Virgin Australia Velocity - Delta Reciprocal Benefits - Warning

Warning - Your Velocity status benefits are not recognised by Delta on code share.
Delta appear not to recognise Velocity for anything other than miles. Am
Gold Status, just on my annual holiday trip from Coffs Harbour to the Bahamas via LAX and return through Las Vegas. Booked with Virgin outward flight was a code share with Delta and some of the internal USA flights were similarly with Delta.

Arrived at Sydney check in with Delta staff who reluctantly allow me to use the Business Check in but say I should use the economy line. I ask if I have access to the lounge, and am advised I am not eligible!! I call Velocity who assure me I can go in. Go to the Air NZ lounge only to be turned away (with my wife - now have a 15 hour flight where I can be nagged in surround sound) call velocity again, am advised it is a mistake they will call the lounge, 15 mins later get a call back - No you have no lounge access, sorry.

Gets better, as my Velocity member benefits are not recognised I am charged for my cases in the USA am taking up position as a rear gunner on all my Delta flights. Had one American Airlines flight from LAX to Miami so was able to use my Qantas Gold FF for that, what a difference.

To save my eardrums I have had to pay extra to upgrade on the return flight which is Virgin Australia not a code share so should be ok.

Lesson learnt wont use Virgin on International again and as Virgin have also cancelled their morning flight out of Coffs probably better going back to Qantas and being Platinum with them rather than Gold on both.

Apparently DJ's partnership with DL does not cover most elite benefits unlike their partnerships with NZ, SQ, EY and VS. You can only access DL operated lounges when flying with DL metal.

You should look here before you fly:

http://www.velocityrewards.com.au/content/Status/GoldStatus/index.htm

Having said that last time I flew SQ, my DJ status couldn't be recognised but I had no problem entering the KrisFlyer Gold lounge.

Time for them to join an alliance perhaps.

Its this incredible level of inconsistency that keeps me with *A at the moment. There are just too many different agreements for this to work. And the more airlines become "partners" the more different agreements there will be.

Its all well and good on paper, but as the OP has discovered even the airline gets confused about that they are and are not giving.

I was interested to read this because we have also moved business over to Virgin. We fly Dellta a lot and on our last trip, my husband & I had access to the Delta Lounge on his Gold Velocity membership. At first the Delta staff said no, but we asked them to double check and there was no problem. A lot of the time the staff don't know all the rules in relation to the Delta/Virgin alliance so we actually have learnt to carry a copy of what's printed on the internet with us. You are actually permitted to the Delta lounge. Here is the wording..

Delta Air Lines

Delta Sky Club owned and operated lounges*

You and a guest on presentation of membership card and boarding pass for same day travel on a Virgin Australia International Long Haul flight or Delta Air Lines http://www.velocityrewards.com.au/content/Status/GoldStatus/GoldLoungeAccess/index.htm

That obviously covers the Delta Sky Club but i dont believe that covers the Sydney Koru Club.

That obviously covers the Delta Sky Club but i dont believe that covers the Sydney Koru Club.

No, it will have to be a DL owned lounge.

The only way you get in the SYD Koru lounge is if you get an invitation from the agent who checks you in. No invite, no entry.

MO

Apparently DJ's partnership with DL does not cover most elite benefits unlike their partnerships with NZ, SQ, EY and VS.

I believe this might be because DL is a member of Sky Team. This alliance has a totally insane policy, that even top tier members cannot access any lounge, while traveling on domestic itineraries. DL agent could apply ST logic to DJ partnership. Ask agent to verify the rules as DJ/DL partnership offers more perks to Velocity top members than ST offers to their top elites (including DL top elites).

PS. I do not believe it was caused by code-share. IIRC correctly in Deltamatic (DL system) all code-shares are listed with DL numbers, anyway - but you may inquire at DL forum...

I believe this might be because DL is a member of Sky Team. This alliance has a totally insane policy, that even top tier members cannot access any lounge, while traveling on domestic itineraries. DL agent could apply ST logic to DJ partnership. Ask agent to verify the rules as DJ/DL partnership offers more perks to Velocity top members than ST offers to their top elites (including DL top elites).

I had this problem last night in Atlanta - The Agent happily looked up the rules and was really very surprised that I was right - It wasn't a strained conversation or anything, but it appears the Virgin Australia Cards aren't on their "cheat sheet" so she had to go into her computer to get the answer.

She reported that she had only seen a couple of Virgin Cards ever, and never a platinum one - She did warn me that I was likely going to have the same problem "everywhere else" I went.

Matt

She reported that she had only seen a couple of Virgin Cards ever, and never a platinum one - She did warn me that I was likely going to have the same problem "everywhere else" I went.

Matt

Next time ask them to give you a Deltamatic 'GRS topic name' (i.e. name under which this information is stored in the Deltamatic system - IIRC from my DL Medallion times, it should be something like G*topic name, perhaps G*VIRGIN AUSTRALIA/LOUNGE -but this is my guess) and publish on this forum... This way folks will be able to direct DL agent to a correct info source:D

Since when is V Australia required to honor other airlines' elite status?

Since when is V Australia required to honor other airlines' elite status?

I do not understand your question...

we are talking here about OTHER AIRLINES honoring DJ elite status... (as per DJ-DL/EY/NZ agreements...)

Unfortunately, this is an issue that cuts both ways. I can't speak to DL recognizing or refusing elite status on V Australia but I have had issues the other way. Have an upcoming flight scheduled right now LAX-SYD-MEL RT. I have assigned seats on all legs except the SYD-MEL and back on V Australia. I make this trip for business a 2-3 times a year and it is always this way. I end up in the back of Y in a middle seat half the time, get charged for my bags, and often have to fight and scratch for access to the Virgin lounges in SYD and MEL despite the fact that I am a DL DM and a paid DL Sky Club member (which entitles me to reciprocal benefits, according to the website, for the Virgin clubs; I have resorted to carrying a copy of the printout from the DL website showing that as a SC member and as a Sky Team Elite Plus, I should have access in order to get in!). The challenge here, in my opinion, that affects us all, Virgin or DL customer, is that DL is a member of Sky Team, Virgin is not. So, it's a partnership that exists outside of the alliance and so neither is required to provide full privilages to the other's elites. Until recently, I couldn't even get credit for my miles flown while on a V Australia aircraft. Fortunately, this loophole has been addressed so that now my miles credit.

I am on a Delta ticket on a Brisbane-Lax flight and I have gold with Delta and Silver with DL. Will I be able to get into the Delta Lounge?

I am on a Delta ticket on a Brisbane-Lax flight and I have gold with Delta and Silver with DL. Will I be able to get into the Delta Lounge?

I'm confused. Are you a silver medallion or a gold medallion on DL. If you are gold and thus Sky Team Elite, you have access to the DL SC on the days you are flying on an international itinerary.

Sorry I meat Virgin Lounge in Brisbane. I am Gold DL and Silver VA. I normally fly out of Sydney on Delta all the way and am a bit annoyed that I can't check in or select my seat until I get to the airport because it is a code-share.

Sorry I meat Virgin Lounge in Brisbane. I am Gold DL and Silver VA. I normally fly out of Sydney on Delta all the way and am a bit annoyed that I can't check in or select my seat until I get to the airport because it is a code-share.

In theory, as a ST Elite, you should have access to the Virgin lounge in Brisbane. You might want to print out a copy of the reciprocal privilages list from the DL website (easily found by typing Sky Club locations in the search box). My experience as a DL DM and historically as a paid SC member, was that non-ST lounges, i.e. Virgin, would sporadically allow access but usually with enough documentation, I could get them to allow me in. I've been flying in and out of Australia for 15 years and I would say my luck in getting into Virgin lounges with the documentation listed above is probably 60-75%. Good luck out there!

thanks jsmith - I found this link on the virgin site
http://http://www.virginaustralia.com/us/en/experience/airline-partners/delta-air-lines/

It says as a gold DL I should have access but I will print it out and take it with me. Thanks for the tips.

I had this problem last night in Atlanta - The Agent happily looked up the rules and was really very surprised that I was right - It wasn't a strained conversation or anything, but it appears the Virgin Australia Cards aren't on their "cheat sheet" so she had to go into her computer to get the answer.

She reported that she had only seen a couple of Virgin Cards ever, and never a platinum one - She did warn me that I was likely going to have the same problem "everywhere else" I went.

Matt

Interestingly had similar problem at LGA. Though in the end, there was no way I was going to get access - "computer says no", and the Skyteam rules were applied ("no international flights no access"). However, same day same time, 10 miles away, at JFK, my partner was welcomed at the DL lounge with open arms. [both on domestic only itineraries].

Update: Delta gold does NOT give access to VA lounges in international terminals. Only at the domestic terminals where VA operates the lounge. VA uses the Air NZ lounge in Brisbane . Rang VA lounges and they confirmed no access. :(

Interestingly had similar problem at LGA. Though in the end, there was no way I was going to get access - "computer says no", and the Skyteam rules were applied ("no international flights no access"). However, same day same time, 10 miles away, at JFK, my partner was welcomed at the DL lounge with open arms. [both on domestic only itineraries].

Isn't the key to this is that your DL flight must be part of a same-day connecting flight to an international sector? In other words flying JFK-LAX on DL connecting to a VA flight to AUstralia.

Isn't the key to this is that your DL flight must be part of a same-day connecting flight to an international sector? In other words flying JFK-LAX on DL connecting to a VA flight to AUstralia.

No that is not the way the T&C are written, and indeed to be competitive with QF as a FF program you would expect lounge access to mirror the QF access arrangements on AA. The T&C say access permitted for:

You and a guest on presentation of membership card and boarding pass for same day travel on a Virgin Australia International Long Haul flight or Delta Air Lines

Note that it doesn't say "same day travel on a Virgin Australia or Delta Air Lines International Long Haul flight", which would have a meaning consistent with your interpretation, and if you remove the "or" reference to VA it would simply say " ... boarding pass for same day travel on Delta Airlines" Our respective sectors were 100% domestic itineraries, one LGA-MSP the other JFK-SFO.

I've had no problem getting lounge access on Delta on a domestic only itinerary. They have had to look it up on the computer but then let me in once they've checked it.

As DL lounge access seems to be hit or miss, it would be helpful if someone who gains admission next time after the agent looks it up then asks the agent to write down the particular reference in the computer for them so as to avoid problems getting into the next lounge. Then please post the reference code here.

Access to Domestic VA lounges is no problem - that is covered because it is a VA-owned lounge. VA's lounge at the BNE international airport is operated by Air NZ and it specifically does not allow access by DL gold on DL ticket flying to the US on the VA plane. I was shown the document that specifically prohibits entry for flights to LA.

VA Gold got into ATL Concourse B Delta Lounge on domestic DL ticket.

VA Gold got into ATL Concourse B Delta Lounge on domestic DL ticket.Were they aware of lounge access for VA Gold/Plat or did they question it and/or have to look it up? I will be using my VA Plat card for DL domestic lounge access in 2 weeks in both LAX and ATL and hope that there will be no problems.

Did not question it.
Although agent tried to swipe the card but system didn't like it and had to enter the number manually. Didn't say a thing other than welcome to the lounge.

The one thing that really annoys me is not having the ability to select preferred seats and no priority boarding!!

Did not question it.
Although agent tried to swipe the card but system didn't like it and had to enter the number manually. Didn't say a thing other then welcome to the lounge.

The one thing that really annoys me is not having the ability to select preferred seats and no priority boarding!!

I agree. As a DL Diamond, I got nothing on my domestic flights on DJ this week.

Did not question it.
Although agent tried to swipe the card but system didn't like it and had to enter the number manually. Didn't say a thing other than welcome to the lounge.

The one thing that really annoys me is not having the ability to select preferred seats and no priority boarding!!

Trust me, the frustration is mutual. Flying V Australia next week as a Delta Diamond Medallion and can't even get a seat assignment! I keep being told by the DM line at Delta that my seats will be assigned upon checkin! Not to mention the inability to book preferred seats and the forever history of no priority boarding on V for us Delta medallions!

Trust me, the frustration is mutual. Flying V Australia next week as a Delta Diamond Medallion and can't even get a seat assignment! I keep being told by the DM line at Delta that my seats will be assigned upon checkin! Not to mention the inability to book preferred seats and the forever history of no priority boarding on V for us Delta medallions!

I just checked in for my flight from PER to SYD. Couldn't do on-line check-in so called last night and got assigned 25B. Got to the airport and they had assigned a middle seat. Got it changed but not without complaining about the assignment last night. Got an aisle but not where it was. Did get into the lounge on my DM card, not the Sky Club Card.

Flew DL US internal Dec-Jan and no problem with recognising V plat status - shower and smiles at JFK while awaiting connection, and ditto on return flt to JFK - nary a hitch ... guess it depends on which computer they check ;)

Flew return SYD to SAN recently, with Delta the LAX-SAN carrier.

Have to say, no problems at all.

On my outbound trip, the Skyclub staff were welcoming and helpful (and very friendly) and as it was a commuter flight (CRJ), the priority boarding wasn't much of an issue.

For the return flight, I checked in at SAN commuter airport, my bag was borderline for the 23Kg, but the agent didn't say a word. He apologised that there was no lounge but offered directions to the lounge in the main SAN terminal (I was about 3 hours early). Arrived at LAX and was initially a bit lost, the Skyclub lounge staff were once again very welcoming, told me where I needed to go for my VA connection, but also extended the invitation to rest in the Skyclub lounge if I preferred.

So, yeah, I'm gonna be honest and say I absolutely couldn't fault the Delta staff at all. Whether this is because I was VA Gold (just made Platinum!) or whether they are just that good, I really couldn't say.