Status Recognition on Virgin America

[Milboo]

I have just booked a flight on VX from JFK to LAX.

If you are gold or silver Elevate members there are certain seats which are available (instead of $30 charge) and you're also eligible to be upgrade to their Main Cabin Select.

As a Gold FF with VA - anyone had any success in unlocking this benefit?

 

[Homer]

As a Gold FF with VA - anyone had any success in unlocking this benefit?

As a Platinum FF with VA...nope. I've only flown VX twice and they recognised our VA status for lounge access but not much else. Allegedly they also offer priority screening/boarding/check-in/baggage but I did not experience any of this. Still VX is a good airline and I'd fly them again. You can't blame the Americans for seeing us as a rounding error .

Also go online 24 hours before your flight to check-in and you can upgrade to Main Cabin Select for a low price if available. I got four seats in the front row of whY for about US$200...

 

[jneufeld]

Flew with VX last month, you get no recognition what so ever there is nothing printed on your boarding pas to say you are any different to anyone else (unlike DL which prints VFF number and status). They are still probably the best US airline.

 

[MiLK_MaN]

Just did PHL - LAX and SAN - SFO with VX, absolutely nothing in terms of recognition of being VA Plat. Apart from being able to book some rewards seats with VX I'd say there's about no other benefit of flying with them unless you like watching some free pay tv on flights.

 

[Homer]

...I'd say there's about no other benefit of flying with them unless you like watching some free pay tv on flights.

I think the free television and movies are a real benefit, plus if you manage to score the upgrade to Main Cabin Select or F then all the movies, etc, are free. But even without this I think VX is a significant improvement over the legacy US carriers in terms of cabin ambiance and service levels. Worth a go, in my book, even without the recognition of VA status.

 

[SilverShadow]

Hi all

VA Gold here - had this question a whilst back so I asked V America and got in touch via email - they clarified after some initial back and forth that they do recognise VA Gold and Plat for all the status perks and what I think are quite basic requirements for frequent flyers (especially if you want my business from overseas). I printed their reply out just in case. I thought I'd also share with you my experiences so far just to help anyone else who might be in the same situation:

Have had 2 internal flights so far from LAX-SFO and SFO-EWR and whilst they do recognise the perks somewhat - I did feel like they were either confused or would make me jump through certain hoops to get them.

LAX-SFO - got into the priority lane fine on producing my VA Gold card. I only bought Main cabin seats not anything special and thought I should still have to pay luggage fees for checked-in stuff but they didn't charge (maybe I haven't seen it but I swear I did not read that in the rules, ah well). My boarding pass did not have a priority indicator on it so I was made to go into the much longer security screening line. Went up to the lounge and they looked at my card and their screen for like 5 minutes before letting me in. LAX lounge is okay and small and there weren't too many travellers when I was there. When it came time to board they called out the flight within the lounge and it was straight into the line and no issues there either. So only hiccup was sec screening.

SFO-EWR - Priority lane shared with First Class and Elevate Gold and Plat. I was the only person to walk in that line and felt a bit bad as the check in lady was going to call someone else over who was waiting but then saw me and asked me to come over. When I checked in I asked them about any stickers or indicators for priority and it was only upon doing this that the check in person advised they don't have these so called stickers on the boarding pass but proceeded to hand write 'Priority' on the boarding pass (bit weird). Security screening - went through the priority area this time. No lounge access for VA Gold at SFO. Had some lunch at the Sportsbar (with an Australian Penfolds mind you, nothing like feeling at home). Walked straight onto the flight with no issues either.

Oh and both flights had priority bags and they came out just fine each time.

Anyway I suggest you keep your card handy and show them just in case - I did mine along with passport/boarding pass and didn't really have issues. I think they are still a bit behind in terms of knowing what the cross complimentary rules are as they do seem to have a funny look on their faces which is either my accent or confusion over what I am supposed to be entitled to. I guess it works in my favour though as I am pretty sure I'm not supposed to get checked in bags free.


Hope all goes well with your travels folks!

 

[Saab34]

Used VX multiple times over the past fortnight, and can confirm that as Gold/Plat we are not entitled to free baggage. All you are entitled to is priority Screening, Checkin, Baggage and Boarding. Plus LOFT Lounge at LAX.

LAX-I suggest asking at checkin for a priority security lane pass as without it there is no hope. No issues with Priority checkin. You shouldn't have many issues at LAX because the VX staff work for the same contractor as VA. Coincidentally the same person checking me in at VX checked me in for my VA flight to MEL the following week. Never had any issues here.

JFK-Had no clue about Velocity. Asked her colleague who said the same so I said ask your boss and she came over and sorted all the perks out. Lucky the boss was boarding the flight also.

SFO-No issues at checkin but boarding refused she thought I was trying to trick her with queue jumping! Idiots!

DFW-No complete clue what so ever. I was told this card has no business here. I gave her the velocity website link and suggest she did some homework. I didn't even bother with boarding.

Its a hit and miss but what pisses me off is when I go for priority boarding walk past the 100 odd people in the queue and then get told I am some sort of idiot and go to the back.

 

[jmphoto]

I'm not really in the fanboi category for VA, but I am a supporter and think that pre-Sabre they had hardly put a foot wrong. Having recently flown on SQ though, and reading the benefits issues on VX I do think there is considerable room for improvement with partner airlines.

I managed to keep my OW status alive some time back with a handy status match by the now defunct Hungarian airline MA. Despite the obscure nature of the airline I was afforded all OW Emerald benefits across the network. AA may be pretty rubbish in Y and domestically, but getting EMERALD slapped across every single BP opened doors without hesitation. I don't believe VA need to join an alliance, but they do need to ensure benefits across their partner airlines are widely known.

 

[MartinMemo]

Everything about partner airlines confuses me, but I agree. After spending the last 2 days planing A US trip and being mostly a VA flyer I just don't understand why I can't check in to a VX flight and get all the benefits of gold VA? Surly they know we exist and we can't be the first to ask it?

 

[erkpod]

The VX Vlounge at LAX should be well used to seeing SG & WP VFF cards - the day I was returning back to Oz on VA1, the Vlounge was full of Aussies. I didn't have status at the time but I paid my way in as I had a long layover there.

I'll be keen to see how I go because I'll be flying VX in January.