VA2.0 International Partners

[FlyingKangaroo]

Does anyone have recent experience flying Air Canada with Star Alliance Gold status but linking the booking to their Velocity account?

My Star Alliance Gold status is set for the next two years, but I have an upcoming trip to North America in premium economy with Air Canada that would net me 300 status credits and help me retain my Gold status a good six months early.

However, as there are no status benefits with Air Canada, I'm curious how much trouble I'll have entering their lounges on my Star Alliance Gold card despite the ticket being linked to Velocity (I don't care about extra baggage or priority boarding when push comes to shove). The fine print of Star Gold says nothing about the ticket having to be credited to the same programme where status is, but paper and practice are two different things.

 

[SheikYerbouti]

So as a VFF Gold what are my best options for internal Europe flights? Are there any? Most likely Lufthansa, BA, etc. I can only figure out hoping for a status match program to one of their programs?

 

[jase05]

So as a VFF Gold what are my best options for internal Europe flights? Are there any? Most likely Lufthansa, BA, etc. I can only figure out hoping for a status match program to one of their programs?

Maybe the Delta Status Match?
Gold would get you Delta Medallion Gold which is SkyTeam Elite Plus. Useful for Air France, KLM, ITA to name a few.

 

[Mwenenzi]

So as a VFF Gold what are my best options for internal Europe flights? Are there any? Most likely Lufthansa, BA, etc. I can only figure out hoping for a status match program to one of their programs?

Status match from a very minor airline (VA) to BA (Oneworld) or LH (Star) is being very hopeful.
For internal trips in EU, trains are a good option point to point (~city centres).
Less time to/from airport, less queues, less waiting, less security checks, less waiting, boarding, less waiting(to take off). EU is small.

How big is Australia?

Maps comparing Australia's size to other countries and regions in the world.

www.virtualoceania.net

 

[SheikYerbouti]

I know, I'm from there, but train Munich to London is an all-day affair while a flight is ~2 hrs.

 

[andye]

Not sure if this is still running

United status match offering up to 18 months of Star Alliance Gold status

United is offering a status match to those passengers holding elite status with Qantas, Virgin Australia and other non-Star Alliance airlines.

www.pointhacks.com.au

 

[jase05]

Not sure if this is still running

United status match offering up to 18 months of Star Alliance Gold status

United is offering a status match to those passengers holding elite status with Qantas, Virgin Australia and other non-Star Alliance airlines.

www.pointhacks.com.au

I’m pretty sure VA Gold only matched to UA Silver so not much use and that’s even if it’s still running

 

[Notyourbag]

Does anyone have recent experience flying Air Canada with Star Alliance Gold status but linking the booking to their Velocity account?

My Star Alliance Gold status is set for the next two years, but I have an upcoming trip to North America in premium economy with Air Canada that would net me 300 status credits and help me retain my Gold status a good six months early.

However, as there are no status benefits with Air Canada, I'm curious how much trouble I'll have entering their lounges on my Star Alliance Gold card despite the ticket being linked to Velocity (I don't care about extra baggage or priority boarding when push comes to shove). The fine print of Star Gold says nothing about the ticket having to be credited to the same programme where status is, but paper and practice are two different things.

I've done this on numerous occasions (Air NZ lounge in SYD). Enter with your VA number on the boarding pass but immediately whip out your Star Gold status so they can punch in the details. Never had an issue in the past. Just make sure they dont tear up your boarding pass with your VA number and reissue it to you with your Star Gold number.

 

[FlyingKangaroo]

I've done this on numerous occasions (Air NZ lounge in SYD). Enter with your VA number on the boarding pass but immediately whip out your Star Gold status so they can punch in the details. Never had an issue in the past. Just make sure they dont tear up your boarding pass with your VA number and reissue it to you with your Star Gold number.

Excellent, thank you!

 

[dajop]

So as a VFF Gold what are my best options for internal Europe flights? Are there any? Most likely Lufthansa, BA, etc. I can only figure out hoping for a status match program to one of their programs?

What are the benefits that are most important to you? For lounges, Priority Pass can give more freedom than being tied to a particular carrier or group of carriers, and expand your horizons to some of the (better) LCCs as well.

 

[henrus]

I’m pretty sure VA Gold only matched to UA Silver so not much use and that’s even if it’s still running

They offer a match for about 3 months and then you need to earn a certain number of points on UA metal.

VA gold is matched as UA gold as a family member did this back in March this year.

 

[Stealthflyer]

I know, I'm from there, but train Munich to London is an all-day affair while a flight is ~2 hrs.

I received a status match with Qatar last year, which meant I flew with BA in Europe last month as a Ow emerald. The lounges were nice, but IMHO I should have stuck to trains. Munich to London via air can be much more than an all-day affair at the moment.

 

[SheikYerbouti]

Munich to London via air can be much more than an all-day affair at the moment.

This will be between xmas and new years. Lufthansa have about 6 daily flights MUC-LHR. BA has about 4 a day.

 

[BNEFlyer]

Does anyone have recent experience flying Air Canada with Star Alliance Gold status but linking the booking to their Velocity account?

My Star Alliance Gold status is set for the next two years, but I have an upcoming trip to North America in premium economy with Air Canada that would net me 300 status credits and help me retain my Gold status a good six months early.

However, as there are no status benefits with Air Canada, I'm curious how much trouble I'll have entering their lounges on my Star Alliance Gold card despite the ticket being linked to Velocity (I don't care about extra baggage or priority boarding when push comes to shove). The fine print of Star Gold says nothing about the ticket having to be credited to the same programme where status is, but paper and practice are two different things.

You'd just need to show your Star Alliance Gold card to enter, unless Star Alliance requires the Star FF program to be note on your boarding pass?

 

[bernardblack]

Do we have a timeline for the announcement of the Qatar arrangements? Earn rates, status recognition, ability to redeem?

 

[Mattg]

Do we have a timeline for the announcement of the Qatar arrangements? Earn rates, status recognition, ability to redeem?

Not at this stage. Just "later this year".

 

[tmdl]

Do we have a timeline for the announcement of the Qatar arrangements? Earn rates, status recognition, ability to redeem?

Im guessing it cant be long as QFF has significantly reduced the redemptions availability. Ive been searching for flights out of DOH which usually has a fair amount and an error appears

Might try my the long queue with the horrible QFF call centre

 

[deepblerg]

Do we have a timeline for the announcement of the Qatar arrangements? Earn rates, status recognition, ability to redeem?

I'm really hanging out for this too. I'm surprised Qatar flights aren't live yet. Nick Rohrlach said in this interview in late June that "hopefully Qatar will come online a few weeks’ time" so can't be far away!

 

[Kimchi Hotpot]

I booked a flight from Aus to Germany for October this year. My only status is VA Gold, but I couldn't find any flights I liked with Etihad, Singapore etc, so I ended up booking Qatar, hoping the partnership is in place by October. Last week I contacted Virgin via Facebook to see if they had any updates: 'we have no specific date yet when the partnership with Qatar Airways will officially commence. All upcoming announcements will be listed on our website.' Not very helpful, I know, but just thought I'd share anyway

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

I booked a flight from Aus to Germany for October this year. My only status is VA Gold, but I couldn't find any flights I liked with Etihad, Singapore etc, so I ended up booking Qatar, hoping the partnership is in place by October. Last week I contacted Virgin via Facebook to see if they had any updates: 'we have no specific date yet when the partnership with Qatar Airways will officially commence. All upcoming announcements will be listed on our website.' Not very helpful, I know, but just thought I'd share anyway

Maybe for now, just see about if you can, change the points earning to OW.
Don't want to loose/lose the earning of those points.