United Airlines new Virgin Australia/Velocity Partner

[CPMaverick]

Ah, my mistake. I guess I forgot how VA awards work then. I'd suggest calling and seeing if they can manually ticket it then.

 

[Auski]

Ah, my mistake. I guess I forgot how VA awards work then. I'd suggest calling and seeing if they can manually ticket it then.

Not all domestic connections on international rewards calculate properly. An example is SIN-SYD in Y is 29K, SIN-SYD-CBR is 36.8K even though it is the same zone <4200 miles. Not sure if this is just a difference between UA and SIA though? You can see both these on a search but a CBR connection is not always listed even though there is individual leg availability.

 

[dandandan]

Well, just managed to snag a SYD-MEL-SFO flight in J using VA points on Boxing Day (26 Dec).

Can’t wait to try Polaris! (FYI there appear to be two more MEL-SFO J awards that day so get in quick! There are also SYD-SFO awards in Y too…)

I thought someone here must have booked these, I was considering booking them however needed 3 vs 4, plus only two were available to be booked via Sydney. I ended up getting 4 x J for Xmas day though.

 

[dandandan]

No, they'll charge depending on total mileage. SFO-MEL or SFO-MEL-ADL are both 95.5k points + taxes.

Thanks though.

Is that only if booked at the same time? you can't add the domestic connection leg on later can you. So if you booked SFO-MEL for 95.5k points you can't add ADL to make SFO-MEL-ADL for 95.5k points still?

 

[BRIS_VA_HAWK]

Is that only if booked at the same time? you can't add the domestic connection leg on later can you. So if you booked SFO-MEL for 95.5k points you can't add ADL to make SFO-MEL-ADL for 95.5k points still?

Correct...it's only 95.5k if it's on the one reservation, so adding ADL-MEL/SYD will result in an additional ticket and points charge. Velocity customer service on the phone will pretty much tell you if it's not accessible via the website then they can't book it - not even worth the phone call these days.

 

[Michael.B]

Has anyone come across business reward seats being visible and able to be added, but when viewing shows as economy instead?

 

[dandandan]

Has anyone come across business reward seats being visible and able to be added, but when viewing shows as economy instead?
View attachment 337511

Not that I noticed that with my booking the other day for the same route, however I replicated it for your date and another, so it's some type of error.

 

[Michael.B]

Not that I noticed that with my booking the other day for the same route, however I replicated it for your date and another, so it's some type of error.

Okay that's great, well great you're having the same problem it wasn't just me.

Thanks for checking and confirming.

 

[CPMaverick]

Velocity customer service on the phone will pretty much tell you if it's not accessible via the website then they can't book it - not even worth the phone call these days.

For what it's worth (and I know it's a different scenario), I was able to book a flight to TFS by calling that wasn't available online. I had to call during business hours to get someone competent. So I'd say it's still worth a call (although I sympathize that the phone agents can be incredibly frustrating at times).

 

[MELso]

Is that only if booked at the same time? you can't add the domestic connection leg on later can you. So if you booked SFO-MEL for 95.5k points you can't add ADL to make SFO-MEL-ADL for 95.5k points still?

I booked SYD-MEL-SFO for this reason - I should be in Sydney for Christmas, but I'm not sure and it'll be easier to cancel the SYD-MEL sector (although it'll be terrifying should I need to call due to the risk of accidental cancellation of the whole thing!). When factoring in that it costs no more points to add the domestic leg, it makes sense to do it this way if you think you may depart from an airport other than SYD/MEL.

 

[dandandan]

I booked SYD-MEL-SFO for this reason - I should be in Sydney for Christmas, but I'm not sure and it'll be easier to cancel the SYD-MEL sector (although it'll be terrifying should I need to call due to the risk of accidental cancellation of the whole thing!). When factoring in that it costs no more points to add the domestic leg, it makes sense to do it this way if you think you may depart from an airport other than SYD/MEL.

I couldn't add the domestic leg though as there was no 4 x J in domestic available to book, otherwise I would have.

 

[BRIS_VA_HAWK]

I booked SYD-MEL-SFO for this reason - I should be in Sydney for Christmas, but I'm not sure and it'll be easier to cancel the SYD-MEL sector (although it'll be terrifying should I need to call due to the risk of accidental cancellation of the whole thing!). When factoring in that it costs no more points to add the domestic leg, it makes sense to do it this way if you think you may depart from an airport other than SYD/MEL.

Whilst you'll probably be able to cancel SYD-MEL-SFO and rebook MEL-SFO (as I'd assume MEL-SFO will return to inventory as soon as the cancellation is effected), there's no guarantees here. It'll be cancel the whole thing (and pay either 7500 points or $60) then rebook...

 

[BRIS_VA_HAWK]

UA staff kept on thanking me for being a gold member so I wonder if it just maps as star gold on their systems? Either way, it works!

Whilst I didn't get the opportunity to hit the United Club in SFO (in between SYD-SFO and SFO-IAH), the staff at DEN last night were quite happy to send me upstairs when the proverbial hit the fan. I had DFW-DEN-ONT booked in (domestic) F, however the DEN-ONT leg cancelled while I was airborne. On advising I was VA WP, lounge dragon sent me upstairs to concierge who rebooked me onto DEN-SNA, which was also delayed. Walking back through the concourse there was a queue conservatively 75m long for the customer service desk as there'd been a fair few cancellations in and out of DEN that evening. Whilst the VA/UA partnership isn't exactly smooth and YMMV, there seems to be enough individuals on the UA side who are happy to help.

 

[rebmalin]

Is there any difference booking a flight to San Fran through the Virgin web site, or simply just directly through United and adding my Velocity number? i.e Will they recognise my Velocity status if I booked through United? Is seat selection only available if I book with United? Or can I book through Virgin then somehow retrieve the booking on the United site to select seats (I know I need to pay for it)?

 

[BRIS_VA_HAWK]

Is there any difference booking a flight to San Fran through the Virgin web site, or simply just directly through United and adding my Velocity number? i.e Will they recognise my Velocity status if I booked through United? Is seat selection only available if I book with United? Or can I book through Virgin then somehow retrieve the booking on the United site to select seats (I know I need to pay for it)?

If you book via VA site it will be the VA codeshare number rather than the direct UA number. Fares may differ, and points/SC earned may differ:

Points - United Airlines
SC - United Airlines

 

[CPMaverick]

Is there any difference booking a flight to San Fran through the Virgin web site, or simply just directly through United and adding my Velocity number? i.e Will they recognise my Velocity status if I booked through United? Is seat selection only available if I book with United? Or can I book through Virgin then somehow retrieve the booking on the United site to select seats (I know I need to pay for it)?

One thing I noticed recently on my VA codeshare bookings, on the confirmation page there is a little link for 'Partner Airline Reference' (or similar wording). When I click on it, I get the United PNR! Which is great, because you use that to pull up the UA flight on their app/website to book seats, meals, add passenger info, etc.

I don't see this info anywhere but the confirmation page, so make sure you grab it there! Because previously, the only way I could get it was to call VA (and some agents didn't even understand what I was asking for!)

 

[tm.smile]

One thing I noticed recently on my VA codeshare bookings, on the confirmation page there is a little link for 'Partner Airline Reference' (or similar wording). When I click on it, I get the United PNR! Which is great, because you use that to pull up the UA flight on their app/website to book seats, meals, add passenger info, etc.

I don't see this info anywhere but the confirmation page, so make sure you grab it there! Because previously, the only way I could get it was to call VA (and some agents didn't even understand what I was asking for!)

Entering the VA reference number normally brings up your United reference in the app or website anyway.

 

[serfty]

One thing I noticed recently on my VA codeshare bookings, on the confirmation page there is a little link for 'Partner Airline Reference' (or similar wording). ...

I haven't booked such with UA, but with other VA bookings, if I check the VA e-ticket, reference numbers for other ailines generally show against each sector where it would be relevant.

 

[rebmalin]

Just to confirm. I was able to retrieve the booking on the UA website using the Virgin booking reference. Was then able to purchase seat selections. A little while later I could see the seat selection show up in my Velocity itinary.

 

[MELso]

A heads up for anyone looking to travel to the US over Christmas - there are 3 J award seats from SYD to SFO on 25/12, a whopping 8 from SYD to SFO on 26/12 (there were 9 but I changed my flight to be non-stop ) and 5 on 18/12.