VA Partner - Delta - Lounge Question

[SilverShadow]

Hi all

Just a quick question on Lounge access for Virgin Partner, Delta.

I'm a VA Gold and will be flying Delta to go from Las Vegas to San Diego and wanted to know if I am able to access the Delta Sky Club lounge in San Diego on my arrival?

I know I can do this domestically at the moment with Virgin Australia but not sure how it works with partners, the website says its accessible for same day of departure but that's not much help.

Thanks

 

[mella2007]

Not sure what the situation is exactly at the moment but I know some members have been turned away at the door while others have been let through (when the reps are not sure)
I was let in to the one in Vegas last year (mind you, I am VA Gold but also flew Delta in F) and showed my Velocity card and the boarding pass. I was pretty sure VA Gold was allowed if flying on a same day Delta ticket

 

[williamsf1]

Hi all

Just a quick question on Lounge access for Virgin Partner, Delta.

I'm a VA Gold and will be flying Delta to go from Las Vegas to San Diego and wanted to know if I am able to access the Delta Sky Club lounge in San Diego on my arrival?

I know I can do this domestically at the moment with Virgin Australia but not sure how it works with partners, the website says its accessible for same day of departure but that's not much help.

Thanks

A VA gold or Plat does not get any arrivals access with any partner airline

 

[gwilli1]

A VA gold or Plat does not get any arrivals access with any partner airline

Correct . I'm VA Gold and flew alot with DL in February and tried to do this when i arrived in SLC ( knowing i couldnt , but wanted to test the boundaries) and was denied access .

 

[serfty]

I have always been granted departures access with at DL Sky Clubs when flying DL domestically.

Last time took a little effort, as I was told strait off, No (not without an international connection). When I expressed surprise atb this, the other agent at the desk indicated they remembered something, so looked up on their computer.

Basically most the partner for DL sky clubs require an international flight. VA Gold/Platinum are different in that there is no reference to "international", however, there is also no specific reference for VA to access being allowed for domestic itineraries.

By omission access should be (and indeed, was) granted but it would assist greatly if the access for domestic itineraries was listed on their files.

 

[gwilli1]

I have always been granted departures access with at DL Sky Clubs when flying DL domestically.

Last time took a little effort, as I was told strait off, No (not without an international connection). When I expressed surprise atb this, the other agent at the desk indicated they remembered something, so looked up on their computer.

Basically most the partner for DL sky clubs require an international flight. VA Gold/Platinum are different in that there is no reference to "international", however, there is also no specific reference for VA to access being allowed for domestic itineraries.

By omission access should be (and indeed, was) granted but it would assist greatly if the access for domestic itineraries was listed on their files.

I did 4 flights & visits into the DL SC with them in February and was never questioned about departures access . I just showed my VA Card & BP and was greeted warmly into the DL SC . Maybe this has been rectified.

 

[serfty]

I did 4 flights & visits into the DSC with them in February and was never questioned about departures access . I just showed my VA Card & BP and was greeted warmly into the DSC . Maybe this has been rectified.

My experience was at SFO in March.

Previously no issue there. It was a young guy who initially denied access which was rectified by a middle aged lady sitting nearby.

 

[williamsf1]

My experiance was at SFO in March.

Prevoisly no issue there. I was a young guy who initially denied access which was rectified by a middle aged lady sitting beside him.

Did you have " SkyPriority" printed on the BP along with your Velocity number?

 

[serfty]

Did you have " SkyPriority" printed on the BP along with your Velocity number?

Yes - I was going to be denied by agent A as it was a stand alone one-way SFO-LAX domestic booking.

As I advised, the notes the Delta Skyclub staff can look up do not specifically state access should be granted for domestic passengers.

It's pretty similar to what one sees here https://www.delta.com/content/www/e...a-sky-club/house-rules/glossary-of-terms.html

 

[SilverShadow]

I got this response when checking details of other perks I thought I should have - anyone care to help shed light on this? I've already enquired with them and am awaiting response - I thought I should get some of the perks, hence choosing them or am I mistaken?



Dear Mr X

Thank you for your inquiry with Delta Air Lines.

Currently, access to the Delta Air Lines airport lounge is permitted with members of Skymiles. Unfortunately, we don't have alignment with VA Velocity Rewards at this stage. Therefore, standard procedures apply for boarding, security screening and baggage.

Appreciate your understanding in this matter.

Kind regards

Delta Air Lines

Customer Care

 

[TonyHancock]

I'm flying with DL next week and when I check my booking I see the following: (Well there might be a change of name and velocity number to protect the innocent.)

Tony Hancock
V Australia # 0000000001
Velocity
Platinum Medallion / Elite Plus

So it does seem that VA status is recognised in the system.

 

[Mak404matt]

I got this response when checking details of other perks I thought I should have - anyone care to help shed light on this? I've already enquired with them and am awaiting response - I thought I should get some of the perks, hence choosing them or am I mistaken?



Dear Mr X

Thank you for your inquiry with Delta Air Lines.

Currently, access to the Delta Air Lines airport lounge is permitted with members of Skymiles. Unfortunately, we don't have alignment with VA Velocity Rewards at this stage. Therefore, standard procedures apply for boarding, security screening and baggage.

Appreciate your understanding in this matter.

Kind regards

Delta Air Lines

Customer Care

If it helps, I managed to get this out of them a while back when I was still Gold.

 

[SilverShadow]

If it helps, I managed to get this out of them a while back when I was still Gold.

View attachment 14923

Thanks guys

I just really want to avoid looking like DYKWIA when explaining to ppl at the airport I chose their airline because of this. I did have some trouble a while back with Singapore Airlines in Changi and they still didn't believe me/gave me funny looks despite my having the benefits printed out and shown to them.

Anyway, will see how it goes

 

[Velocity Frequent Flyer]

Hi guys,
Clarifying this for all - Gold and Platinum Velocity members + 1 guest have access on any Delta flight including standalone domestic itineraries.
There is no requirement for any international connection on the itinerary.

 

[Deewhy]

Hi guys,
Clarifying this for all - Gold and Platinum Velocity members + 1 guest have access on any Delta flight including standalone domestic itineraries.
There is no requirement for any international connection on the itinerary.

Thanks for that clarification. I'd suggest your alliance staff need to work better at promoting this across your partners and your call centres as I have personally experienced trouble getting DL staff to recognize this. And when I queried your service centre, they tell me that i needed an international itinerary. It's not pleasant having to argue with uniformed people and looking like a total goose when every one is looking at you and the DL staff are looking at you like you're a criminal. It doesn't help customers trying to use VA and really needs attention.

 

[bullerdude]

Hi guys,
Clarifying this for all - Gold and Platinum Velocity members + 1 guest have access on any Delta flight including standalone domestic itineraries.
There is no requirement for any international connection on the itinerary.

VFF, can you also clarify whether arrival access is included? I have ready botu Yes and No answers and would like get the 'true' answer from you.


The sentance from the velocity website simply say you need your card and a same-day departure boarding pass, but does't specify if its only valid for pre-departure.

[TABLE="width: 100%, align: center"]
[TR="bgcolor: transparent"]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Delta Air Lines[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Delta Sky Club owned and operated lounges*[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]You and a guest on presentation of membership card and boarding pass for same day departure on a Virgin Australia International Long Haul flight or Delta Air Lines[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

To put it in context, the line for VA domestic is written the same where and arrival access allowed.

[TABLE="width: 100%, align: center"]
[TR="bgcolor: transparent"]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]Virgin Australia - domestic[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]All Virgin Australia lounge locations[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: transparent"]You and a guest on presentation of membership card and boarding pass for same day departure with Virgin Australia[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

If there is no arrival access then each line should include -"prior to departure".

 

[777]

The problem is simply that the *Skyteam* lounge access rules state domestic lounge access is only given on an international schedule when flying Delta. So this is the rule that applies to 90% of partner airlines that Delta offeres reciprocal lounge access to and this is the default understanding of the gate agents. Virgin, to their credit, have negotiated a far better deal but unless the agent you get is experienced with it or takes the time to look it up (or you make them!) then they will simply assume it's the same as the others.

Having said that, i used skyclubs all over the US last year without issue.

 

[serfty]

Because the access rule for Velocity Elites IS different from the normal rules that the agents see, what really needs to happen is the the SkyClub access guide the agents can look up needs to state something like:

Virgin Australia Velocity Gold and Platinum members traveling on any flight operated by Delta or Virgin Australia Airlines. This includes standalone domestic itineraries. There is no requirement for any international connection on the itinerary.

Rather than:

Virgin Australia Velocity Gold and Platinum Club members traveling on a flight operated by Delta or Virgin Australia Airlines.

Then it would be unequivocal.

 

[777]

In my experience it is unequivocal *when they look it up* but too often they need to be convinced to or look up the wrong thing (eg "virgin" not "velocity" or vice versa).

 

[serfty]

In my experience it is unequivocal *when they look it up* but too often they need to be convinced to or look up the wrong thing (eg "virgin" not "velocity" or vice versa).

Oh yes, it is unequivocal, however many agents appear to:

1 - think they know it all without looking up and,

2 - if challenged become defensive and read things in that are simply not there.

I got the attidute - "Oh, they must have forgotten to put the international restriction in - it's there for all other airlines and VA would likely be no different".

It does happen so it needs to be reinforced that access via VA Velocity status is different.