Singapore Airlines and Virgin Australia Enter Partnership

Effective August 2011, frequent travellers on Singapore Airlines and Virgin Australia are going to benefit immensely with the partnership agreement that the two airlines entered into. The alliance is subject to the approval from relevant authorities.

Singapore Airlines and Virgin Australia entered into a long term alliance with each other by signing an agreement today. The alliance which aims at combining the network of Singapore Airlines’ international destinations and Virgin Australia’s routes within Australia and pacific will not only result in mutual benefits for the two carriers but it will also benefit their customers in a big way. From throwing open a number of new destinations to these customers, the alliance will allow them to use the resources and facilities of these airlines in a reciprocal way.

News Release

As per a news release published by Singapore Airlines jointly with Virgin Australia, with effect from 1st August when the alliance takes effect,

• Singapore Airlines customers will be able to interline on Virgin Australia’s domestic network, allowing them to travel through to a range of destinations with one ticket, through-checked baggage, terminal transfers and inclusive meals; and

• Virgin Australia Velocity Gold members and Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer Gold members will have reciprocal access to each airline’s airport lounges.

The alliance is subject to approval from the relevant regulatory authorities and the airlines say that the customers will be able to get the full advantage of the partnership from late 2011.

Passenger's Benefits

As a result of the alliance, both the airlines will be able to sell tickets and seats on each other’s international and domestic flights. The codeshare arrangement has always spelled added advantages for the passengers when it comes to the facilities, benefits and the resources of any airlines. Although, the two carriers may not show up amongst airlines selling cheap flight tickets, the valuation of the benefits resulting from their alliance may cheer a number of cheap flight lovers.

Frequent Flyer Programme: The members of Singapore Airlines’ KrisFlyer will be able to earn and redeem miles when they book on flights operated by Virgin Australia. Conversely, the members of Virgin Australia’s frequent flyer program ‘Velocity’ will be able to earn and redeem the points for miles flown on the flights operated by Singapore Airline.

New Destinations: Through the joining of the networks of two airlines, a number of new destinations have become accessible for the passengers of both the airlines. The network of Singapore Airline has added 70 more destinations in the route map of Virgin Australia and 30 new routes have fallen in the kitty of Singapore Airlines using the network of Virgin Australia. Not just this, the passengers will be able to take up their travel to these destinations on a single ticket while benefiting from through-checked baggage, terminal transfers and inclusive meals.

Reciprocal Lounge Access: The passengers of both the airlines will be able to access each other’s airport lounges.