United Airlines new Virgin Australia/Velocity Partner

[flightaway]

That is at least something! That should mean priority check-in, security, boarding and bags. If that is on the boarding pass it's a start! Although I have my VA number (gold) against an upcoming UA booking it is happy to sell me these benefits for the sectors that are not in Premium Plus ( I guess that is fair enough as my status could change between now and then...although it's more likely that status isn't taken into account at all when offering the upsale).

In theory yes. However to use premier access to check in at certain airports SFO for one you have to get past a mean looking united staff member who wanted to see my united platinum card. When I showed him my velocity platinum card he said what's this. We don't accept this. That's when the fun started....now I could have got my boarding pass from the united app but it wanted to charge me checked baggage fees as it doesn't recognise velocity status for baggage. After I paid the baggage fees and boarding pass it said premier access and bags did come out first at the other end so that is something

 

[FlyingKangaroo]

Agree 100%
I recently took quite a few AC flights. I’m UA Gold and working on building up my VA status. I booked with my UA number, printed my boarding pass with *Gold, then changed my FF number to my VA number. It worked, I was able to get lounge access and credit to VA.

+1 confirmed.

Just checked in for my AC flight tomorrow with Star Gold number, then immediately changed it to VA after printing and taking screenshots of boarding passes. Success. Note that only the most recent boarding pass shows in your Apple Wallet if using an iPhone, so a screengrab may be useful.

Funny enough in my case, it didn't affect my zone numbers as I guess a preferred seat in Y is given Zone 2 like Star Gold even on the VA pass even though the website suggested it would be Zone 3... but the priority security did fall off.

Back to UA: I can't even modify my frequent flyer number online and from various threads on FlyerTalk, it does seem the only way to do that is initial online check-in or later only at the airport, so this approach would only work on UA if you change it with an agent at the airport.

 

[QF WP]

So how did it all go at the airport. By making the change (*G to VA), what were the benefits and detractions. Were you able to rectify losing the priority security?

So are you suggesting only making the change at the airport? Before, at or after check-in?

 

[jakeseven7]

Agree, the Delta partnership was much stronger in that regard. Eliminating domestic lounge access in the states for VA status pax is very scummy

I guess Virgin didn't want to pay UA for lounge access with their new positioning....

 

[HS-TQE]

I guess Virgin didn't want to pay UA for lounge access with their new positioning....

Access was cut back to same day connections during the dying days of the DL joint venture, so it goes way back before UA.

 

[oz_mark]

I guess Virgin didn't want to pay UA for lounge access with their new positioning....

Or UA didn't want to provide it (keeping it in line with other partners)

 

[FlyingKangaroo]

So how did it all go at the airport. By making the change (*G to VA), what were the benefits and detractions. Were you able to rectify losing the priority security?

So are you suggesting only making the change at the airport? Before, at or after check-in?

Went off without a hitch.

For AC, I'd recommend making the change online. This can be done within the online check-in system under "passenger details." The system immediately updates the boarding passes. In my case, the only change was priority security which dropped off from my VA boarding pass. That didn't matter, as Las Vegas only offers "priority" security to "first class" and via the TSA "pre-check" and "CLEAR" programmes, but in theory, had it existed I could have just shown the agent policing the line my original boarding pass.

I didn't attempt to enter the United lounge in Las Vegas as I prefer the AMEX Centurion lounge there, but my understanding is that I could have simply shown my separate Star Gold card.

For UA, you'd have to make the change at the airport if you've already checked in online with the Star Gold benefits showing.

In both cases, though, as long as you keep a copy of the original boarding passes showing Star Gold benefits, my understanding is that you'll get them. If an actual person is policing various priority check-in or boarding lanes, they'll just sight the pass, and from a few threads I read on FlyerTalk, people have reported success using the original boarding pass even at automatic boarding gates. Seems the systems aren't set up to care much about things like boarding zone numbers.

 

[cbourl]

Went off without a hitch.

For AC, I'd recommend making the change online. This can be done within the online check-in system under "passenger details." The system immediately updates the boarding passes. In my case, the only change was priority security which dropped off from my VA boarding pass. That didn't matter, as Las Vegas only offers "priority" security to "first class" and via the TSA "pre-check" and "CLEAR" programmes, but in theory, had it existed I could have just shown the agent policing the line my original boarding pass.

I didn't attempt to enter the United lounge in Las Vegas as I prefer the AMEX Centurion lounge there, but my understanding is that I could have simply shown my separate Star Gold card.

For UA, you'd have to make the change at the airport if you've already checked in online with the Star Gold benefits showing.

In both cases, though, as long as you keep a copy of the original boarding passes showing Star Gold benefits, my understanding is that you'll get them. If an actual person is policing various priority check-in or boarding lanes, they'll just sight the pass, and from a few threads I read on FlyerTalk, people have reported success using the original boarding pass even at automatic boarding gates. Seems the systems aren't set up to care much about things like boarding zone numbers.

Amex Lounge at LAS McCarren is very good! I divide time between UA lounge and then Amex Centurion for the massive showers with L'Occitane and good food n booze without having to tip! Now the Amex Centurion Lounge at SFO - well thats just a over-packed dump with Door H..gs

 

[jakeseven7]

Or UA didn't want to provide it (keeping it in line with other partners)

Possibly…. I thought about typing that as well but UA would shake a buck from a homeless person to make some money, so I thought it would be really weird them not selling lounge space to VA2, VA2 passenger numbers would be tiny given how small VA2 reach is really in the scheme of things…

 

[HS-TQE]

Possibly…. I thought about typing that as well but UA would shake a buck from a homeless person to make some money, so I thought it would be really weird them not selling lounge space to VA2, VA2 passenger numbers would be tiny given how small VA2 reach is really in the scheme of things…

Most likely adopted the same rules as the other Star Alliance partners. Must be same day departure. VA 2.0 is mentioned separately on the United Club page with virtually the same rules as Star partners.

Lounge Access Policy - Star Alliance

Access policy for the Star Alliance member airline lounges around the world.

www.staralliance.com

 

[twiningb]

Possibly…. I thought about typing that as well but UA would shake a buck from a homeless person to make some money, so I thought it would be really weird them not selling lounge space to VA2, VA2 passenger numbers would be tiny given how small VA2 reach is really in the scheme of things…

I considered this possibility as well, and I suspect if it's the case, it's more that they would have difficulty defending it to their own elites or to their Star partners.

 

[jakeseven7]

I considered this possibility as well, and I suspect if it's the case, it's more that they would have difficulty defending it to their own elites or to their Star partners.

Always difficult when you have a formal alliance and meshing in the patchwork alliances....

 

[HS-TQE]

Always difficult when you have a formal alliance and meshing in the patchwork alliances....

I considered this possibility as well, and I suspect if it's the case, it's more that they would have difficulty defending it to their own elites or to their Star partners.

On a related note, the 'alliance' issue may be visited around mid/late 2024 going by Bain's recent IPO message.

Refer to Forum Post: AFR Opinion: Bain Capital’s big conundrum with a Virgin Australia float

 

[ozstamps]

I guess Virgin didn't want to pay UA for lounge access with their new positioning....

Of course.

This airline is way too cheap to supply ($1 to them) newspapers in lounges here, or to Biz passengers on local flights, so they sure as heck are not going to pay United $US30=$A43 per Velocity member and any guests, that uses a UA lounge stateside.

 

[twiningb]

On a related note, the 'alliance' issue may be visited around mid/late 2024 going by Bain's recent IPO message.

Refer to Forum Post: AFR Opinion: Bain Capital’s big conundrum with a Virgin Australia float

I think I saw some of the text of this somewhere originally (although now I'm hitting the paywall), but I don't recall any specific reference to alliance stuff. Was that explicit, or subtext?

 

[HS-TQE]

I think I saw some of the text of this somewhere originally (although now I'm hitting the paywall), but I don't recall any specific reference to alliance stuff. Was that explicit, or subtext?

No specific reference to 'alliance' in the artile, more like in reference to two of the above posters wishing for VA to join the Star Alliance, even though the expenses of joining an Alliance as a full member (let alone Star) is considerably expensive, and knowing Bain are extremely conservative CapEx wise (hence making outside partnerships like Qatar Airways, although largely at expense of Etihad).

 

[twiningb]

No specific reference to 'alliance' in the artile, more like in reference to two of the above posters wishing for VA to join the Star Alliance, even though the expenses of joining an Alliance as a full member (let alone Star) is considerably expensive, and knowing Bain are extremely conservative CapEx wise (hence making outside partnerships like Qatar Airways, although largely at expense of Etihad).

OK, that is in line with my previous understanding: I'd like them to join Star, but Bain is unlikely to want to make that initial and ongoing outlay.

 

[travelnutjohn]

hi everyone, im very very late to the party
for someone who has no status, only flies for their annual holiday,
and who has had a few availability problems with other airlines/or their miles requirements being so too high due to lack of availaiblity

is this program good for Business class or first class travel, Long haul

ie are the fuel/taxes/surhcarges reasonable
- are flights in businss/first generally available
- are the points required reasonable, compared to others
- does the premium product compare well with other brands?

thanks in advance everyone

 

[Revenge]

Back to UA: I can't even modify my frequent flyer number online and from various threads on FlyerTalk, it does seem the only way to do that is initial online check-in or later only at the airport, so this approach would only work on UA if you change it with an agent at the airport.

With UA I've had success changing the FF number on the self-service kiosks in the terminal (at LAX).

 

[jaybo]

has anyone had a positive experience trying to book reward J on UA from Aus? i've been peering through the schedules quite a bit recently from MEL-LAX and there seems to be plenty of economy reward tickets but not a single business reward.

have just looked at the UA site and there seems to be heaps of options with JN (which are apparently only for UA MileagePlus members?)

need to book 2x flights for a wedding in late august next year and starting to think that flying via SIN on SQ is going to be the better (only?) way to go, seem to be reasonable availability that way, though would obviously like to spend 8 less hours on a plane if i can wrangle it