Parental pause platinum with expired card overseas - lounge access

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grubbidok

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Hi all, I'm a WP who recently went on parental pause (though I actually re-qualified about one month prior) due to the birth of our little one, which has meant that I'm relocated temporarily in Boston for 6mo to spend time with family (and am lucky enough to have an employer where that can be done). However, my card has expired whist over here, and apparently being on pause I will not be getting a new one until that ends in March.

What's the deal with lounge access during this time. I have been asked to go to Bengaluru next week (the flights have been booked on Etihad) and Nicaragua the week after (Delta?). I may also have to go to Kolkata in February and was considering Virgin Atlantic. I'd like to be able to use my status, but without my card am I just screwed when it comes to things like lounge access?

Virgin says you're supposed to be eligible for your bennies while on pause, but that may be worthless if they won't renew your card.

Anyone have any experience on lounge access on Etihad/Delta/Virgin Atlantic without their card? Not to mention the Star Alliance lounge in LAX on our way back to Oz in March (flying VA). The number will show on the boarding pass, but the card expired in October. Is it worth even booking on partners?
 
So you want the benefit of extending your status by pausing for maternity leave but you also want to use the benefits of the lounge during your maternity leave status pause period?

Sounds like two bites of the apple to be honest (not being snarky).
 
You might like to review the velocity terms and conditions clause 25.7, that states applications for pause for parental leave in the one month grace period following a member's review date will be rejected. They shouldn't have put you on pause until the review was completed and your new status confirmed.

Also worth noting for others that pause for parental leave can be taken up until the child is 2 years old. So if close to your review date and you've requalified it might be best to wait until the review is complete.


So you want the benefit of extending your status by pausing for maternity leave but you also want to use the benefits of the lounge during your maternity leave status pause period?

Sounds like two bites of the apple to be honest (not being snarky).

Semantics first. Maternity leave applies to women only, do you know the OP is a lady? Parental leave might be the term to use

Secondly velocity offer membership pause for parental leave. Implicit in that pause is an extension of status benefits to be used during the pause. If velocity don't explicitly rule that use out, why do you have an issue?
 
.... If velocity don't explicitly rule that use out, why do you have an issue?

I don't have an issue, that's why I included "not being snarky", its a interesting question. I also consider paternity or maternity the same, whether male or female as they have similar entitlements so I wasn't assuming OP was any gender.

Sheesh.
 
I don't have an issue, that's why I included "not being snarky", its a interesting question. I also consider paternity or maternity the same, whether male or female as they have similar entitlements so I wasn't assuming OP was any gender.

Sheesh.

Maybe. But maternity is still a gender based term.
 
Secondly velocity offer membership pause for parental leave. Implicit in that pause is an extension of status benefits to be used during the pause. If velocity don't explicitly rule that use out, why do you have an issue?
It's not implicit at all, only a couple of benefits are said to be usable in the terms and conditions as opposed to all.
 
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It's not implicit at all, only a couple of benefits are said to be usable in the terms and conditions as opposed to all.

Combined with the lack of an explicit prohibition on the other benefits and the first paragraph that states the account is paused in order to maintain their membership level.

Maintain the membership level but have no benefits? Yeah ok. Have it your way.

In any case none of this helps the OP
 
Combined with the lack of an explicit prohibition on the other benefits and the first paragraph that states the account is paused in order to maintain their membership level.

Maintain the membership level but have no benefits? Yeah ok. Have it your way.

In any case none of this helps the OP

Worth discussion though as I suspect what the OP has been told is wrong, and lounge access etc is not applicable on the pause. The lack of a card suggests that to be the case.
 
Some more info, the reason I'd paused is that family commitments required me to be OS for some time. TBH I'm still flying enough to retain status, but didn't want the pressure of not being able to make it due to lack of VA partners on those routes, and the fact I am actually flying a little less these first few months. Before pulling the trigger I specifically asked via phone (which, it turns out, conveniently VA don't keep records of) that benefits would be maintained during this time. I'd never have agreed if this wasn't the case. I also can't find not having access to partner lounges in terms, but lady on the phone is telling me (now) that I can't access lounges while on pause (though is also adamant that this still means VA are still giving me full member bennies). Apparently there was anew card, but it was sent after I left, and it hasn't been forwarded like all my other mail has (due to irregular box?).
 
Sounds strange.

The other issue is the flights still accrue and status credits drop off. Doesn't sound at all like the membership is paused.
 
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