VA & DL from ADL-LAX and beyond.....

[Fantic125]

Having been firmly ensconced in the QF WP and *A Gold velvet gloves for a few years, I thought it might be time to try something new.

I took up the VA status match offer last year, but didn't set foot on a VA plane. As is always the case, a month or so after a soft landing to VA Gold the opportunity to avail myself of their offerings arose.

A last minute trip to Tijuana for a 4 day business meeting, followed by a 2 day meeting in Cincinnati had me looking for Y+ flights across the ditch, and Y flights within the US. Full itinerary is ADL-SYD-LAX-xSAN-LAX-xCVG-LAX-SYD-ADL.

A combination of QF & AA flights from our corporate travel agency was throwing up prices of ADL-LAX return in Y+ for $5k, and the AA flights in Y for just over $1.5k.
Total $6.5k! :shock:

A quick veto of that had them come back with something shiny and new..... ADL-SYD-LAX return with VA in Y+ for $3.7k!

Having signed off a few travel authorisations for one of my direct reports to fly SAN-LAX-CVG return with Delta in Y, I knew that can be done for around $500. Sure enough, a quick search on the DL site had me booked on LAX-xSAN-LAX-xCVG-LAX with premium seating on the LAX-CVG return flights for less than $600!
Total $4.3k! :shock:


VA & DL it was!!!

 

[ozmille]

Having been firmly ensconced in the QF WP and *A Gold velvet gloves for a few years, I thought it might be time to try something new.

I took up the VA status match offer last year, but didn't set foot on a VA plane. As is always the case, a month or so after a soft landing to VA Gold the opportunity to avail myself of their offerings arose.

A last minute trip to Tijuana for a 4 day business meeting, followed by a 2 day meeting in Cincinnati had me looking for Y+ flights across the ditch, and Y flights within the US. Full itinerary is ADL-SYD-LAX-xSAN-LAX-xCVG-LAX-SYD-ADL.

A combination of QF & AA flights from our corporate travel agency was throwing up prices of ADL-LAX return in Y+ for $5k, and the AA flights in Y for just over $1.5k.
Total $6.5k! :shock:

A quick veto of that had them come back with something shiny and new..... ADL-SYD-LAX return with VA in Y+ for $3.7k!

Having signed off a few travel authorisations for one of my direct reports to fly SAN-LAX-CVG return with Delta in Y, I knew that can be done for around $500. Sure enough, a quick search on the DL site had me booked on LAX-xSAN-LAX-xCVG-LAX with premium seating on the LAX-CVG return flights for less than $600!
Total $4.3k! :shock:


VA & DL it was!!!

I always wonder how many corporate travelers just follow what their TA comes back with and spend way more than necessary...

 

[Fantic125]

I always wonder how many corporate travelers just follow what their TA comes back with and spend way more than necessary...

Far too many I think!

 

[Fantic125]

Unfortunately, due to the vagaries of the Virgin website and booking engines, as well as booking through our corporate TA, trying to do seat selection was a major PITA. I couldn't do any selection through the VA website, our TA could only do the SYD-LAX and I had to call VA to do the domestic flights. Even with DL I was able to easily select seats and arrange extra comfort seats for a few legs.

This is the first time I've had this issue - usually through the QF & OW alliance sites I've been able to do seat selection, and the same with the *Alliance carriers.

Moving on......

Arrived at ADL for VA411 to SYD. Even though my LAX-SAN flight with DL was on a separate PNR, I was able to convince the checkin person that she can ticket my bag all the way through to SAN. She was sceptical at first, but then decided to give it a try. Success! After checking she had done it correctly with another colleague, she quite happily attached the bag tags and thanked me for teaching her something new.

Through security and explosives check (I'm another one who must look untrustworthy as a lot of the time i get this) and into the VA lounge. Flight was called on time, and boarding and departure was quick and painless.

Having booked Y+, this particular 737-800 was a J & Y configuration, so I was seated in 1C with no one else in the other 7 available seats. It felt a bit weird, but within 30 seconds I got over it!

Seats were comfortable, snack was a choice between quiche and sandwiches and I was provided a Samsung tablet for IFE. I have read on the forum a few people were less than impressed with the earbuds provided, citing poor volume. I didn't bother with the earbuds and used my Bose QC15's and didn't have any issues with hearing. so it must be coughpy earbuds.

Arrived into SYD on time, and headed to the transfer desk.

 

[Fantic125]

Arrived into SYD on time, and headed to the transfer desk. Very impressed with the service there! The guy behind the counter was very professional; I was even more impressed when he handed over my boarding pass with me seated in 5K! Much nicer than my original allocation of 13K!

Score 1 for Virgin!

The bus transfer was relatively painless, although unlike the QF transfer bus the Virgin one goes outside the airport. No issues though, as once you arrive at the SYD Int terminal you have about the same distance to walk to customs and security. Wasn’t busy, so went through to the NZ lounge fairly quickly.

Usual range of drinks, finger food and hot-dogs there; nothing special but much nicer than out in the terminal.

Boarding was on time. Settled into my seat fairly quickly and again the on-board service, food and drinks was impressive compared to QF.

Another win for Virgin.

 

[Major]

I am a big fan of seat 5K on VA's 777

 

[Fantic125]

We landed into LAX on time and deplaned at Terminal 5. We were given express cards to get us through immigration more quickly but they weren't required as there were almost no queues.

Within 5 minutes I was through, picked up my bag and dropped it off at the transfer desk. They gave me boarding pass there, and it was off to the Delta Skylounge in Terminal 5.

The lounge itself was a reasonable size, but the range of food and drink was fairly basic.

 

[Fantic125]

My flight DL4503 to SAN was called on time, so headed down to the barding gate. I had selected seat 4B which was a good choice on this flight. It was an RJ700 with Y+ seating rows 1 to 3 and row 4 had extra leg room as well as no seat directly in front of 4B.

The flight took 20 mins and we touched down in SAN.

 

[Fantic125]

Well, I survived Tijuana.

This time I stayed at the Tijuana Marriott Hotel near the golf course. The room was nice (upgraded to a Golf View room on the 8th floor) but the location of the hotel isn't great. Not much to see or do in the surrounding area, and it's at least a 10 minute walk to any decent restaurants. The food at the hotel isn't great.

Thankfully Zona Centro or downtown is only a $7~$10 taxi fare otherwise you would be going stir crazy for an entire week.

Friday afternoon headed back to San Diego (after taking 3 hours to cross the border!) I stayed at The Westin on Broadway, right in the centre of downtown. Easy walk to Little Italy and 5 mins to the Gaslamp district. I've seen some reviews of it that have been less than complimetary, but both myself and another work colleague who stayed there found it fine. Rooms were nice, service as good, and for only $109 a night I was happy!

06:30 Sunday morning I took the free hotel shuttle to SAN to check in at the Commuter Terminal for my 08:08 flight to LAX. Check-in was a bit chaotic as there was 1 person behind the counter servicing both Delta and United Express, with both flights delayed due to fog in LAX. Eventually got through and the flight ended up only 15 mins or so late.

Arrived in LAX and met up with another work colleague who was travelling with me to CVG. We headed to the Delta Skylounge to kill some time before our 12:00 Delta flight to CVG.

(Rant) They're currently doing some renovations in the T5 Delta lounge which means they only have 1 male toilet which can only be used by 1 person at a time. Everyone wanting to use the toilet had to wait more than 35 minutes while some clown did his business, had a shower, blow dried his hair and cleaned his teeth. Yes, it's nice after a flight to freshen up but if there's only 1 toilet available in the entire lounge, FFS have some consideration for other patrons and be quick about it! :evil: (Rant over)

 

[Fantic125]

Anyway, my patience must have been recognised by the upgrade gods because on boarding my flight to CVG (737-800) and settling down into 12D (Economy Comfort seat) a young couple indicated that she was seated in 12E.

I stood up to let her in, and the husband asked if I wouldn't mind swapping seats so he could sit next to his wife. Before I could answer he said the magic words; "My seat is 4D in First, but my wife and I would prefer to sit together."

Being the kind, considerate person I am I agreed reluctantly, thanked him for the seat, took the boarding pass and bolted back up the aisle to row 4!

It was certainly nicer than being in Economy Comfort, with good service and food and drink options but I'm not sure if I would pay a premium price for only a 4 hour flight. The flight was pretty uneventful until about 30 mins before descent when we hit some fairly heavy turbulence. There was some pretty loud screaming, but no-one injured and nothing broken.

 

[Fantic125]

On Wednesday I flew Delta again for CVG-LAX and was seated in 17A (exit row) which was reasonably comfortable despite the fact the seats couldn't recline.

A mother and daughter seated in front of me had draped sheets over their seats which also hung over the back of the seats. Thankfully the in-seat screen in front of me wasn't blocked as I would have asked them to remove it if it had been so I could watch the safety demonstration as well as entertainment later. Even so, it seemed a bit weird, even for LOTFAP.


The 4hr 50min flight went smoothly and we touched down in LAX on time at 11:00am. Picked up my bag and headed out of T5 and into one of the coldest LA days I've felt for a long time. The sky was very overcast and gray and it certainly put the dampers on any thoughts I had for heading to Santa Monica or Manhattan Beaches and doing some wandering around.


Even though it was 9 hours until my next flight (LAX-SYD) I decided to grab a meal in TBIT the head to the ReLAX lounge for 3 hours until VA check-in opened at 15:30.

 

[Fantic125]

Even though it's a pay-for-use lounge the ReLAX was fairly nice. Finger food, coffee/tea and soft drinks included in the price, and beer (tap and bottled) $5 each.

Just after 15:00 headed over to T3 and was able to check-in straight away. Through security fairly quickly and into the VA Lounge.

I had read in AFF about an hour earlier that the VA Lounge had been approved their liquor license, and sure enough, today was their first day with beer, wine and spirits available!

Perfect timing!!!!

I made good use of the bar and lounge facilities (it has a much more relaxed and friendlier feel than a lot of other lounges) and then headed down to the gate once my flight was called.

 

[Fantic125]

Unfortunately no upgrade to J for me this time, so I settled into my Y+ seat and got comfortable for the 15 hour LAX-SYD flight.

I was seated in an aisle seat (D) with another person in front and one behind me. E & F in front and next to me were vacant, and behind me in E & F were two very young children, so after meal service I moved over to E, reclined my seat :shock: and slept until 3 hours before landing.

After breakfast was served, the cabin was prepared for landing. In between the CSM circulated and chatted with the status pax and handed us each an express card for customs.

After arrival at the gate it was through immigration and the long wait at the carousel. Just as I was starting to think my bag had been left behind out it popped. The queue for customs was short, so I tucked away the express card for another time.


I was again impressed with VA this flight. The cabin was clean and comfortable, food and drinks good, and the service friendly and professional.

 

[ozmille]

so after meal service I moved over to E, reclined my seat :shock: and slept until 3 hours before landing.

how very dare you

looks like a good trip and a ot cheaper than OW, I flew CVG LAX on DL but ISTR that the seats did recline... Can be mistaken though, it has been a couple of years. No want to go for a burger at LAX in your 9hrs?