Alitalia and Virgin, anybody?

[Rubix]

SQ & EY never had a problem with any benefits. Prefer Singapore run to Europe. VZ is a future option via HKG.

My friend recently took AZ and was a bit disappointed. No VA status, just left a bit empty on the overall experience.

 

[Oubline]

I'm looking at booking some AZ award tickets - anyone know if those redeemed through Velocity includes check in luggage?

I asked two different CSR's and neither could tell me if the award tickets are economy light (no checkin baggage) or economy (with 23kg checkin).

Hi, did you ever find out the answer to this? I am also wondering the exact same thing!

 

[jpk]

Hi, did you ever find out the answer to this? I am also wondering the exact same thing!

Hiya, I can help. Booked LHR-MXP-LCY in Y back in Sept. Short answer, yes 1 bag is included, when you do OLCI you'll see it there. Beforehand the AZ MMB will try to trick you into adding a bag for AUD $110 which is the cost of a second bag.

There didn't seem to be any way to add your Velocity number until you check in, Velocity doesn't show as an option until then (see pic). Got free seat selection (use the AZ PNR that will be in your itinerary email) with back half of plane to choose from, I think everyone gets that.

Shockingly bad legroom on the A320 but heaps better on the Embraer. Expect the usual Alitalia chaos when boarding. You'll get a similar service to VA - cold drink and some crisps.

Taxes were high, but at the time it was a great value redemption as had to fly at short notice on a Friday night, and BA was on strike so AZ/EZ were both really exxy. Cash flights were around £1200 (AUD2250) return, and I paid 15600 points and $100, so overall pretty happy. I booked these via the offshore service centre, and for once it went perfectly fine. If you feed them exactly what you want, they will find it. Use Expertflyer to search for availability, it seems spot on accurate.

Happy to answer any other questions you've got...

 

[Oubline]

T

Hiya, I can help. Booked LHR-MXP-LCY in Y back in Sept. Short answer, yes 1 bag is included, when you do OLCI you'll see it there. Beforehand the AZ MMB will try to trick you into adding a bag for AUD $110 which is the cost of a second bag.

There didn't seem to be any way to add your Velocity number until you check in, Velocity doesn't show as an option until then (see pic). Got free seat selection (use the AZ PNR that will be in your itinerary email) with back half of plane to choose from, I think everyone gets that.

Shockingly bad legroom on the A320 but heaps better on the Embraer. Expect the usual Alitalia chaos when boarding. You'll get a similar service to VA - cold drink and some crisps.

Taxes were high, but at the time it was a great value redemption as had to fly at short notice on a Friday night, and BA was on strike so AZ/EZ were both really exxy. Cash flights were around £1200 (AUD2250) return, and I paid 15600 points and $100, so overall pretty happy. I booked these via the offshore service centre, and for once it went perfectly fine. If you feed them exactly what you want, they will find it. Use Expertflyer to search for availability, it seems spot on accurate.

Happy to answer any other questions you've got...

View attachment 195120

Thank you! That first hand experience is useful, especially about the baggage and the inflight experience. There’s almost a total lack of info available otherwise. Much appreciated.

 

[Lord_Lenny]

Lady Lenny and I are just back from Europe, no major issues with them as a VA Gold. The premium check in line at Rome is 'guarded' by a staff member, so necessitated showing my physical card (which confused her somewhat as she kept asking for a Skyteam card, but Virgin is on the sign at the front of the line - I suspect it's just they don't see many of them)

I was able to add our numbers at booking but so far only my points and credits have posted but it looked as though the check in staff had to re add my number to the booking as she was typing with my card in front of her for a while so I'm assuming they don't actually 'stick' until Check In. Lounge access was no problems, the Casa Italia in the Rome non-schengen terminal was very comfortable, decent food spread and a good drinks selection. Boarding was a bit of a zoo but I inserted us into the priority line (physical card again came in handy) and we were on and settled and had our overhead space claimed before the worst of the struggle for space.

All in all I'm pretty happy with how it all went.

 

[openseat]

I'm amazed that my Alitalia points have posted with no reentry of numbers nor chasing up velocity. All in about 10 days. Great development, if it continues.

 

[Rob.au]

I wasn't able to test much, but of what I could, I had a mixed experience.

AZ ticket, AZ metal.

- No problem choosing Velocity and entering my Velocity number when first booking my tickets on the Alitalia site. I booked two separate tickets for different itineraries I was flying. I only got e-mail confirmation for one of them but both turned up in Tripcase and I could print what I needed from there (and oddly the ticket I didn't get confirmation for was the one I got other e-mails for pre-flight and post-flight)

- Between booking and flying the Velocity number didn't appear anywhere. It wasn't visible when managing the bookings, and Velocity does not appear in the drop down list of reward programs there, nor does the Velocity number appear in Tripcase anywhere (as it does for VA flights)

- When checking in online, the Velocity number was already pre-populated. It did not appear anywhere on any boarding passes online or physical.

- On one of my tickets I flew Business and therefore didn't test any of the status benefits as I didn't need anything beyond what already applies to C. On the other ticket I flew Y from Tel Aviv. My Velocity Gold card was accepted no questions asked at the C counter and my bag got a priority tag. Didn't test boarding - they started that so early it was simply a case of if you were there at the gate, you could board.

- None of points/SCs have posted and I'm chasing missing points claims.