Virgin Australia Velocity - V Australia at LAX - can gate agents issue boarding pass?

Greetings everyone:

I have a question concerning the issuing of a boarding pass for V Australia, assuming I am flying in via Delta to LAX and I manage to take the airside shuttle to Terminal 3 which means I will already be at the V Australia gate inside security, would the VA gate agents be able to issue boarding passes at the gate or do I have to go to the check-in counters outside security at the terminal to get the boarding pass? Thanks!

When I did this route in 2010, it was possible for the GA to issue a BP... I'm pretty sure it hasn't changed.

Thanks aep, I was looking at the VA website and their check-in seems to be referring to the check-in counters on the landside of the terminal which means outside security so it seems like people who get to the VA gate already inside security by either flying Virgin America, Alaska or even the other airlines and getting there by using either a airside shuttle or walking the tunnels would seem to have less hassle if they can just get a BP from the GA instead of having to leave security, head to check-in and then go through security again as I thought GA's can change or assign seat assignments atleast from what I remember prior to 9/11 which was the last time I flew when people missed a flight on UA or it was delayed, the GA would just issue them a BP for the next available flight.

Just did this and they can indeed. in the middle of terminal 3 is essentially the customer service desks for All the VX and VA flights.

rock up, show your itin with the baggage stubs and your good to go! hopefully you dont get the staff member i had as she was hopeless, wouldnt give a gold an exit row for free even though i was entitled to it!

had to fight for it!

I've done exactly this, only I was connecting off a VX flight so it was a short schlep across the terminal rather than a bus ride. Wander up to the service desk, hand over itinerary, collect boarding card and lounge invitation. Simple! :)

Thanks 'X' and notzac, atleast there is a customer service desk in addition to the gate counters which is even better! I figured people who got off a VX or Alaska Airlines flight wouldn't have to go outside security just to get a boarding pass for VA since it would seem like unnecessary hassle if that was the case. Seems like when I checked VA fares for the month of October 2011, the carrier used LAX <-> SFO was VX which was what I preferred but for November 2011, it all changed to Delta. Now notzac, what is this lounge invitation you mention? :)

Now notzac, what is this lounge invitation you mention? :)

At the time of my flight I was Velocity Gold, so am entitled to lounge access. To access the AS lounge at T3 free of charge, you need a lounge invitation (presumably so AS can bill VA for the privilege).

At the time of my flight I was Velocity Gold, so am entitled to lounge access. To access the AS lounge at T3 free of charge, you need a lounge invitation (presumably so AS can bill VA for the privilege).

Have you actually visited the AS lounge in T3? How was it? I can get into the T3 AS lounge with my Priority Pass membership complimentary of Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith, still have 10 free visits for 2011 so might as well use it assuming there is enough time.

Have you actually visited the AS lounge in T3? How was it? I can get into the T3 AS lounge with my Priority Pass membership complimentary of Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith, still have 10 free visits for 2011 so might as well use it assuming there is enough time.

it was packed++ Sydney & Bris flights both departing within an hour of each other meant it was damn hard to find somewhere to sit.

in saying that the booze is free and the snacks are ok if you like chips, cheese & Crackers (or soup and salad).

It's probably also because it's used by VA, QA, Alaska as well as their other partners all at the same time. I forgot to ask a question but how long before scheduled departure time does boarding actually begin? Since it seems like with 2 hours and 6 minutes landing in T5, I would probably be in T3 with 1 hour and 30 minutes left.

It's probably also because it's used by VA, QA, Alaska as well as their other partners all at the same time. I forgot to ask a question but how long before scheduled departure time does boarding actually begin? Since it seems like with 2 hours and 6 minutes landing in T5, I would probably be in T3 with 1 hour and 30 minutes left.

scheduled for 30 minutes, but i cant really comment cause the flight was delayed due to ground holds of fog at LAX delaying the Sydney flight which meant they couldnt put the BNE flight on the gate.

scheduled for 30 minutes, but i cant really comment cause the flight was delayed due to ground holds of fog at LAX delaying the Sydney flight which meant they couldnt put the BNE flight on the gate.

Interesting, actually I rather have the flight from LAX to SYD delayed than having the SFO to LAX plane delayed causing a 24 delay at LAX because the plane is long gone. I guess that is one of the drawbacks to VA having only one gate for departures. Do they have the same problem with arrivals too or can they use multiple gates in that case?

Interesting, actually I rather have the flight from LAX to SYD delayed than having the SFO to LAX plane delayed causing a 24 delay at LAX because the plane is long gone. I guess that is one of the drawbacks to VA having only one gate for departures. Do they have the same problem with arrivals too or can they use multiple gates in that case?

wouldnt be an issue as at the moment its TBIT for arrivals so heaps of gates can accomodate the 77W.

I am pretty sure the gate they use at T3 is the only one that can accommodate a 77W hence the issue. Plus at the moment its usually the first aircraft through TBIT in the morning for the Bris flight at least which was fantastic as it was a quick quick immigration (bags were slow though even with a priority tag).

wouldnt be an issue as at the moment its TBIT for arrivals so heaps of gates can accomodate the 77W.

I am pretty sure the gate they use at T3 is the only one that can accommodate a 77W hence the issue. Plus at the moment its usually the first aircraft through TBIT in the morning for the Bris flight at least which was fantastic as it was a quick quick immigration (bags were slow though even with a priority tag).

I wonder what happens after they change arrivals to T5 from TBIT in early November 2011, will there be multiple gates to handle the 77W. Hopefully T5's immigration is atleast as fast or speedy as TBIT's or maybe it might be faster since T5 should have less international passengers at the same time compared to TBIT.

Have you actually visited the AS lounge in T3? How was it? I can get into the T3 AS lounge with my Priority Pass membership complimentary of Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith, still have 10 free visits for 2011 so might as well use it assuming there is enough time.

Pretty underwhelming - it's really not what I'd call an "international standard" lounge. Better than hanging around at the gate though :)

Pretty underwhelming - it's really not what I'd call an "international standard" lounge. Better than hanging around at the gate though :)

I really have to see what a "international standard" lounge looks like. Don't think there is much to see at 8PM at night though.