The many problems with the Virgin LHR codeshares
 

Due to Continental's lack of late flights back from the UK, I've often had to book some of the VS codeshare flights back from LHR to New York. As much as I like the VS service and coolness, as a Platinum CO traveler I'm often frustrated by the lack of CO amenities provided.

You would think CO Elites would have some sort of special checkin line, ability to get better seats besides middles, and some sort of affilitated clubroom in LHR. The awesome movie selection is nice, but it's just not enough. A lot of CO travelers must book these flights to offer some services, no?

Well, in terms of lounge access one never gets it on economy fares, unless one is a SkyTeam Elite Plus (CO Plat) flying on a SkyTeam carrier. VS doesn't qualify.

I don't think the number of CO elites has much bearing on services, particularly lounge access. CO could certainly arrange lounge access for you, but they'd have to pay a set, negotiated fee for each traveler admitted to the lounge. Given how great the LHR Clubhouse is supposed to be, I can assure you that it wouldn't be cheap for CO, and hence they don't offer it. As for access to another lounge, well, write to CO with the suggestion, but I doubt they'll do anything about it...

Altough it has CO code on it, it is served by VS and apart from providing service in the booked class VS does not have to do anything to you as a CO plat. OTOH, CO does not fly it's planes into LHR and therefore it does not have any facilities of it's own in this airport.

If you fly VS a lot I would suggest enrolling into VS Flying Club and become an Elite with them. You will get much better amenities that you look for this way. You might also want to switch to OneWorld and BA.

By the way, in most cases only BF pax can enter non-SkyTeam affiliated clubrooms in non-US airport. This is true to airports that CO fly their metal to as well. Unfortunately, SkyTeam lounges in LHR ae available only in terminals 2 and 4 while VS operate out of terminal 3.

It's hit or miss, but flashing your CO Elite card often lets you use the Premium Economy or UC checkin lines.

If you fly the COcodeshare/VS Upper Class (J-fare), you are allowed to access the VS Clubhouses, which are very nice. You also have priority boarding, etc. The most notable amenity that is excluded when flying on the CO codeshare is the limo service pickup.

Maybe slightly off topic but flying Virgin Sept 2 (dayflight) from EWR and returning Sept 11 (yeah I know) into JFK. Partner and I have used CO miles for roundtrip in Upper Class. Are we allowed to use the Virgin Club at LHR on the return? I'm assuming yes?! Is the lounge at EWR open in the morning (not that we'd have a chance to use it). Thanks to all who reply!!

VS is focused more on providing benefits to high fare pax and its own elites, as it is not a member of Skyteam, is not concerned with providing EliteAccess-type benefits with CO elites. In other words, VS does not care about offering benefits to CO elites traveling in VS coach because it does not see any benefit to be derived therefrom. But VS is more than happy to accomodate you if you are traveling in PE or UC. Also keep in mind that CO does not offer any reciprocal benefits to VS elites.

And, as CO would prefer to retain paying J pax on CO metal, CO is not interested in forking out a fortune to offer its platinums access to VS Clubhouses. CO partnered with VS because CO pax need mileage-earning flights to LHR and AA was already partnered with BA (and BA is in OneWorld). I'm sure that CO would prefer that paying J pax stay on CO metal.

If you frequently fly VS in coach and fly enough to maintain your CO elite status without including your LHR flights, I would do as others suggest and sign up for VS flying club and begin crediting your flights thereto.

Absolutely! If you used miles to purchase an UC ticket, you're treated as any other UC passenger and have access to all UC amenities other than a limo ride to the airport. The lounge in EWR is open before all VS flights.

FAB - thanks for the reply.

Through Check In
 

I recently flew the return itinerary LHR-MIA-IAH-MCI, purchased as CO flights on co.com. And, yes it's irritating to be stuck in the economy class line for 40 minutes, as a OP Gold. When i did check in I was assured by the check in agent that he couldn't produce the boarding passes for my flights from MIA. I questioned this as I've flown VS as CO codeshares with connecting itineraries several times before and always received all of my boarding passes at LHR. But, no he couldn't produce them.

So I had to dash around MIA to re-check in for the connecting flights. I emailed CO to see if this is a new practice, but no response for a couple of weeks. This will definitely affect my ticketing/routing decisions. At least I got upgraded to PE to MIA though (not worth the money if you have to pay for it though!)

Anybody know if VS is now unable to produce connecting CO boarding passes?

Last time I took VS several months ago I had no problem getting all my boarding passes for the CO connecting flights printed at LHR.

I've done that with success but I got the impression the agent let me not because it was allowed, but rather she didn't feel like telling me no.

As a CO plat, I can tell you I am finished with Virgin. Their attitude towards codeshares is amazingly poor, their policies are abusive, their agents are poorly trained with bad attitudes, and they refuse to have parity with the CO programs.

My favorite little abuse is that every person on the flight can purchase an upgrade to economy plus - EXCEPT CONTINENTAL FLYERS because CO only recognizes two classes of service.

Did you get that? EVERYONE CAN BUY AN UPGRADE EXCEPT YOU.

Oh and I enjoyed the 20 minutes I got yelled at for daring to think that I was elite.

Larry, let's see some parity on the codeshares, and if that's not possible, let's just steal their good customers. Or pick another airline that has landing rights at LHR.

That's why one should always just purchase VS tickets directly from VS - the miles still properly credit to OnePass and you don't have to deal with any of the above.

So, you can get better seats besides middles pretty easily. In fact, I recently scored seat 62A-- a window with extra leg room-- on the 744 and had a fantastic flight in Y, on a Continental ticket. I certainly could have picked one of many, many aisle seats had I wanted one of them.

So you're down to two problems: no clubroom for Y flyers and no elite line. Two problems aren't "many."

In addition, if you mention CO, they might let things slide. I had an overly-heavy carry-on that they were going to force me to check, but I said I was flying on a CO ticket and was connecting from a CO flight, and that CO let me carry the bag on. They let me carry it on.

You make a very weak case for your "problems." Personally, I love the codeshare and think its one of their best.