United Airlines new Virgin Australia/Velocity Partner

[jase05]

How long were you on hold?

Platinum line and got straight through. Problem resolved plus quick chat and was all over in about 6 minutes from the time I dialled to time I hung up

 

[antycbr]

Platinum line and got straight through. Problem resolved plus quick chat and was all over in about 6 minutes from the time I dialled to time I hung up

If you're feeling brave, post the above experience on the Qantas forum...

 

[Must...Fly!]

Platinum line and got straight through. Problem resolved plus quick chat and was all over in about 6 minutes from the time I dialled to time I hung up

Called yesterday morning to process one of my plat upgrades. 3m13s from dialling to hanging up including putting in member number + pin, confirm upgrade and seat selection.

I am excited to see what opportunities the UA partnership will give us.

 

[Saab34]

Maybe this time Greg over the ditch might see VA in a more positive light!

Interesting topic as Foran and Hrdlicka both worked for Woolworths, both crossing over around 2010-2012. She was on the Board and he was the Supermaket boss.

 

[Matty F]

Anyone know when in April the United partnership goes live?

 

[AIRwin]

Anyone know when in April the United partnership goes live?

Recent response when @wendlle inquired:

Booking International flight on Virgin Website

I need to book fares from Sydney-San Diego then from Los Angeles to Sydney but it appears I can no longer do this on the virgin website? I know Virgin aren't flying to the USA but I assumed I could still book a United flight on their site. Am I going to go to the United site to do this? And...

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

 

[Matty F]

This is unfortunate - the Airline Partners page is now saying "late May 2022"

 

[aaronm]

This is unfortunate - the Airline Partners page is now saying "late May 2022"

Seems the press release has also been updated - Virgin Australia and United Airlines partnership announcement

 

[HS-TQE]

Possibly some last minute sorting with both outgoing partner DL and incoming partner UA.

Noted the new date would reduce the DL to UA overlap to a 2 week period at most.

 

[noble]

I am keen to know when the UA partnership starts, how many Velocity points needed to book Bus Cl on United LAX-MEL

 

[HS-TQE]

I am keen to know when the UA partnership starts, how many Velocity points needed to book Bus Cl on United LAX-MEL

Late May is the given (tentative) date on Virgin Australia's own website.

 

[Mattg]

I am keen to know when the UA partnership starts, how many Velocity points needed to book Bus Cl on United LAX-MEL

It will either be 95,500 or 104,000 Velocity points one-way for business class, depending on which reward table United slots into.

 

[BS84]

Anyone know (or care to guess) whether UA will allow upgrades (using points) from economy to premium/premium to business like Delta did?

 

[Revenge]

That's unfortunate about the delay. Given all the issues Qantas is having, I was hoping to switch my loyalty to flying VA in Australia, crediting to United and using by United Premier Gold to get benefits while flying VA.

Might endure with QF until VA finally launch the UA partnership.

I wonder if you can use the new Virgin Business Flyer program to book VA flights with the discount, and earn status for the business, while crediting individual frequent flyer points to a VA partner. Does anyone know if its like Qantas Business Rewards where you earn for the business by entering the ABN regardless of what frequent flyer number you put in?

 

[wendlle]

Had to call VA on a different matter but did ask the helpful lady if she knew anything about the partnership and she mentioned that the codeshare flights should be loaded into the system around about Easter and that hopefully everything will be on line by April 20th

Thanks for this info I’m impatiently waiting to book flights to USA for November

 

[jase05]

Thanks for this info I’m impatiently waiting to book flights to USA for November

The latest info on here is that it’s been pushed back to May

 

[wendlle]

The latest info on here is that it’s been pushed back to May

Ugh yes just read that.
I really don’t like waiting so long to book flights I prefer to have it all done 8-9 months out.
But getting the SC and points are important to me so I’ll impatiently wait.

 

[mitchd]

Ugh yes just read that.
I really don’t like waiting so long to book flights I prefer to have it all done 8-9 months out.
But getting the SC and points are important to me so I’ll impatiently wait.

My understanding is points and SC will still be earned on flights booked now. But maybe someone could explain why this wouldn’t ever be the case? See my last point below.

I gave in after the recent update that pushed it all back to late May, as my flights are in July. When you book through UA website it includes Velocity under the frequent flyer program and allows you to input your VFF number. (I also found it interesting that it booked to Virgin flights for my BNE-SYD legs)

Within 2 seconds of my credit card being charged, the trip showed up in our Virgin apps so a lot of the backend linking seems to be done already, we were then able to select our seats for the Virgin legs. A couple of bugs with names, and one of the legs was missing.

Oh and the most important detail: on the UA website under the miles earned section for my reservation it says Edited to add: here is the exact wording: “This traveler is earning miles with VA”

 

[wendlle]

My understanding is points and SC will still be earned on flights booked now. But maybe someone could explain why this wouldn’t ever be the case? See my last point below.

I gave in after the recent update that pushed it all back to late May, as my flights are in July. When you book through UA website it includes Velocity under the frequent flyer program and allows you to input your VFF number. (I also found it interesting that it booked to Virgin flights for my BNE-SYD legs)

Within 2 seconds of my credit card being charged, the trip showed up in our Virgin apps so a lot of the backend linking seems to be done already, we were then able to select our seats for the Virgin legs. A couple of bugs with names, and one of the legs was missing.

Oh and the most important detail: on the UA website under the miles earned section for my reservation it says Edited to add: here is the exact wording: “This traveler is earning miles with VA”

Well perhaps I’ll just book now
I thought I’d have to wait until it was “official”
Was anything noted on your UA flights about your VA status?

 

[Revenge]

When you book through UA website it includes Velocity under the frequent flyer program and allows you to input your VFF number.

Interesting. Too bad it doesn't also already work the other way around (VA website doesn't currently give you the option of entering a UAMP number).