Mwenenzi

VA does not have lounges at international terminals. Only (some) domestic terminals.
The partnership is UA-VA. Not Star Alliance - VA. So need UA status. Status with other Star Alliance airlines mean nothing to VA, unless a similar out of alliance agreement.

VA lounges-->
https://www.virginaustralia.com/au/e...irport/lounge/
https://www.virginaustralia.com/au/e...unge/domestic/

seanp7

Just back from an Australia trip where I used Virgin Australia as a UA 1K, but booked direct via VirginAustralia's website. Seamless and perfect - boarding pass is encoded with lounge access so you can use the self-scan entrance terminals and it all works. An extra bag saves you some $$$ too.

VA lounges in SYD and BNE pretty good.

Flights posted fairly rapidly - credit to UA with their partner flight postings of late.

I didn't realize you could earn PQP also, which is a real plus. It's small on certain economy tickets, but every point counts. Ditching Qantas now when flying domestically in Aus, for sure!

username

I wonder if you took your trip already and what the outcome was.

Someone on the VA forum said he even had to pay for checked bag as a VA Platinum... UA Baggage Allowance as VA Platinum

nycflyer222

I booked an award ticket SFO-MEL-PER with the first leg on UA, second on VA. Will I pick up my bags in MEL and re-check them, or will they go all the way through to PER?

docbert

Australia is the same as the US - you need to collect your bags at your first point of entry and take them through customs (the act of doing which actually has some meaning in Australia, unlike the US!)

Your bags will be tagged all the way to PER. Unfortunately MEL airport is basically a CF when it comes to re-checking the bags. There is no dedicated drop area (or at least, there wasn't when I last made a similar connection 6 months ago), so you'll need to take them to the Virgin domestic check-in area (a short walk from the international arrivals area) and then join one of the bag-drop lines there.

eightblack

I agree with docbert MEL is a cluster when it comes to baggage transfer but at least its all in the ONE main terminal building (International arrivals in the middle and QF to the right and VA to the left). Once you have cleared customs and entered the throng of idiots all milling around to meet their relatives, make a right and head up to VA domestic. Domestic travel within Oz is a relative breeze compared to the chaos in Murrica...

seanp7

Why do you say that? I’ve been waived through by Oz Customs countless times and fully searched by US CBP before…

eightblack

Really? I have been traveling hard to and from the US for the past 12 years and the only time it was slightly difficult was when I was in limbo as far as my Green card goes (it was during the middle of the process). That was not pleasant and every arrival I would be taken to a back room (the nicer word is secondary screening area). I kid you not, me and 12 men (who all had different immigration issues) were marched by CBP agents to and from the toilet.

Now that I have Global Entry, coming back to the US is a complete breeze whereas entering Oz and faffing about with their idiotic biometric machines (which require you to go to a separate machine to get a ticket) is just insane. And the secondary checks as you try and exit are equally silly.

aacharya

That is immigration, not customs. But yes, global entry is a breeze as it should be but that's not for everyone.

Kacee

Heading OT, but has that happened to you within the past year or so? It seems that customs enforcement inbound to the US has been significantly reduced, with the calls now mostly made by the immigration officer rather than a separate customs check (there's no longer a form nor any mandatory questions, at least if using GE), and any follow-up virtually non-existent (likely due to staffing issues). This certainly can work out well if you've exceeded your duty free allowance. Our last two trips we've (1) answered truthfully to purchasing well in excess of the limit and just been waved through by immigration, and (2) not been asked at all.

seanp7

No, it was 2+ years ago (full search, wasn't just a bag scan but a check of all prescription drugs, a full separate scan of all articles, etc, in separate containers, plus my hand luggage, at EWR). As you said, in the last 12 months, it has been a breeze EWR/IAH/IAD/JFK, I agree. .

Bringing it back on-topic, yes, in Oz you will have to pick up your bags and there may be more likelihood that your bags do go through secondary / border inspection. I had no issues recently transferring EY to VA at MEL (and re-checking at regular check-in). It was easy.

restlessinRNO

Excellent advice. I was able to select seats on a UA award ticket in economy class on the app, but not on the VA web site. Actually I could choose a "preferred" seat.

nycflyer222

Thank you... Is it also the same as the US where if I'm returning PER-MEL-SIN, I will not need to collect my bags in MEL as I'll be exiting the country? It will be a UA award ticket all on the same reservation.

docbert

Yes, VA should check your bags all the way through as long as it's all on the same ticket. SQ (who I presume you're flying?) is a VA partner, in much the same way that UA is, so I would not expect any issues - although I've never done that specific combination myself.

AirbusFan2B

We had the same thing happen today. Revenue tickets SYD-CNS with MP# in the record. No issues at priority checkin counter. Status printed as “Platinum” and ZONE 1 on BP even though we are 1K. When scanning BP for lounge entry, it said “see agent.” Lounge agent wanted to see MP membership card “to check the expiration date.” Boarded through priority lane without problem. Gate agent came around and checked credentials prior to boarding for everyone lined up.