eng3

Now that we're into April, any more details on this?

I was actually trying to book US-SYD-CNS but noticed it does not offer the VA flight but offers the JQ flight. I'm not aware of any partner with JQ

Mwenenzi

UA have sold/sell VA, QF & JQ AU domestic flights as tag on flights to the long haul UA flights. Just UA being a travel agent to get a long haul sales

AdelaideAce

Would definitely hold off until VA comes online.
I’d rather walk than fly JQ, they are the pits

UA_Flyer

If you are trying to book UA-VA flights but cannot see them available on United.com, try Google Flight.

I just did a few days ago. After you locate the right UA-VA combo flights on Google Flight, click purchase, it will take you to United.com to make the purchase.

AdelaideAce

Keep hearing it isn’t too far away but no one seems to know for certain

eng3

I did a google search and it did show me the option, and I was able to click going to UA.

I already made the purchase on UA and have upgrades attached so that's not an option.

I guess I'll try the 1K desk, probably in for a very long phone call as usual. Maybe twitter this time.

Revenge

I asked the VA social media team about this yesterday and their response was:

eng3

Well, I'm going at the end of the month. If I end up flying with them, I'll report back if there any benefits with UA status.

docbert

If you're saying that you've already booked with JQ, then I'd suggest that long phone call is worth it. JQ are OK if everything goes smoothly, and horrible if not.

VA have announced that their Delta partnership ends June 13. I can't see anything starting with United before then, but I could be wrong. When I was there a few weeks ago I asked multiple Virgin agents about it, and their responses ranged from no idea to what I was talking about, to a knowledge that something was coming but no idea when.

phkc070408

There are two options available on the following day (MEL-EWR J Awards), but they both involve long (8+ hours) transfers in BKK and NRT, something I wouldn't consider even without the concern of international borders being closed. (I would consider it with one longer and one shorter connection).

eng3

I already booked with UA to SYD (arriving 6:55am). I have upgrades applied to those reservations so I can't rebook without losing them. I'd have to call into UA and have the agent make the change to preserve my upgrades.
If I click "change" on the UA site, it provides me with the option to add the JQ flight leaving at 11am. It does not show the VA option.
If I use google flights, it allows me to add the VA flight leaving at 9:15am as well as my follow on CNS-SYD flight that I plan to take later.
Both options of adding price out at about half the cost of booking separetly.

Therefore, I'll call in and attempt one of the above. VA seems a little more comfortable (seats) and their carryon policy is slightly better 7kg + personal vs JQ (carryon + personal <=7kg). But VA only gives me a 2:20 connection time for Intl to domestic

TBD

Codeshare agreements expected to be loaded around 18-20 April. That doesn't mean effective immediately, though, and no idea when they'd actually start.

flyerbjorn

I've never done it myself, as I live in SYD, but some airlines (QF / JQ / VA?) have a bag drop for domestic connections right outside international arrivals. 2:20 seems fine to me. Domestic Australian operations are smooth and pretty chill. You can bring liquids through security as well. Similar to transfers in the US from international destinations, you must pick up bags at the connection point and take them through customs yourself.

UA_Flyer

I booked UA-VA with a 4-hour connection to make sure enough time and anticipating any delays.

eng3

Not to get too off topic, but for timing, normally 2:20 should be fine but I've read so much about it being slow to transfer I to D at SYD. I figure I'll be first off the plane sitting in J. Though sometimes there is a bus to gate transfer. I figure at that hour, customs will be busy, but I should have access to smargate if they still do that for US. So maybe 20min to get from plane out the door. Then up to 30min for the bus to T2 depending how long I have to wait. I dont know if I'll have a BP, if I can book on the same PNR I should get one, if not, I probably need to be at the counter like an hour early for lines and stuff. So I'm already up to 1:50 for the connection. The add in that the intl flight only has 75% ontime performance and the average delay is 30min. So that's exactly 2:20. I don't know what the partnership will buy me. Faster security? Faster checkin? nothing yet? I had trouble finding clear information if they would interline my bag but I would probably plan to do a carry on. I MIGHT be able to fit in the 7kg requirement since VA does not include laptop bag. However, if I flew JQ, I absolutely cannot fit my laptop bag AND carryon into the 7kg.

The 4hr connection connects to JQ. They do not transfer bags between Internal and Domestic. The only downside I can see to that option is JQ being worse than VA in terms of comfort. And cost being higher because I'd probably have to pay for a checked bag and the over cost will be higher as I need to book the CNS-SYD return separately at a higher price. However this is definitely the safest approach