United Airlines new Virgin Australia/Velocity Partner

[Must...Fly!]

Confirming, SQ lounge in MEL not open prior to the departure time for UA61 to SFO.

NZ lounge is not accessible to VA elites. Thus, no lounge access.

Dug out my AMEX Explorer to finally check out their lounge. Food was ok but it's hardly a nice space. Would've very much enjoyed being back in the NZ lounge.

However Premier Access printed on BPs as did priority baggage. Arrival at SFO very smooth. Just scan your onward domestic BP for access in to the United club, again no issues & no physical card required.

 

[ajobbins]

Confirming, SQ lounge in MEL not open prior to the departure time for UA61 to SFO.

NZ lounge is not accessible to VA elites. Thus, no lounge access.

Dug out my AMEX Explorer to finally check out their lounge. Food was ok but it's hardly a nice space. Would've very much enjoyed being back in the NZ lounge.

However Premier Access printed on BPs as did priority baggage. Arrival at SFO very smooth. Just scan your onward domestic BP for access in to the United club, again no issues & no physical card required.

Good to hear that lounge access wasn’t an issue for the connecting flight.

If you are heading back the same way, would be good to hear if you get domestic access for the leg before the International

 

[Must...Fly!]

Good to hear that lounge access wasn’t an issue for the connecting flight.

If you are heading back the same way, would be good to hear if you get domestic access for the leg before the International

Heading to Tokyo on AC so can't help with that. But I doubt there will be an issue. A big bold "INTL" was printed on the domestic boarding pass as well

 

[Vic]

Got a $100 off for the first 1000 bookings return to US with United today. So $100,000 promo.
But why not $100 off business as well?

 

[ajobbins]

I’m at MEL about to depart on UA99 to LAX. Checked in at kiosk, boarding passes printed with Premier Access and no issues with access to SQ lounge, except that they advertise the lounge closes at 1035 but they actually closed it at 1000 and booted everyone out. UA99 doesn’t depart until 1130. Fingers crossed for no issues with access at LAX for my connecting flight to PHX.

Also got SSSS’d so that’s fun.

 

[Saab34]

Staff shortages? How hard is it to extend the opening hours.

 

[ajobbins]

Staff shortages? How hard is it to extend the opening hours.

Not sure. But given there is a SQ flight to SIN that departs at 1125, closing the lounge at 1000 seems a bit premature. Probably cheaper to make pax for that one flight use the NZ lounge than keep the SQ one open

 

[Saab34]

Enjoy the flight. Keen to give the UA 787 a run on MEL-SFO next year. Hopefully they can get something sorted by then.

 

[bcworld]

Not sure. But given there is a SQ flight to SIN that departs at 1125, closing the lounge at 1000 seems a bit premature.

SQ238 is scheduled to depart at 1035.

 

[ajobbins]

No issues with access to United Club at LAX. Boarding pass scanned green at the desk and the staff seemed very familiar with the VA partnership. They even let me in no issues even tho my connecting flight to PHX doesn't depart for another 4.5 hours

 

[bernardblack]

Has anyone flown UA, on a UA code, in revenue domestic US "First" and can confirm they received Velocity points and status credits per "Business" in the Velocity chart? It specifically only says "Business" (although the fare buckets are aligned), and I don't want to spring for the extra fare for the extra credits if I don't get them.

I emailed the Platinum team at Velocity but the agent didn't seem to really understand the question.

 

[BRIS_VA_HAWK]

Has anyone flown UA, on a UA code, in revenue domestic US "First" and can confirm they received Velocity points and status credits per "Business" in the Velocity chart? It specifically only says "Business" (although the fare buckets are aligned), and I don't want to spring for the extra fare for the extra credits if I don't get them.

I emailed the Platinum team at Velocity but the agent didn't seem to really understand the question.

Flew UA in July/August this year and can confirm that J flying with UA credits correctly to VA.

 

[HNL808]

Nice to see mutiple Business Class seats to San Fran @Mattg

 

[LewieTheFly]

For the community's knowledge, just flew RNO - LAX booked as a separate domestic itinerary from other international flights.

I'm Velocity Gold, flew with 4 others (silver and red velocity) on the booking.

I too came up with the issue of online check in wanting to charge for checked baggage.

I pressed the issue in person at the check in desk that the whole travel party under the one booking with a Velocity gold member should get a complimentary checked bag.

The United desk attendant followed the position of online check in baggage fees, until I told her that United's online chat support confirmed that complimentary checked baggage should apply.

Here's the kicker - the United desk attendant then tried checking in my travelling party using a second platform they have access to. This second platform instantly recognised the Velocity status, and all 5 of the travelling party got a free checked bag. No fuss or overrides in the system needed.

If anyone faces the issue of United telling you that 1st checked bags need to be paid for, tell them to load your reservation using their other check in platform!

 

[heycam]

Hi, I've just booked return MEL-CBR award flights in Economy on VA using my United miles. After booking, the United site said:

Seat selection and changes are not available for this flight at this time. You'll be assigned a seat prior to boarding. For additional information, visit the operating carrier's website.

Should I be able to select seats through Virgin? I tried to the manage the booking on Virgin site but it didn't recognize the United PNR. If not, is there a timeframe before the flights where I will be able to select seats?

In case it matters I am 1K on United, have no status on Virgin, and my travelling companion on the same booking has neither.

 

[Thibault]

Hi, I've just booked return MEL-CBR award flights in Economy on VA using my United miles. After booking, the United site said:



Should I be able to select seats through Virgin? I tried to the manage the booking on Virgin site but it didn't recognize the United PNR. If not, is there a timeframe before the flights where I will be able to select seats?

In case it matters I am 1K on United, have no status on Virgin, and my travelling companion on the same booking has neither.

Try to use the VA app. It often doesn’t work on the website when ticketed on an other carrier for a VA-operated flight.

 

[heycam]

Try to use the VA app. It often doesn’t work on the website when ticketed on an other carrier for a VA-operated flight.

App also can't find it. Does VA and UA use different PNRs? Is there a way to find the VA one online if so?

 

[Thibault]

App also can't find it. Does VA and UA use different PNRs? Is there a way to find the VA one online if so?

Unfortunately I have no idea -
I had great success using their Twitter and I provide them with all the information including the ticket number. They can then provide you the VA PNR (for EY revenue and awards tickets on VA as an example).

 

[ag4647]

Hi, I've just booked return MEL-CBR award flights in Economy on VA using my United miles. After booking, the United site said:



Should I be able to select seats through Virgin? I tried to the manage the booking on Virgin site but it didn't recognize the United PNR. If not, is there a timeframe before the flights where I will be able to select seats?

In case it matters I am 1K on United, have no status on Virgin, and my travelling companion on the same booking has neither.

You have to do it on UA app/site. The VA itinerary should include the UA confirmation number.

 

[serfty]

Should I be able to select seats through Virgin? I tried to the manage the booking on Virgin site but it didn't recognize the United PNR. If not, is there a timeframe before the flights where I will be able to select seats

You will need to call either UA or VA to get your SABRE booking reference.

Use that for seat selection on VA website.