Apr 23, 2024, 1:36 pm
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
VA is now listed on Earning Premier qualifying credit on partner airlines
United to partner with Virgin Australia -- UA elite benefits starting 23 May 2022
Jun 21, 2022, 7:41 pm
#136
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: San Francisco
Programs: UA 1k, SPG/Marriott Plat, IHG Plat
Posts: 1,020
Status: United 1k
BNK-SYD on VA ticket and flight number.
Base miles 379
Total miles 379
PQF 1
PQP 76
As 379/5 = 75.8 this meant divide by 5 for me. YMMV
Jun 21, 2022, 8:41 pm
#137
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,406
My flight on May 29 just posted (I needed to submit a claim which was initially denied as ineligible for some reason).
Status: United 1k
BNK-SYD on VA ticket and flight number.
Base miles 379
Total miles 379
PQF 1
PQP 76
As 379/5 = 75.8 this meant divide by 5 for me. YMMV
Status: United 1k
BNK-SYD on VA ticket and flight number.
Base miles 379
Total miles 379
PQF 1
PQP 76
As 379/5 = 75.8 this meant divide by 5 for me. YMMV
Jun 22, 2022, 4:56 am
#139
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS/EAP
Programs: UA 1K, MR LTT, HH Dia, Amex Plat
Posts: 32,048
I did SFO-SYD-MEL last week on UA/VA single ticket.
Immigration at SYD was a breeze, but luggage took awhile. Once clearning custom before exit door, there is a door on the left that connects you to the VA transfer desk. Look out for the sign.
Transfer, rechecking the bag (single luggage tag issued by UA), and issuing the boarding pass took less than 5 min.
The longest wait is the bus from T3 to T1. There were mutiple flights arriving during early morning, so the line was long, I got onto the third bus after I got into the waitling line. The buses were crowded and luggages were stored on the seats and between seats, so made it hard to get out of bus if you were stuck in the back. The buses were packed because many passengers were desparate to get to their connecting fights.
Once I was in the VA lounge, nice flat white and full breakfast made me forgetting the unpleasant bus ride quickly.
It would be a much pleasant experience if the inter-terminal bus transfer can be improved.
I budged 3 hours for the transit, and glad I did not take the VA agent's offer to get on an earlier flight (an hour earlier), I needed the extra time for waiting for the bus, and clear security at the domestic terminal. A 40-min relaxing vist in the VA lounge with great coffee is a nice break after a long 15-hour flight. It would be even nicer if the showers were working at the VA lounge.
Immigration at SYD was a breeze, but luggage took awhile. Once clearning custom before exit door, there is a door on the left that connects you to the VA transfer desk. Look out for the sign.
Transfer, rechecking the bag (single luggage tag issued by UA), and issuing the boarding pass took less than 5 min.
The longest wait is the bus from T3 to T1. There were mutiple flights arriving during early morning, so the line was long, I got onto the third bus after I got into the waitling line. The buses were crowded and luggages were stored on the seats and between seats, so made it hard to get out of bus if you were stuck in the back. The buses were packed because many passengers were desparate to get to their connecting fights.
Once I was in the VA lounge, nice flat white and full breakfast made me forgetting the unpleasant bus ride quickly.
It would be a much pleasant experience if the inter-terminal bus transfer can be improved.
I budged 3 hours for the transit, and glad I did not take the VA agent's offer to get on an earlier flight (an hour earlier), I needed the extra time for waiting for the bus, and clear security at the domestic terminal. A 40-min relaxing vist in the VA lounge with great coffee is a nice break after a long 15-hour flight. It would be even nicer if the showers were working at the VA lounge.
I was worried schlepping my luggage T3-T1
Jun 22, 2022, 6:26 am
#140
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2003
Programs: UA*Lifetime GS, Hyatt* Lifetime Globalist
Posts: 12,332
Jun 24, 2022, 1:38 am
#142
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Sydney,Australia
Programs: UA 1K, QF Gold
Posts: 1,141
Interesting. The VA earnings page doesn't have a section on Premier Qualification, and the Preferred vs. Non-preferred page doesn't mention them at all. I had taken that to mean that VA flights weren't eligible for Premier qualification.
Jun 24, 2022, 2:59 am
#143
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2003
Programs: UA*Lifetime GS, Hyatt* Lifetime Globalist
Posts: 12,332
I arrived in Sydney earlier this week. I budgeted 4-hour transit for my connecting flight to Melbourne on VS.
It took over an hour for the ground staff to unload the luggage from the UA flight, and by the time I received my bags, it was 90+ min after landing. There were quite a few flights arriving in the early morning and Sydney airport is so short staffed to deal with unloading baggage from Emirate, Ethiad, SQ, TG and other flights during the peak morning arriving window.
it was a 10-min wait to clear customer due to large number of arrivals.
There were quite a number of passengers connecting onto VS for other destinations. It was about a 15-min wait to check bags with VS.
Then, there was the line to wait for the bus. Yes, it was long but three buses happened to arrive within 5 min of each other, so the wait was only about 15 min. The ride took about 25 min due to traffic and road construction.
By the time I clear security at domestic terminal, it was about 3 hours after landing. A 30-min stay at VS lounge and my flight was ready for boarding.
This was my second UA-VS experience at SYD in less than a month, and I am glad I budgeted 4-hour transit for the connection on both occasions.
It took over an hour for the ground staff to unload the luggage from the UA flight, and by the time I received my bags, it was 90+ min after landing. There were quite a few flights arriving in the early morning and Sydney airport is so short staffed to deal with unloading baggage from Emirate, Ethiad, SQ, TG and other flights during the peak morning arriving window.
it was a 10-min wait to clear customer due to large number of arrivals.
There were quite a number of passengers connecting onto VS for other destinations. It was about a 15-min wait to check bags with VS.
Then, there was the line to wait for the bus. Yes, it was long but three buses happened to arrive within 5 min of each other, so the wait was only about 15 min. The ride took about 25 min due to traffic and road construction.
By the time I clear security at domestic terminal, it was about 3 hours after landing. A 30-min stay at VS lounge and my flight was ready for boarding.
This was my second UA-VS experience at SYD in less than a month, and I am glad I budgeted 4-hour transit for the connection on both occasions.
Jun 24, 2022, 6:22 am
#145
Join Date: May 2011
Programs: UA GS, UA 2MM, HH LT Diamond, Bonvoy Titanium
Posts: 1,803
Jun 24, 2022, 8:41 am
#146
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: NYC
Programs: UA Platinum
Posts: 66
Good recognition of elite benefits as well. It’s not automatic but by showing United membership card in the app, we were able to get every benefit listed without hassle.
Jun 24, 2022, 9:36 am
#147
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: San Francisco/Sydney
Programs: UA 1K/MM, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Something, IHG Gold, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 8,156
Yes. The primary difference being that the train has a cost where the bus is free (the train isn't an inter-terminal train as such, it's just a standard train that happens to stop at both terminals). However the train will generally be faster.
Jun 26, 2022, 10:17 am
#148
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: San Francisco
Programs: UA 1k, SPG/Marriott Plat, IHG Plat
Posts: 1,020
The train is also easily paid for by using a contactless credit card at the entrance to the station and again at exit. No need to buy a ticket. Station access is easy and doesn't involve a very long walk. During morning peak hours train frequency is very good (every 4-8 mins) and the travel time itself is 2 mins. Train fare is roughly AUD 5-6 depending on whether peak or off peak.
Jul 20, 2022, 10:06 am
#149
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Canada
Programs: UA*1K MM SK EBG LATAM BL
Posts: 23,305
Has anyone been able to assign seats on VA awards issued by United?
The system stupidly put us in 1A/F and 2A/F .... and I cant find the way to edit it. VA says must call...
The system stupidly put us in 1A/F and 2A/F .... and I cant find the way to edit it. VA says must call...
Jul 20, 2022, 10:26 am
#150
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Honolulu, Hawaiʻi [+MKK4 EBBER R577 EDSEL R577 ELKEY EXERT]
Posts: 15,826
I called to assign seats to my UA award but subsequently downloaded the VA app and was able to change seats. Maybe try the app?