Well done Virgin

[Cossie]

Sister in law flew back to Vancouver on Monday, Virgin out of Canberra, then Air Canada from Sydney. She allowed quite a bit of time for baggage collection in Sydney, transport to International and check-in.
When she was using the bag drop at Canberra, Virgin staff asked where she was going etc. They then checked her bag through to Vancouver, gave her an express Customs/Immigration card and a voucher to get to International even though she was on 2 different pnrs. How good is that, especially after the recent posts on here about no through baggage if using 2 seperate pnrs, especially One World.

Well done Virgin. By the way, she has no status with either airline.

 

[bean]

Sister in law flew back to Vancouver on Monday, Virgin out of Canberra, then Air Canada from Sydney. She allowed quite a bit of time for baggage collection in Sydney, transport to International and check-in.
When she was using the bag drop at Canberra, Virgin staff asked where she was going etc. They then checked her bag through to Vancouver, gave her an express Customs/Immigration card and a voucher to get to International even though she was on 2 different pnrs. How good is that, especially after the recent posts on here about no through baggage if using 2 seperate pnrs, especially One World.

Well done Virgin. By the way, she has no status with either airline.

Its the inconsistency that hurts Virgin-one trip I did in business via Brisbane on two separate pnrs. Outbound the staff couldn't be more helpful and put the bags straight through to Cairns. The return trip out of Cairns I argued until I was blue in the face with a lady at the priority counter who repeatedly told me that it was 'impossible' to put the bags straight through.

 

[wannabeinvestmentbanker]

Overall, i think VAs ground staff are excellent in the lounge and throughout the airport. It's the FAs that let down the whole experience.
It think its positive that Virgin proactively asked and could through check the bags.
However, given the person in question had no status I don't think she should have been provided an express path card as this does devalue status benefits.