I've just booked a trip to Samoa using some VA points. One of the flights is SYD-APW operated by Virgin Australia NZ for Virgin Samoa (whatever the hell that means).
What should I expect? I'll be VA SG travelling Y at the time. I know there's no J, only their weird Y+. Is there priority check-in, boarding and baggage? If the flight is lightly loaded (there were about 6 seats blocked on the whole flight when I did seat selection - 3A was not a problem) would they blocked the two seats next to me or is status irrelevant for this flight?
I was clearly told that there would be no lounge access in SYD (why there's lounge access when travelling TT but not to pacific islands is beyond me - either do it properly or don't do it at all). Is there anyway to gain lounge access except pay for it? I assume no-one on my flight will have lounge access?
I was also told it would be impossible for them to give me my boarding pass in MEL (Im connecting MEL-SYD-APW) for the SYD-APW flight and I would need to physically check-in at SYD intl in order to get my boarding pass (making an annoying terminal transfer + no lounge access much more annoying). Is this true? If I can get my boarding pass in MEL I'll use arrivals access in the SYD dom lounge and just kill some time before making my way over to intl.
I could have booked flights on NZ metal which I'm guessing would allow me to have priority everything as I have both VA SG and *A SG but the flight times are not as good as the VZNZ4VASWTF flights.
Perhaps this will be a piece of cake but it already seems like it will highlight once again the confusing and frustrating arrangement VA has with its partners. VA has trumpeted since day 1 how great the 'virtual alliance' is but it is confusing for its customers with all the exceptions to the exceptions to the exceptions to the rules. For all QFs faults, the OW benefits are pretty clearly explained.
Anyone had any experience or am I going to be the only status pax on the flight?!
What should I expect? I'll be VA SG travelling Y at the time. I know there's no J, only their weird Y+. Is there priority check-in, boarding and baggage? If the flight is lightly loaded (there were about 6 seats blocked on the whole flight when I did seat selection - 3A was not a problem) would they blocked the two seats next to me or is status irrelevant for this flight?
I was clearly told that there would be no lounge access in SYD (why there's lounge access when travelling TT but not to pacific islands is beyond me - either do it properly or don't do it at all). Is there anyway to gain lounge access except pay for it? I assume no-one on my flight will have lounge access?
I was also told it would be impossible for them to give me my boarding pass in MEL (Im connecting MEL-SYD-APW) for the SYD-APW flight and I would need to physically check-in at SYD intl in order to get my boarding pass (making an annoying terminal transfer + no lounge access much more annoying). Is this true? If I can get my boarding pass in MEL I'll use arrivals access in the SYD dom lounge and just kill some time before making my way over to intl.
I could have booked flights on NZ metal which I'm guessing would allow me to have priority everything as I have both VA SG and *A SG but the flight times are not as good as the VZNZ4VASWTF flights.
Perhaps this will be a piece of cake but it already seems like it will highlight once again the confusing and frustrating arrangement VA has with its partners. VA has trumpeted since day 1 how great the 'virtual alliance' is but it is confusing for its customers with all the exceptions to the exceptions to the exceptions to the rules. For all QFs faults, the OW benefits are pretty clearly explained.
Anyone had any experience or am I going to be the only status pax on the flight?!