USA onward booking - what class?

[Hindo]

So I need to book SYD-MCO for a short trip in May. The SYD-LAX is VA metal while LAX-MCO will be DL. At this stage I will book in Y, although that may change to PE.

My question regards the second leg of this trip. If booked through VA with VA flight number, will this class be Main Cabin or Basic Economy? I'm pondering to book the domestic leg separately as this provides greater flexibility with DL flight number.

 

[traceyy]

main cabin i believe

 

[ftm]

It will be Main Cabin, however on the VA codeshare, preallocated seating is blocked online. You need to book the DL flight number to be able to self manage the seating. The fare rules will be VA’s not DL’s and you’ll have the international baggage allowance, so the other aspects of Basic Economy don’t really apply.

If you may need to change the DL flight, then booking separately might be a better option, yes, as changing it when it is connected to the international ticket forces a reissue of the VA flights as well, and the VA change penalty. But you won’t get flight protection, baggage (other than for status) or have the bag tagged through to MCO from AU.

 

[Hindo]

It will be Main Cabin, however on the VA codeshare, preallocated seating is blocked online. You need to book the DL flight number to be able to self manage the seating. The fare rules will be VA’s not DL’s and you’ll have the international baggage allowance, so the other aspects of Basic Economy don’t really apply.

If you may need to change the DL flight, then booking separately might be a better option, yes, as changing it when it is connected to the international ticket forces a reissue of the VA flights as well, and the VA change penalty. But you won’t get flight protection, baggage (other than for status) or have the bag tagged through to MCO from AU.

Thanks for that reply. I got stuck last US trip as I wanted to catch an earlier flight out of SMF but they wouldn't allow it as it was a VA flight number. Otherwise with status it would not have been an issue. Think I'll get them ticketed separately as there is no real benefit to have VA flight number for domestic flight in USA