Checked Baggage on Virgin America

[blackcat20]

So I'm pretty much decided that I'm going to book VA PE MEL-LAX return (thanks for all the suggestions ), given VA PE is the same price as QF Y, and probably V America from JFK-LAX. What are my chances of getting V America to accept my baggage free of charge given I'll be conecting directly to an international flight with VA, despite it not being all on the one ticket?

 

[Velocity Frequent Flyer]

What are my chances of getting V America to accept my baggage free of charge given I'll be conecting directly to an international flight with VA, despite it not being all on the one ticket?

Sorry to say it would probably be unlikely.

 

[stuartfaz]

Having been in your situation before (flying VA MEL-LAX and VX LAX-JFK) I can upgrade the answer to a definite no. Virgin America only recognise the VA allowance if they're on a through booking.

 

[blackcat20]

Bummer. Thought it was worth a try Pity you cant book it all in one, but VA seem to use Delta now rather than Virgin America...

 

[stuartfaz]

Bummer. Thought it was worth a try Pity you cant book it all in one, but VA seem to use Delta now rather than Virgin America...

Depends on the route. Try giving 13 VAUS a call and see what they can do before you book.

 

[ChrisBNE]

Bummer. Thought it was worth a try Pity you cant book it all in one, but VA seem to use Delta now rather than Virgin America...

We can defintiely book a through fare using VA/VX to NYC in PE etc. Baggage is interlined.

 

[blackcat20]

We can defintiely book a through fare using VA/VX to NYC in PE etc. Baggage is interlined.

Is that something only VA can do, or can a travel agent do that also? Im heading to a travel expo in two weeks as I'm hoping to get a little discount on the fare.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

One thing you may be able to do is upgrade to F on VX in which case your checked baggage is free. I know you definitely get offered this option if there are seats available when using the self service kiosks at the airport because I flew with them SAN/SFO & could've upgraded to F for USD50.00.

I declined but when I though about it later & would definitely do it next time as flying in whY you pay USD20.00 per suitcase so nett cost would have only been USD30.00 more.

The other time I flew VX was LAS/JFK when I did OLCI from the hotel same day, although it's a longer process as you have to type in your cc billing address etc so I would leave it to getting to the airport & use the SSK as you just swipe the credit card you used to make booking so the process is streamlined.

I can't remember if it offered me the option to upgrade when using OLCI but I'm fairly certain it would but would have been more than USD50.00 though. OLCI not critical the day before if you have already done your seat selection at the time of booking but if you were thinking of upgrading it might be advisable rather than leaving it until the airport.

The additional amount to upgrade to F is still way cheaper than if you paid F outright at the time of reservation.

 

[Boof1]

Hi Blackcat20,

I'm pleased you've chosen VA PE for the trip. Good choice!

As suggested ring the 13 VAUS number and ask for an open jaw PE fare with the routing being MEL-LAX-JFK-(LAX)-MEL. If it all works out as it should do then I would estimate the fare for August travel (that's when you are going isn't it??) as being:
MEL-LAX $1305
JFK-MEL $1625
TOTAL $2930 + CC rip off

This is against:

MEL-LAX return at $2547 + CC ripoff
VX JFK-LAX one way $290 (allow $15 for currency and cc charges + $20 bags)
TOTAL $2837

Now bear in mind that for that extra $90 odd dollars you do'nt have the connection issues etc, and when booking PE I've read on here somewhere that VX will book you into Main Cabin Select class, an extra $225 on what I've quoted, which is extra legroom and free food when travelling PE on VA with a through fare. That in itself is good value but dont quote me as being correct.

Or as I suggested in your other thread fly Jetblue JFK-LAX and dont pay for the first bag to 50lbs.

Cheers,

Boof

 

[blackcat20]

Thanks for your help. Once I started considering PE I couldnt stop...and I know I always have leg-room issues so the extra cost will be worth it.

I'm travelling over there in August and back in September.

I also read somewhere yesterday that you get the Main Cabin Select on VX if its available.

I might get a quote from VA, then wait till this expo in two weeks. They told me they would be doing discounts of several hundred $$, and every dollar counts. I prefer having it all on a single ticket to save myself trouble if there is a misconnect so I'm willing to pay a little more for that security.

 

[ChrisBNE]

Is that something only VA can do, or can a travel agent do that also? Im heading to a travel expo in two weeks as I'm hoping to get a little discount on the fare.

Agents should be able to book in the GDS. Some may not be aware of course.

ie:

LAST TKT DTE 23JAN11 - SEE ADV PURCHASE
------------------------------------------------------------
AL FLGT BK T DATE TIME FARE BASIS NVB NVA BG
MEL
XLAX VA 0011 O O 11AUG 1045 OZRAUS 11AUG11AUG 2P
NYC VX 0406 O O 11AUG 1040 OZRAUS 11AUG11AUG 0P
XLAX VX 0411 O O 21AUG 1329 OZRAUS 21AUG21AUG 0P
MEL VA 0012 O O 21AUG 2050 OZRAUS 21AUG21AUG 2P

AUD 2999.00 11AUG11MEL VA X/LAX VX NYC1479.61VX X/LAX
VA MEL1479.61NUC2959.22END ROE1.013436
AUD 160.00YQ XT AUD 47.00AU AUD 4.37WG AUD 5.70YC AUD
AUD 27.38WY 16.80US AUD 16.80US AUD 5.20XA AUD 7.20XY
AUD 124.97XT AUD 7.80AY AUD 14.10XF LAX4.50JFK4.50LAX
AUD 3311.35 4.50
PRICED WITH VALIDATING CARRIER VA - REPRICE IF DIFFERENT VC
FARE VALID FOR E TICKET ONLY

You can ignore the baggage on VX showing as 0P, defintiely get 2PC incl.

 

[blackcat20]

That looks like another language to me But I'll take your word for it that it can be done, and make sure I get what I want. Thanks

 

[pshepvic]

Are you flying by yourself or with someone?

If with someone, get a Amex Platinum Charge Card (annual fee $900). Then call the Amex Platinum travel service, and ask for companion fares to the US.

Delta is around $4k per person, V Australia $4,500. That's in Business class, rather than PE as well. They should be able to arrange connections with Delta or Virgin America to NYC as well. Just an option - the annual fee is definitely worth it to pay half price for business class.

Amex Platinum also do companion fares with JAL - we just went to the US via Tokyo for $5500 each. Had a nice stopover, some great sushi, and a nice way to break up the trip! And had JAL's version of a skybed - angled beds rather than 180 degree lie flat, but still better than PE. They definitely connect in Tokyo to LA, San Fran and Vancouver, and possible NY as well.

 

[blackcat20]

Are you flying by yourself or with someone?

On my own; I've never travelled overseas with anyone, always just me

 

[pshepvic]

On my own; I've never travelled overseas with anyone, always just me

There goes my idea then!

 

[blackcat20]

Thank you anyway I love that people on here know so many little tricks etc.

 

[Justinf]

Bummer. Thought it was worth a try Pity you cant book it all in one, but VA seem to use Delta now rather than Virgin America...

I am going to JFK from MEL in Y+ in two weeks on a through booking with VA. Got to choose between VA and Delta and chose VA.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Are you flying by yourself or with someone?

If with someone, get a Amex Platinum Charge Card (annual fee $900). Then call the Amex Platinum travel service, and ask for companion fares to the US.

Delta is around $4k per person, V Australia $4,500. That's in Business class, rather than PE as well. They should be able to arrange connections with Delta or Virgin America to NYC as well. Just an option - the annual fee is definitely worth it to pay half price for business class.

Amex Platinum also do companion fares with JAL - we just went to the US via Tokyo for $5500 each. Had a nice stopover, some great sushi, and a nice way to break up the trip! And had JAL's version of a skybed - angled beds rather than 180 degree lie flat, but still better than PE. They definitely connect in Tokyo to LA, San Fran and Vancouver, and possible NY as well.

Are both people travelling on these companion fares still eligible to earn points on both tickets with the companion fare?

 

[pshepvic]

Are both people travelling on these companion fares still eligible to earn points on both tickets with the companion fare?

When I booked this was a concern of mine also, so I checked with Amex travel what class the ticket was they advised both were booked in C class and I verified with Qantas that this is classed as Business for both points and SC earn.

Whilst it is a "2 for 1" offer, with the JAL companion fares you basically pay a "half fare" for each person, rather than pay for one and the other flies free. Even so, QFF only look at the fare class anyway, so it wouldn't matter what you actually pay, as long as the booking class is eligible.

I'm not sure how this works with other airlines that offer companion fares though. If you book one, just ask the Amex person what the booking class is and check it on the Qantas Airline Earning table.

(By the way, 3 of the 4 flights have already credited as business - I submitted a missing points enquiry for the 4th flight and the response was "No record of travel"! I'm pretty sure I was on the flight, so submitted the boarding pass and just waiting for that to be manually credited ... once it has been, I'll finally hit WP ... woo hoo!)

 

[pshepvic]

Are both people travelling on these companion fares still eligible to earn points on both tickets with the companion fare?

By the way, both JAL and Cathay Pacific now have companion fares with Amex Platinum. So that pretty much covers all of the US, Europe and Asia ... it means effectively business class at premium economy fares!