Velocity Gold benefits when flying on Delta-issued tickets?

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filtercore

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Velocity Gold member here, but relocating to the US next year.

What's the best way of ensuring I still have lounge access via Delta/Virgin America where possible? Is it simply a matter of entering my Velocity number in Delta's website when booking, and my Gold status will appear on the boarding pass?

The only thing I don't love about that arrangement is that I'll be in the US for some time to come, so I'd prefer to start investing in a domestic frequent flyer program... but that means giving up Velocity Gold benefits if I'm channeling point earn into a domestic US airline's program, right?
 
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To be honest I would stay with Velocity even in the USA. You get domestic lounge access with VA Gold. DL Platinums don't even get that.

You miss out on possible first class upgrades, but DL Golds hardly ever get upgrades. And if you book Comfort+ you earn heaps of status credits. So you might even get to VA PLT.

I'd only cross over to DL if you are going to fly enough to reach DL Diamond, as that has a lot of perks, but it is 125k MQM and a good amount of spend too.

The only reason I maintain my DL status is so I can fly AF and KLM in Europe and between Europe & Asia.
 
To be honest I would stay with Velocity even in the USA. You get domestic lounge access with VA Gold. DL Platinums don't even get that.

Thanks, I had no idea! I can forsee a lot of battles explaining what Velocity is to the DL Lounge staff but I guess it's worth it...
 
Thanks, I had no idea! I can forsee a lot of battles explaining what Velocity is to the DL Lounge staff but I guess it's worth it...

Ive not had any issues. Last trip was 9 DL lounges and yes, VA SG or WP have access but DLs FFers dont. You'll even gets to guest someone in.

I do prefer to use the Velocity card without global wallet as Ive read a couple of times that the agent thought it was a credit card/access benefit.
 
Ive not had any issues. Last trip was 9 DL lounges and yes, VA SG or WP have access but DLs FFers dont. You'll even gets to guest someone in.

I do prefer to use the Velocity card without global wallet as Ive read a couple of times that the agent thought it was a credit card/access benefit.

Ahh interesting, I didn't know it was possible to get a card without Global Wallet. I'll look into that. Thanks for your advice!
 
Get ready to eat a lot of bagels with cream cheese...

That said I (read, my girlfriend) saw two celebrities in the LAX T5 lounge.
 
Just remember that to requakify for Gold you need to have flown VA sectors. So either flights on VA metal or flights on a VA flight number.
 
Just remember that to requakify for Gold you need to have flown VA sectors. So either flights on VA metal or flights on a VA flight number.
That's a very good point. If you won't be going back to visit Australia it will be impossible to re qualify for VA elite status. I'm pretty sure you can't get a VA codeshare without involving an Australian (or at least Australian-Pacific) destination/origin.
 
Thanks, I had no idea! I can forsee a lot of battles explaining what Velocity is to the DL Lounge staff but I guess it's worth it...

I've never had a problem with them recognising it. They sometimes need the number, but not the card, but it's always on their system. I don't even have a card at the moment (misplaced) and have just spent a few weeks travelling through the US without a hassle.

Interestingly the other week I flew a DXB-BOS on a DL issued ticket which has KLM metal DXB-AMS and DL metal AMS-BOS. Although I didn't get any lounge access, the KLM ticket issued in Dubai had SkyPriority (so I got preferential boarding even on the KLM flight) and I had additional luggage allowance recognised by KLM. I also seemed to get nicer seating (I was in Y, packed flight but got a spare seat up front of Y). I realise it's not the full package, but you're not supposed to get any of it technically.

IMO the VA-DL link up is probably the best link-up of two non-alliance airlines anywhere, and significantly better than many alliance partnerships. I find it seamless, and in fact it is the relationship and treatment on DL that keeps me loyal to VA as much as (perhaps even more than) my experience with VA itself.
 
I've never had a problem with them recognising it. They sometimes need the number, but not the card, but it's always on their system. I don't even have a card at the moment (misplaced) and have just spent a few weeks travelling through the US without a hassle.

Interestingly the other week I flew a DXB-BOS on a DL issued ticket which has KLM metal DXB-AMS and DL metal AMS-BOS. Although I didn't get any lounge access, the KLM ticket issued in Dubai had SkyPriority (so I got preferential boarding even on the KLM flight) and I had additional luggage allowance recognised by KLM. I also seemed to get nicer seating (I was in Y, packed flight but got a spare seat up front of Y). I realise it's not the full package, but you're not supposed to get any of it technically.

IMO the VA-DL link up is probably the best link-up of two non-alliance airlines anywhere, and significantly better than many alliance partnerships. I find it seamless, and in fact it is the relationship and treatment on DL that keeps me loyal to VA as much as (perhaps even more than) my experience with VA itself.

I'd agree.

My loyalty to VA is 80% how well I am treated on Delta, and 20% anything to do with VA.

I have also had no lounge access travelling from Amsterdam on DL metal and DL ticket as a VA Gold, which seemed odd but I'd never considered it before. Not being a DL lounge was the issue. All other benefits worked fine.

Lounge access across the USA (with the exception of JFK which I haven't tried in a while) works great. Salt Lake City even bought me a free coughtail and a cake with a candle in it for my birthday.
 
Ahh interesting, I didn't know it was possible to get a card without Global Wallet. I'll look into that. Thanks for your advice!

The card I get each year is always the non-GW version, as I never opted in for it.
 
I was in the US recently and had absolutely no issues with lounge access in LA and New Orleans. I was actually surprised at how smooth everything was, zero issues and a great alliance.
 
The card I get each year is always the non-GW version, as I never opted in for it.

I don't think you even need to wait for your expiry date to come around, I opted out of the GW version half way through my Platinum year last year in order to get the new card and they sent it out a week or so after I had 'opted out'.

There should be an option on your homepage when you sign into Velocity.
 
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