United Airlines new Virgin Australia/Velocity Partner

[bernardblack]

Any recent datapoints on recognition of Velocity status (Platinum in my case) when travelling within the US on United?

Obvs there's no lounge access on a domestic-only itinerary even with status, but I'm interested in whether I can expect to get my free checked bag without too much trouble?

Annoyingly, United's website talks about Virgin and the benefits available to United elites, but has no corresponding info (as far as I can find) on benefits for Virgin elites on United. I don't necessarily expect a United agent at (say) DEN to know that I am entitled, or to accept the Velocity website's word for it.

 

[mlg]

Does anyone know if you receive lounge access prior to US-Mexico flights with Virgin status (Platinum in my case)?

I have a single ticket MEL-SFO-EWR and then 10 days later IAD-MEX. I'm assuming I'll have lounge access in MEL in the SIA lounge (if open) and in SFO based on others' recent experiences, but I'm uncertain about the IAD-MEX trip.

Cheers

 

[Revenge]

I have a single ticket MEL-SFO-EWR and then 10 days later IAD-MEX. I'm assuming I'll have lounge access in MEL in the SIA lounge (if open) and in SFO based on others' recent experiences, but I'm uncertain about the IAD-MEX trip.

I would expect yes in SFO if you're on a same-day connection from international. I would expect yes in IAD because you'll be on an international flight.

 

[mlg]

I would expect yes in SFO if you're on a same-day connection from international. I would expect yes in IAD because you'll be on an international flight.

Great, thank you! This is the answer I was hoping for, but wasn’t sure if there were different rules for short-haul international.

 

[bernardblack]

Are Velocity elites (Platinum in my case) entitled to select premium seats for free on economy bookings? And is the United online system able to recognise Velocity status in advance of check-in? Because I'm looking at a hub-to-hub flight on a Polaris-configured 777, for a short domestic route where they don't sell premium economy, and wondering if I can select those seats on an economy reservation (and now, before they fill up).

 

[Revenge]

Great, thank you! This is the answer I was hoping for, but wasn’t sure if there were different rules for short-haul international.

Yeah international includes "Guam, Canada, Mexico, Caribbean, Central America, Colombia and Ecuador" according to https://www.united.com/ual/en/us/fly/travel/airport/united-club-and-lounges/access.html

 

[serfty]

Are Velocity elites (Platinum in my case) entitled to select premium seats for free on economy bookings? ... Because I'm looking at a hub-to-hub flight on a Polaris-configured 777, for a short domestic route where they don't sell premium economy, and wondering if I can select those seats on an economy reservation (and now, before they fill up).

Not in my experience from early November, You can select a standard seat at no charge but if you want a Preferred or Economy Comfort seat you need to pay.

And is the United online system able to recognise Velocity status in advance of check-in? ..

"Group 1" boarding, use of "premier access" security where available. Did not have checked luggage.

 

[dzzr]

Has anyone upgraded using money only?

I can see lots of flights close to departure have upgrades available using money + miles, but can't tell from the website if this also allows paid upgrades without points.

 

[bcworld]

Has anyone upgraded using money only?

I can see lots of flights close to departure have upgrades available using money + miles, but can't tell from the website if this also allows paid upgrades without points.

I have. I had a booking where the overall fare basis was in Premium Plus but some sectors in economy. After booking, there were immediate cash upgrade offers (to Premium Plus) for the transcon flights LAX<>EWR at about USD180. I also later used cash + UA miles to further upgrade some flights to Polaris...all while still crediting to Velocity.

 

[dzzr]

I have. I had a booking where the overall fare basis was in Premium Plus but some sectors in economy. After booking, there were immediate cash upgrade offers (to Premium Plus) for the transcon flights LAX<>EWR at about USD180. I also later used cash + UA miles to further upgrade some flights to Polaris...all while still crediting to Velocity.

I'm in a similar situation, have MEL-SFO and LAX-MEL legs in Premium Plus (A). Just trying to gauge how much a cash only upgrade would be since I don't have any UA miles.

The website and app only shows cash + miles pricing.

 

[mlg]

I'm in a similar situation, have MEL-SFO and LAX-MEL legs in Premium Plus (A). Just trying to gauge how much a cash only upgrade would be since I don't have any UA miles.

The website and app only shows cash + miles pricing.

I’m in a similar situation, and it’s showing an option for cash only upgrades for me (unfortunately, at insane prices).

 

[bcworld]

I'm in a similar situation, have MEL-SFO and LAX-MEL legs in Premium Plus (A). Just trying to gauge how much a cash only upgrade would be since I don't have any UA miles.

The website and app only shows cash + miles pricing.

If it's worth it for you....you can buy UA miles....they are very regularly on discount. Those upgrades would be 30k + USD450. Booked into Premium Plus you are pretty far up the upgrade priority list. My upgrades on MEL-LAX and LAX-MEL both cleared about 5 days out rather than on the day / at the gate. Actually I paid 30k + USD450 to upgrade EWR-LAX-MEL...the last sector cleared days out and EWR-MEL I scraped in and was upgraded as boarding started.

 

[WLGFlyer]

Should I be able to book all UA routes with velocity points (assuming availability)? Most destinations aren't available on the VA website so I thought I'd ask here before calling. Is the availability the same as on the UA site?

 

[BRIS_VA_HAWK]

Should I be able to book all UA routes with velocity points (assuming availability)? Most destinations aren't available on the VA website so I thought I'd ask here before calling. Is the availability the same as on the UA site?

I've found internal US flights to be nigh impossible to book on Velocity Points. You can call but I doubt you'll get any joy.

 

[gluewell14]

Flew UA yesterday with my VA Gold linked. Group 1 boarding with priority tags on checked luggage. Was nice to see the points/SC credited to my VFF account this morning!

 

[bernardblack]

Flew UA yesterday with my VA Gold linked. Group 1 boarding with priority tags on checked luggage. Was nice to see the points/SC credited to my VFF account this morning!

Was this in economy? International or US domestic? If the latter, did you get one of your checked bags free by status?

 

[bcworld]

Flew UA yesterday with my VA Gold linked. Group 1 boarding with priority tags on checked luggage. Was nice to see the points/SC credited to my VFF account this morning!

Same for me...UA flights credited very quickly...well the ones that I flew in the class originally booked. The ones I upgraded did not post but no issues getting them correctly credited using the claim form.

 

[gluewell14]

Was this in economy? International or US domestic? If the latter, did you get one of your checked bags free by status?

Domestic economy. Not sure about the bags as I paid for the flight with a MileagePlus credit card which gets me two free checked bags already.

 

[jakeseven7]

Anyone flown UA international J recently?

May be forced to fly them in a few weeks.

Do they still give you that memory foam pillow for your back/hip in J to help with their rock hard seats??

 

[Matty F]

Anyone flown UA international J recently?

May be forced to fly them in a few weeks.

Do they still give you that memory foam pillow for your back/hip in J to help with their rock hard seats??

Are you ever happy with anything?