New Benefits on Delta?

[bronzed and ready]

Noticed this today on Velocity Website
Delta Airlines
- Lounge Access
- Priority Check-in
- Priority Baggage
- Priority Boarding
- Priority Screening

Previously Delta only had Lounge Access

Looks like they may be moving towards Skyteam's Sky Priority Service?

Looks Promising!

 

[Fruitcake]

Fantastic news. Another step towards consistency in the "virtual network" and a much needed one. If I didn't need the SCs from them on my last US trip I would never have even considered Delta - this will definitely lean me back towards them on a subsequent trip.

 

[Justinf]

Hopefully the Delta crew are aware of it. I am doing a few Delta flights soon and I couldn't think of anything worse than trying to get priority checkin or boarding and having the staff say 'Whaaaaat?'.

 

[smatho10]

I like the silver benefits as well priority check-in & boarding... Also doing some flying with them for thanksgiving this november!!

 

[james4321]

If I didn't need the SCs from them on my last US trip I would never have even considered Delta.

HI fruitcake. I have some US internal flights coming up soon - havent done them before - so I would be interested to know what airlines you recommend. Thanks a lot.

 

[serfty]

Hopefully the Delta crew are aware of it. I am doing a few Delta flights soon and I couldn't think of anything worse than trying to get priority checkin or boarding and having the staff say 'Whaaaaat?'.

Last week I made a booking for March - when I look the booking up I see:

V Australia # 21........
Velocity
Platinum Medallion / Elite Plus

SkyMiles frequent flyer program benefits

 

[Fruitcake]

HI fruitcake. I have some US internal flights coming up soon - havent done them before - so I would be interested to know what airlines you recommend. Thanks a lot.

My personal experiences aren't especially broad - I used DL and VX domestically on this most recent trip (which was purely leisure). VX was fantastic - although we did grab a cash upgrade when online checkin opened (cannot recommend doing that highly enough). Admittedly DL did exceed my expectations, even though we had a ~3 hour delay on one flight they kept us very well informed and I was happy with how things worked out.

Jetblue is a carrier I'd like to try, having heard quite good things (mentally unstable FAs and pilots aside). But, like VX, they have a very limited route network.

I used AA last year, it was pretty dreary in Y but F was excellent (although this was IAD-LAX, I think they turn up the F service on that route because it's a "premium" route).

However based on my experience with DL, if they can get better status recognition of Velocity pax happening then I'd be happy to look to them as a second choice to VX every time (unless I needed lounge access for some reason - DL would win then).

 

[Aussie_flyer]

Wonder if you get put on the upgrade waitlist for North America flights automatically like KLM/AF Plat's do

 

[VA777]

Fantastic news. Another step towards consistency in the "virtual network" and a much needed one. If I didn't need the SCs from them on my last US trip I would never have even considered Delta - this will definitely lean me back towards them on a subsequent trip.

I was travelling in the US in the last week of August and first week of September. Found Delta better than I expected, on board usual for an old world carrier, but I found their club personnel excellent.

I used the Priority Screening based on my Velocity Gold with no issues at all. Also used priority boarding based on my VA Gold status. One the first Y flight nothing on my boarding pass, my last Y class I noticed that Sky priority was on the boarding pass. On both occasions travelling Y I was allowed to priority board. When I flew F internally, auto had all these rights.

 

[777]

Last week I made a booking for March - when I look the booking up I see:

SkyMiles frequent flyer program benefits

Very interesting. Can't wait to see what (if anything) comes from this in practice. Upgrade waitisting would definitely be a nice touch but nice to see the rest of the sky priority perks filtering through.

 

[cssaus]

I would agree with the comments about DL based on my recent flight from LAX-JFK.

Now if only DL would get their act together with the crediting of miles to Velocity. Still haven't had the miles credited for the LAX-JFK flight on Aug 14. Presently have a retro claim in place.

 

[VA777]

Now if only DL would get their act together with the crediting of miles to Velocity. Still haven't had the miles credited for the LAX-JFK flight on Aug 14. Presently have a retro claim in place.

My travel on DL last week and the week before, my point come through in less than 5 days

 

[Mak404matt]

My travel on DL last week and the week before, my point come through in less than 5 days

I had a SFO - LAX and a LGA - BUF also credit within a week, VX seems to be slower than DL

 

[ff-jr]

VX are painfully slow with points posting in my experience, Delta can be hot and cold (but that reflects their service as a whole).

 

[flycop]

Does this benefit include free baggage? I just looked up my Delta booking for December and it just states Virgin Velocity. I'm platinum so I hope baggage is included as part of the equivalent SkyMiles tier. Their baggage fees add up once you have a few sectors....

 

[Justinf]

Does this benefit include free baggage? I just looked up my Delta booking for December and it just states Virgin Velocity. I'm platinum so I hope baggage is included as part of the equivalent SkyMiles tier. Their baggage fees add up once you have a few sectors....

Same here. I have three flights coming up and at $25 a bag, that's $75 I would prefer to have in my pocket, although I am Gold, but it shouldn't make much difference.
I am finding it tough to get answers from anyone. I have emailed Delta and so far have not heard back.
My main query relates to the Sky Club at LAX. I have a VA MEL-LAX flight and then a LAX-PDX flight booked with Delta, but on Alaska metal on a separate ticket. I would really like to have access to the Sky Club before the LAX-PDX flight (a shower is the main reason) without having to spend $50 on a one-day pass. So far nobody really knows.

 

[dandandan]

Looking at that link makes me wonder when Diamond level is coming to Velocity.

Last week I made a booking for March - when I look the booking up I see:

SkyMiles frequent flyer program benefits

 

[cssaus]

My travel on DL last week and the week before, my point come through in less than 5 days

Curious to know, did your boarding pass show a VA flight number or DL flight number for your flight last week?

 

[Fruitcake]

Curious to know, did your boarding pass show a VA flight number or DL flight number for your flight last week?

Your question wasn't directed at me, but my experience may be relevant to your interests: I flew DL on DL flight numbers booked via the DL web site on 24 and 26 July. All sectors posted together on 31 July.

I flew VX on 3 August, that didn't post until 5 September. But still within the 4-6 week window.

I do wonder whether someone at VX or DL takes a "download from the system" each month and e-mails it to someone at Velocity!

 

[cssaus]

Your question wasn't directed at me, but my experience may be relevant to your interests: I flew DL on DL flight numbers booked via the DL web site on 24 and 26 July. All sectors posted together on 31 July.

I flew VX on 3 August, that didn't post until 5 September. But still within the 4-6 week window.

I do wonder whether someone at VX or DL takes a "download from the system" each month and e-mails it to someone at Velocity!

Re your experience with the DL flights and my own experience of flying on DL ticketed flights, it would seem to suggest that the posting issue of miles is confined to flying on a DL operated flight with a VA ticket & VA flight number.

As for the posting of the VX miles, my experience was much the same, flew on August 20 with the miles posting on September 9.