Sky Club access for Velocity Gold & Platinum members

[Justinf]

I have a LAX-PDX flight booked with Delta on Alsaka Airlines metal. This is a separate booking on the same day that I arrive at LAX after a MEL-LAX flight with VA.
For the life of me I couldn't find out whether I could access the LAX Delta Sky Club, so I emailed Delta. To their credit, the reply took only 2 days, despite them apologising for the 'late response' but it still leaves me confused as I thought Gold and Platinums could access the Sky Club?

here is my enquiry and following is the response:

Hi, I am a Velocity Gold member and after a MEL-LAX flight with Virgin Australia, I have a Delta flight from LAX to PDX the same day. I have booked the ticket with Delta, but the flight is on an Alaska Airlines aircraft. I would like to know as a Velocity Gold member, am I permitted to access the LAX Sky Club before my flight to PDX? Thanks for any help you can offer.

Dear Mr Justinf

Thank you for your inquiry. We apologize for the late response.
Please find below the link about lounge access including exceptions.
http://www.delta.com/traveling_checkin/airport_information/delta_sky_club/sky_club_locations/index.jsp
Virgin Australia members are not entitled to enter into the lounge for free.
You need to travel on the international flight with Delta Air Lines to be able to access to the lounge or travel on Delta First Class, Business Elite, or full Y-class ticket between JFK and Denver/Las Vegas/Los Angeles/Portland/Phoenix/San Diego/Seattle or San Francisco.
Yours Sincerely,
DELTA AIR LINES
Customer Care

 

[Fruitcake]

Interesting response, given that it contradicts the page they link to.

Virgin Australia Club access

Virgin Australia Club members traveling on a flight operated by Delta or Virgin Australia Airlines.

When travelling through the US in July I tried to enter a Sky Club at DTW, and was turned away because I wasn't on an international itinerary. I said this was contrary to my experiences earlier in my trip, the Velocity website and even the Sky Club website. She assured me all those were wrong.

I went to another Sky Club in the terminal and was immediately granted entry.

That anecdote doesn't help answer your query (apart from the "operated by Delta" stipulation, which isn't encouraging) but it does show that misunderstandings/miscommunication about the rights of Velocity members travelling on DL might go a bit further up the chain that I thought.

 

[MarkD]

And this is why Qantas has a better network of lounges. It should be clear cut, "this is where you can access lounges" Please can I come in? what a joke, they really need to sort out lounge access, because people will tire really quick of begging for lounge access, when the competition has a system that works and is clearly defined where access is available.

 

[Justinf]

Yep, very interesting response as I gather it completely contradicts what AFF members have been reporting.
I sent the same email to Virgin Australia and the response was:

Dear Mr Justinf,

Thank you for your email regarding lounge access with our partner airlines.

As our partnerships with world-class airlines grow in strength and size, we are proud to offer reciprocal benefits their High Priority members which in turn ensures our High Priority members are also welcomed with the same benefits they've grown to enjoy with Virgin Australia.

In line with this, I am happy to advise you that your lounge access at Los Angeles Airport as our valued Gold Velocity member means you have a choice to visit the Delta Sky Club lounge and also the Alaskan Air Boardroom (which has recently been temporarily taken over by Virgin Airlines).

You will find your International Lounge Access information from our Velocity Website, and also through the following link:

http://www.velocityrewards.com.au/content/Status/InternationalLoungeAccess/index.htm

In particular, please note next to Delta Airlines: You and a guest on presentation of membership card and boarding pass for same day travel on a Virgin Australia International Long Haul flight or Delta Air Lines.

Please ensure your Gold Membership Velocity card is with you, as well as your boarding pass.

I hope this has sufficiently answered your query. We look forward to welcoming you back on board as our cherished Gold Velocity member, and I have absolute confidence that your flights with us will be up to your usual high standard. Please let me know if there is anything further I can assist you with.

Kind Regards

 

[dandandan]

On Velocity website it does say the below, I would think you should have access. I saw the response from Delta, I would respond to that with the below information. I was planning on possibly flying Delta JFK-LAX in Feb next year on the basis I would have lounge access along with the SC earn but only if it was not to far away in price from VX. Have you contacted Virgin?

Delta Air Lines

Delta Sky Club owned and operated lounges* Air New Zealand Koru Lounge

You and a guest on presentation of membership card and boarding pass for same day travel on a Virgin Australia International Long Haul flight or Delta Air Lines. You and a guest on presentation of membership card and boarding pass for same day travel with Delta Air Lines.

View Locations Sydney

https://www.velocityrewards.com.au/content/Status/InternationalLoungeAccess/index.htm

Interesting response, given that it contradicts the page they link to.


When travelling through the US in July I tried to enter a Sky Club at DTW, and was turned away because I wasn't on an international itinerary. I said this was contrary to my experiences earlier in my trip, the Velocity website and even the Sky Club website. She assured me all those were wrong.

I went to another Sky Club in the terminal and was immediately granted entry.

That anecdote doesn't help answer your query (apart from the "operated by Delta" stipulation, which isn't encouraging) but it does show that misunderstandings/miscommunication about the rights of Velocity members travelling on DL might go a bit further up the chain that I thought.

 

[Fruitcake]

And this is why Qantas has a better network of lounges. It should be clear cut, "this is where you can access lounges"

I'd argue it is pretty clear cut:
Lounge Access with Velocity Membership | Velocity Frequent Flyer

What's less clear cut is the staff training at the other end.

For what it's worth, I'm unable to tell from the QF lounge access page what lounge access a WP travelling on an AA codeshare operated by AS would have. This is an analogous situation.

 

[MarkD]

analogous

Thats a big word
I dont see what is Analogous about it. Are you comparing QF and DJ?

 

[Justinf]

I just want to know one way or the other. I also have a PDX-SLC and a SLC-LAX flight with Delta the same week and I thought I would be able to access the Sky Club at PDX and SLC without any hassles, but now I'm not so sure.
It's annoying. If I have to purchase a day pass, or three day passes, I would like the opportunity to do so cheaply on ebay or something beforehand or at least get a monthy pass for $90.
What I don't want is the hassle and embarrassment of being turned away at the door like I am some leech trying to get in for free.

 

[dandandan]

I just noticed this little term below the list which probably answers your question Justin F

Terms and Conditions
When travelling on airline partner codeshare services operated by third party carriers which are not Velocity airline partners, lounge access is not available.

I'd argue it is pretty clear cut:
Lounge Access with Velocity Membership | Velocity Frequent Flyer

What's less clear cut is the staff training at the other end.

For what it's worth, I'm unable to tell from the QF lounge access page what lounge access a WP travelling on an AA codeshare operated by AS would have. This is an analogous situation.

 

[dandandan]

Little term, posted big!

I would just try and wing access anyway.

I just noticed this little term below the list which probably answers your question Justin F

Terms and Conditions
When travelling on airline partner codeshare services operated by third party carriers which are not Velocity airline partners, lounge access is not available.

 

[Fruitcake]

Thats a big word
I dont see what is Analogous about it. Are you comparing QF and DJ?

The OP's question is about lounge access as a VA status member when holding a ticket booked with a partner (DL) but operated by a non-partner (AS). My example is a QF status member holding a ticket booked with AA (partner) but operated by a AS (non-partner). So similar concepts. My argument is that neither QF nor VA make it clear from their websites how lounge access is handled in this situation.

Personally I think mismatch of other benefits (priority boarding, checkin etc) is a much bigger problem for VA's virtual network than lounge access is. The main area that still has issues is the pacific islands where competition regulators wouldn't allow DJ and NZ to get as cozy as they have across the rest of the networks. Little quirks like access when flying VA codeshares on HA or VS seem to have been resolved.

EDIT: and, danoleary55 has sorted it out anyway. So it is clear cut after all! Except for Delta's e-mail response which is, I believe, wrong.

 

[serfty]

Delta Sky Club Locations

The rules are most definitely clear from DL's perspective. The flight needs to be operated by VA/DJ/DL.

Virgin Australia Club access

Virgin Australia Club members traveling on a flight operated by Delta or Virgin Australia Airlines.

It is strait forward - the only restriction for "Virgin Australia Club" is the member needs to be on a flight operated by DL or VA.

A codeshare fails this restriction.

I would state the CS agents reply was right but not for the quoted reasons. I reckon it was a standard cut and paste.

 

[Justinf]

Ok, so thanks to Dan it looks like I will need to pay to enter the Sky Club at LAX. Finally I get the answer after weeks of trying. You gotta love AFF.
But now, according to Delta's response, I need to be travelling on Delta full-fare Y domestically in order to access the Sky Club even at PDX and it doesn't even mention SLC.
Screw it. I think I will just buy a monthly pass for $90 and save myself the hassle. Three visits (at LAX, PDX and SLC) works out to be $30 each visit.
Or I could just not bother at all. (but I really want the Sky Lounge access at LAX where I have a 4-hour layover).

It still doesn't explain why I received one response from Delta and a different response from VA. sigh

 

[dandandan]

You should have access with all the other flights as long as they are Delta operated/metal and the lounge is their own lounge.

Maybe this is an option for LAX, it might not want to be if you want free booze.

Get the Info - reLAX lounge

Ok, so thanks to Dan it looks like I will need to pay to enter the Sky Club at LAX. Finally I get the answer after weeks of trying. You gotta love AFF.
But now, according to Delta's response, I need to be travelling on Delta full-fare Y domestically in order to access the Sky Club even at PDX and it doesn't even mention SLC.
Screw it. I think I will just buy a monthly pass for $90 and save myself the hassle. Three visits (at LAX, PDX and SLC) works out to be $30 each visit.
Or I could just not bother at all. (but I really want the Sky Lounge access at LAX where I have a 4-hour layover).

It still doesn't explain why I received one response from Delta and a different response from VA. sigh

 

[Virgin Australia]

Hi everyone, we would like to clarify that Velocity Gold and Platinum members have access to all Delta Air Lines owned and operated lounges and the Air New Zealand Koru lounge at Sydney Airport when travelling in any class of service on any Delta Air Lines operated flight.

We are working with our colleagues at Delta Air Lines to rectify the misinformation.

 

[serfty]

Hi everyone, we would like to clarify that Velocity Gold and Platinum members have access to all Delta Air Lines owned and operated lounges and the Air New Zealand Koru lounge at Sydney Airport when travelling in any class of service on any Delta Air Lines operated flight.

We are working with our colleagues at Delta Air Lines to rectify the misinformation.

But this is in regard an AS operated flight ... (DL codeshare) ...

 

[Fruitcake]

Hi everyone, we would like to clarify that Velocity Gold and Platinum members have access to all Delta Air Lines owned and operated lounges and the Air New Zealand Koru lounge at Sydney Airport when travelling in any class of service on any Delta Air Lines operated flight.

We are working with our colleagues at Delta Air Lines to rectify the misinformation.

Thanks for the clarification, Virgin Australia (if that is your real name...). Follow up with DL would probably be helpful - DTW was the only place I struck trouble with DL when in the US, but seeing the DL customer service line give the same incorrect advice via e-mail that I got in person at DTW is a bit concerning. It would seem they view VA as being equivalent to SkyTeam in terms of DL lounge access - when in reality you've actually managed to negotiate a better deal than SkyTeam members get.

 

[maninblack]

Righty-ho, and will you be granted access to the Sky Club (and others) when you present your EXPIRED Velocity Gold or Platinum card

See; www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au/...-currently-assessing-your-activity-42806.html

 

[dandandan]

It might be JB seeming there was such a quick answer from Virgin, good work from Virgin anyway.

Thanks for the clarification, Virgin Australia (if that is your real name...).

 

[serfty]

Thanks for the clarification, Virgin Australia (if that is your real name...)... .

There was no real clarification beyond what it actually already indicates on both the DL and Velocity websites. (... Other than perhaps VA will promot DL to remind their staff of "Virgin Australia Club" based access.)

The issue here is DL [marketed] codeshares on AS [operated] metal - and that circumstance was not specifically referenced in VA's post #15.