Which way in L.A.?

[dk4]

So, if you, like me, have decided to give Virgin Australia a bit of a go (after the status match), you might be questioning what to do flight-wise once you hit the ground in Los Angeles, with your onward connections.

I guess for me, like many Qantas Frequent Fliers, American Airlines has been the provider of choice in the past, but with Velocity Frequent Flyer’s major partner in North America now being Delta Airlines, there is some temptation to go all the way with VAA (and their joint venture partner). So, I thought I’d share a few of my thoughts.

(Generally on AA I fly discount First Class, because I find it reasonable value for money when compared to either of the major Australian airlines’ outrageous premium cabin pricing structures. But now as a Platinum matched customer, I have the opportunity to enjoy specific extras from either Australian airlines’ partners in the USA.)

So, I’ve done a little comparison between flying Delta as Velocity FF Platinum, and American as Qantas FF Platinum.

PURCHASING
Virgin charges a significant premium for ticketing connections through LA and into Delta’s network. So, it is often cheaper to buy a return trip on to L.A. on VA, and then separate tickets for Delta flights.

The GOOD – delta.com makes purchasing simple for Australians, by accepting Australian credit cards and billing addresses, directly on their full service US website. (Unlike AA.com, which directs Australian’s to its “dulled down” .au site, or tempts Aussies to enter incorrect billing address information, to try and force a sale though their US website.)

The BAD – Virgin will not check you in, when departing Australia, onto Delta flights if they are on a separate PNR. (Delta, however on the reverse journey home, can be far less officious.) Of course, Qantas makes life easy by offering to check you in, onto any AA flight, even those on a separate PNR to your QF flight, when you depart Australia.

 

[dk4]

On the Ground

ON THE GROUND - LOUNGES
Velocity partners with Delta Sky Clubs, which allows access to Delta’s lounges, when holding a VA or DL boarding pass. (Remember that in the USA, holding a Domestic First Class Boarding Pass is often not “enough” to garner lounge access. There are however, some exceptions that prove the rule.)

The GOOD – Delta allows lounge access to eligible Velocity members when travelling on “domestic only” itineraries (something that is not on offer to all of its Sky Team Alliance partners). To me Delta’s Sky Clubs are generally on par with AA’s Admirals Clubs. (However: at LAX, the DL lounge is underwhelming and comparatively small, and struggles to cope with guest numbers [note: I could only find 2 showers :shock: in the T5 lounge], even though it does put out some self-serve booze, unlike other Sky Clubs.)

Delta - Major Skyclub example (not LAX)

American - Major Admirals Club example (not LAX)

The BAD– Velocity can’t match the value of QFF Platinum, when it comes to access to AA’s Flagship lounges, which welcome WP’s to AA’s International First Class Lounges (even when travelling on “domestic only” itineraries) at its major hubs in - Los Angeles, Chicago and New York. (Remember, in the USA, departing Domestic and International services can use the same terminals/gates.)

AA Flagship Lounge for Breakfast

AA Flagship Lounge for Lunch or Dinner

Terminal 3 at LAX also bares mention here, as VA flights still depart from this terminal.

IMO, LAX-T3 is repugnant, the only saving grace is that VA departing passengers, travelling in Business or with relevant Velocity status, have access to the Alaska Airlines Board Room, but this small (showerless) lounge struggles to seat everyone when Virgin’s 777s are about to depart. (VA’s arrivals into LAX T5 immigration queues, or lack there of, are however fantastic!)

ON THE GROUND – QUEUES AND BAGS
The BAD - Velocity fails again, by not providing access to Delta’s “Sky Priority” speedy departure queues, priority and free checked baggage allowance (for those in economy), whereas AA delivers QFF status passengers their equivalent “Priority AAccess”, to the same level as if they were one of their own AAdvantage members (when it comes to AA queues, priority and waiving checked baggage fees).

Worth noting in this section is that KLM/Air France, Sky Team Elite Plus members do have access to Delta’s “Sky Priority” privileges (but not lounges on “domestic only” itineraries), so mixing and matching (if you have dual status) can get you the equivalent suite of AA benefits, which QFF status provides (i.e. lounge access on domestic only flights, and Sky Priority queues, baggage etc).

BUT WAIT, THEY GO ONE BETTER…KLM/Air France status is integrated into Delta’s “free upgrade process”, so wave that card around (if you have one) and you will automatically join Delta’s free upgrade lottery at the departure gate, with the same level of priority as Delta’s own customers (something that AA doesn’t offer to QFF status passengers travelling Y).

 

[dk4]

In the Air

IN THE AIR – FOOD IN FIRST
The BAD – Delta is stingier than AA when it comes to food service at the front of the bus on domestic sectors: noting that Delta’s “snack basket” (of junk food) is nothing like American’s “snack” flights (which are the equivalent of a real meal). And American still bakes cookies onboard flight sectors that Delta doesn’t.

Delta burger - meals during the day on flights over 2hours, but only those flown during a “meal window”.

American burger – meals during the daytime on ALL flights over 2.5hours, plus those flown during “meal windows” on sectors of 2-2.5hours.

IN THE AIR – WIDEBODY FIRST CLASS
The BAD – Delta, like Qantas, has set up some of its 767 fleet with a “domestic” premium cabin configuration, meaning a tight squeeze into less than a 40” pitch if you encounter one, whereas ALL AA wide-body aircraft offer a superior level of comfort in First Class. AA does this in two ways; first by flying internationally configured aircraft on domestic routes (like Qantas does in Australia) AND secondly by flying specially configured transcontinental domestic wide-body aircraft (like Virgin does in Australia) with extra space (when compared to its single aisle aircraft First Class cabin).

AA 777 First Class, International configured aircraft on a domestic sector

AA 767-300 First Class, International configured aircraft on a domestic sector

AA 767-200 First Class, Domestic transcontinental configured aircraft


EARNING POINTS & STATUS CREDITS
The BAD – Velocity earns at the same level for Business or First Class, whereas QFF members travelling on AA earn at a higher rate for First Class than Business Class.

 

[dk4]

Velocity FF is lacklustre in the USA

VELOCITY DOESN’T CUT THE MUSTARD ON DELTA

So, IMO, if you are choosing to fly Virgin Australia across the Pacific to LA, you might want to switch back to AA (and QFF) once you get to North America... the benefits for some may simply be too numerous when compared to Velocity’s poor, second cousin-type (non-alliance-based) relationship with Delta. YMMV.

Anyway, I’m sticking with American.

Which way in L.A.?

 

[stomplad]

Great overview. Thanks for taking your time to share your thoughts!

 

[drron]

Great report.Useful information.I have been toying with the idea of using velocity points to the US.Maybe it will be on a few Fiji trips.
By the way we both like Miss Vicky's chips on AA.

 

[cove]

Me too drron but I think I will use a son as the trail blazer/tester.

 

[simonpenny408]

Off topic slightly but how does one book YUPP type fares on AA.com without being dumped back to the .au site and without having a US billing address on a credit card

 

[serfty]

Off topic slightly but how does one book YUPP type fares on AA.com without being dumped back to the .au site and without having a US billing address on a credit card

Search for threads with the words "El Segundo" ... especially those with the higher post counts and recent posts.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Thanks dk4 a very comprehensive TR.
I agree that the AA F offering looks a fair bit better.
I like travelling AA F so might just stick with them