VA Gold - access to Alitalia lounge....or not?

[mandja]

IM a newly minted VA Gold (thank you Fly Buys)
About to holiday in Italy (thank you KF and ATO), and spending time in Italy where we will include flights Rome (FCO) to Alghero, Sardinia (AHO) and then AHO-LCY

I see here https://www.ausbt.com.au/virgin-australia-launches-partnership-with-italy-s-alitalia that VA have or at least had a partnership with Alitalia, but on the VA website no mention of Alitalia.

Questions then...Can I show my VA Gold and gain admission to the Alitalia lounge in each of FCO and AHO? Will Mrs Mandja be admitted if she is with me but not VA Gold?

 

[Pleb Status]

IM a newly minted VA Gold (thank you Fly Buys)
About to holiday in Italy (thank you KF and ATO), and spending time in Italy where we will include flights Rome (FCO) to Alghero, Sardinia (AHO) and then AHO-LCY

I see here Virgin Australia kicks off frequent flyer partnership with Italy's Alitalia that VA have or at least had a partnership with Alitalia, but on the VA website no mention of Alitalia.

Questions then...Can I show my VA Gold and gain admission to the Alitalia lounge in each of FCO and AHO? Will Mrs Mandja be admitted if she is with me but not VA Gold?

I do not know what VA website you are looking at as I found the information requested in less than 30 seconds...

https://www.velocityfrequentflyer.com/content/Status/GoldStatus/



https://www.virginaustralia.com/au/en/experience/at-the-airport/international-lounge-access/

 

[mandja]

Oh....thanks !

So good news re FCO.
I now see that there is no lounge in AHO

 

[mandja]

One last question. I see that lounge access is for cardholder +1, and that baggage allowance is for 1 extra checked bag - is the latter for me AND wife each?
We will be on a cruise out of Venice and pondering an extra bag

 

[ap_spd]

hi Mandja. Congratulations on the new status.

Extra luggage will only be for you. Wife can get the benefit of priority boarding and priority luggage if you are on the same PNR.

Happy cruising and flying..

 

[vmile]

One last question. I see that lounge access is for cardholder +1, and that baggage allowance is for 1 extra checked bag - is the latter for me AND wife each?

No, one extra bag only for the Status holder.

And some advice. Check in early. Be prepaired for an argument.

Hope your Alitalia experience goes well!

 

[Dr_Goz]

IM a newly minted VA Gold (thank you Fly Buys)
About to holiday in Italy (thank you KF and ATO), and spending time in Italy where we will include flights Rome (FCO) to Alghero, Sardinia (AHO) and then AHO-LCY

I see here https://www.ausbt.com.au/virgin-australia-launches-partnership-with-italy-s-alitalia that VA have or at least had a partnership with Alitalia, but on the VA website no mention of Alitalia.

Questions then...Can I show my VA Gold and gain admission to the Alitalia lounge in each of FCO and AHO? Will Mrs Mandja be admitted if she is with me but not VA Gold?

When I last flew with Alitalia (May 2017), the VA Gold access to their lounge was only good for international flights.

So my FCO to CAG sector didn't allow access, but my FCO to BCN did.

 

[dajop]

So my FCO to CAG sector didn't allow access, but my FCO to BCN did.

There is a tendency to apply Skyteam rules to all partnerships, I had a similar problem once with DL flying LGA-MSP when I tried to enter with VA gold status. Skyteam rules do not permit access on domestic flights (unless connecting to/from international flight). VA arrangements, IIRC do allow this - but lounge dragons do not necessarily know this and revert to Skyteam rules.

 

[Dr_Goz]

There is a tendency to apply Skyteam rules to all partnerships, I had a similar problem once with DL flying LGA-MSP when I tried to enter with VA gold status. Skyteam rules do not permit access on domestic flights (unless connecting to/from international flight). VA arrangements, IIRC do allow this - but lounge dragons do not necessarily know this and revert to Skyteam rules.

I didn't push too hard, but the Lounge agent pulled out a big folder, went to the VA page and it did clearly state international only.

 

[vmile]

When I last flew with Alitalia (May 2017), the VA Gold access to their lounge was only good for international flights.

Yes, they tried to pull that one on us twice earlier this year. We stood our ground, had the relevent printouts, and if that failed, politely asked for them to contact their supervisor.

We got in, but as to if it was worth the effort, that is very debatable.

 

[mad_atta]

Resurrecting this old thread, as I'll be doing something similar in August (Milan Linate to Rome FCO as VA Gold).

Yes, they tried to pull that one on us twice earlier this year. We stood our ground, had the relevent printouts, and if that failed, politely asked for them to contact their supervisor.

Is there any relevant information on VA's or AZ's sites that clearly indicates lounge access is for domestic only itineraries as well? Or are you referring to this page on the VA site (which doesn't specify int'l or domestic):
https://www.virginaustralia.com/au/en/experience/at-the-airport/international-lounge-access/

We got in, but as to if it was worth the effort, that is very debatable.

Yes I've heard the Casa Alitalia at Linate isn't the greatest. I have Priority Pass as well - does anyone know whether these lounges are accessible on a domestic itinerary?
Milan Linate

Given that intra-Schengen flights are treated like domestic, and presumably make up the majority of flights from LIN, I assume that at least one should be acccessble, but would be interested to hear anyone's experiences. Thanks

 

[mandja]

Resurrecting this old thread, as I'll be doing something similar in August (Milan Linate to Rome FCO as VA Gold).

UPDATE - i did use my VA Gold to enter the lounge in Rome. Entry was easy The lounge was rather cramped and not very large. They had breakfast on offer including scrambled eggs, croissants etc and onsite barista making excellent coffee (LaVazza?)

 

[mad_atta]

That's good to hear, thanks mandja. Between the official AZ lounge and Priority Pass it seems we'll have some options

 

[vmile]

Resurrecting this old thread, as I'll be doing something similar in August (Milan Linate to Rome FCO as VA Gold).

Is there any relevant information on VA's or AZ's sites that clearly indicates lounge access is for domestic only itineraries as well? Or are you referring to this page on the VA site (which doesn't specify int'l or domestic):
https://www.virginaustralia.com/au/en/experience/at-the-airport/international-lounge-access/

Yes, those pages, and a copy of Alitalia's own web pages describing what their members get in Australia with Virgin Australia.

Also we carried a photo of a sign I found at Naples check-in that had Virgin Australia listed as a 'sister' airline.

In reality we will never fly with them again. The tiny points and SC earn is just not worth the experience. Milan to Rome- I would catch the Italo train.