usual agreement that Velocity does which is with one airline at a time (so it only takes one airline's approval, not the approval of four partners).
Oh no... I should have done this search before booking my HA flight to SZ. Could've worked on my status with QFF and flown to Hong Kong instead. Will be very interesting to see how many velocity status points one gets for using this airline.
Oh no... I should have done this search before booking my HA flight to SZ. Could've worked on my status with QFF and flown to Hong Kong instead. Will be very interesting to see how many velocity status points one gets for using this airline.
According to wheretocredit, In business class you earn 300% of Miles flown for award miles, a pretty good earn rate.
For status credits, you should earn 60 in full fare economy and 120 in business according to VAs own earning table. Which seems to be the same as flying VAs own metal.
According to wheretocredit, In business class you earn 300% of Miles flown for award miles, a pretty good earn rate.
That's only for full-fare D-class business class (3 Velocity points per mile flown). The full earning table by fare letter can be found here on the Velocity website.
According to wheretocredit, In business class you earn 300% of Miles flown for award miles, a pretty good earn rate.
That's only for full-fare D-class business class (3 Velocity points per mile flown). The full earning table by fare letter can be found here on the Velocity website.
Thanks, wheretocredit.com also shows 300% rate on C class, which Velocity corroborates, but D is only 200%.
However I don't actually know what fare class I'm in as the ticket or itinerary doesn't say! Their website for managing bookings is quite....painful...to say the least.
Hi Guest, join in the discussion on
Hainan Airlines lounge access in BNE
Dredgy
Dredgy
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 02 Apr 2017
Total posts 182
Hi all, I'm booked on Hainan Airlines Brisbane to Shenzhen in July and wondering what lounge they use. I'm assuming Plaza Premium, but thought with their tie-up with VA that Air New Zealand might be a possibility. Just curious :)
Chris C.
Chris C.
Member since 24 Apr 2012
Total posts 1,116
Hainan uses the Plaza Premium Lounge in Brisbane. Its partnership with Virgin Australia has nothing to do with Air New Zealand lounges, and in fact, because Velocity still hasn't ironed out a lounge access agreement with HNA (the company behind Hainan), Velocity Gold and Platinum members have no lounge access prior to these flights unless provided directly by Hainan (such as by flying business class).
Dredgy
Dredgy
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 02 Apr 2017
Total posts 182
Legend Chris, I’m flying business class so will have access. I like the Plaza Premium lounge very much so it’s great news.
S
S
Member since 13 Sep 2013
Total posts 119
I still find it crazy that they haven’t ironed out their VA lounge access for HNA group airlines. The last I heard was it would be done back in Feb, but this obvious hasn’t happened.
Chris C.
Chris C.
Member since 24 Apr 2012
Total posts 1,116
The original timeframe given in July 2017 was that everything would be sorted "in the coming weeks". After well and truly missing that deadline, Velocity hasn't provided a new one (which is understandable!).
They've made some progress with their HNA partnership, though - reward flights on Hong Kong Airlines and Hainan Airlines can now be booked through the Velocity website. I believe Beijing Capital Airlines isn't too far off either, although no progress yet on being able to use points to book flights on Tianjin Airlines (online or over the phone).
My understanding is that it's taking much longer than planned to get all this stuff in place (including lounge access) because things have to be ironed out and agreed across five airlines (VA, Hainan, Hong Kong Airlines, Beijing Capital and Tianjin) for the partnership to become active, rather than the usual agreement that Velocity does which is with one airline at a time (so it only takes one airline's approval, not the approval of four partners).
S
S
Member since 13 Sep 2013
Total posts 119
Thanks Chris! Will be keeping my eyes out.
John Phelan
John Phelan
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 28 Oct 2011
Total posts 262
Another example of VA's "Lounge Lotto"!!
AntoBeck
AntoBeck
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
Member since 09 Mar 2016
Total posts 1
Oh no... I should have done this search before booking my HA flight to SZ. Could've worked on my status with QFF and flown to Hong Kong instead. Will be very interesting to see how many velocity status points one gets for using this airline.
Dredgy
Dredgy
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 02 Apr 2017
Total posts 182
According to wheretocredit, In business class you earn 300% of Miles flown for award miles, a pretty good earn rate.
For status credits, you should earn 60 in full fare economy and 120 in business according to VAs own earning table. Which seems to be the same as flying VAs own metal.
Chris C.
Chris C.
Member since 24 Apr 2012
Total posts 1,116
That's only for full-fare D-class business class (3 Velocity points per mile flown). The full earning table by fare letter can be found here on the Velocity website.
Dredgy
Dredgy
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 02 Apr 2017
Total posts 182
That's only for full-fare D-class business class (3 Velocity points per mile flown). The full earning table by fare letter can be found here on the Velocity website.
Thanks, wheretocredit.com also shows 300% rate on C class, which Velocity corroborates, but D is only 200%.