Delta Velocity benefits

[Lizzi]

Hi all,

I recently had a trip to the US and took a couple of Delta flights. It was interesting to see how much/little the Delta staff knew about the Velocity partnership. The biggest part of it for me was lounge access in LAX and that went off without a hitch, but when I checked into my flight at LAS, the ground staff had absolutely no idea what I was talking about when I asked about priority baggage/boarding etc as a Virgin Australia/Velocity Platinum. I didn't have the printout of benefits with me, so couldn't really argue, and had to board in the last zone.

Has anyone else found the Delta service of elites to be patchy, or was I just unlucky?

 

[TtiGeR]

15 MAR 2013 DL17 LAX-SYD
I was refused priority boarding even though my boarding pass shows "VA PLATINUM". Quite embarrassed.

I emailed Velocity Rewards on 22 Mar and later sent them a scanned copy of the boarding pass as requested. They said they would look into it but I haven't heard anything from Velocity after 6 weeks.

 

[VA777]

15 MAR 2013 DL17 LAX-SYD
I was refused priority boarding even though my boarding pass shows "VA PLATINUM". Quite embarrassed.

I emailed Velocity Rewards on 22 Mar and later sent them a scanned copy of the boarding pass as requested. They said they would look into it but I haven't heard anything from Velocity after 6 weeks.

Last year I went LAX (no issue), RDU first time they had seen one of us and they investigate access quietly and politely and I got into the lounge, MEM not an issue and treated very well (very welcoming)

 

[cssaus]

I've just flown from LAX to LAS. I managed to change my flight at LAX to an earlier flight resulting in the printing of a new boarding pass.

The boarding pass shows "VA PLATINUM" underneath my name but more importantly in the middle of the boarding pass under the the wording "BOARDING PASS" the wording "SKY PRIORITY" is printed. This is the magic wording that the local ground staff understand.

 

[Lizzi]

I've just flown from LAX to LAS. I managed to change my flight at LAX to an earlier flight resulting in the printing of a new boarding pass.

The boarding pass shows "VA PLATINUM" underneath my name but more importantly in the middle of the boarding pass under the the wording "BOARDING PASS" the wording "SKY PRIORITY" is printed. This is the magic wording that the local ground staff understand.

Hmm... mine had my velocity number written on it, but not my status - somehow that must have been lost in the system somewhere. Ah well, you win some, you lose some

 

[Shudai]

Earlier this year I had to fight to get lounge access in LAX as a VA Gold (not worth the fight in hindsight). Delta staff had absolutely no idea what it was all about - and were bloody rude about it, too!

I'm on Delta metal again this week en route to JFK. Will be interesting to see how it goes.

 

[EvanC]

Earlier this year I had to fight to get lounge access in LAX as a VA Gold (not worth the fight in hindsight). Delta staff had absolutely no idea what it was all about - and were bloody rude about it, too!

I'm on Delta metal again this week en route to JFK. Will be interesting to see how it goes.

I look forward to hearing your experiences. I'm flying Delta a fair bit in Aug-Oct, and I'm trying to decide whether it'd be worthwhile to make a run for Gold before I get there (either way, I'll make it while I'm there).

 

[grubbidok]

*bumpity bump

I will be going over to US as a VA Platinum in December and have about 6 internal flights on DL. It will be my first time flying in US at that level.

I know that lounge access and priority boarding/check-in is a bennie for VA platinums, but does anyone know whether we get better seating or - and I already know the answer but want to ask in the incredibly unlikely scenario it's been changed - baggage allowance.

Has anyone had any recent experiences?

Would have preferred VX big time - but until they get a decent route network that's not likely for most of my trips.

 

[ng100]

*bumpity bump

I will be going over to US as a VA Platinum in December and have about 6 internal flights on DL. It will be my first time flying in US at that level.

I know that lounge access and priority boarding/check-in is a bennie for VA platinums, but does anyone know whether we get better seating or - and I already know the answer but want to ask in the incredibly unlikely scenario it's been changed - baggage allowance.

Has anyone had any recent experiences?

Would have preferred VX big time - but until they get a decent route network that's not likely for most of my trips.

My experience has been that luggage has been free of charge when the flight is connected to an international flight (ie, out of or into LAX). For other flights I haven't received any luggage allowance or discounts.

If you're booked on DL to LAX then LAX->Australia on DL or VA make sure you check in at a counter. They'll need your passport and in my experience give you free baggage. I've travelled with others who have used self check in machines and then been paged at boarding to provide their passports. Save yourself the hassle and use the sky priority check in counters.

I've also never had trouble getting into a lounge, but they will ask for your plat card and will need to record your number from it (which can take them a while).

 

[serfty]

Announced here today by VFF that WP get a 50% discount on preferred seating in economy.

(SG 25%)

 

[Velocity Frequent Flyer]

Hi everyone,
There have been a few posts and messages around member cards expiring while members are overseas, and members apprehensive at not receiving benefits from partners such as Delta.

While we do tell members to carry their Velocity cards for consistency, the actuality is that Delta does not require the card for validation as there is an automated recognition processes in place. Your Gold status will be reflected on the DL bookings and boarding passes (will show as being eligible for “SkyPriority” which is their suite of status benefits ie lounge access).

Hopefully this alleviates any concerns when travelling with our friends at Delta!

 

[serfty]

...

Hopefully this alleviates any concerns when travelling with our friends at Delta!

However, as recently as June, this has not been automatic, although it can easily be updated manually:
http://www.australianfrequentflyer....dl-systems-now-able-see-46127.html#post805674

 

[jwsm20]

thank for the info guys. I will be flying Delta internally in OCT, the info here has been great. cheers

 

[ashill]

Your Gold status will be reflected on the DL bookings and boarding passes (will show as being eligible for “SkyPriority” which is their suite of status benefits ie lounge access).

Glad to hear that, but the last bit is not quite right. Sky Priority has nothing to do with lounge access; in fact, the vast majority of passengers with "Sky Priority" on their Delta boarding passes are not eligible for lounge access, and lounge access is unrelated to Sky Priority. Delta Gold, Platinum, Sky Team Elite Plus, Virgin Atlantic Gold, Alaska Airlines MVP Gold (and am I missing any more?), and paid and upgraded first and business class (and maybe full Y) passengers travelling Delta domestically all get Sky Priority but no lounge access unless they're paid Sky Club members. Therefore, I think it is highly unlikely that the Sky Priority label will smooth the way at all with Delta lounge agents in practice, particularly on domestic itineraries.

Paid Sky Club members get a "Sky Club" designation on their boarding pass in addition to "Sky Priority"; that's the magic for getting into the lounge which every lounge attendant will know. Will Velocity Gold and Platinum members traveling on Delta get that designation? (I'll see for myself in late September.)

(Sky Priority grants access to the priority check-in, security, and boarding lines. Paid Sky Club members who are not sufficiently elite or in a premium cabin don't get Sky Priority as well.)

 

[notzac]

Paid Sky Club members get a "Sky Club" designation on their boarding pass in addition to "Sky Priority"; that's the magic for getting into the lounge which every lounge attendant will know. Will Velocity Gold and Platinum members traveling on Delta get that designation? (I'll see for myself in late September.)

No, they don't get the Sky Club designator - just Sky Priority. Having a shiny Velocity card in either the gold or platinum flavours is required for access - and sometimes you have to tell the lounge dragon to check their access manual for Virgin Australia (if they're not familiar with the card they look up Velocity and don't find anything).

 

[flying_duck]

Hey VFF, found this thread when searching about Delta. I spent 2 hours on the phone with them this week regarding baggage allowance for VFF Gold members traveling on their network. They are still adamant that no baggage allowance is given. This is contrary to the Velocity website: "Additional Checked Baggage Allowance - Receive the same allowance as Delta Gold Medallion members. Find out more." (https://www.velocityfrequentflyer.com/content/Status/GoldStatus/) and contrary to the advice given by Velocity staff on the phone.

I have 7 Delta sectors coming up and I'm really hoping I don't have the argue with them at every check-in. I understand there probably isn't much you can do, but just FYI it is still an issue.

 

[CJEMNMAC]

Hey VFF, found this thread when searching about Delta. I spent 2 hours on the phone with them this week regarding baggage allowance for VFF Gold members traveling on their network. They are still adamant that no baggage allowance is given. This is contrary to the Velocity website: "Additional Checked Baggage Allowance - Receive the same allowance as Delta Gold Medallion members. Find out more." (https://www.velocityfrequentflyer.com/content/Status/GoldStatus/) and contrary to the advice given by Velocity staff on the phone.

I have 7 Delta sectors coming up and I'm really hoping I don't have the argue with them at every check-in. I understand there probably isn't much you can do, but just FYI it is still an issue.

I am not sure if this helps. I am silver with VA and in January when traveling with Delta I had first bag free.

When making the booking I entered my Velocity number. When looking at my bookings through Manage My Booking on Delta site my passenger information shows Silver Medallion / Elite. So VA and Delta do communicate....

Does your booking show Gold Medallion ? I would imagine if so, the same benefits would apply as per the Delta site.

Hope this helps

 

[flying_duck]

Thanks heaps! That does help - it does indeed show "gemma *** Velocity # 3270***** Gold Medallion / Elite Plus " so hopefully there should be no issues.

 

[jneufeld]

Sitting LAX SkyClub now, as long as your booking and BPs show VA Gold you will have no issues. I checked 2 bags in for free at the FLL this morning. You will notice when you do OLCI that when you select your amount of checked baggage it will not charge you.

 

[Jonesaus]

I just came back from a trip last week, my travel partner is VA Gold, and his boarding passes were printed with Sky Priority. We had no trouble getting both of us into sky club lounges around the US. (LAX, SEA, SFO, and the LAX star alliance lounge)

we brought the print outs with us, but didnt need them