Any benefits flying Virgin America if Velocity Platinum?

[davingj]

I am flying Virgin America on quite a few flights in April next year. Does anyone know if I get any benefits i.e lounge access etc...
Would I be able to access the Virgin Atlantic lounges if flying On Virgin America being Platinum?
Any help would be great.

Thanks

 

[notzac]

Sadly, no status benefits at all; VX don't recognise status as they don't have status tiers within their own program. Apparently they were thinking about introducing it, but I haven't heard anything about that for quite some time.

 

[evolve]

Are you serious? Pathetic if you ask me. I paid extra to fly them next week. What an absolute waste.

 

[Robert K]

Should have asked before you booked. Obviously

 

[notzac]

Just chalk it up to experience. What I can tell you about VX is that their ground service is less than great, but once you're in the air they're excellent. I dislike the fact that they refer to themselves during the safety briefing and other PAs as the "team" - too modern-corporate-catchphrase for me - but that's really my only complaint. Their IFE and food ordering system is also quite excellent.

You may be able to pay for an upgrade when you reach the airport or during check in, however this used to reduce your chances of getting the flight to credit to Velocity to around 0%. I don't know if this is still a problem; they've changed res systems just recently which may have fixed this.

Are you ticketed in Main Cabin, Main Cabin Select or First?

 

[stomplad]

Should have asked before you booked. Obviously

Now now no need to rub it in LOL

 

[moa999]

I would say, apart from the name, some branding elements (and the 20-25% interest by Richard), there is little in common between VA, VX.

You would have been better booking with Delta:
Delta Air Lines | Virgin Australia

 

[777]

Yep, nothing for velocity plats. If you feel inclined look into the (paid) upgrades to First at T-6hrs or at the airport. Very good value.

 

[davingj]

Thanks guys for your answers! Such a shame though!

 

[notzac]

Thanks guys for your answers! Such a shame though!

If you do try to get an upgrade, please come back and let us know how you go getting the flight to credit to your Velocity account.

 

[DaleS]

On our recent USA trip in Sept my wife & I flew first on Virgin America from LAX-JFK and, after various convoluted journeys, in first from SFO-LAX before our return on VA.
As we all know LAX is a horrible terminal but we did get priority boarding and were comfortably ensconsed in our roomy seats while everybody else filed on board. Plane is brand new, service was good and it was a pleasant way to spend 5 hours. We booked early and this sector was not cheap but it was a special trip so we splurged. Having said that it was the same price or cheaper than all other flights we could see in first/business on any other airlines for this route.
Next part of the journey was LGA-DEN & was on Continental/United. No Lounge, old plane, efficient crew but just went thru the motions.
Then from SFO you fly out of the brand new terminal which, in comparison to just about every other airport in the US is pretty amazing. Same priority boarding, new plane, good service. We booked these tix online about 4 months before flying and paid $US210 ea which in my opinion was a bargain.
So my take is that it all depends on where you're going as they still have a reasonably limited coverage. No lounges unless you want to pay in the terminals where they do exist. No particular benefits for Velocity member other than that I got a bunch of points for both legs. Much newer and better fitted out planes than any other US carrier. Good service with the usual Virgin twist - whether you like that or you don't. Pilot greeted us onboard and disembarking on both sectors. If you can score an upgrade it's worth it on a longer sector. Enjoy your flights!