Virgin/Etihad Check-In/Check-Thru?

[kangarooflyer88]

I've got an Aeroplan award ticket next year with me flying SYD > MEL > AUH > ZRH. SYD > MEL is operated by Virgin with MEL > AUH > ZRH sectors operated by Etihad.

My questions are as follows:

• When I check in with Virgin for my flight to MEL will they also check me in for the remaining legs of MEL > AUH > ZRH and issue boarding passes?
• Will my bag be checked through to ZRH or would I need to collect and re-check at MEL?
• What does the connection process at MEL look like going Virgin domestic to international? Do I just exit the terminal, walk a couple blocks to the international terminal, clear emmigration and security or is there a smoother process?
• If for some reason my flight out of SYD gets delayed by Virgin and I mis-connect, who would I speak to in order to get that fixed? Virgin (the carrier who delivered me to the connection point late), Etihad (the connecting airline) or Aeroplan (the one who issued the ticket)?
• In terms of lounges what would be my best bet at MEL? I'm travelling Virgin and Etihad J so I would have access to the Virgin lounge on arrival, whatever partner lounge Etihad has on departure plus whatever my AmEx Platinum will grant me access to these days (Centurion, Plaza Premium Marhaba Lounge, The House)

Thanks in advance.

-RooFlyer88

 

[AIRwin]

What does the connection process at MEL look like going Virgin domestic to international? Do I just exit the terminal, walk a couple blocks to the international terminal, clear emmigration and security or is there a smoother process?

Not aware of a more seamless process but you may pass by (or wish to avoid) the ominous sculpture of Icarus if you walk outside T3 Arrivals towards T2 before heading upstairs:

Melbourne VA Lounge becoming airside from August 2022

The thing I’m most worried about is it might encourage more VA flyers to buy Maccas and bring it onboard from the food court! Hate how people do this now with no onboard snacks :( But you don't fly VA?

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

 

[RooFlyer]

What does the connection process at MEL look like going Virgin domestic to international? Do I just exit the terminal, walk a couple blocks to the international terminal, clear emmigration and security or is there a smoother process?

No need to exit the terminal. Assuming your bags are checked through, which I think it will be, you just get off your domestic flight, walk through the terminal and go through the exit border control process. It’s one of the smoothest domestic to international transfers in Australia.

If for some reason my flight out of SYD gets delayed by Virgin and I mis-connect, who would I speak to in order to get that fixed? Virgin (the carrier who delivered me to the connection point late), Etihad (the connecting airline) or Aeroplan (the one who issued the ticket)?

Not Virgin as they’ve done their job in getting you from A to B. Timing is not part of your contract with them. Personally, I’d speak to Etihad first at the airport as they would be hopefully easier to talk to than Air Canada and may be able to offer a solution ( low probability). Failing that, I would think it would have to be Air Canada to arrange an alternative flight.

Personally, when I have a domestic connection to international, I always make sure there are two later domestic departures between my scheduled domestic flight and the international departure to allow for cancellations or delays. Or I go the day before.

 

[Thibault]

When I check in with Virgin for my flight to MEL will they also check me in for the remaining legs of MEL > AUH > ZRH and issue boarding passes?

Yes - all the way to ZRH.

Will my bag be checked through to ZRH or would I need to collect and re-check at MEL?

All the way to ZRH with priority tags on EY (works very well) - it should come out automatically.

What does the connection process at MEL look like going Virgin domestic to international? Do I just exit the terminal, walk a couple blocks to the international terminal, clear emmigration and security or is there a smoother process?

Very easy - just a quick walk to the INTL terminal landside.
On my previous two connections VA-EY all went well and QF-EY on EY-issued tickets, I had to stop by the EY counter to ensure my bag was correctly transferred from Qantas and get an EY-colors boarding pass.

If for some reason my flight out of SYD gets delayed by Virgin and I mis-connect, who would I speak to in order to get that fixed? Virgin (the carrier who delivered me to the connection point late), Etihad (the connecting airline) or Aeroplan (the one who issued the ticket)?

I'd assume VA would make reasonable arrangements with EY to get you to your destination.

In terms of lounges what would be my best bet at MEL? I'm travelling Virgin and Etihad J so I would have access to the Virgin lounge on arrival, whatever partner lounge Etihad has on departure plus whatever my AmEx Platinum will grant me access to these days (Centurion, Plaza Premium Marhaba Lounge, The House)

The House is a nice lounge to sit around - a great selection of coughtails and drinks but the food buffet is quite disappointing when I went through in July and August this year.
The view on the EY 777 on the left side of the lounge is great and there is a great overview of airside activities.

 

[madrooster]

Not Virgin as they’ve done their job in getting you from A to B. Timing is not part of your contract with them. Personally, I’d speak to Etihad first at the airport as they would be hopefully easier to talk to than Air Canada and may be able to offer a solution ( low probability). Failing that, I would think it would have to be Air Canada to arrange an alternative flight.

The at-fault carrier in this case would be VA and it's VA that is responsible for getting you to your final destination. VA may opt to rebook on EY the next day, rebook on SQ, QR, etc. They can rebook onto any carrier they wish that they have involuntary reroute agreements with - it doesn't have to be on EY.

AC can rebook being the ticketing carrier but you would need to find available award space. AC isn't going to pay commercial rates for something that is VA's fault.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

AC can rebook being the ticketing carrier but you would need to find available award space. AC isn't going to pay commercial rates for something that is VA's fault.

Respectfully disagree with your assessment here. I had SYD to YYZ booked in J back in April 2020 on an Aeroplan award ticket. COVID happened and there was over a dozen cancellations and schedule changes. At one point AC did rebook me on a revenue United J ticket from SFO to SYD to fix one such cancellation. I highly doubt QF would provide such flexibility for their valued customers.

 

[Stealthflyer]

I've got an Aeroplan award ticket next year with me flying SYD > MEL > AUH > ZRH. SYD > MEL is operated by Virgin with MEL > AUH > ZRH sectors operated by Etihad.

My questions are as follows:

• When I check in with Virgin for my flight to MEL will they also check me in for the remaining legs of MEL > AUH > ZRH and issue boarding passes?

Yes, if they’re on the one ticket.

• Will my bag be checked through to ZRH or would I need to collect and re-check at MEL?

Yes, it’ll be checked through if it’s on the one ticket.

• What does the connection process at MEL look like going Virgin domestic to international? Do I just exit the terminal, walk a couple blocks to the international terminal, clear emmigration and security or is there a smoother process?

It’s super easy. There’s a reason why I always transit in MEL rather than SYD. You don’t even have to exit the building. However, you do need to go through international security.

• If for some reason my flight out of SYD gets delayed by Virgin and I mis-connect, who would I speak to in order to get that fixed? Virgin (the carrier who delivered me to the connection point late), Etihad (the connecting airline) or Aeroplan (the one who issued the ticket)?

That’s the big question. They may try to pass the buck. It’s the drawback of multiple airlines on the one ticket.

• In terms of lounges what would be my best bet at MEL? I'm travelling Virgin and Etihad J so I would have access to the Virgin lounge on arrival, whatever partner lounge Etihad has on departure plus whatever my AmEx Platinum will grant me access to these days (Centurion, Plaza Premium Marhaba Lounge, The House)

Go the House. The MEL House is a fave of mine because it has great views of the tarmac.

Thanks in advance.

-RooFlyer88

 

[madrooster]

At one point AC did rebook me on a revenue United J ticket from SFO to SYD to fix one such cancellation. I highly doubt QF would provide such flexibility for their valued customers.

One case does not mean it's policy/procedure. This is definitely not blanket policy/procedure, at neither AC nor QF.

QF do such things too even before COVID, but again it's not blanket policy/procedure.