Delta Deal Announced

It's just been announced that Virgin domestic services will be based in T2, along with Aer Lingus and *A members.

http://www.businesstraveller.com/news/n ... e,-aer-lin

It's just been announced that Virgin domestic services will be based in T2, along with Aer Lingus and *A members.

http://www.businesstraveller.com/news/n ... e,-aer-lin

Thanks for that, very interesting stuff. More to come no doubt.

The webinar with DL/VS just now also mentioned that DL would look to move to T3 at LHR.

It also mentioned a few other bits

- All Singapore Air commercial arrangements will remain in place (ie FF program)

- Singapore Air's focus has moved from LHR (West) to concentrating on being a long haul carrier for Asutralia and the Virgin Australia shareholding confirms this and no bad blood for Branson or Virgin

- Delta's CEO said a clear NO to the Virgn brand disappearing and that actually they see this as one of the big reasons to buy.

- DL have lots of fortune 100 corp contracts which VS can be added to pretty easily.

Must say that the Delta CEO and Julie Southern seemed to have a good relationship and it was all very upbeat and positive

It's just been announced that Virgin domestic services will be based in T2, along with Aer Lingus and *A members.

http://www.businesstraveller.com/news/n ... e,-aer-lin

There we go, not impossible
I wonder what the lounge situation will be in 2014 for vs domestic ex LHR.

so this will see Virgin joining Skyteam even though all of Virgin partners are mainly with Star Allince?
Hate flying Delta business and wouldn't fly many of the bad airlines with Skyteam.

Presumably the ff benefits etc can be set up prior to the deal being official, in which case, when do we think that might be?

I have several friends at DL at highest levels and they've been looking at VS for years.

Posting from phone so not sure if this has been mentioned : SQ "lost" USD 335m on the deal.

Just found out that VS opted to stay at T3 for long-haul operations, instead of moving to the new T2 - due to the A-Zone, Clubhouse, Revivals, Upper Class wing etc.

Ideally in the long run they want to move short-haul to T3 and are continuing to work with LHR towards this.

Technically so but don't forget VS is now in the A pier and DL is in the B pier, separate security, so still no contamination from DL elites ): .

Best of both worlds, in a way ... easy connections at JFK, and minimal lounge usage. I'd hope a shuttle will be set up to facilitate moving from US flight into the VS pier, just enough of a hassle to dissuade someone to travel over for a lounge, but saving the bother of having to re-clear security.

As it sinks in I think it's a very good thing, great shot in the arm for VS, a longer term strategy for growth, and retention of the brand. Yes the worries are clubhouse contamination, redemptions disappearing (with the caveat the US fliers think our fuel surcharges are barmy), and some loss of VS style and flavour, but good.

If you look at Delta's FF redemption model, it's reputedly very hard to find availability, this is a standard complaint on FT and confirmed by a top tier friend who is based in MN, MSP being by no means a hub on a par with JFK or ATL. Unless VS wants to put their internal availability entirely at Delta's disposal (and as we know there is precedent for this not happening, eg ANZ and SQ today both with VS and with *A partners) you won't necessarily be flooded. On the other hand, it's clear from the chatter in AA land that many folks see YQ as a redemption barrier for economy, but they will bite the bullet when it comes to J/F seats on BA, as the savings are still significant and the product is valued enough to warrant the spend. Devil will definitely be in the details here.

Do the numbers support a swap of *A carriers into T2 and VS short haul into T3?

Hope i'm not going to sound stupid in saying this but as someone who doesn't know much about mergers in this industry what will this mean for customers?... will there be a join product/cabin/liverly such as the Continental/United merger? or will it just be like with BA and Iberia where they just have codeshare services?

I would imagine it will be more like BA/IB however, as I mentioned in the pre announcement thread, you will probably see the VS logo added to the DL/AF/KL tri branding they have across all stations in the world DL operate from. A bit like what can be seen here : http://www.airliners.net/aviation-forum ... in/192801/. You need to scroll down to the gate podum picture


Its a good move for VS. Certainly I think this will be very different to when SQ had the 49%.

The SQ deal saw no obvious change for the average (once a year) customer really, with the exception of SQ codeshare partnering and VS allowing SQ to use Zone A at T3. Granted there were a few changes to Flying Club. If you think of what could have been with SQ having 49% (read: working together on business class/UC seat, CC learning the Singapore Girl way and so on) the deal was really underwhelming. And as far as we can tell was rather limiting on what VS could and could not do.

I think DL deal will be very different. I am not saying that we will see VS Crew being trained in ATL (god forbid) but I think there will be a lot of obvious changes to the average customer. FOr example, there could be a huge section in the back of DL's inflight magazine on the VS/DL partnership.

AS for the current FC partners. Yes alot are star alligned and other time they will go if/when VS join SKyteam. It wont be a whole sale change though. I would imagine SQ and NZ for example will stay for a while. Someone like NH, no doubt, will go very quickly especially given DL's rather impressive network out of Japan.

EDIT: On the plus side maybe VS will start using DL's swanky boarding pass layout. Clearly shows that DL is innovative when it wants to be.

Does this alliance mean that this website will change to VD-Flyer? :-0 :-0

It's important to note that just because VS is buddying up with a skyteam member, the star alliance partners they have won't automatically disappear.

Look at NZ (star) and Cathay (one world) joining forces on LHR-HKG.

Hmmm all interesting news.

Let's just hope that something will happen.. back when SQ bought into VS, was there not all the talk of change and opening of routes to the East etc.. and look what happened.

I'm just hoping for on board service consistency throughout the VS and DL fleet, easy and effortless flight bookings through to final destination, the same baggage allowance international and domestic, the VS AU lounge privilege extending to the delta internals and most importantly mileage redemption availability in case I feel the need to sneak off for some R&R - wishful thinking.. ii)

8D

[Scrooge]

there goes all the reward seats for us loyal vs flyers swallowed up by Delta/sky teams massive FF base

That's what happened last time, though this time there is the YQ charge that may put more than a few off of going the VS route because...

How many Delta FF's are going to pay VS's fuel surcharge for a reward flight? Unless they won't be charged the surcharge, I don't see VS award availability being affected too much.

Exactly, though if they book DL reward seats on VS metal there will be no fuel surcharge.

Hmmmn, time to buy some reward seats. Are Delta business class reward seats worth the bother?

Are they saying that Delta will give FF benefits, so will be able to book on their flights now?

Looking at Skyteam, not much in there I'd typically fly though...

Yep, DL has made get progress in the last couple of years, take a look HERE

Also with Singapore's reward flights and points earning gone (did Singapore's reward seat ever exist, or we fictional like Air NZ?)

Pretty much fictional, off the top ofmy head, the only route that you were able to book J class reward seats through VS was from Munich, SQ made/makes it so hard for partner airline passengers to actually get seats it pretty much a waste of time even offering them. NZ you can get, as long as you are very flexible on dates, but the whole procedure for requesting them is like something out of the 1970's.

How many Delta FF's are going to pay VS's fuel surcharge for a reward flight? Unless they won't be charged the surcharge, I don't see VS award availability being affected too much.

Absolutely y) . We mugs are used to it, the 'Yanks' are not ): .

Nope, it's been tried and from what I recall it was United that tried it...and got sued....

Can anyone tell us how good/bad, profitable/unprofitable (historically) and airline Delta is ?

thanks

David

Last quarter DL made just over $1B

As it is, I am liking this deal, from VS's point of view, it means they can now offer far more flights using DL metal, so more choice from the UK. JFK-LHR becomes an almost hourly shuttle.

The bad side, anyone who books into premium economy on DL through VS is going to be upset to say the least.

From a personal point of view, I get to burn my VS miles on a couple of DL J flights and fingers crossed I can escape the YQ charge.

What's the YQ charge, what does it mean?

I haven't ever used Delta, the only knowledge I have of it comes from US friends who've used it. None have been impressed. Someone mentioned the likelihood of being disappointed if a PE cabin was booked, so I'm guessing it's not as good. But could someone out there explain how it's different/worse? What's their equivalent to UC like?

What's the YQ charge, what does it mean?

I haven't ever used Delta, the only knowledge I have of it comes from US friends who've used it. None have been impressed. Someone mentioned the likelihood of being disappointed if a PE cabin was booked, so I'm guessing it's not as good. But could someone out there explain how it's different/worse? What's their equivalent to UC like?

Cat YQ is the code for the dreaded 'fuel surcharge'

On the route I flew LHR to JFK their business elite was excellent. I did a couple od trip reports fir DL148 and 149

Another major positive of this is that VS Flying Club members (Golds I assume) will now finally have access to a set of lounges when flying domestic in the US.

Make that "lounges".

If you think a bag of pretzels, and a cup of american coffee = a lounge, you are correct.

Now I know US airlines lounges are a disgrace compared to European and especially UK ones, but it's a lounge nonetheless in many places - more importantly, I wonder how FC and Delta Medallion status will align. Here is the benefits chart from DL.

I wonder Flying Club gold will get free space avail domestic upgrades on DL in the same way that AF/KL members do? That would be a huge bonus IMHO.

It is important to remember it is a share transfer not a merger or takeover.
It may have no impact on the FF program except the ability to earn/redeem on a partner airline.
I would be very surprised if you are able to use VS miles to upgrade on DL flights.

It is important to remember it is a share transfer not a merger or takeover.
It may have no impact on the FF program except the ability to earn/redeem on a partner airline.
I would be very surprised if you are able to use VS miles to upgrade on DL flights.

Don't forget from the press release: "Reciprocal frequent flyer benefits."

Let's wait and see but it would be nice to see a DL elite tier status stamp on the VS FC Au card ... this though is still some way out in the future.

It is important to remember it is a share transfer not a merger or takeover.
It may have no impact on the FF program except the ability to earn/redeem on a partner airline.
I would be very surprised if you are able to use VS miles to upgrade on DL flights.

Don't forget from the press release: "Reciprocal frequent flyer benefits."

Let's wait and see but it would be nice to see a DL elite tier status stamp on the VS FC Au card ... this though is still some way out in the future.

Yes I agree it's a bit early to speculate regarding FF programme.

The main positive for VS I see is a substantial shift away from mostly O&D traffic. Even more so should VS move to serve Delta hubs

BTW Slinky, I think a Medallion would suit you well

Does anyone think we'll see VS metal on LHR-ATL?

Slightly OT.

A few years ago you could earn Delta miles with VS.

I put Miss S' Delta number onto the VS reward ticket and lo and behold, the miles came through onto her Delta account

She ended up will elite status through this route and travelling a few times with them.

Hope they do tie the 2 programmes up a bit as I have a few miles still with them in all the family's names.

A caveat on the above - and it is a few years since we travelled with Delta so things may / will have changed - the family were unanimous in sayings 'Delta, never again....'