Delta Metal, VA Ticket, VA Flight number
Jul 21, 2017, 10:24 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2007
Programs: DL PM; Marriott Plat; Hilton Honors Gold
Posts: 257
Delta Metal, VA Ticket, VA Flight number
I am flying from Boston to Australia via LAX. The domestic legs are all operated by Delta, and the over water legs are operated by Virgin Australia. The ticket was issued on VA stock and the Delta segments are on a VA flight numbers.
The upgrades on the Delta leg were showing as ineligible. I called the Diamond desk and they said they were seeing the same thing and could not do anything about it. Is this right, has anyone had experience with this in the past?
Second question. How will the Miles, MQMs, and Dollars calculate on the Delta operated, VA flight number segments from BOS to LAX? This seems like a grey area on the website.
The upgrades on the Delta leg were showing as ineligible. I called the Diamond desk and they said they were seeing the same thing and could not do anything about it. Is this right, has anyone had experience with this in the past?
Second question. How will the Miles, MQMs, and Dollars calculate on the Delta operated, VA flight number segments from BOS to LAX? This seems like a grey area on the website.
Jul 21, 2017, 12:33 pm
#2
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Chicago
Programs: Delta Diamond, Bonvoy something good; sometimes other things too
Posts: 5,065
Miles and MQMs will be earned as if it is a VA flight, so according to this chart based on your VA booking class. MQDs I'm not 100% sure but I think as if it is a VA flight as well.
And yes these flights are officially ineligible for domestic complimentary upgrades. You can try asking at check-in, at the gate, and at the Sky Club if they can put you on the airport upgrade list, but not sure if it is possible. If it is, a good Sky Club agent is probably your best chance.
And yes these flights are officially ineligible for domestic complimentary upgrades. You can try asking at check-in, at the gate, and at the Sky Club if they can put you on the airport upgrade list, but not sure if it is possible. If it is, a good Sky Club agent is probably your best chance.
Jul 21, 2017, 1:45 pm
#3
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: 5,634
And the fact that the ticket was issued on VA stock means that you may be able to buy up to either PE or Business if there is availability. Check with the VA agents at LAX. A 1 way buy up from PE to Business BNE-LAX about a year ago was about AU$1000. VA can do it with 006 DL tickets as well, but it is easier with VA tickets, I think.
Jul 21, 2017, 2:03 pm
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2007
Programs: DL PM; Marriott Plat; Hilton Honors Gold
Posts: 257
And the fact that the ticket was issued on VA stock means that you may be able to buy up to either PE or Business if there is availability. Check with the VA agents at LAX. A 1 way buy up from PE to Business BNE-LAX about a year ago was about AU$1000. VA can do it with 006 DL tickets as well, but it is easier with VA tickets, I think.
I am flying PE. I booked this same trip last year also all on VA ticket stock, but it gave me Delta Flight numbers for the BOS-LAX leg. I was upgrade eligible and earned MQM / MQDs according to the Delta rules. It is interesting that it used a code share flight number this year.
I do remember the buy up being about $1000 AUD. I didn't take them up on it. When I went last year VA was in the process of transitioning the PE cabin to the smaller one with the better soft product. I had the old cabin one way and the new cabin back. Though nothing beats a flat bed, the PE cabin on VA is one of the best in my opinion.
Jul 21, 2017, 2:32 pm
#5
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Mostly living in the basement
Programs: Newly minted free agent; MR LT(!)TE, HH SE, BA SECM, DL MM, UA PS, 2V Fanboi, CBP GE
Posts: 5,124
I do remember the buy up being about $1000 AUD. I didn't take them up on it. When I went last year VA was in the process of transitioning the PE cabin to the smaller one with the better soft product. I had the old cabin one way and the new cabin back. Though nothing beats a flat bed, the PE cabin on VA is one of the best in my opinion.
And you will earn based on VA rules for DL (ie: "distance" not "revenue" based), meaning % of distance flown for MQD.
Aug 27, 2017, 3:10 pm
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2007
Programs: DL PM; Marriott Plat; Hilton Honors Gold
Posts: 257
They were able to add me to the upgrade list in the lounge for the VA ticketed DL metal flight, and it cleared.
On the return DL was able to reroute me to JFK due to weather issues on the east coast. Interestingly, the re-routed DL leg shows miles earned based on ticket price. The other DL operated, VA ticketed leg shows miles earned based on distance. I guess this gives a little insight as to what VA pays Delta for the leg.
On the return DL was able to reroute me to JFK due to weather issues on the east coast. Interestingly, the re-routed DL leg shows miles earned based on ticket price. The other DL operated, VA ticketed leg shows miles earned based on distance. I guess this gives a little insight as to what VA pays Delta for the leg.
Aug 27, 2017, 6:21 pm
#7
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,857
And yes these flights are officially ineligible for domestic complimentary upgrades. You can try asking at check-in, at the gate, and at the Sky Club if they can put you on the airport upgrade list, but not sure if it is possible. If it is, a good Sky Club agent is probably your best chance.
Aug 28, 2017, 4:09 am
#8
Join Date: May 2006
Location: GA
Programs: VA-PLT, QF-GLD, DL-GM, UA-ex1K, AA-exPLT, HH-DM, IHG-PLT, MR-GLD
Posts: 8,246
I've never been able to get DL to allow me to request an upgrade on DL metal, VA codeshare USA domestic flights when using my DL SM status.
To be fair I have never tried my VA status.
To be fair I have never tried my VA status.