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
May 11, 2022, 3:31 pm
#106
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Canada
Programs: UA*1K MM SK EBG LATAM BL
Posts: 23,308
Poland, Norway, Germany, Greece to name a few.
The no lounge access on domestic itineraries is purely a US airline thing. Although I am very thankful that at least United is not as bad as AA/DL and have always included Canada as intl.
May 11, 2022, 3:33 pm
#107
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: San Francisco/Sydney
Programs: UA 1K/MM, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Something, IHG Gold, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 8,159
Non-UA Star Gold expands that to include lounges in the US, even when flying on wholly domestic itineraries. That's exactly why some of us maintain star gold status with another carrier (in my case, TK) as it grants United Club access for UA domestic-only itineraries.
Of course, the Virgin Australia partnership is NOT a Star Alliance partnership, so they can make up whatever rules they want!
May 11, 2022, 3:46 pm
#109
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 21,025
Extremely unlikely will be able to book a standalone AU domestic VA flight with a UA code/flight number. Not possible with other airlines. e.g. BA AA codeshares on QF.
To be seen if trans Tasman AU<--->NZ UA codeshares on VA operated flights will happen and be sold as standalone flights.
With Air NZ TT UA codeshare some(all?) flights, but not able to buy as UA standalone e.g. MEL-AKL NZ124-UA6780
Last edited by Mwenenzi; May 11, 2022 at 4:57 pm Reason: Added Air NZ
May 11, 2022, 4:07 pm
#110
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.995MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,855
May 11, 2022, 6:50 pm
#111
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS/EAP
Programs: UA 1K, MR LTT, HH Dia, Amex Plat
Posts: 32,055
well, not quite. If it is already tagged to final destination and I can drop it off. It'll save some hassle. But yes ... I know I need to pick it up and re-check it.
May 11, 2022, 7:22 pm
#112
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 21,025
At SYD T1 QF do still have a bag drop area & dedicated shuttle(subject to time of day), but now described as seamless lite across T2. Lesser service than before CV19.
At MEL domestic & international are in one building: a few minutes walk.
May 15, 2022, 3:08 am
#113
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2001
Posts: 10,969
SQ had their own lounge at SFO but they would not let UA MP domestic flyers in. I don't think AC lets UA MP domestic flyers into their MLL in the US either.
The UA/VA deal certainly will entice me to visit more cities in AU when I go. Do they have a "Visit Australia" type of multi-coupon pass?
Last edited by username; May 15, 2022 at 3:16 am
May 15, 2022, 3:46 am
#114
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 21,025
Right...unless something has changed (I have not been on a plane for over 2 years now), the LH and TK lounges in IAD and the Star Alliance Lounge in LAX let you in when you fly UA domestic and has MileagePlus Gold or above. Anyone else?
SQ had their own lounge at SFO but they would not let UA MP domestic flyers in. I don't think AC lets UA MP domestic flyers into their MLL in the US either.
SQ had their own lounge at SFO but they would not let UA MP domestic flyers in. I don't think AC lets UA MP domestic flyers into their MLL in the US either.
The UA/VA deal certainly will entice me to visit more cities in AU when I go. Do they have a "Visit Australia" type of multi-coupon pass?
https://www.singaporeair.com/en_UK/a...ralia-airpass/
https://northernterritory.com/plan/g...ralia-pluspass Old- may not be sale now.
Have read the QF version is not good value for money. But depends where you want to go.
https://www.sydneymovingguide.com/qantas-air-pass/
https://www.qantas.com/us/en/book-a-...-explorer.html
May 15, 2022, 12:25 pm
#115
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS/EAP
Programs: UA 1K, MR LTT, HH Dia, Amex Plat
Posts: 32,055
Not at SYD T1 international as VA no longer have a T1 drop off area/desk. Need to go to T3 for security, check in (if needed) & bag drop.
At SYD T1 QF do still have a bag drop area & dedicated shuttle(subject to time of day), but now described as seamless lite across T2. Lesser service than before CV19.
At MEL domestic & international are in one building: a few minutes walk.
At SYD T1 QF do still have a bag drop area & dedicated shuttle(subject to time of day), but now described as seamless lite across T2. Lesser service than before CV19.
At MEL domestic & international are in one building: a few minutes walk.
o.k. then ... T1 --> T3 it is :: with luggage
May 15, 2022, 2:52 pm
#116
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Bellingham/Gainesville
Programs: UA-G MM, Priority Club Platinum, Avis First, Hertz 5*, Red Lion
Posts: 2,808
https://www.virginaustralia.com/au/e...transfer-maps/
https://www.sydneyairport.com.au/info-sheet/maps
https://assets.ctfassets.net/v228i5y...l_Arrivals.pdf
May 15, 2022, 3:28 pm
#117
Join Date: Jun 2021
Location: Houston, TX
Programs: UA silver, Bonvoy silver
Posts: 2,828
No, UA Star Gold (ie, UA Gold or higher) gets you access to any Star alliance carrier lounge in the world when flying in any class - EXCEPT for lounges in the US when not connecting to international. (there are potentially exceptions for 3rd party lounges).
Non-UA Star Gold expands that to include lounges in the US, even when flying on wholly domestic itineraries. That's exactly why some of us maintain star gold status with another carrier (in my case, TK) as it grants United Club access for UA domestic-only itineraries.
Of course, the Virgin Australia partnership is NOT a Star Alliance partnership, so they can make up whatever rules they want!
Non-UA Star Gold expands that to include lounges in the US, even when flying on wholly domestic itineraries. That's exactly why some of us maintain star gold status with another carrier (in my case, TK) as it grants United Club access for UA domestic-only itineraries.
Of course, the Virgin Australia partnership is NOT a Star Alliance partnership, so they can make up whatever rules they want!
May 15, 2022, 3:52 pm
#118
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 21,025
Interesting.
Both Syd airport and Virgin AU website list the Virgin AU transfer desk at T1.
https://www.virginaustralia.com/au/e...transfer-maps/
https://www.sydneyairport.com.au/info-sheet/maps
https://assets.ctfassets.net/v228i5y...l_Arrivals.pdf
Both Syd airport and Virgin AU website list the Virgin AU transfer desk at T1.
https://www.virginaustralia.com/au/e...transfer-maps/
https://www.sydneyairport.com.au/info-sheet/maps
https://assets.ctfassets.net/v228i5y...l_Arrivals.pdf
VA only have international flights to Fiji. ZQN (New Zealand) may restart later in the year.
But with AU open will be getting more pax from DL and UA.
The file date on the SYD T1 map is 17 Jan 2020 (before CV19). And dated on lower right hand corner in small text.
May 15, 2022, 7:15 pm
#119
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: San Francisco/Sydney
Programs: UA 1K/MM, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Something, IHG Gold, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 8,159
web.archive.org has a copy of the VA page from April 27, and whilst it doesn't display it properly if you look at the page source it shows the old instructions of taking your bags to the T-bus and then re-checking them in Terminal 2 (domestic).
So sometime between April 27 and today they must have re-opened the transfer desk at the international terminal.
They haven't restarted their own bus, but honestly I wouldn't be surprised if they never do. When they first started running that bus there was no free bus between terminals. Now there is, I could see them considering that as a viable answer - although it's annoying as it's literally at the opposite end of the International terminal as their transfer area.
May 15, 2022, 7:40 pm
#120
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Bellingham/Gainesville
Programs: UA-G MM, Priority Club Platinum, Avis First, Hertz 5*, Red Lion
Posts: 2,808
Looks like this was re-added in the past few weeks.
web.archive.org has a copy of the VA page from April 27, and whilst it doesn't display it properly if you look at the page source it shows the old instructions of taking your bags to the T-bus and then re-checking them in Terminal 2 (domestic).
So sometime between April 27 and today they must have re-opened the transfer desk at the international terminal.
They haven't restarted their own bus, but honestly I wouldn't be surprised if they never do. When they first started running that bus there was no free bus between terminals. Now there is, I could see them considering that as a viable answer - although it's annoying as it's literally at the opposite end of the International terminal as their transfer area.
web.archive.org has a copy of the VA page from April 27, and whilst it doesn't display it properly if you look at the page source it shows the old instructions of taking your bags to the T-bus and then re-checking them in Terminal 2 (domestic).
So sometime between April 27 and today they must have re-opened the transfer desk at the international terminal.
They haven't restarted their own bus, but honestly I wouldn't be surprised if they never do. When they first started running that bus there was no free bus between terminals. Now there is, I could see them considering that as a viable answer - although it's annoying as it's literally at the opposite end of the International terminal as their transfer area.