Just how complicated is VA Plat lounge access internationally

[Airbumps]

Hey all,

Here's a general question for those VA Plat and Gold members that fly internationally (particulary in the US). Just how confusing is accessing partner lounges over there if you're on a Y ticket?

Looking over the VA Lounge Page located here;

Lounge Access with Velocity Membership | Velocity Frequent Flyer

It seems that there is a different rule for everything. VA Domestic in Australia is obviously fine. But it seems that flying overseas is a different story. If for example I'm flying MEL-AKL-LAX with NZ, it appears that I get lounge access to the AirNZ lounge for the MEL-AKL sector as thats trans Tasman, but I don't get access for the AKL-LAX sector.

If I'm flying MEL-LAX-IAD with VA/VX, I don't get any access to any lounge in LAX.

If I'm flying SYD-LAX on Delta metal as a VA codeshare, I don't get lounge access but if I'm on the VA metal I do.

If I'm flying with DL in the USA, it appears that I MAY be able to access the Delta Sky Club lounges but the big asterix seems to be ... "*Sky Club access available at certain ports only. For full details go to delta.com/clublocations. Please be aware that Delta’s club locations webpage also lists Delta-partnered lounges. Velocity Members may not have access to Delta-partnered lounges." So you never really know until you get there.

I'm trying really hard to convince myself to move from TG *G over to VA, but having *G is so easy because I know as long as I'm on a * flight I get lounge access (along with all the other *G perks). Its so simple.

So I was wondering what those that are actually VA Gold or Plat think. Am I over analysing it or is it really as hit and miss as it seems?

Cheers!

 

[leemin]

I find it as confusing as you do!

 

[RWJ777]

You're not over-confusing it; I find it unfathomable. And of course, try sending them an email for an explanation (or advice for a particular location) -- no use.

VA really have to fix this up if they are fair dinkum about attracting (and retaining) J class or regular Y business travellers. We need certainty, predictability and responsiveness. I'm afraid I don't find VA offers this -- no matter how excellent their on-board J class service at times can be.

 

[jpk]

The longhaul side of the business badly needs some attention if they want to attract regular business travellers. Everytime I try to book a trip with them, I start digging into things like this, it all gets too hard and I go back to oneWorld. Shame.

 

[Boris spatsky]

Access with Delta Skyclub is easy. Show your card, they scan it and look you up. Used it in LAX, ATL 3 diff lounges), MSP last month with no probs, even in domestic Y.

 

[Justinf]

Access with Delta Skyclub is easy. Show your card, they scan it and look you up. Used it in LAX, ATL 3 diff lounges), MSP last month with no probs, even in domestic Y.

What about getting Sky Club access flying Alaska, booked on a Delta ticket on the Delta website out of LAX to PDX? I'm finding it difficult to understand the whole thing as well?????

 

[moa999]

Tis a problem when you pick and choose friends (partners) rather than joining the cult (alliance)

Unfortunately as DJ has to cut bilateral agreements I don't see it changing anytime soon.

 

[Chefben]

It can be shocking, never been easy and I fly a fair bit in the US. LAX is ok, but anywhere else New York included it sucks. I'm platinum with Virgin and I had to pay on my last trip $60 to get into the virgin atlantic club house when flight was delayed 6 hours !!! They really need to fix this up big time.

I now find its easier using my amex card to get into delta lounges. One time while they were looking up the velocity card entitlements I saw on the desk a poster with all the Amex cards one it and what they would let in. So I asked her if I can use my Amex and she said that was so much easier. Never looked back. Do it all the time now + get treated well


Cheers

Benjamin

 

[Airbumps]

Well I'm glad its not just me thats thinks the system is somewhat confusing. I agree with the above in that if Virgin is serious about gathering business travelers they're going to need to do something about this mess.

 

[Chefben]

It's not confusing as such, nobody outside Australia knows what a velocity card is, let alone what levels exist etc.

 

[Airbumps]

So those people are probably even more confused than me when somebody fronts up at a lounge with one!

 

[Chefben]

In all fairness to the person in the lounge they've never seen the velocity card, yet even know about the airline relationships.

What I'd like to see is when there are problems like flights are cancelled, that you get looked after by airline staff as if you are at home. So far the track record is very poor.

 

[Airbumps]

Tis a problem when you pick and choose friends (partners) rather than joining the cult (alliance)

Unfortunately as DJ has to cut bilateral agreements I don't see it changing anytime soon.

I think Moa999 has correctly summed it up. Virgin has chosen a group of airlines to be partners with in order to better enhance their global coverage and feed their domestic services. Thats fine for a lot of travelers, but to those that fly a lot there is more too it. For frequent flyers (and I base this primarily on personal experience) lounge access is important and there is nothing worse than standing at the lounge arguing with staff and having to produce print outs from websites to show that you are actually entitled to be there.

For business travelers who DO travel in Y nowadays, we need some certainty and consistency. The system works great inside Australia but internationally it needs work.

I'm one of I'm sure many who wish they would have joined Star Alliance but it certainly doesn't appear that is going to happen so all we can hope for is that they can focus some attention on the international side of things and get this sort of stuff cleaned up.

Just my 2c adjusted for inflation...

 

[amaroo]

Sounds like a "shorts & long socks" kind of setup.......

 

[austgap]

For someone who's just done this style of trip for the second time, may I provide my experience of this:

It seems that there is a different rule for everything. VA Domestic in Australia is obviously fine. But it seems that flying overseas is a different story. If for example I'm flying MEL-AKL-LAX with NZ, it appears that I get lounge access to the AirNZ lounge for the MEL-AKL sector as thats trans Tasman, but I don't get access for the AKL-LAX sector. With AirNZ you gain access to any of their Koru Clubs as long as your Velocity number is placed in your booking, that includes Auckland (both transtasman and international) plus LAX. No need to show your card they simply scan your boarding pass and your free to go. Also you can check in at the Business class counters in both the US and Australia.

If I'm flying MEL-LAX-IAD with VA/VX, I don't get any access to any lounge in LAX. I was under the belief that there is no lounge at LAX for VX, even so you need to pay the single pass for it as their is no access for Velocity plats/golds..etc

If I'm flying SYD-LAX on Delta metal as a VA codeshare, I don't get lounge access but if I'm on the VA metal I do. Regarding the Skyclubs, I've had no trouble getting into any of their operated lounges (just need to make sure its a Delta Skyclub) it will have to be manually entered but all the agents found it and had heard of the velocity system.

If I'm flying with DL in the USA, it appears that I MAY be able to access the Delta Sky Club lounges but the big asterix seems to be ... "*Sky Club access available at certain ports only. Please be aware that Delta’s club locations webpage also lists Delta-partnered lounges. Velocity Members may not have access to Delta-partnered lounges." So you never really know until you get there. The delta-partnered lounges are things such as Alaska boardrooms and international outstations such as DL flights from Sydney which use the Koru Club.

Hope this is some help from a FT user and a AFF lurker

 

[Airbumps]

For someone who's just done this style of trip for the second time, may I provide my experience of this:

It seems that there is a different rule for everything. VA Domestic in Australia is obviously fine. But it seems that flying overseas is a different story. If for example I'm flying MEL-AKL-LAX with NZ, it appears that I get lounge access to the AirNZ lounge for the MEL-AKL sector as thats trans Tasman, but I don't get access for the AKL-LAX sector. With AirNZ you gain access to any of their Koru Clubs as long as your Velocity number is placed in your booking, that includes Auckland (both transtasman and international) plus LAX. No need to show your card they simply scan your boarding pass and your free to go. Also you can check in at the Business class counters in both the US and Australia.

From the velocity website: Lounge Access with Velocity Membership | Velocity Frequent Flyer

[TABLE="width: 100%, align: center"]
[TR]
[TD]Air New Zealand
[/TD]
[TD]Air New Zealand owned and operated domestic and international lounges**
[/TD]
[TD]You and a guest on presentation of membership card and boarding pass for same day travel on Air New Zealand or Virgin Australia, when flying on Trans-Tasman or domestic New Zealand sectors.[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]


Seems to indicate that the international sector doesn't give you access?

If I'm flying SYD-LAX on Delta metal as a VA codeshare, I don't get lounge access but if I'm on the VA metal I do. Regarding the Skyclubs, I've had no trouble getting into any of their operated lounges (just need to make sure its a Delta Skyclub) it will have to be manually entered but all the agents found it and had heard of the velocity system.

[TABLE="width: 100%, align: center"]
[TR]
[TD]Virgin Australia operated International Long Haul flights - ex Brisbane, Sydney & Melbourne[/TD]
[TD]Air New Zealand Koru Lounge[/TD]
[TD] You and a guest on presentation of membership card and boarding pass for same day travel with Virgin Australia.

Please note that members travelling on services operated by Delta Air Lines or Hawaiian Airlines out of Brisbane, Sydney or Melbourne in Economy Class or Premium Economy are not eligible for lounge access.
[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

Seems to indicate that if I'm on the Delta flight from Sydney to LAX I don't get access. If I'm on the VA flight however I do. Its the same lounge. Its a partner airline. In the same class of travel. Whats the logic in giving a Plat member access in one instance but not the other?

 

[austgap]

Internationally on NZ does give you access, I had no issues with that and I flew back through Auckland on Tuesday. (This was confimred when I called NZ and Velocity to confirm before leaving) The DL issue at Sydney is more about that DL only promises access to velocity members when it's a Skyclub, since they use a 3rd party lounge there is no requirement to give access and they simply don't in the case. Hence if departing Sydney VA or NZ are the only two options that will give you lounge access.

 

[jpk]

Internationally on NZ does give you access

If you're flying NZ-Pacific islands you don't get access. Little footnotes like that irritate me. Either offer it or don't, none of this certain route stuff.

(for anyone saying it's because Virgin fly AU-Pacific Islands, well it's not unreasonable to fly to NZ, do some business, then fly to Fiji/Samoa etc and do business there etc)

 

[leemin]

Internationally on NZ does give you access, I had no issues with that and I flew back through Auckland on Tuesday. (This was confimred when I called NZ and Velocity to confirm before leaving)

And herein lies the problem! Despite austgap's personal experiences and what they've been told over the phone, it's not what the written material (i.e. website) says. So what are we to believe?