Upgrading on Virgin Australia
Mar 31, 2017, 11:44 am
#16
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Washington, DC, Chapel Hill, NC (RDU)
Programs: DL Plat (won't hit DM again) 2MM (2.5), HH Gold, PC Gold, Hyatt Plat
Posts: 5,626
BNE-LAX I upgraded from PE to Business. Space + is still 3-3-3 across rather than 2-4-2 in PE, I think.
Mar 31, 2017, 7:38 pm
#17
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: CHA
Programs: DL-DM (1.75MM), Bonvoy LifeTi, Hertz-PC
Posts: 618
My Amex Plat gets me in, but we were with another couple. Luckily, when I showed them the original booking as DL (marketed, bought and birds), they let us all in without paying.
And there is no thing as EC/C+ on VA. PE is a different cabin booking. While we got to choose a row in front of exit that was only two seats, it was regular economy - not benefited rows as it is on DL equipment.
Mar 31, 2017, 10:46 pm
#18
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Join Date: Sep 2003
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Yes, in SYD we get lounge access for shower and brekky. But on the layover in LAX, no access as VA is not a SkyTeam member.
My Amex Plat gets me in, but we were with another couple. Luckily, when I showed them the original booking as DL (marketed, bought and birds), they let us all in without paying.
And there is no thing as EC/C+ on VA. PE is a different cabin booking. While we got to choose a row in front of exit that was only two seats, it was regular economy - not benefited rows as it is on DL equipment.
My Amex Plat gets me in, but we were with another couple. Luckily, when I showed them the original booking as DL (marketed, bought and birds), they let us all in without paying.
And there is no thing as EC/C+ on VA. PE is a different cabin booking. While we got to choose a row in front of exit that was only two seats, it was regular economy - not benefited rows as it is on DL equipment.
Apr 1, 2017, 6:07 am
#19
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Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,417
DMs get a SC membership. With it, you're not required to be flying DL.
Apr 1, 2017, 9:23 am
#21
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: CHA
Programs: DL-DM (1.75MM), Bonvoy LifeTi, Hertz-PC
Posts: 618
At the time, the "seamless partnership" between DL and VA was only priority check in, baggage and boarding.
But flying twice a year to SYD, it's been anything but seamless. EVERY year, I have an issues with baggage allowance when coming back.
That year of getting bumped to a VA bird, lounge access was not available to VA pax - though now I see that has been added to both Delta's and VA's web site, even though we've never had a problem getting into the VA lounge when we had a layover in SYD.
Apr 1, 2017, 2:01 pm
#22
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Join Date: May 1998
Location: Massachusetts, USA; AA Plat, DL GM and Flying Colonel; Bonvoy Platinum
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My experience has varied. May 2015: no access as GM on international itinerary. (Yes, my ongoing flight to BOS was on DL.) Paid the $29 reduced fee; worth it. August 2016: waved right in. Perhaps the policy change suggested by a post a bit past the quoted post happened in between, perhaps they were being extra-nice because it was during the computer meltdown, or perhaps it depends to some extent on the agent. I expect to be there again next month. We'll see what happens.
Apr 2, 2017, 11:15 am
#23
Join Date: Jan 2005
Programs: DL Diamond, QF Gold
Posts: 96
The VA/DL "alliance" is an odd one - certainly VA and DL don't play completely nicely with each other. I often have issues with getting points/mqms from VA flights, as others point out the major inconsistency with lounge access etc. The VA Premium Economy product is pretty darn nice and the Business class is a step up from the old DL product on DL40/41.
May 21, 2017, 8:12 pm
#24
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 99
So just give DL a big pile of cash when they sell you a PE/Bus seat and cancel your U class economy seat.
Unsure if VA do that. If they do expect it will be full retail fare difference
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/virgi...r-madness.html
Unsure if VA do that. If they do expect it will be full retail fare difference
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/virgi...r-madness.html
To answer my own question, you can indeed upgrade at the VA ticket counter on day-of. It is not cheap but you can do it (it was much cheaper than when I called DL and finally got someone on the phone who was willing to upgrade the ticket). The ticket agent at LAX said you can do it in advance at the ticket counter (i.e. for my return trip) but that it will be more expensive - it will be discounted on day-of. FWIW, my outgoing flight was very empty but it still was $$ to upgrade.
May 22, 2017, 2:54 am
#25
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Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
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To answer my own question, you can indeed upgrade at the VA ticket counter on day-of. It is not cheap but you can do it (it was much cheaper than when I called DL and finally got someone on the phone who was willing to upgrade the ticket). The ticket agent at LAX said you can do it in advance at the ticket counter (i.e. for my return trip) but that it will be more expensive - it will be discounted on day-of. FWIW, my outgoing flight was very empty but it still was $$ to upgrade.
Non USA based airlines will fly with empty premium economy/business/first class seats having denied upgrades to their own frequent flyers for cash and/or ff miles.
May 22, 2017, 3:43 am
#26
Join Date: May 2006
Location: GA
Programs: VA-PLT, QF-GLD, DL-GM, UA-ex1K, AA-exPLT, HH-DM, IHG-PLT, MR-GLD
Posts: 8,242
Incorrect. You get access to VA lounges within Australia (which are only in domestic terminals), that's about it.
At LAX you will not be able to access any TBIT lounges as a DL status pax flying VA (unless you are flying business).
At LAX you will not be able to access any TBIT lounges as a DL status pax flying VA (unless you are flying business).
May 22, 2017, 5:24 am
#27
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DM, PM, GM get lounge access per the partnership. FO don't. VA should issue a lounge invite. However as another user posted this has been less then a seamless partnership. I've had agents correctly give me one and I've had them deny me.
May 22, 2017, 4:24 pm
#28
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 99
May 23, 2017, 6:31 am
#30
Join Date: May 2006
Location: GA
Programs: VA-PLT, QF-GLD, DL-GM, UA-ex1K, AA-exPLT, HH-DM, IHG-PLT, MR-GLD
Posts: 8,242
The lounge partnership is reciprocal. VA GLD/PLT get lounge access to Skyclubs and DL GM/PM/DM get access to VA lounges.
VA lounges only exist in Australia, in domestic terminals. VA does not offer lounge access to DL members for their international partner lounges. I've lived it, and it is the policy. So please stop saying otherwise.
The only time you get international lounge access when flying VA is when your itinerary includes a DL flight (for example flying DL metal LAX-SYD and onwards SYD-DPS you are entitled to Skyteam lounge access, but this is from the DL metal flight and has nothing to do with VA).
I have never, ever seen VA issue a lounge invite, you just go to the partner lounge (Singapore, Etihad, Air NZ) and show your VA card. They will quickly reject any Delta membership as they are not partnered with DL, only VA. So if you indeed received an invite somewhere, please post the details.
Last edited by CPMaverick; May 23, 2017 at 6:39 am