Green light for Virgin Australia, Air New Zealand partnership
Velocity points, status credits and lounge access are back on the table for AU-NZ flights.
By David Flynn, May 1 2024
Virgin Australia and Air New Zealand are set to launch a trans-Tasman alliance which will also boost the appeal of Virgin’s Velocity frequent flyer program.
Passengers will be able to earn Velocity points and status credits on AirNZ flights between Australia and New Zealand carrying a VA flight number, and also use their Velocity points to book those Air New Zealand flights.
Velocity Golds and Velocity Platinums, along with members of the invitation-only Beyond program, will also enjoy access to the Kiwi carrier’s lounges when flying on these VA-coded Air New Zealand flights.
The proposal for “a unilateral trans-Tasman codeshare agreement” has been given a tentative green light by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission on a five-year basis, pending “submissions in response to this draft determination before making its final decision.”
The ACCC said it “considers the codeshare arrangements are likely to result in public benefits from enhanced products and services” such as "increased choice and convenience for Australian point of sale trans-Tasman travellers” and “better loyalty program benefits for Virgin Australia customers.”
The move will help fill the holes in Virgin Australia’s NZ network since Virgin abandoned all flights to Aotearoa, except for the popular tourist magnet of Queenstown, to focus on its core domestic services.
It’s also likely to be taken as a sign that Virgin has no intent to expand its NZ network beyond Queenstown.
However, the ACCC says the new arrangement will not involve NZ flight numbers being added to “any services operated by Virgin Australia” and will also “not apply on routes where Virgin Australia operates its own trans-Tasman services”, which at the time of writing are limited to Virgin’s 737 flights from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane to Queenstown.
Executive Traveller understands the Qantas-Air New Zealand domestic partnership will not be impacted by this trans-Tasman agreement between Virgin Australia and Air New Zealand.
Virgin Australia and Air New Zealand enjoyed a long and deep partnership until October 2018, when the Kiwi carrier pulled out of the alliance over disagreement with Virgin Australia’s direction under then-CEO John Borghetti.
Qantas unexpectedly swooped in to ink a new alliance with the Star Alliance member, although this was restricted to a codeshare on domestic flights within Australia and New Zealand, rather than flights between the two countries.
QF
11 Jul 2014
Total posts 968
About time!!!
How about onward international travel via NZ? 😉😉😉
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
04 Nov 2017
Total posts 321
Onward travel from NZ to mainland US/Canada is unlikely to occur for the foreseeable future when VA has UA and AC from mainland Australia. There may be potential for Pacific Islands and HNL from NZ however through NZ.
QF
11 Jul 2014
Total posts 968
I can always hope for onward travel, that way we have several options 😉
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
10 Jun 2020
Total posts 15
I flew Air NZ to US this year and loved it. Only added a couple of hours each way but a lot cheaper than United. Delta were much better though as a partner than United.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
24 Jan 2018
Total posts 718
Good call, adding HNL and PPT (in ANZ metal) to the Virgin booking portal would certainly get patronage.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
24 Jan 2018
Total posts 718
Good call, being able to fly from AUS in ANZ metal to PPT and HNL via Virgin code share using points would be great.
19 Feb 2024
Total posts 2
AC? You’re joking. Still waiting for the reciprocal benefits there.. currently it’s effectively no partnership
09 Feb 2021
Total posts 12
Finally! The Air NZ alliance was the best thing about Velocity prior to 2018. Good to see it (partly) restored.
Thai Airways International - Royal Orchid Plus
15 Jan 2013
Total posts 465
Will this apply for ADL-AKL services both ways.I am Singapore Airlines frequent flyers as well plus Thai but have no real use for either of those on Air NZ if the velocity option is there.
19 Aug 2013
Total posts 9
Any details re being able to use Airpoints to book VA flights?
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
04 Nov 2017
Total posts 321
Unlikely you'd be able to use NZ Airpoints for VA for the short term future. Submission states it's a one way (unilateral) agreement where VA buys seats (and lounge access for eligible J customers) and resells the NZ seats (and J lounge access) them to VA customers as a reseller.
QF
11 Jul 2014
Total posts 968
VA having Air New Zealand, Singapore Airlines, Air Canada, United and ANA as partners surely Star Alliance can let them in as a De Facto Partner and also include Airlines such as Turkish to the fold.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
04 Nov 2017
Total posts 321
Star Alliance Connecting Partners is the cheaper option for Virgin. Costs little money and it's basically affiliate level.
Applying for full membership costs money, which Private Equity doesn't see it as valuable to "bump the value" for their IPO. If Bain thought it was valuable, they would've applied by now.
If Qatar gets a stake, then that brings a different situation all-together.
QF
11 Jul 2014
Total posts 968
I agree but it's starting to look like Qatar has pulled the plug on VA, Singapore adding flights and putting an A350 into Cairns is also interesting.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
24 Jan 2018
Total posts 718
The sooner VA gets a formal affiliation with Turkish Airlines - the better, as it'll create some competitive tension with Singapore. Once Turkish unleashes the A350-1000 ULRs in 2026, it'll be no-stop AUS to Istanbul, and from there to anywhere in Europe/UK. Whether a direct bilateral partnership with TA or an Affiliate/'Connecting Partner' via Star Alliance, I'm indifferent.
IMHO, Qatar has yet to demonstrate being a 'value partner' to VA flyers (compared to Singapore Airlines). I live in hope of that changing, but not holding my breath.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
04 Nov 2017
Total posts 321
TK seems to have quietened down on whether to affiliate with ZL or VA. The last article a few months ago TK were talking to ZL (assumedly due to VA's QR and SQ partnerships).
QFF
19 Sep 2013
Total posts 203
Originally we could obtain Velocity points by flying and ticketing Air New Zealand. Will this also restart?
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
24 Jan 2018
Total posts 718
Yours is a perfectly valid and simple question, and this seems to answer it, but if I've missed something . . .
Passengers will be able to earn Velocity points and status credits on AirNZ flights between Australia and New Zealand carrying a VA flight number, and also use their Velocity points to book those Air New Zealand flights.
Virgin Australia - Platinum
21 Mar 2021
Total posts 10
So what does that mean for NZ domestic flights? Will we be able to book multi-stop through VA and use the domestic lounges?
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
22 Aug 2015
Total posts 49
Good for Velocity peeps but I've had to roll the dice being gold with them and Qantas and went all in on Qantas so ill stick with the QF ticketed Emirates A380 Business class lounge and flight to CHC.. Cant beat it !
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
24 Jan 2018
Total posts 718
Johnsy, you shameless bragged !! :-)
03 Apr 2020
Total posts 4
Let’s hope there are more Velocity rewards seats available on NZ metal this time. Under the old alliance availability was woefully low. Almost non existent.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
22 Aug 2013
Total posts 174
Is this likely to add a VA number to the AirNZ Hobart to Auckland flight?
Hi Guest, join in the discussion on Green light for Virgin Australia, Air New Zealand partnership