VA-marketed AC legs - sector earn + no lounge access

[theevilmuppet]

Hi all,

Today I booked YVR-MEL return in J with VA. After the <news from Mr Schuster>, I thought I'd investigate flying out of YVR instead of SEA if the price was better. Lo-and-behold, it was. So I did!

Alas, things started going wrong at this point:

1. No one in the Social Media or GCC teams could confirm with any level of certainty that the AC-operated legs would qualify as Eligible Sectors. Reading the Terms and Conditions, they should (as they're marketed by VA), however this has not been the case in the past with a VA-marketed VX leg post-AS merger.
2. No one in the Social Media or GCC teams could provide any details as to what lounge access arrangements exist at YVR and LAX prior to an AC-operated leg. The Social Media team blindly pointed me to the Lounge Access page after I explicitly provided that link and stated that Air Canada isn't listed (as they aren't), resulting in the cop-out response of "call the GCC" in response. The GCC had no information to provide and asked if I would contact Air Canada.
3. Air Canada's Social Media team is staffed by a strange hybrid of brain damaged muppets and Ralph Wiggum's inbred cousins. After much clarification (and the same blind sending of links previously provided by me), I was told that passengers holding a VA boarding pass for an AC-operated flight were completely ineligible for lounge access.

Thus far, the experience has been one of the most horrendous examples of an omnishambles I've seen all week.

If the information I've been provided with thus far is incomplete or incorrect, I would be most grateful for any enlightenment from other forum members.

As always, thanks to all who reply.

 

[serfty]

Since you are in Business, you will likely have access to whatever lounge AC use for J PAX, despite what the AC call centre staff said. The BP will have the AC flight number on it.

The T&C's are clear. Travel on a VA flight number that earns point/SC earning flights in eligible fare buckets count - your VX experience likely relates to "AS" operated. If you earned SC's for that flight but not a VA "squiggle" then I'd be reviewing the outcome.

Of course, in typical VA style, the SC earn table has not caught up with VA*AC code shares mentioned in that announcement. But it is clear:

In addition to this, from 1 December 2018 Velocity members flying on an Air Canada operated flight with a Virgin Australia flight number between Los Angeles and Vancouver, Calgary, Montreal and Toronto, will now earn Status Credits. You can see all the earn rates on our Status Credit Earn tables here.

(of course, the link contains no mention VA*AC flights.

21.4.1 Status Credits may not be earned or may be earned at different rates for Codeshare Flights. Please see the Velocity Website for full details.



22.2 Eligible Sectors

22.2.1 Where a Member travels on a flight where Virgin Australia is the Marketing Carrier, each Flight Sector will be considered an Eligible Sector.

22.2.2 Eligible Sectors are determined by us at our sole discretion and we may exclude any travel, tickets and fares outlined in clause 21.4 from eligibility to earn Status Credits.

22.2.3 Eligible Sectors exclude:

(a) flights which have been booked as a Reward Seat; or

(b) flights on a Virgin Australia aircraft, where another airline’s flight number is entered on the Itinerary, unless that flight is specified by us as an Eligible Sector.

 

[theevilmuppet]

Since you are in Business, you will likely have access to whatever lounge AC use for J PAX, despite what the AC call centre staff said. The BP will have the AC flight number on it.

The T&C's are clear. Travel on a VA flight number that earns point/SC earning flights in eligible fare buckets count - your VX experience likely relates to "AS" operated not being listed. (See 21.4)

Thanks Serfty! Your wisdom is always greatly appreciated. I'll report back either way.

 

[babysun]

So if I look at the Velocity website it doesn't list Air Canada as a partner.

BUT if I look at the Virgin Australia website it DOES list AC with all the related benefits including earning points (but not status credits), lounge access etc. I don't think it's been updated for a very long time though. The wording implies it was written prior to June 1st 2017.

https://www.virginaustralia.com/au/en/experience/airline-partners/air-canada/

"Guests travelling in Business class on Virgin Australia codeshare services operated by Air Canada receive complimentary entry into Air Canada’s Maple Leaf Lounges in Los Angeles, Calgary, Montreal and Toronto.

For full terms and conditions and more information, please visit International Lounge Access."

The International Lounge Access link of course takes you to the Velocity site which has no mention of Air Canada at all.

 

[theevilmuppet]

So if I look at the Velocity website it doesn't list Air Canada as a partner.

BUT if I look at the Virgin Australia website it DOES list AC with all the related benefits including earning points (but not status credits), lounge access etc. I don't think it's been updated for a very long time though. The wording implies it was written prior to June 1st 2017.

https://www.virginaustralia.com/au/en/experience/airline-partners/air-canada/

"Guests travelling in Business class on Virgin Australia codeshare services operated by Air Canada receive complimentary entry into Air Canada’s Maple Leaf Lounges in Los Angeles, Calgary, Montreal and Toronto.

For full terms and conditions and more information, please visit International Lounge Access."

The International Lounge Access link of course takes you to the Velocity site which has no mention of Air Canada at all.

Thanks babysun! You've provided a very valuable datapoint.

Vancouver isn't listed there, but codeshare services do exist between LAX and YVR. We'll see what happens, and I sincerely hope that Virgin don't invite another chargeback for their idiocy.

 

[babysun]

Thanks babysun! You've provided a very valuable datapoint.

Vancouver isn't listed there, but codeshare services do exist between LAX and YVR. We'll see what happens, and I sincerely hope that Virgin don't invite another chargeback for their idiocy.

No worries,
I found the difference in the two sets of information (or lack thereof) by googling the two airlines together.
I was trying to find a way home from the USA recently in J & thought that AC was an option but the stupid Velocity site told me it WASN'T!! So now I know better too. From now on I'll be checking the VA AND Velocity sites for my information when usually I only check Velocity. I never thought they would be different but I have to say with the inconsistent information from VA/Velocity staff lately I'm not surprised.

Good luck with whatever you end up doing!