How to get your Velocity status recognised by Delta ground staff?

[Warks]

Apart from the lack of lounge access at LGA sounds like a good experience.
The agent in LGA was wrong BTW. You were entitled to lounge access there.

She wasn't nasty about it - she just swiped my card and looked it up so there was something wrong on their system.

I tried to rotate the kids through the MCO club but made the mistake of telling the dragon what I was doing and she told me there'd be a 50 dollar charge... suffice to say I didn't go any further.

This trip was a bit of a shock not being able to take more than one visitor into any lounge. Have always flown QF with the family overseas and never had a problem getting all of us in. They stopped us at the lounge in SYD although I rotated the kids through for breakfast there. Didn't attempt it in LAX as didn't have much time. They said that kids under 12 could get in without counting (this is at the SYD lounge so Air NZ I guess) but I was a bit surprised. Anyway that's a bit off topic re Delta.

 

[Bigglesworth]

Have flown Delta a number of times in the USA. Have not had much trouble with them recognising status and lounge entry: it is usually around baggage entitlement that it becomes unstuck. If you book a flight with VA and it includes a Delta leg without any stopping not a problem your 2 or 3 bag VA entitlement will be acknowledged. Straight Delta booking will give you Sky Priority etc but only basic baggage entitlement.

We came unstuck when we flew BNE - LAX on VA using Velocity points with a paid Delta flight from LAX - SLC. We were caught by the classic Catch 22 because it was a mixture of Velocity and paid VA couldn't (wouldn't) ticket it as a seamless flight. However, credit must go to the Delta Manager at LAX who intervened and allowed us to proceed with the number of bags.

The lesson learned for us was when it comes to baggage these days if you are travelling on non Australian airlines check directly with the carrier: VA and QF staff do not know (and can't be expected to know) all the ins and outs of the confusing baggage allowances and treatments of baggage around the world: do your own research

 

[grubbidok]

I've never had an issue with DL either for the last 18mo. I no longer even show them my card, just my boarding pass which has the VA number and status on it. I haven't been asked for it for a while. This has worked without hitch at the lounges in LAX, BOS, SEA, ATL, MIA, VCG and JFK in last 6mo. Even the ground staff at YYC recognised it and gave me the extra baggage allowance no questions asked (no lounge there though) a few weeks ago. VA has lots of issues with reciprocal recognition, but the DL relationship (at least since the start of last year) seems to be one that got right and worked through the teething issues on.

 

[newmarket]

I'm DL GM and VA Plat. I took my son into the LAX Sky Club last week with my DL status on my boarding pass and the lounge agent noticed my VA Platinum tag on my bag and actually asked for my VA card so I could bring in my guest (my 10 year old!). I didn't even realise that GM doesn't allow a guest.

Pretty good recognition of benefits, if you ask me.