V Australia and Delta ink frequent-flyer, lounge and codeshare agreements

Tags :South Pacific, Virgin Blue


Virgin Blue Airlines Group’s new boutique international long-haul airline, V Australia, and the world’s largest airline, US-based, Delta Air Lines, are pleased to announce that from today members of each carrier’s frequent flyer programmes will enjoy reciprocal points accrual for travel with both airlines and reciprocal lounge access within Australia and the US.

Virgin Blue Airlines Group’s Velocity Members can now begin earning points to even more global destinations with the addition today of the Delta Air Lines route network. Having the ability to earn points for travel across the US with the addition of Delta, means Velocity Members can now enjoy the benefits of a truly global loyalty programme with airline partners covering the world.

Delta Air Lines is the only U.S. global airline that flies to six continents and offers customers the world’s largest network of destinations and the world’s largest frequent flier program with more than 70 million members.

Velocity Rewards is the award-winning loyalty program of the Virgin Blue Airlines Group. In 2009, at the annual Freddie Awards in Florida, Velocity was named Program of The Year among all airlines in the Asia/Pacific Airline category. The program also won five of the other eight awards this year including Best Award, Best Award Redemption, Best Web Site, Best Member Communications and Best Affinity Credit Card.

Complementing the reciprocal points accrual agreement for Velocity and SkyMiles Members, the two carriers have also implemented a reciprocal airport lounge sharing agreement, allowing Velocity Gold Members and VA Business Class Guests access to more than 50 Delta Air Lines Sky Club locations. Delta’s BusinessELite travelers as well as Delta Sky Club members also will benefit from access to Virgin Blue’s domestic lounge network within Australia.

As part of the ongoing strengthening of the co-operation agreement between Virgin Blue Airlines Group and Delta Air Lines, the carriers have also announced the first phase of their expanded code-share agreement, signaling

V Australia’s commitment to expanding its reach beyond Los Angeles and confirming Delta Air Lines as

V Australia’s latest code-share partner.

Virgin Blue Airlines Group, Chief Executive Officer and co-founder, Brett Godfrey, said these new agreements are a huge step forward in the airline group’s commitment to making travel between Australia and the United States easier.

“Our aim is to make trans-Pacific travel as affordable and hassle free as possible; delivering seamless domestic and international connections between V Australia and Delta Air Lines. Our Guests can now seamlessly book their V Australia and Delta Air Lines flights at the same time through their travel agent, or via one of our Guest Contact Centres, from their origin port in either the USA or Australia all on one ticket.

“These agreements are also incredibly significant for our Velocity Members, because until now the USA has been the glaring missing piece to our global frequent flyer programme. Our Guests can now earn and redeem their Velocity Points when flying with us and our partner airlines right around the globe,” Mr Godfrey said.

 V Australia will code on Delta-operated flights between Los Angeles and New York (JFK); Salt Lake City (SLC); Orlando (MCO) and Cincinnati (CVG), placing a VA flight number on Delta Air Lines operated domestic flights, to connect with V Australia flights to/from Los Angeles and to/from Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne. These flights are available for sale now, for travel effective from 18 January 2010.

(c) Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation. Date posted: 15-Dec-09

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