Plat Delta medallion benefits on Virgin Australia
 

Hi,
What benefits does delta plat members get on Virgin Australia when flying coach on the transpacific flight and domestic Aust.? Do we get club access?
Thanks

http://www.virginaustralia.com/us/en...frequent-flyer
http://www.virginaustralia.com/us/en...-lines/#lounge

thanks these are great links!

Domestic Aus - it's been a few years, but priority checkin, priority boarding, and lounge access. That's about it. Don't expect any upgrades.

International - no clue. We used miles for J.

As mentioned, yes to VA lounge at SYD Domestic terminal. Also get to use the VIP entrance with their own security lanes...after being dropped off from transfer shuttle, go past the main entrance doors (with the flow of traffic), up the ramp to the VIP entrance that drops you right into lounge with brekky and showers.

Only challenge you may have, as I've had twice a year for the past 6 years is return baggage. VA is supposed to give you DL baggage rules on the return, but usually had to be explained to them..helps to have printout of Delta's baggage page.

It's worth pointing out that for international VA flights from SYD, DL Medallions don't get lounge access. VA does not have a lounge in the international terminal, and the NZ lounge will not admit DL Medallions unless they are flying on DL metal.

The NZ lounge won't admit DL medallions unless they are flying first.
But if flying DL out of SYD internationally, one can visit the new SkyTeam lounge in international terminal.
Otherwise, there is an AMEX lounge next to the ST lounge that grants access for most amex cards.

Quoting myself... I just remembered that my wife and I also got free checked bags when I showed my PM card for all 3 of our domestic flights, even though we bought saver fares from VA.

FWIW, I have had good luck getting better seat assignments on VA-operated flights, short and long haul, by inquiring at checkin or the lounge. I've found a VA domestic lounge is the absolute best place to ask - the agents in there are fabulous. Don't expect a class upgrade (although it's happened, particularly on leisure routes like NAN-SYD), but at least a decent aisle or bulkhead seat should be possible if they aren't all assigned on day of departure.

What if transferring in SYD from a DL flight (J or Y) to a VA int'l flight? Would ST lounge work for ST Elite Plus?

First time I tried to check in to the ST lounge: no, it was only for departing ST int'l flights. (but that was a year ago)

VA is not part of ST.

As long as your inbound long haul is on Skyteam metal and you're connecting on to a domestic flight is the only way to use Elite+ lounge access upon arrival on a Skyteam flight. Since the Skyteam Lounge is of course in international terminal there's no way to access.

Will be flying VA on a domestic Australian itinerary. I'm probably just being blind, but clicking the links above, I can't find where it says in writing that a DL PM would have priority check-in, priority boarding, and lounge access.

Not sure why, but those pages have changed. However, the DL website still shows the benefits: http://www.delta.com/content/www/en_...rgin+australia

One thing to note re lounge access: The DL website says VA lounge access is granted for GM/PM/DMs with boarding passes for same-day international flights. However, VA lounge access is also granted for GM/PM/DMs when traveling domestically within Australia as well. The VA website used to state that clearly, and as a matter of practice it is still true (tested last weekend).

I flew with VA last April as Gold and their wasn't many benefits internationally. The main benefit was being able to have priority check in and priority boarding. My recommendation is to try and fly on Delta Metal unless you are flying on a business class fare.