The Virgin, Air New Zealand alliance is back (sort of)

Former partners Virgin Australia and Air New Zealand are back together again in a rebooted trans-Tasman partnership launching December 9, 2024. But Virgin and its Velocity frequent flyers are the winners here, as there are no reciprocal benefits – such as points-earning or lounge access – for Air New Zealand’s own frequent flyers when travelling with Virgin Australia. On the other hand, Virgin loyalists can book onto AirNZ flights on some 16 trans-Tasman routes under a VA flight number to earn Velocity Points and status credits, and will also be able to use Velocity points to book those Air New Zealand flights. In addition, Velocity Golds and Platinums – along with members of the invite-only Beyond program – will enjoy access to the Kiwi carrier’s lounges when travelling on VA-coded NZ flights; for flights from Adelaide and the Gold Coast, “access will be available at the Virgin Australia Lounge, subject to operating hours.” Those top-tier travellers will also enjoy priority check-in, baggage and boarding where available, plus additional checked bag (up to 23kg). <br/>