Booking with Delta to US on VA metal

[BP87]

Hi all,

Would there be any disadvantage to booking a SYD to PDX return through Delta instead of Virgin? Its a few hundred $ cheaper. Flights are VA 1/2 anyways then Delta onwards and I think all my VFF Platinum benefits flow through.

Thanks.

 

[jase05]

Hi all,

Would there be any disadvantage to booking a SYD to PDX return through Delta instead of Virgin? Its a few hundred $ cheaper. Flights are VA 1/2 anyways then Delta onwards and I think all my VFF Platinum benefits flow through.

Thanks.

You don’t get the points bonus if it isn’t a VA flight number

 

[Must...Fly!]

You don’t get the points bonus if it isn’t a VA flight number

Yes you do.

Delta Air Lines

Earn Points with Delta Air Lines when you travel in an eligible fare class on flights with a DL flight number operated by Delta Air Lines, Delta Connection-branded carriers or Virgin Australia. You can also earn Status Credits and redeem Reward Seat. Learn more now.

experience.velocityfrequentflyer.com

OP, book the DL numbers and save your pennies

 

[Kangarucci]

Yes you do.

Delta Air Lines

Earn Points with Delta Air Lines when you travel in an eligible fare class on flights with a DL flight number operated by Delta Air Lines, Delta Connection-branded carriers or Virgin Australia. You can also earn Status Credits and redeem Reward Seat. Learn more now.

experience.velocityfrequentflyer.com

OP, book the DL numbers and save your pennies

No bonus points.

 

[serfty]

No bonus points.

 

[Kangarucci]

My mistake. :/

 

[serfty]

Here are some examples for this WP on a 954 mile route:

I Class:

W Class:

Note the bonus is based on the distance, not the fare class.

 

[RisingPhoenix]

Here are some examples for this WP on a 954 mile route:

I Class: View attachment 202556

W Class: View attachment 202557

Note the bonus is based on the distance, not the fare class.

Those status credit tallies are impressive. Roughly how much were these fares? I assume DL won't count as eligible sectors though?

 

[serfty]

You can readily get ~AUD3 per SC with some DL fares - segments over 750 and 1500 miles are desirable.

 

[Jack_OC]

Hi all,

Would there be any disadvantage to booking a SYD to PDX return through Delta instead of Virgin? Its a few hundred $ cheaper. Flights are VA 1/2 anyways then Delta onwards and I think all my VFF Platinum benefits flow through.

Thanks.

I've sometimes found the DL fares to be dramatically cheaper than the VA fares on exactly the same flights. Once (flying in J), the difference was over $3,000. Bizarre really. VA codeshares on EY are also often more expensive than the EY fares on the same flights.

AFAIK, the only downside is that if you book with DL the flights won't count as eligible sectors.

 

[FTac]

You can readily get ~AUD3 per SC with some DL fares - segments over 750 and 1500 miles are desirable.

Any examples of some of these? I'm US-based at the moment and keen to take advantage if they're that cheap!

 

[Jack_OC]

Any examples of some of these? I'm US-based at the moment and keen to take advantage if they're that cheap!

I would agree that you can get good SC earn with DL there, especially if you book Y+ or F, which often costs very little more than the cheapest fare. However, I don't think I have ever got anything like AU$3 per SC. As an example, on segments between 750 & 1,500 miles, you earn 15-60 SCs depending on fare class. I have certainly not found fares as low as AU$45 in Y or $180 in F any time recently - bearing in mind that's only US$30-$123.

Obviously DL have a huge number of routes, so maybe there are some where this kind of SC/$ earn is still possible, but I don't think this is at all representative of DL flights in general.

My most recent experience was LAX-DTW for US$480 in F, netting 80 SCs (so US$6, or about AU$8.75 per SC). That's still pretty good when compared to VA domestic, but probably not so good to make status runs worthwhile.

 

[serfty]

These were booked and flown in 2018 and were LAX/PDX via SEA. They are harder to find these days with the ebb and flow of competition..

It was USD434 for "First" Return (I) (200 SC) and USD256 for "C+" (W) (150 SC). Currently there are limited options on that route for S (C+) at USD350 and USD579 (I) - I'm now looking elsewhere.

In a few weeks I'm doing LAX-xMSP-DFW return in W to earn 210 SC at a cost of USD407. Timings are coughe but it is what it is.

There is more discussion here: The NEW Velocity Status Run Master thread (look at more recent years)