VA-DL Check-in Question

[cssaus]

Got an itinerary coming up in a few months SYD-LAX-LAS return. SYD-LAX return is on a VA PNR and the LAX-LAS return is on a separate DL PNR.

Will VA be able to provide me a BP in SYD for my LAX-LAS flight on DL and will DL be able to provide me with a BP in LAS for my LAX-SYD flight on VA?

 

[james4321]

Got an itinerary coming up in a few months SYD-LAX-LAS return. SYD-LAX return is on a VA PNR and the LAX-LAS return is on a separate DL PNR.

Will VA be able to provide me a BP in SYD for my LAX-LAS flight on DL and will DL be able to provide me with a BP in LAS for my LAX-SYD flight on VA?

My experience is Q1 yes. Q2. No

 

[Cryptarcadian]

I was in a similar situation to you earlier this year, cssaus, and my experience for Q1 was the same as james4321's.

Flew SYD-LAX on a VA ticket, then LAX-LAS one-way on a separate DL ticket. Got boarding passes from both legs in Sydney, and had bags tagged through to LAS (still needed to transfer them in LAX).

Tip: You can still use the Delta app to get a digital boarding pass (and send it to Passbook if you're using iOS), even if you were checked-in by VA staff in SYD. Just in case you need it, the digital one says "Sky Priority" much more clearly than the paper ones VA print.

 

[cssaus]

I was in a similar situation to you earlier this year, cssaus, and my experience for Q1 was the same as james4321's.

I take it that for the return flight from LAS-LAX, DL were unable to provide you with a BP for the LAX-SYD flight when you checked in ?

 

[Muppet501st]

I take it that for the return flight from LAS-LAX, DL were unable to provide you with a BP for the LAX-SYD flight when you checked in ?

Back in Feb, did JFK-LAX DL then VA back to BNE. The checkin agent in JFK didn't know if she could tag bags and print BP for LAX-BNE but asked a supervisor who showed her how to do it.
So yes, DL can if they have someone who knows what theyre doing. Though we had new BPs issued at the aerobridge in LAX when we changed seats.

 

[cssaus]

Back in Feb, did JFK-LAX DL then VA back to BNE. The checkin agent in JFK didn't know if she could tag bags and print BP for LAX-BNE but asked a supervisor who showed her how to do it.
So yes, DL can if they have someone who knows what theyre doing. Though we had new BPs issued at the aerobridge in LAX when we changed seats.

I've done DL JFK-LAX and then LAX-SYD all on a single VA PNR and never had any issues. Were your flights all on the one booking or did you have a separate DL booking between JFK & LAX?

I do agree getting the agent to refer to a Supervisor is always recommended.

 

[Quickstatus]

Daughter who's the VA flyer says yes

VA SYD-LAX then DL LAX-SLC-DEN separate PNR : yes
DL ALB-ATL-LAX then VA LAX-SYD separate PNR: yes

have done separate PNR for 4 years in a row no problems with boarding pass or luggage tags.

If the transition from one PNR to another does not meet the airline's MCT and within the same calendar day then it would be no.

 

[cssaus]

Daughter who's the VA flyer says yes

VA SYD-LAX then DL LAX-SLC-DEN separate PNR : yes
DL ALB-ATL-LAX then VA LAX-SYD separate PNR: yes

have done separate PNR for 4 years in a row no problems with boarding pass or luggage tags.

If the transition from one PNR to another does not meet the airline's MCT and within the same calendar day then it would be no.

Thanks for the confirmation.

As a previous poster has suggested, in the US and checking in at DL, it might be necessary to have the check-in agent to revert to a supervisor if there are any issues.

 

[Quickstatus]

Thanks for the confirmation.

As a previous poster has suggested, in the US and checking in at DL, it might be necessary to have the check-in agent to revert to a supervisor if there are any issues.

Never had to escalate to supervisor in the US

 

[Muppet501st]

I've done DL JFK-LAX and then LAX-SYD all on a single VA PNR and never had any issues. Were your flights all on the one booking or did you have a separate DL booking between JFK & LAX?

I do agree getting the agent to refer to a Supervisor is always recommended.

yep on separate bookings.

 

[Cryptarcadian]

It looks like others have answered the Q2 part of your query! Just for the record...

I take it that for the return flight from LAS-LAX, DL were unable to provide you with a BP for the LAX-SYD flight when you checked in ?

I didn't try to answer your Q2 part because I didn't know... I only flew DL outbound on a separate PNR. The return was on the same PNR as VA, so no problems getting BPs and luggage checked through.

 

[grubbidok]

I have this issue coming up: SYD-LAX for work followed by 1mo family road trip across US now cancelled and so have had to change to 1 week SYD-PHX (conference is in Phoenix). Couldn't change booking from SYD-LAX to SYD-PHX so have tagged a VA reward on DL PHX-LAX to meet up to the LAX-SYD leg (with ~7hrs to spare). I'm meeting colleague in LAX after site visit and we're driving to PHX anyway so that leg is okay.

Was concerned about checking bags through to Sydney in PHX, but found this which seems to confirm DL policy is that they will do it for VA flights even if on separate PNR. Anyone know otherwise or can confirm?

https://pro.delta.com/content/agenc...-confirms-through-check-baggage-policy--.html

 

[A100]

I have this issue coming up: SYD-LAX for work followed by 1mo family road trip across US now cancelled and so have had to change to 1 week SYD-PHX (conference is in Phoenix). Couldn't change booking from SYD-LAX to SYD-PHX so have tagged a VA reward on DL PHX-LAX to meet up to the LAX-SYD leg (with ~7hrs to spare). I'm meeting colleague in LAX after site visit and we're driving to PHX anyway so that leg is okay.

Was concerned about checking bags through to Sydney in PHX, but found this which seems to confirm DL policy is that they will do it for VA flights even if on separate PNR. Anyone know otherwise or can confirm?

https://pro.delta.com/content/agenc...-confirms-through-check-baggage-policy--.html

Will VA be able to provide me a BP in SYD for my LAX-LAS flight on DL and will DL be able to provide me with a BP in LAS for my LAX-SYD flight on VA?[/QUOTE]

I did LAS-LAX-SYD on separate tickets a short while ago - at LAS, the agent checked my bag through to SYD but I had to get the boarding pass at LAX (either from the gate agent or at the Etihad lounge) - worked fine for me as I could stay airside and not have to exit the terminal at LAX.

I'm finding VA-DL is much more seamless now than QF-AA given the new policy at Oneworld on not checking through on separate tickets.

 

[grubbidok]

I'm finding VA-DL is much more seamless now than QF-AA given the new policy at Oneworld on not checking through on separate tickets.

Yeah, I know we moan a lot about VA (and much of it is deserved), but IMO the DL-VA link-up is faultless (at least as much as a link-up can be), and deserves to be applauded. It is one of the few instances where VA's bespoke approach has managed to provide its members with benefits well beyond those that you get in a formal alliance. I just wish they'd use it as a template for the rest of their relationships!

 

[A100]

yep. I'm a convert to VA on this route. Used to prefer QF A380 and onwards connections on AA but not any more.

I was super surprised / impressed going both ways on SYD LAX and the onward connections at LAX on DL and return (and on separate tickets too!). Bags tagged thru (and surprisingly the priority system seemed to work when the bags came out at both ends), boarding passes issued (in Syd), good recognition of VA status at DL lounge at LAX (and proactively being asked whether I wanted to use the shower facilities - they said they get ready for the influx of VA transfers in the early AM), and the return transfer / bus service at the DL terminal to TBIT also was very efficient. I had to request some assistance services on the return at TBIT due to a bad knee and when they saw my business boarding pass, they took me straight to the lounge rather than to the gate without me having to ask.

All in all - a very good experience compared to QF/AA (collect your bags now and recheck if on separate tickets). Plus the business suite onboard is light years superior to the QF Skybed with the droop.

I also did SYD-ORD-JFK last year with VA and VX and DL - it was all on one ticket and VA and DL were similarly good on the transfer etc (although you'd expect that on the same ticket). the only bad part of that trip was the VX lounge in T3 at LAX which was an horrendous.