Well i work for that Airline at that Airport handling that flight and i have never know it to be cancelled for "Low Bookings".
So i have my facts, do u have yours ;)

Not to rain on parades, but Qantas also have an interline agreement with Delta. It is NOT a codeshare.

Anyway - apart from the yanks (ie UA) - who would really want to fly Delta over VA or QF?

I agree that the importance of the Delta / VA link-up is not instantly apparent, but:
1. There are 300 mill. Yanks and only 20 mill. Aussies
2. Most Americans prefer to travel on their own carriers, irrespective of the superior service on the foreign carrier (apple pie, star-spangled banner and all that)
3. After the NWA merger, Delta is now the worlds biggest carrier in passenger numbers and a lot of those heading our way will now be moved onto the VA flight, whether they deliberatly sought out the "Virgin experience", or not. The yield this will provide, may just make the difference whether they can/are able to ride out the soft markets over the next year or two.

If I was doubtful (and yes I was) before, whether VA could succesfully launch in the bear-market we're in, the Delta deal has changed my mind on the matter. VA has the bees-knees of longhaul airplane, the lowest costbase (by a considerable margin) of any international carrier able to fly the pacific route, and in the Delta link-up - a formiderable partner that surely will have QA/AA sit up and take notice. It's a horrible time to launch a new airline, but the markets WILL improve eventually and VA will emerge a force to be reckoned with.

How long will it take for the market to recover.........?

Well notwithsanding all of the above, but I can see a stack load of Delta passengers having seamless connection and travel around Australia on Virgin Blue, this is got to be a huge benefit for VB.

Same goes for V, their passengers can connect in the States on Delta/NWA's vast American network, not to mention Virgin America who will benefit as well, seems to me like a win win for the parties involved.:)

Yep, I totally agree. When you can book connecting flights, baggage handling, frequent flyer points and even terminal usage, you're backing a winner.

VAustralia will be a success because they have new equipment, a youthful exuberance to performing well and a curious public looking for a good deal.

The Australian media have not been kind to the "rat" lately either!

Total and utter crap....:ugh:

richard K aka Dhead
 

whats your problem... are you a disgrunted ex AN worker or just dont you like qantas..... maybe they would not give you a job...did you hear that V aus wanted to park their a/c next to qantas 744 [the one going to lax] and if they got away first they were going to use it as media stunt....bac would not let them they had to park at the other end of the airport....oh and they did not get away first

From what I heard Mike Goldman (ex Big brother) was on the flight and was arrested by the local LAPD later in the evening after being ejected from a club. If thats who you talking about, calling him a 'celebrity' is a slight stretch!!

Delta is a Singapore Airlines FF partner airline so depending on intended destinations it could be better for a Krisflyer FF to travel with Delta than United. I have done it myself from Europe and would do so from Aust if the flights suited.

Having said that I don't know how big the KF FF market would be for that.

Wow, aka Dhead, well there is just no fooling you is there "rim", I didn't think anyone could ever solve this clever disguise, just goes so show, this is the proof needed, you are the sharpest tool in the shed.:eek:

aka d/head
 

well it just gives me the sh$%'s that every time we start talking about airlines someone says that ....mine is better than your's and we started it first ....etc etc we all have a common enemy why not see if WE can stick together [like the alaea did in the pia] and defeat the management that has no idear of how to run an airline ...if its not in their mangement manual they have not got a glue what to do as most of them have no cold face experience

Some of you guys talk / believe absolute crap!
BAC Decide Gate allocations, Not V, not QF.
It is based on A/C Size, Arrival Times / Dept and alot of other variables.

Plus QF dont need to partcipate in the childish games Virgin plan. Avaition isnt a game, you are dealing with real peoples lives.

gates at bne
 

mikeb744 i think you need to do a little more digging ....gates are allocated on how much you are willing to pay....look at emerates own areobridge to their lounge bac operate only for money and look where some airline park each day ....right in the middle so their punters dont have to walk very far

I'll have to look in the aerobridge for the Eftpos machine that they all use. :cool:

Unfortunately VA have not got a frequent flyer partnership with Delta not Delta with V Aus.

To V crews
 

What has the inflight food/rest/recreation been like. And the hotels/transport/allowances ect? And rosters? Do you have to pay for drinks? Are oyu offered left over first class or equivalent meals?

Just curious. I'm not into slanging matches ect - wish you well.

Mikeb744 - Agreed.

Not sure on the "pushback competition with QF" on inaugural day (seems stupid that anyone would try that on their first flight given the media coverage and photo shoots by the plane etc.

My understanding is that V-Aus will primarily be using the "Emirates" (lack of a better word) gate in YBBN? (Far end gate towards domestic). Perhaps V are using the Emirates lounge for their J class pax just as they're using the Malaysia lounge in SYD and Alaska Lounge at LAX? Seems reasonable to park their heavy there for this purpose?

Mr Hat. What do you mean by paying for drinks? PAX pay for alcohol after they have had their first one free of charge. Although from what I have seen the crew are just giving away 2nd and 3rd drinks because of the extra work involved in charging for extra drinks. All soft drink etc is inclusive. Of course the crew can drinks soft drinks/juices and take a bottle of water off for the hotel.

Hotel is really nice although not in the best location. A fantastic crew room is provided with internet, TV, DVD player, coffee machine and a couple of fridges that the hotel stock up with soft drinks for us.

Current time at hotel is around 50 hours but there is a rumour this might be reduced to a single night in LA. If this happens the feedback from crew I have spoken with is that they will be exhausted and will have to reconsider if they want to stay at V.

No problems with transport to from airport as far as I know and the hotel provide a complimentary shuttle for the crew to various tourist spots.

Onboard food is not too great. We are provided with an economy meal for dinner and breakfast and although the economy food is good it is still an economy (high salt/fat/sugar) meal. Our business class service is on demand so its difficult to judge what is going to be left over for crew to eat (if anything) because a pax might wake up and want lamb shanks with wasabi mash potato at any point during the flight. So to sum up there is plenty of food for crew but not enough healthy stuff.

All pretty good so far. Still teething problems but we are only a month old. Feedback from pax has been very good.