Originally Posted by
realjd
One other note about flying VA: Save your boarding passes! Even though VA had my SkyMiles number on my reservation (and printed on the boarding passes), none of the flights posted automatically to my SM account. I had to fax in the boarding passes to get my miles/MQM.
+1. I have to email in my VA itinerary and boarding passes about 60% of the time. (Haven't flown them and credited to DL since they switched to Sabre yet, though; been crediting the last few trips to my VA account. We'll see what happens next week.)
Originally Posted by
mridley2
Very nice to know. Do you have be travelling on VA or could you be ticketed for DL and still enter VA lounge? Would be another lounge option at JFK/LAX/SFO
Huh? VA doesn't fly to JFK/LAX/SFO, and all of their lounges are in domestic terminals in Australia (which are completely separate from where any international flights take off, often multiple km away). Are you confusing VA (Virgin Australia) with VS (Virgin Atlantic)?
Originally Posted by
JohnRico
When I called them they told me that even as a PM I only got 1 bag free and would have to pay for any others. Does any one else have any info on Elite benefits flying VA Domestically?
I've never tried to check a bag on a fare that doesn't otherwise include baggage, but there is nothing explicit on VA or DL's web site that says you get a free bag. DL does say Gold+ gets priority baggage; I have not gotten priority baggage on VA domestic itineraries, only international.
DL Golds+ can use the Gold/Platinum lines at check in, security (where available, but it hardly matters as Australian domestic security lines tend to be short), and boarding.
Yes, the checked bag fee waiver does
not extend to others in the same reservation, even for VA elites.
Originally Posted by
realjd
My wife (silver) and I were on a dirt cheap "Saver Lite" fare and we had zero issues checking three bags between the two of us without being charged. And this was multiple segments so we didn't just luck out once.
Bring your SM card. Virgin's computers printed "Partner Gold" on my BP with my SM number even though I'm PM. Flashing the card seemed to be what they cared about at the lounge and check in.
Good to know; thanks. (Though the fare difference between Saver (which includes a checked bag) and Saver Lite is typically about $15, no matter the cost of the Saver Lite. Domestic/international short haul economy award tickets on VA now (since the Sabre transition in January 2013) include a checked bag too.)