V-Flyer

Afternoon all,

Wondering if anyone has experience trying to get into a DL SkyClub lounge when they're arriving from a VS Upper Class flight and connecting on to a Delta domestic? I have a choice of connecting on to a flight which has nothing but economy (a little 50-seater), or one which does actually have First. My understanding is that if this was a purely Delta booking, even in First you don't get SkyClub access? This would all be booked under a single PNR with the VS flights, so I guess I'm hopeful that might change it.

I haven't got any status with either airline, or the Platinum Amex.

Thanks!

Hi Cjrp,

exactly the same situation I find myself in ....

Annoyingly even if all booked via Virgin you still have to collect your checked baggage,and then re-check-in for the domestic flight (spoke with Virgin whom explained this was unique as only in America do they enforce it)

Sorry my reply, isn't a reply - more of a thread leech ....



Cheers,


Steve

Yeh, funnily enough I've actually just done the journey I'm going to be booking (it was in economy on this leg though). Although they checked my bags all the way through from Heathrow, I had to collect them in order to take them through customs in Detroit, and then drop them off on the other side.

Seyre1972 wrote:Annoyingly even if all booked via Virgin you still have to collect your checked baggage,and then re-check-in for the domestic flight (spoke with Virgin whom explained this was unique as only in America do they enforce it)

Basically that applies to all flights that land in the US from outside and to all airlines. It is not a peculiarity to VS.

You clear immigration and then customs at your port of entry. The Americans do not have the same concept as transit that we have.

Your bags will be tagged through to your final destination and after you have cleared customs there is a bag drop area where you drop them off. You do not need to go to the check-in desks again.

( Australia also require people to clear immigration, customs and quarenteen at the first point of entry too )

As to lounges - yes you do get sky club access as you have a Business Class international flight departure / landing the same day. Show them the BP for the international sector.

tontybear wrote:As to lounges - yes you do get sky club access as you have a Business Class international flight departure / landing the same day. Show them the BP for the international sector.

Ah, so it's independent of my DL connection? That's great, thanks. The difference between first and economy on those flights is about $200 but the seats are practically the same, so that saves a few pennies! Any chance you know if the VS baggage allowance would apply as well?

cjrp wrote:

tontybear wrote:As to lounges - yes you do get sky club access as you have a Business Class international flight departure / landing the same day. Show them the BP for the international sector.

Ah, so it's independent of my DL connection? That's great, thanks. The difference between first and economy on those flights is about $200 but the seats are practically the same, so that saves a few pennies! Any chance you know if the VS baggage allowance would apply as well?

VS FC AU also get Skyclub access if also travelling on a DL connection the same day as the international leg.

If your journey is ticketed as one trip then the international baggage allowance should apply to the connection too.

Note, if you have other DL flights not on the same day as the international connection, none of this applies.

Don't get your hopes up too much with regard to the what's on offer in (and the atmosphere of) the Delta Sky Club

slinky09 wrote:VS FC AU also get Skyclub access if also travelling on a DL connection the same day as the international leg.

If your journey is ticketed as one trip then the international baggage allowance should apply to the connection too.

Sadly just a Red Good to know about the baggage though, thanks!

NYLON wrote:Don't get your hopes up too much with regard to the what's on offer in (and the atmosphere of) the Delta Sky Club

Yeh, I experienced it on the way home. About the only thing it had going for it was the massive bowl of mac and cheese

NYLON wrote:Don't get your hopes up too much with regard to the what's on offer in (and the atmosphere of) the Delta Sky Club

It varies, for example the SkyClub at JFK is awful, unless you pay the drinks and food are dire and it's like a bus terminal. However at ATL I was surprised by waited service, good wine, lovely pulled pork sliders and no limit to what you want. A shame really that DL is so varied whereas VS clubhouses strive to be as good as they can individually, I mean for example that BOS is not comparable to the LHR clubhouse but has great local beers and really good food!

So I made the booking last night, and the chap on the phone thought they wouldn't be able to check the bags all the way through to my destination because of the different fare classes (it was a mix of a reward redemption and paid ticket for the Delta portion). So he said I'd have to collect and re-check my bags in Detroit, incurring whatever baggage fees Delta charge for internal flights. I suspect he's wrong, since it's always a different fare class between Virgin and Delta and they've never had a problem checking my bags all the way through, but I suppose we'll have to wait and see.

cjrp wrote:So he said I'd have to collect and re-check my bags in Detroit, incurring whatever baggage fees Delta charge for internal flights. I suspect he's wrong, since it's always a different fare class between Virgin and Delta and they've never had a problem checking my bags all the way through, but I suppose we'll have to wait and see.

When you receive your e-ticket I'd be interested to see if, although you are on a single booking reference/PNR, they've given you separate ticket numbers, ie. one for the VS flight and another for the DL? I'm in the same position as you having paid for the VS portion using miles but cash for the DL. I have a single PNR for all flight but separate ticket numbers, both 932 prefixed signifying VS are the ticket issuer.

I recall at the time of booking the agent something along the lines of "you won't be on a true through ticket due to part cash / part reward" but when I asked him to confirm I'd be on a single PNR he said yes. That reassured me as, in my mind (but don't know if I'm correct!?) it's the single PNR that constitutes a "through ticket".

I can see all flights (VS & DL) on both the VS and DL web sites but it's the fact VS have put me on seperate ticket numbers that's bothering me just slightly! The aspect of luggage needing to be re-checked is not the issue, as everyone arriving & connecting in USA has to do that. The critical thing for me is having the protection that I'll reach my final destination if the first flight is late and connection missed.

Thanks
James

I have 2 ticket numbers per person, both starting 932. Whereas when I flew this trip using cash-only I had a single ticket number. So it does seem like there is a split between cash/reward.

cjrp wrote:I have 2 ticket numbers per person, both starting 932. Whereas when I flew this trip using cash-only I had a single ticket number. So it does seem like there is a split between cash/reward.

Interesting, same as me! As I said, the fact that the booking is on a single PNR comforts me in terms of being protected in the event of missed connection. That said, it's the words of the agent when booking "this isn't a proper through ticket" that bother me!

cjrp wrote:So I made the booking last night, and the chap on the phone thought they wouldn't be able to check the bags all the way through to my destination because of the different fare classes (it was a mix of a reward redemption and paid ticket for the Delta portion). So he said I'd have to collect and re-check my bags in Detroit, incurring whatever baggage fees Delta charge for internal flights. I suspect he's wrong, since it's always a different fare class between Virgin and Delta and they've never had a problem checking my bags all the way through, but I suppose we'll have to wait and see.

I did a trip to Vegas earlier this year via Detroit. UC on VS which was an EC ticket upgraded to a G with miles and EC on Delta. Bags were checked straight through both inbound and outbound. My case weighed 32 kilos