Extending status privileges to travel companions

[Fiches Mouser]

Not sure if this has been asked elsewhere, but it'd be good to hear other people's experience with it.

If I'm VFF Gold, and travelling with a partner, do status benefits like priority boarding apply to both of us?

I'm sure it's not allowed officially, but what have others done in the past? Do you they let you through anyway? Surely this must be a pretty common scenario.

 

[markis10]

Generally they apply to all in the booking as an unwritten rule, although I have been singled out in the past at checkin, same flight got an ODU.

 

[samas]

When I have been travelling with a lower-status colleague on seperate PNRs I have taken advantage of some things.. like for example I guest them into the lounge and we walk together to the gate.. I take them down the priority boarding queue and as we are wearing matching shirts politely say to the gate agent that my colleague is travelling with me.

Depending on the colleague I may ask to allocate them the seat next to me (but sometimes I would prefer if they were further down the back!)

 

[rioter]

I have never had a problem with lounge access/priority boarding/priority check in etc with me being a WP and partner with no status. This applies to both partner airlines as well as VA.

 

[Fiches Mouser]

That's good to hear. Definitely a very much appreciated perk.

Is it awkward when priority boarding? Do they ever pull you up on status? What do you normally say?

 

[rioter]

That's good to hear. Definitely a very much appreciated perk.

Is it awkward when priority boarding? Do they ever pull you up on status? What do you normally say?

Never had anyone question it. Usually just present the boarding passes at the same time.

 

[bass_ke]

Never had anyone question it. Usually just present the boarding passes at the same time.

Exactly the same as this, my friend being a QF SG didn't expect priority boarding to work anyway and was pleasantly surprised!

 

[samuel337]

I've been the non-status holder tagging along with a WP to check-in and board international flights and didn't have an issue (they usually even tag your bags with the priority tag too). These are generally on separate itineraries (just the way they're booked).

I've also been the status holder (SG) travelling with a couple of non-status holders and didn't have any issues taking them through priority boarding, although the ground staff did politely ask who was travelling with me as few others tried to tag along.

I don't know if this is allowed officially though, but I can't see them saying no, unless maybe you abuse it by trying to take 10 non-status holders through with your SG.

 

[mlob]

Nice to hear as Ill be travelling alot with partner and two littlies. Curious as not elite member yet (will be soon though) but what happens when I go to book seats for my family travelling together. Will we have access as a family to better seats or will we be still "down the back".

 

[rioter]

I have managed to snag row 3 on a VA flight when booking another passenger on the same ticket.

 

[notzac]

Nice to hear as Ill be travelling alot with partner and two littlies. Curious as not elite member yet (will be soon though) but what happens when I go to book seats for my family travelling together. Will we have access as a family to better seats or will we be still "down the back".

If you're all on the one reservation, your seating benefits will apply to everyone. You may / may not need to have the FF details in the booking "refreshed" so that the system allows you to select better seats.

 

[mlob]

Nice to hear.

 

[hydrabyss]

Im sure theres a thread somewhere from Velocity Frequent Flyer stating the benefit extends to averyone on the same booking. Booked SYD to Launceston for this exact reason so my partner and I can enjoy Bussiness seating at economy price.Will have to remind myself Im still in economy though.

 

[Matthew Herbert]

The closest I've had to an issue is when my partner (no status, and not the least bit interested) handed over his boarding pass on lounge entry as I was a few steps behind. Luckily I jumped in and saved everyone embarassment just as the lovely lady was about to say "umm, sorry!"
We've always sat together, boarded together etc. etc.

In typical Virgin style, they've gone above and beyond in this category too in my experience. One time was flying solo on a short hop, had already checked in online. Walking through checkin area at SYD I ran into a friend (no status) who happened to be on the same flight. I approached the premium checkin agent who put him in Row 3 with me. Not necessary but very appreciated.

 

[bass_ke]

Nice to hear as Ill be travelling alot with partner and two littlies. Curious as not elite member yet (will be soon though) but what happens when I go to book seats for my family travelling together. Will we have access as a family to better seats or will we be still "down the back".

My daughter is about to turn 2 and in forward bookings we've been able to choose row 7 as two SG's and a NB

 

[Frostydog007]

Im Plat and partner is red (we family pool to me) and not once have we been told we both cant check in as priority or go through priority screening when travelling together.

 

[rioter]

I agree. I have actually had 4 people travelling with me. Didn't use the priority boarding line but when the check-in agent noticed i was WP. Priority tagged everyones bags, moved everyone into either row 3 or exit rows and i wound up with a shadow. All with out asking. Lounge angel even granted me an extra guest into the lounge. Experiences like this is what builds loyalty

 

[Fiches Mouser]

I agree. I have actually had 4 people travelling with me. Didn't use the priority boarding line but when the check-in agent noticed i was WP. Priority tagged everyones bags, moved everyone into either row 3 or exit rows and i wound up with a shadow. All with out asking. Lounge angel even granted me an extra guest into the lounge. Experiences like this is what builds loyalty

There you go. Even though we all complain when things go wrong, it's nice to know that these kind of experiences happen. Unspoken, but makes you feel that bit special and goes along way to keeping loyalty.

It's kind of the reason why we play this status game...

 

[tuapekastar]

I'll just echo the positive experiences here, both at check in and boarding. I just make it obvious we are travelling together. F check in man at QF MEL even proactively phoned the F lounge to arrange for me to take an extra guest in. Never done it with more than 2 friends and don't think I would - starting to take the piss, though family members (kiddies etc.) would be a different case I guess.

 

[ap_spd]

Never had an issue, travel with partner who is Red and SQ staff at SYD handed out vouchers for both of us to use when lounge was not in use. Agent did ask if we both had status so that we cud use Koru lounge but on knowing only 1 status between us we were given a 80$ voucher. Priority boarding, luggage never been a problem even if on different PNR, only happened once