Finding reasonable award tickets to Europe

[cssaus]

You can forget getting replicated benefits at all flying with Velocity's partner airlines. The systems are isolated and you cant select seats despite the benefit listed on the VA website, plus the airlines themselves do not seem to recognise a VA Velocity +Gold Partner as a preferred level. Twice now, one in USA and just yesterday in London Heathrow, partner airlines have refused me access to their lounge as they did not even know who VA was let alone Velocity and Gold Status ! Both times I was turned away at the lounge door despite me showing them the reciprocal benefits on the VA website. Enough is enough. Its embarrassing to be treated like a loser partner member rather than a preferred flyer and being told I am not worthy. I am moving my business back to Qantas. AT least their partners are keen for QFF flyers

For the benefit of others, who were the partner airlines?

 

[cssaus]

Thanks everyone for your advice, when we were finally able to take advantage of this, when my leave was allocated for 2016, we could find nothing available on VA, nothing on EY, Delta was thru the roof, so we ended up settling for SQ Saver awards, so SYD SIN 18 hr transit overnight so we get the benefit, SIN LHR , then when we wanted to return nothing out of most European ports, so a choice of FRA or ZRH - we took ZRH SIN 18 hr stopover, and SIN SYD all in J.

We are happy with the stopevers as my bh as back problems and that gives him the chance to stretch it out, walk it off or sleep it off. Selected our seats - and naturally only 1 leg had any other J pax already allocated.

Great when we can use the points if we can find the seats. (mind you we had a bill of $1900 for taxes and surcharges) but its a $16500 fare we paid $1900 for so not complaining

Was your flight to LHR on a single PNR or did you have to book it as two separate trips?

Just other week I was trying to find an award flight for my wife from SYD-LHR so that she get back to London to see her sick mother. Was unable to find any availability in either Saver or Standard J or F, everything was on waitlist. However I was able to get a saver award in F from SYD-SIN and then a Standard award in J from SIN-LHR.

It did involve having to transit in SIN for 8 hours and ended up costing more points than it would have been for a straight thru ticket. However given the circumstances and necessity for the trip, it was acceptable.

 

[ScottO]

For the benefit of others, who were the partner airlines?

Just to be clear the partner airlines were Delta in the USA and Virgin Atlantic in London.

 

[Bolthead]

Just to be clear the partner airlines were Delta in the USA and Virgin Atlantic in London.

I wouldn't leave it there... I would have been thumping the table and asking for the supervisor. (perhaps you did) We had the same problem with Delta in Salt Lake City and I insisted we speak with a supervisor. She let us in immediately but made some snide remark about how easy it is for Australians to make status with VA. I asked her what do you mean.... do you how many flights I have flown?

Have you reported these incidences to VA. It's not good enough that this continues to happen.

 

[ScottO]

I wouldn't leave it there... I would have been thumping the table and asking for the supervisor. (perhaps you did) We had the same problem with Delta in Salt Lake City and I insisted we speak with a supervisor. She let us in immediately but made some snide remark about how easy it is for Australians to make status with VA. I asked her what do you mean.... do you how many flights I have flown?

Have you reported these incidences to VA. It's not good enough that this continues to happen.

I most certainly have but even there customer service team is disinterested. The response I had to the complaint regarding lounge access was that we "do have access to Virgin Atlantic lounges" and they suggest I "check the VA website before travelling so I can be sure I have access before flying" WTF? That is why I showed up at the Heathrow lounge in the first place!

Just letting the general flying public know that VA is not what its cracked up to be and to be wary when you think you have it sorted out....you don't. I am personally considering switching my business to Qantas again who seem to be getting their act together somewhat whilst VA continues to resemble the old Qantas from a few years ago

 

[Bolthead]

I most certainly have but even there customer service team is disinterested. The response I had to the complaint regarding lounge access was that we "do have access to Virgin Atlantic lounges" and they suggest I "check the VA website before travelling so I can be sure I have access before flying" WTF? That is why I showed up at the Heathrow lounge in the first place!

Just letting the general flying public know that VA is not what its cracked up to be and to be wary when you think you have it sorted out....you don't. I am personally considering switching my business to Qantas again who seem to be getting their act together somewhat whilst VA continues to resemble the old Qantas from a few years ago

Fair enough... it is very poor form and I guess the only way to teach them a lesson is to take your business elsewhere.

 

[Ausbt]

Just to be clear the partner airlines were Delta in the USA and Virgin Atlantic in London.

Similar experience for me as I've trekked around the US these past few weeks. Detroit was my bogey airport, two refusals there. But as I sit here in the JFK lounge, does it even really matter? These lounges are garbage for F&B. I like the Skydeck here and the ambience, but there is no other reason to be in here. You can usually find a power point outside if your laptop is running low, and wi-fi as well. Why bother.