United Airlines new Virgin Australia/Velocity Partner

[AFF Editor]

Discussion about United's new BNE-SFO route has been moved to this thread:

New United BNE-SFO route from October 2022

Breaking (see article at ET) As expected, UA in partnership with the Tourism Queensland / BAC / Queensland Government had announced 3x weekly BNE-SFO to begin from Late October. Aircraft will be on a 787-9.

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

 

[AIRwin]

Vietjet Air was another one who applied but didn't end up operating to Brisbane.

Pending aircraft?

Vietjet Plans More A330s For Larger Long-Haul Network

The LCC wants additional aircraft so it can add points in Australia, the Middle East and Eastern Europe to its route map.

www.routesonline.com

 

[ozstamps]

$$$ Millions of Queensland taxpayer monies p!ssed against the wall, to subsidise and underpin this route that clearly will never work for them financially.

Years back, United cancelled the direct MEL-USA flights as even they did not make money! United tried BNE-USA 20 years back and of course it flopped then too. BNE (or ADL) zero chance of making any money unless Anastasia Government keeps tossing money at it.

On another note, this piece interested me.

 

[jase05]

The bonus UA has in their favour is the price of freight currently and they should be able to make the routes work off that alone almost. Anna’s money will just be the cherry on top

 

[HS-TQE]

The bonus UA has in their favour is the price of freight currently and they should be able to make the routes work off that alone almost. Anna’s money will just be the cherry on top

I think you meant our (Queensland) taxpayer money and the perception that 'fares should be cheap' because it's (partially) subsidised'

 

[kreuky]

Some J saver award availability MEL-SFO (1st and 5th Nov - 2 seats)
Nothing from Brissie yet

 

[HS-TQE]

Some J saver award availability MEL-SFO (1st and 5th Nov - 2 seats)
Nothing from Brissie yet

There's been reports on other sites that one lucky user snagged reward J seats on the SFO-BNE inaugural.

 

[Ozliz]

Looks like travel bank but obviously not future flight credits can even be used. Very exciting after over 2 years to see VA partner international flights again!

Some other general comments... The IT integration is rather good. VA booking references that include UA operated flights now work on the UA website (but obviously there is a UA reference as well). Whilst seat selection can't be done via the VA website, as soon as the booking is made the option to select a seat on UA operated services becomes available (including the ability to pay for economy plus).

The UA systems are a bit slower as BNE-SYD-LAX is still showing BNE-SYD with Qantas/Jetstar connections right now.

What class were you travelling in? I’m looking at economy reward flights booked through virgin on United (Syd to LAX with connections elsewhere) and not liking that it’s not immediately clear whether I’ll get seat selection included without having to pay a lot extra (I like a window seat to sleep against the window).

 

[henrus]

I’m looking at economy reward flights booked through virgin on United (Syd to LAX with connections elsewhere) and not liking that it’s not immediately clear whether I’ll get seat selection included without having to pay a lot extra (I like a window seat to sleep against the window).

Standard seat selection is included with all fare types that Virgin Australia sell (both cash and reward) on United services.

From SYD-LAX they use the 787-9 which has the following seat map.

Blue Seats are Economy Plus, from SYD-LAX they cost between US$205 to 290 and come with 34" legroom.
Seats with the black corner are preferred seats they cost between US$32 to $42 and have standard 31" legroom.
White seats are standard seats and free to select with standard 31" legroom.



After booking with Virgin you can use your Virgin booking reference on the United website to select seats.

 

[EuroKick]

Random q, as Virgin don’t break your earn down anymore. Is this correct earnings?

SFO-SYD in PE as Platinum. Should be 1.25 points per mile (not sure of miles) with the platinum double earn.

 

[jase05]

Random q, as Virgin don’t break your earn down anymore. Is this correct earnings?

SFO-SYD in PE as Platinum. Should be 1.25 points per mile (not sure of miles) with the platinum double earn.

View attachment 281266

Looks a little bit unders for me.
Would’ve thought the mileage would be up over 7,000 SFO-SYD
Just looking again though it appears you may have purchased the discount PE fare which only earns 1 point per mile. That would make it about right

 

[MooTime]

Random q, as Virgin don’t break your earn down anymore. Is this correct earnings?

SFO-SYD in PE as Platinum. Should be 1.25 points per mile (not sure of miles) with the platinum double earn.

View attachment 281266

yep spot on. So 7417 x2 for Platinum is 14834. That's 1point per mile, not 1.25.
It was a VA flight number?? If was a UA flight number, you must've purchased a discount Premium Economy as per below tables.

 

[aaronm]

Random q, as Virgin don’t break your earn down anymore. Is this correct earnings?

SFO-SYD in PE as Platinum. Should be 1.25 points per mile (not sure of miles) with the platinum double earn.

View attachment 281266

Which PE fare did you purchase? Discount PE (class A or R) is only 1 point/mile on UA. If that’s what you booked the above earn seems correct including your Platinum bonus.

 

[EuroKick]

Thanks folks - Both legs booked in O class, so will chase them. Strangely haven't received any points for SYD-SFO which was a week earlier than this flight.

 

[Tannin]

SFO-SYD in PE as Platinum. Should be 1.25 points per mile (not sure of miles) with the platinum double earn.

How was PE? I'm doing it this weekend, MEL-SFO. I'm assuming I want to bring as much food as I can. lol.

 

[Antheidon]

Has anyone encountered any problems with additional baggage allowance on domestic United flights?
When I went to the United app, it thought I was a basic Premier Plus member but on the website, it states that I'm entitled one free bag (as a Velocity Gold member).
The customer service agents were evidently also bemused and couldn't find a solution. One of the phone agents stated that after 'further research', Virgin was listed under their system as a *Alliance partner but without any benefits.

 

[EuroKick]

How was PE? I'm doing it this weekend, MEL-SFO. I'm assuming I want to bring as much food as I can. lol.

It was actually OK - Catering ex Sydney was very good.

Expect business class meals. Pic below was Salmon with Hollandaise on pearl couscous.

Be aware - They tried to charge for spirits, so be firm. Oh and if you're trying to get into the SQ lounge - make sure you have your VA card.

 

[Mattg]

Be aware - They tried to charge for spirits, so be firm.

What do you mean by this? You refused to pay, so eventually they relented and gave you spirits for free?

I believe it is standard United policy to charge for spirits in Premium Plus.

 

[oz_mark]

What do you mean by this? You refused to pay, so eventually they relented and gave you spirits for free?

I believe it is standard United policy to charge for spirits in Premium Plus.

I Thought they relented on charging for spirits recently.

 

[EuroKick]

What do you mean by this? You refused to pay, so eventually they relented and gave you spirits for free?

I believe it is standard United policy to charge for spirits in Premium Plus.

It was revised from 1 June that P+ would have access to spirits. Didn't affect me as I just stuck with wine, but the passengers behind were unimpressed.