Virgin Australia to Codeshare with Air Canada from 2017

15th Dec 2016

Pending regulatory approval from Australia and Canada, Virgin Australia and Air Canada will begin codesharing on each other's routes as of next year.

The airlines will codeshare to connect VA's Sydney to LA and Brisbane to LA services with Air Canada's flights between Los Angeles and Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver and Calgary. Additionally, Air Canada will place its code on VA's services connecting with its daily service to Brisbane and Sydney, including connections to Melbourne, Perth, Cairns, Adelaide and Canberra in Australia and from Australia to Auckland and Christchurch in New Zealand.

Virgin Australia Changes Lounge at LAX for Velocity Platinum and Gold Members.

Meanwhile, Virgin Australia has changed the passenger lounge at Los Angeles Airport. Starting from 19th December, 2016 (next Monday), VA passengers with Velocity Platinum member cards will move to Etihad Airways First and Business Class Lounge from the Star Alliance First Class Lounge while waiting to board their Virgin Australia plane. Furthermore, Business Class passengers will also move from Start Alliance Business Class Lounge to the Etihad First and Business Class Lounge.

Etihad's lounge includes a dedicated dining room with table service, TV area, relaxation zones and shower facilities.

Velocity Gold card holders will continue to use the Star Alliance Business Class Lounge, which may not offer the "a la carte" dining service Etihad's lounge does, but they can still enjoy a cocktail bar and shower facilities. Although, many guests will surely miss the beautiful outdoor terrace at the Star Alliance Lounge, where they could relax and bide their time before they have to board their plane.

The Australian carrier has also decided to move its lounge facilities in Denpasar, Bali from 19th December to the Taurus Gemilang Lounge from JAS Premier Lounge.

Prior to all this, Virgin Australia moved lounges for international travelers departing from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane to different airport lounge facilities. As of November, Virgin Australia passengers flying to Los Angeles to Sydney are using the Etihad Airways Lounge and travelers commuting from Brisbane to Los Angeles are using the new Singapore Airlines SilverKris Lounge.