Hawaiian Air, Virgin Blue Sign New Interline Agreement
Nov. 28, 2006
Travel to Hawaii from throughout Australia will be much easier from November 28, when Hawaiian Airlines and Virgin Blue activate a new interline agreement.
The arrangement will enable travel agents to issue a single ticket for travel on both airlines, from anywhere in the Virgin Blue network to anywhere in the Hawaiian Airlines network.
It will also enable Hawaii-bound passengers around Australia to check their luggage all the way to Honolulu when they check in for their Virgin Blue connecting flight.
And on arrival in Sydney, passengers transferring from Virgin Blue to Hawaiian will be entitled to a free airside bus transfer between domestic terminal T2 and the international terminal. Details will be provided in a special transfer wallet which each passenger will receive.
Hawaiian Airlines operates three evening flights per week from Sydney to Honolulu, with onward services to the neighbour islands of Kauai, Maui and The Big Island of Hawaii. The Sydney flights also connect in Honolulu with onward services to nine destinations on the US mainland - Seattle, Portland, Sacramento, San Jose, San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego, Las Vegas and Phoenix.
"We're delighted with this agreement, which will make a journey from Australia to Hawaii so much easier," said Mark Dunkerley, President and Chief Executive Officer of Hawaiian Airlines.
"Our interline deal with Virgin Blue eliminates the need for connecting passengers to lug their baggage from the domestic terminal to the international terminal and recheck it for the flight to Hawaii," he said. "Now, passengers just need to obtain a boarding pass and seat allocation at the international terminal in Sydney, then proceed to their flight. Not only is this more convenient - it also makes for a much more relaxing start to a holiday in Hawaii."
Virgin Blue Chief Executive, Brett Godfrey, said the interline agreement with Hawaiian was yet another initiative in which Virgin Blue was able to offer convenience to its customers.
"Our interline agreement with Hawaiian Airlines brings Hawaii a big step closer for many Australians, by making the journey easy from anywhere in our network," said Mr Godfrey. "It also highlights the size of our network, the frequency of our flights and our ongoing commitment to add value for our Guests. Hawaiian Airlines is also a partner in our award-winning loyalty programme, Velocity, enabling Virgin Blue Guests to earn or redeem points on Hawaiian Airlines flights to Honolulu, and beyond to the islands and the US West Coast."