No status recognition or lounge access on Delta domestic

[dflyerau]

VA platinum.

Flew from JFK - Vegas today on Delta on an award seat booked through VA. Only sector on itinerary.

Get to priority check-in and show VA card. Woman asks me what the airline code is for VA and puts my number in.

Am told baggage not included. No big deal as I wasn't actually sure. My assumption was it was included on award seats. Nevermind, pay $25. Ask for priority bag tag and am told not permitted as the computer wasn't telling her I could have one. I told her I knew for a fact it was part of the reciprocal agreement and she basically just ignored me and put the bag on the conveyor. This is despite my boarding pass having "Sky Priority" printed at the top of it.

Go through security and get to lounge to be told I can't enter unless I'm connecting to an international flight. The guy says this as though he knows it with 100% certainty. He says even Delta platinum and diamond aren't allowed entry when only travelling on domestic. I tried to argue but he wasn't having any of it.

VA website says I can enter plus 1 guest, no mention of international requirement.

Delta website says:
[h=3]VIRGIN AUSTRALIA CLUB ACCESS[/h]Virgin Australia/Velocity VIP Platinum card, Platinum card or Gold card members traveling on a flight operated by Delta or Virgin Australia Airlines must show membership card for lounge access. Virgin Australia Business class passengers must show same-day business class boarding pass for lounge access.




I don't really know what the point of these agreements is if you get almost no benefit and the staff look at you like your card is fake.

Sort your **** out Virgin.

 

[notzac]

This is one of the problems with how SkyTeam does lounge access vs. how VA does lounge access: for most of Delta's partners, they only permit lounge access on a domestic sector when connecting to an international itinerary. VA has a different arrangement. Apparently you can tell the DL lounge dragons to compare their notes for VA to their notes for other SkyTeam airlines - the VA notes do not have anything mentioning same-day international flights.

If that doesn't work, politely excuse yourself, jump on Twitter and get in touch with @DeltaAssist - they're very very good and have rectified lounge access problems for VA pax a number of times now.

TL;DR - this is actually more DL that needs to sort their, erm, asterisks out.

VFF, if you're reading - maybe you can suggest to DL to have their lounge notes updated to state that VA Gold and Platinum are entitled to same day access, even on a domestic-only itinerary?

 

[blackcat20]

VX don't fair much better; I got "what do you expect me to do with that?" when I showed my card at check in..

 

[Velocity Frequent Flyer]

Hi dflyerau, I am concerned to read about your disappointing experience with Delta Air Lines. If you could please PM me your Velocity membership ID and flight reservation details, our airline partnerships team will be pleased to look into this for you. As a Platinum member, you are entitled to Priority Check-in/Boarding/Baggage handling/Screening, access to the Delta SkyClub including on standalone domestic itineraries, and Economy Comfort upgrade discount when travelling with DL.

 

[dk4]

Have to say that I had an initial rebuke at JFK T4 DL Sky Club as well... The immediate response was "you need a same day international connection". I responded that "VA was a Sky Club affiliate not a Sky Team airline, so my card was more like a Club card for access, could she please look it up on her computer?".... Several minutes and much typing later I was granted access.

It is quite a nice lounge (for a US airline) too - http://www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au/community/airport-lounges/delta-jfk-t4-skyclub-58322.html

 

[serfty]

I have only had issues once last year - but upon looking up on their system was permitted access in SFO mid last year.

The same guy welcomed me in with no issue this year.

The terms were updated earlier this year due to a web site update being rather incorrect but not enough changes were made.

Even back then I implored they be more specific.

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....ralia-velocity/delta-lounge-access-58401.html

 

[dflyerau]

Hi dflyerau, I am concerned to read about your disappointing experience with Delta Air Lines. If you could please PM me your Velocity membership ID and flight reservation details, our airline partnerships team will be pleased to look into this for you. As a Platinum member, you are entitled to Priority Check-in/Boarding/Baggage handling/Screening, access to the Delta SkyClub including on standalone domestic itineraries, and Economy Comfort upgrade discount when travelling with DL.

Thanks VFF. I don't have any economy Delta sectors coming up so I'm not really too bothered with having them apologise for it. The point is that clearly the partner airline staff have little or no knowledge of what they're supposed to be providing. At least now I know those things are definitely included so will know what to say in future.

I had a similar issue earlier in the year on an SQ ticket. They actually rang me to tell me I wouldn't be getting any extra baggage on SIN - HKT as Silkair wasn't part of Star Alliance or some cough, and that I had to call VA if I wanted it clarified. I asked if he had internet and directed him to the Velocity site where the benefit is listed and he put me on hold and came back and said it was now OK.

In both instances the partner staff seem like they're taking pleasure in telling me I can't have anything.

 

[Kolo]

Thanks VFF. I don't have any economy Delta sectors coming up so I'm not really too bothered with having them apologise for it. The point is that clearly the partner airline staff have little or no knowledge of what they're supposed to be providing. At least now I know those things are definitely included so will know what to say in future.

I had a similar issue earlier in the year on an SQ ticket. They actually rang me to tell me I wouldn't be getting any extra baggage on SIN - HKT as Silkair wasn't part of Star Alliance or some cough, and that I had to call VA if I wanted it clarified. I asked if he had internet and directed him to the Velocity site where the benefit is listed and he put me on hold and came back and said it was now OK.

In both instances the partner staff seem like they're taking pleasure in telling me I can't have anything.

That's a shame dflyerau. I had no such problems flying DL from LGA. But it would be good to know that all partner ports would honour agreements without question.

 

[dflyerau]

Had no problems with check-in in Vegas today (no lounge there) and no problems getting into the lounge in LAX. Seems like JFK just had no idea!

 

[ng100]

Whilst I've never been outright refused entry, it's pretty common that the lounge at SFO has trouble understanding that the number to use is the velocity number and not the Visa card number. This is enough of an issue that unless VA help DL educate their staff I'm sure others will think about going back to QF/AA (where I've never had an issue getting into an AA lounge with a QF card)

 

[YSSY]

The best way would be if photos of the relevant and applicable status cards allowed access were promulgated amongst lounges on a regular basis so that the agent could do a quick check. Or at least memos reminding staff who is permitted.