United Airlines new Virgin Australia/Velocity Partner

[robinsparkles]

Has anyone had success in getting VA to reimburse an extra bag charge imposed by United ? VA platinum but United staff in the US are still so unaware of the partnership and platinum benefits.
The flight was booked directly through UA though.

 

[bcworld]

Has anyone had success in getting VA to reimburse an extra bag charge imposed by United ? VA platinum but United staff in the US are still so unaware of the partnership and platinum benefits.
The flight was booked directly through UA though.

I'm pretty sure you should seek reimbursement from UA, not VA, regardless of who you booked it through.

 

[FlyingKangaroo]

I'm pretty sure you should seek reimbursement from UA, not VA, regardless of who you booked it through.

+1.

As well, unless I've misread other's experiences, it seems strange that UA has managed to recognise VA frequent flyer status sufficiently to ensure the "Premier" designation makes its way onto the boarding pass, but not carry that over to the baggage policy.

Makes me wonder if VA has over-promised something here.

If UA refuses to reimburse, it at least warrants a note to VA. In fact, it probably warrants a note to VA regardless. UA should be reimbursing you, but VA should be aware if the benefits they're advertising aren't being offered by their "partners" without a fight and/or retroactive follow-up.

 

[robinsparkles]

Maybe I've misread others experiences, I was sure I had read of plats getting VA to reimburse successfully. The other confusing part is that prior to the UA flight the VA call centre confirmed they would reimburse if UA charged for extra bags.
We will contact UA and see how it goes.

 

[bcworld]

Makes me wonder if VA has over-promised something here.

UA's press release: https://www.united.com/en/us/newsroom/announcements/cision-125202

'Eligible' really couldn't have any other meaning than gold + plat.

In addition to the ability to redeem and earn points/miles, eligible premier MileagePlus and Velocity members will also receive the following benefits when flying on United and Virgin Australia worldwide:

• Priority check-in
• Priority boarding
• Priority baggage delivery and additional baggage check allowance
• Priority security clearance
• Lounge access

 

[FlyingKangaroo]

UA's press release: https://www.united.com/en/us/newsroom/announcements/cision-125202

'Eligible' really couldn't have any other meaning than gold + plat.

Definitely less ambiguous than the lounge issue, which is decidedly stricter on UA's website than VA's. Here's hoping.

 

[furiousmango]

Not sure if anyone has encountered this before, United changed the schedule on my Australia to San Francisco flight which will make me miss my connection on a separate ticket. I'd like to rebook for a day earlier but Virgin is insisting there's no availability to rebook because it's run out in the award seat bucket (I). United are happy to rebook a fortnight in either direction if there's revenue seat availability but won't touch the reservation. Any way to get the two to talk to each other?

Well I asked Velocity to contact United, they went through their official channel and the request was rejected so will have to try some other way

 

[FlyingKangaroo]

First of all please forgive any typos and delirium as I've been awake 25 hours.

Flew United Premium Plus SYD-LAX yesterday, then transfers at LAX and DEN (where I now am).

SYD-LAX in United's premium economy was surprisingly pleasant. Crew was friendly and catering a marked step up from what I'd expect in economy. It felt perfectly between that and business. Bar service before the meal, and was given two mini-bottles without asking. Wine with lunch all of 10 minutes after, and then another coffee/bar service after, at which point I was given two mini-bottles of Baileys. Two of the four mini-bottles found their way into my hand luggage as I couldn't keep up. Daytime flight so couldn't sleep, despite the libations.

We arrived LAX early; too early. Apparently LAX doesn't open customs/immigration until 6am so we had to wait about 15 minutes. It took less than 30 minutes from de-planing to passing immigration/customs and re-clearing security for my domestic flight.

I can't report on extra baggage allowance unfortunately (which is a particular issue it seems with the new UA partnership), but my Virgin Gold status did give me Premier access and Zone 1 for all flights. I was ready for a discussion and/or having to pull out my Star Gold card but no issues whatsoever scanning my boarding pass for lounge access on domestic sectors at both LAX and DEN, which is noteworthy as UA's own website seems to suggest they only give access before the international flight, which is obviously not the case.

United Clubs at LAX and DEN perfectly fine. Not as extensive food and beverage offering as the AMEX Centurion on both locations, but far, far less crowded and noisy.

In short, far smoother than I feared/fretted. And once the SCs post, I'll be VA Platinum.

I need a nap.

 

[FlyingKangaroo]

Further update: points including bonus and SCs for trip above posted today, so that's a ~48 hour turnaround time. Hopefully this is the smooth experience for everyone going forward with UA.

I've also now rolled over 1,000 SCs to make Platinum, so I've officially made good on my threat-turned-declaration to quit Qantas. While my dashboard and Velocity card didn't immediately convert me to Platinum, interestingly, I crossed the line on the 1st of the 3 UA sectors and I see I received the full 100% Platinum bonus on UA flights for the 2nd and 3rd sectors, rather than the 75% for Gold, which was pretty impressive. The 50 additional SCs and 5,000 bonus points as part of VA's promotion for taking a UA flight ex-Australia before end of year also posted immediately after the trip did.

 

[Must...Fly!]

Well, seat selection leaves a lot to be desired. Seems there is no benefit for VA elites at all, and the fees UA charge are absolutely ludicrous.

 

[bigbadbyrnes]

SYD-LAX in United's premium economy was surprisingly pleasant.

May I ask what the points or dollars cost was for the service? Premium economy appears to run $5,800 - $6,500 return for most dates around mid next year. Seems costly.

 

[FlyingKangaroo]

May I ask what the points or dollars cost was for the service? Premium economy appears to run $5,800 - $6,500 return for most dates around mid next year. Seems costly.

I paid $2,800 AUD for a multi-city consisting of SYD-LAX-DEN-SGU (small city in Utah) last week and then SGU-DEN-FRA-HEL in July 2023 as I'll be coming here again next year and then continuing on to see family in Europe.

SYD-LAX and DEN-FRA obviously the only sectors in Premium Plus given aircraft types, but the rest put me in full-fare economy and allowed me to choose Economy Plus seats for free.

A few others earlier in this thread have noted this interesting pricing quirk that is offering some really excellent multi-city fares to Europe from Oz via the US, in my case even months and months apart.

TL/DR - excellent value in my case, but I definitely wouldn't pay the fares you're quoting. I've paid $3,800 for a SYD-AKL-SFO return trip in November and I'd say $4,000 is definitely about my limit for what I can justify on a premium economy product.

 

[FlyingKangaroo]

Well, seat selection leaves a lot to be desired. Seems there is no benefit for VA elites at all, and the fees UA charge are absolutely ludicrous.

It feels incredibly cheap. It's the same for Star Gold elites too, btw.

My advice is to check back immediately within 24 hours of departure as all the "preferred" seats open up and there tends to be heaps of them even when the entire "free" section at the back is full. Seems no one is particularly keen on paying $25 USD to sit in 25F.

So far when I've had to do this, I've had a good outcome, but even then, you're still in the back half of the bus.

 

[Must...Fly!]

$25 USD to sit in 25F

25USD? Try 43USD, at least that's what I see for MEL-SFO. And 262USD for extra legroom. Even at 6'5" I'll suffer in silence than cough up the cash...

 

[FlyingKangaroo]

25USD? Try 43USD, at least that's what I see for MEL-SFO. And 262USD for extra legroom. Even at 6'5" I'll suffer in silence than cough up the cash...

Yikes - didn't realise they were doing it on the long-haul sectors too. But I have routinely seen $20-30 USD on 2-3 hour hops domestically, and even trying to charge $17 USD a few months ago on a CRJ-200 for an 80-minute flight

 

[BRIS_VA_HAWK]

Can someone please remind me why dumping the DL partnership and shacking up with UA was a good idea again??!? :/
/sarcasm

 

[FlyingKangaroo]

Can someone please remind me why dumping the DL partnership and shacking up with UA was a good idea again??!? :/
/sarcasm

The only meaningful benefit I can come up with is that United's network into Oz is far better than DL, which is especially important now that VA has stopped flying longhaul.

 

[BRIS_VA_HAWK]

The only meaningful benefit I can come up with is that United's network into Oz is far better than DL, which is especially important now that VA has stopped flying longhaul.

That's pretty much all I've got for it as well. My J experience on the 777 from SYD-SFO in July was good, however I'd say it was more about my being in J than it was about holding any status.

 

[bernardblack]

The only meaningful benefit I can come up with is that United's network into Oz is far better than DL, which is especially important now that VA has stopped flying longhaul.

This is probably the key thing.

Also, if they are idly considering potentially joining an alliance in the future, Star >> SkyTeam.

 

[bcworld]

May I ask what the points or dollars cost was for the service? Premium economy appears to run $5,800 - $6,500 return for most dates around mid next year. Seems costly.

Fares can be weird....it can be much cheaper when you have other flights tagged on.

I've paid $4500 for MEL-LAX-EWR-EDI and return same way...Xmas dates, 1 stopover in each direction. Both EWR-EDI sectors are in economy plus, (at $0 charge, ancient 757 with no Premium Plus)...all other sectors in Premium Plus. The same flights without EWR-EDI-EWR are more like the prices you quoted. And...discount economy on the same dates for my itinerary was about $5.5k - $6k.