The wait is finally over, and this joint venture, which has been in the works for years, is now live.
Continue reading: Air France-KLM, Delta, And Virgin Atlantic Launch New Joint Venture
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
Ummm how is eliminating a competitor good for consumers? All this means is a move towards monopolistic pricing in certain locations.
Very curious whether the award rates will be same for using VS on KLM/AF as they are on the redemptions for DL. The taxes and fees obviously makes it less attractive than using DL, but having more options never hurt anybody.
Weren't there also rumours that VS will change the Flying Club earnings and redemptions in 2021?
Does this mean that I can book a Virgin Atlantic flight to Paris flying Virgin Atlantic to London and then connecting on Air France to Paris or beyond on the same ticket?
Sorry ignore earlier comment as i didn't read all article and didn't see this:
"It has now formally been announced that enhanced customer benefits start on February 13, 2020. This means that loyalty program members will be able to earn and redeem miles across the airlines, and will receive expanded benefits, like priority boarding and lounge access."
Lucky, does the part about miles mean we'll finally be able to earn SkyMiles on a KLM coded but VS operated flight?
Before the rules said "Mileage earn only applies to KLM-marketed flights operated by KLM, KLM Cityhopper, and KLM coded SkyTeam partners.". Since VS wasn't SkyTeam partner you couldn't earn SkyMiles when the flight was sold with a KL #.
Other than being allowed to coordinate prices and share profits, which Air France/KLM and Delta were already doing, I don't see how any of this is NEW news. All of the "benefits" have existed. Nothing is changing for Delta customers. I suppose only Virgin Atlantic and Air France/KLM customers really benefit since those airlines didn't previously have cross-benefits.
If only Westjet would join. They are still waiting for approval for the Delta JV, but a JV with the rest would be really useful.
If Delta and Air France coordinate their pricing, and Delta and Virgin do as well, won't that mean that they both did it before the combined joint venture?
.. to that end, any update on the new Virgin and/or Air France/KLM redemption charts? You mentioned previously they were expected mid-Jan?
Can I fly Premium Economy outbound and fly Virgin same class on the home bound ?
Would there be a variation in price ?
Will the XP calculation remain same?
@ben What’s the difference between a ‘joint venture’ and ‘price fixing’?
Will there be a way to monitor the inevitable price hikes from the ATL fortress hub? With that information we can at least call-out the inequity with our elected officials
From a customer perspective even the current joint ventures are a joke. As a Delta Medallion less than Diamond you get a little discount but otherwise not even a seat in extra legroom economy. Likewise as a FlyingBlue elite you hardly get any upgrades on Delta...
Many, many perfectly valid questions above. Another one, a biggie, is surely interlining of baggage. This is pretty much in my top 2 questions demanding clarity.
Is the interim name for the JV 'Flying Blind' ?
And yet, after all this, the new consortium falls short of one single airline operating out of the largest airport on the planet...Turkish Airlines, flys to more destinations than any other airline in the world, from the largest and most modern airport in the world.
The difference is depending on who does it.
Delta does it = JV
ME3 does it = Price fixing.
The elected official you are seeking is likely the same one who says ME3 received unfair subsidy but never said a thing about CN3.
Case closed.
Alitalia is part of the SKY TEAM Alliance which Virgin Atlantic is not.
The JV is between VS/DL/ AF /KL and sits outside of Sky Team.
The Sky Team alliance is vast with a number of airlines part of this alliance. Not to be confused with the Joint Venture.
Miles can be earned and burned between VS and the JV partners AF/KL/DL.