VA codeshare on VX in 2018

[theevilmuppet]

Hi all,

I've just booked a trip for my parents with VA, and an oddity has presented itself.

The itinerary is MEL-LAX-SEA return, on VA for the long haul legs. The itinerary wasn't ticketed and I needed to call the GCC.

Upon speaking to the GCC, I was told the issue was related to changes Delta had made to their LAX-SEA schedules. A change was made and the trip was ticketed, with the LAX-SEA leg on a VX-operated VA codeshare service in early March 2018.

Of course, points and status credits can no longer be earned on VX-ticketed flights and I've written to Velocity about this particular itinerary. Several days have passed and I've not received a response which is surprising (I normally get replies to my questions within 1 business day).

Has anyone flown on a VX-operated, VA-ticketed service since the termination of the VX-Velocity agreement? If so, did you have any issues with crediting of Eligible Sectors, Status Credits and/or Velocity points?

Thanks to all who reply.

 

[Bagpuss]

Hi all,

I've just booked a trip for my parents with VA, and an oddity has presented itself.

The itinerary is MEL-LAX-SEA return, on VA for the long haul legs. The itinerary wasn't ticketed and I needed to call the GCC.

Upon speaking to the GCC, I was told the issue was related to changes Delta had made to their LAX-SEA schedules. A change was made and the trip was ticketed, with the LAX-SEA leg on a VX-operated VA codeshare service in early March 2018.

Of course, points and status credits can no longer be earned on VX-ticketed flights and I've written to Velocity about this particular itinerary. Several days have passed and I've not received a response which is surprising (I normally get replies to my questions within 1 business day).

Has anyone flown on a VX-operated, VA-ticketed service since the termination of the VX-Velocity agreement? If so, did you have any issues with crediting of Eligible Sectors, Status Credits and/or Velocity points?

Thanks to all who reply.

It's in these instances where you should receive points and status credits as it's ticketed by VA which is the "marketing carrier".

https://www.velocityfrequentflyer.com/content/TermsConditions/

Codeshare Flight means a Flight Sector operated by one airline and marketed by another airline. For example, a flight where the Marketing Carrier is Virgin Australia, but the aircraft is operated by a different airline.

Eligible Sector means a Flight Sector:

(a) that has been flown;

(b) that has not been booked as a Reward Seat;

(c) where Virgin Australia is the Marketing Carrier.

Marketing Carrier means the airline whose code the Flight Sector is operated under. For example, Virgin Australia is the Marketing Carrier for any flight number that starts with a VA prefix.

 

[theevilmuppet]

Marketing Carrier means the airline whose code the Flight Sector is operated under. For example, Virgin Australia is the Marketing Carrier for any flight number that starts with a VA prefix.

That was what I was thinking as well, however section 10.7 and 24.1 make vague statements about the eligibility of earn on codeshare flights for Velocity points and Status Credits respectively. These provisions obviously apply to cases where a partner airline is the marketing carrier (for example, flying AF on a DL ticket), but could potentially apply to the VX case.

 

[Bagpuss]

That was what I was thinking as well, however section 10.7 and 24.1 make vague statements about the eligibility of earn on codeshare flights for Velocity points and Status Credits respectively. These provisions obviously apply to cases where a partner airline is the marketing carrier (for example, flying AF on a DL ticket), but could potentially apply to the VX case.

I had an Etihad international flight and part of that included a domestic flight on Virgin Australia. I was surprised that Virgin counted it as an eligible sector. I know this is the opposite way around to this scenario.

However, I think if you are on a Virgin Australia air-frame (which covers my scenario above) or a VA issue ticket (which covers your scenario) you are fine and will obtain points / status credits per the VA earn rates and bonuses. I'd Imagine your flight to Velocity will reflect as the VA codeshare number and not the VX.

There was a thread about this somewhere, but I don't think there was every a firm outcome.

Problem is being a frequent flyer, we over think these things where as the "average Joe" would be none the wiser.

Out of curiosity, when you look at the booking in Velocity does it reflect a VA codeshare number? I think that's the key to knowing.

(I also have a domestic VA flight, as part of a DL international ticket. In Velocity it shows it as the VA flight number, whereas Delta see is on their site as DL. I'm expecting to do the same as I had with my Etihad flight and credit as a VA flight.)

 

[theevilmuppet]

Problem is being a frequent flyer, we over think these things where as the "average Joe" would be none the wiser.

Out of curiosity, when you look at the booking in Velocity does it reflect a VA codeshare number? I think that's the key to knowing.

(I also have a domestic VA flight, as part of a DL international ticket. In Velocity it shows it as the VA flight number, whereas Delta see is on their site as DL. I'm expecting to do the same as I had with my Etihad flight and credit as a VA flight.)

Yes, we do indeed overthink these things! My parents have started wanting to maximise their Velocity balances and statuses, hence I'm being the dutiful son and digging into this. Regarding the Etihad trip you mentioned, was it a single PNR? Were your tickets issued by Etihad or by VA?

Yes, the VX leg does feature a VA flight number so based on that alone everything should be fine.

It's funny you should mention DL and VA flights on a DL-issued itinerary. I've been looking into where to best credit DL-ticketed flights to and the answer is seemingly Velocity - the points uplift with status plus mileage-based earning is a big plus.

 

[Bagpuss]

It's funny you should mention DL and VA flights on a DL-issued itinerary. I've been looking into where to best credit DL-ticketed flights to and the answer is seemingly Velocity - the points uplift with status plus mileage-based earning is a big plus.

Yes mainly for the W (Comfort+) fare on Delta.

 

[Bagpuss]

Yes, we do indeed overthink these things! My parents have started wanting to maximise their Velocity balances and statuses, hence I'm being the dutiful son and digging into this. Regarding the Etihad trip you mentioned, was it a single PNR? Were your tickets issued by Etihad or by VA?

With the Etihad fare it was Etihad ticketed on a single PNR.

I wanted to use Velocity points to upgrade to business on the VA domestic leg being an a330 but they couldn't (not through a lack of trying over the phone first, then on the day at the lounge.)

With Etihad and Delta tickets (same a SQ) you have a different Virgin PNR number. So to get the seats on the Virgin airframes you have to call Velocity. I'm platinum but I'm pretty sure anyone on an international codeshare ticket can select an EconomyX seat on the VA domestic service.

 

[theevilmuppet]

After having to clarify the question several times, VA have now told me that the LAX-SEA leg operated by VX will not earn Velocity Points, Status Credits or Eligible Sectors even though the flight was ticketed by VA as part of a MEL-LAX-SEA return journey.

I'm quite unimpressed, and have told VA that they have the option of either awarding the points, credits and sectors or changing the LAX-SEA leg to a DL-operated flight at no additional cost.

I asked about this specifically when making the booking and was reassured that the leg would be treated just as a codeshare service on DL would be. Be wary should you encounter a similar situation.

 

[theevilmuppet]

The language used in the reply I received indicates that the partnership ends on December 31, 2017. This is the basis of no earning being possible.

 

[serfty]

I suspect it will earn automatically, despite what Velocity have advised. VA's automated systems have not shown up to be super clever.

If it doesn't credit, you may be able to claim ORC in any case.

 

[theevilmuppet]

I really don't grasp the massive gulf in capability displayed when speaking to Virgin as a Platinum vs speaking to Velocity as a Platinum, but here's the rundown:

The Velocity call centre called me, but unfortunately Ralph Wiggum had been brought in for work experience that day and told me the following:

• Virgin America have announced their bankruptcy (not true)
• Manual crediting of points, status credits and eligible sectors is impossible (also not true)
• The lack of training of Virgin staff is the issue here (amusing considering the lack of training of the caller)
• No attempt to correct the issue would be undertaken
• No escalation will occur

Only upon using my favourite C word did Ralph agree to escalate.

I decided that Ralph was unlikely to produce anything resembling a result so I called the Virgin GCC and explained the situation. 5 minutes later, they'd moved the LAX-SEA segment to a DL-operated flight and the problem was solved.