Virgin America Announces Frequent Flyer Partnership with V Australia and Virgin Blue

Virgin America, the award-winning California-based airline, has announced today that it has partnered with V Australia and Virgin Blue to allow each airline's loyalty program members to earn points when taking flights on the three Virgin-branded airlines. The partnership means that guests flying on Virgin America, V Australia, and Virgin Blue will all be able to earn credit for their flights that will be redeemable under any of the carrier's frequent flyer programs. As of today, guests will be able to earn points on any of the carriers they choose.*
“Travelers around the world seek out Virgin airlines for their unrivalled value, brilliant service and innovative amenities, and we're pleased to partner with Virgin Blue and V Australia to allow our loyal guests to earn Virgin frequent flyer credits wherever they are flying– in the U.S., Asia Pacific or Australia,” said Virgin America President and Chief Executive Officer David Cush.
The reciprocal agreements enable V Australia or Virgin Blue's Velocity members to earn Velocity points; and Virgin America's Elevate members to earn Elevate points – wherever they are flying with V Australia, Virgin Blue or Virgin America. Elevate redemption levels will start at 40,000 points for flights on V Australia and 6,000 points for flights on Virgin Blue later this year.**
“The new agreement is another example of our Virgin airlines working closer together for the benefit of our Guests,” said Virgin Blue Airlines Co-founder and Chief Executive Brett Godfrey. “Our aim is to encourage more travelers from throughout the U.S. and from our part of the world to plan their trans-Pacific travel with our growing airline family.”
In addition, today Virgin America and Virgin Blue have announced a crew exchange program which will launch in October 2010. The exchange allows in-flight teammates from either Virgin America or Virgin Blue to participate in a one-year work exchange program that will allow them to immerse themselves in the intensive training courses and the opportunity to fly as cabin crew for each airline. The goal of the program is to give each airline's teammates the chance to experience work and life at another Virgin-branded carrier.
With industry-leading guest service, beautiful design and a host of high-tech amenities, Virgin America has captured a list of travel industry best-in-class awards since its launch, including being named “Best Domestic Airline” in the Conde Nast Traveler 2009 Readers' Choice Awards and “Best Domestic Airline” in the Travel + Leisure 2009 World's Best Awards. Virgin Blue has received numerous awards in recent years, including Best National Airline three years running at the Australian National Travel Industry Awards. V Australia offers a three class trans-Pacific travel option and Virgin America offers Main Cabin, Main Cabin Select and First Class seating on its domestic U.S. service.
In June 2009, the airlines signed an Australia-U.S. interline agreement offering seamless travel on the networks of each carrier across their United States (U.S.) and trans-Pacific routes. The interline arrangement allows guests to enjoy a continuous “Virgin” experience for travel between the U.S. and Australia, as Virgin America and V Australia share Los Angeles World Airport's (LAX) newly redesigned Terminal 3. Since June 2009, V Australia guests have been eligible to earn Elevate points for the Virgin America leg of their journey. As of today, guests can now earn either Virgin America Elevate points or Velocity Points for their travel on Virgin America, V Australia or Virgin Blue flights.