Question re VS tier points earned from Delta

Hello folks,

Hoping someone can help. Planning an SFO-LAS trip next year and looking at internal flight options, it's Delta or VX.

With Delta flights connect, with plane change, in LAX. Would this therefore count as 2 sectors each way, i.e. if travelling in First 3TP per sector on a return trip would be 12TP for 4 sectors?

Also I'm noticing that some of the Delta flights have one sector operated by Delta and one by a partner DBA on a codeshare. Would I still be able to earn VS tier points on the partner flights.

I'm just considering my options as Delta offers 3TPs per sector in first and VX is 2TPs.

I've yet to book my outbound flights but that's another story. No Gs available on the SFO route at all in May so far. I've been checking for a few weeks now, 2-3 times per day. Have considered LAX, but again no Gs, and ATL which has masses of G availability. But then considered ex-DUB again and the costs ex-DUB are the same as buying M and upgrading with miles. Seems a bit of a no-brainer really to go for ex-DUB.

Nonetheless, if anyone can answer my queries I'd be much obliged.

Cheers, John

I've been looking at this as well on my trip on DL as I'm crediting to VS.

On a codeshare you would only get VS TPs if it had a VS flight number. You can't generally collect TPs on a partner of a partner.


As far as I can tell if the e.g. LHR-LAX-LAS/SFO flights are the same flight number then only one set of TPs apply - even though you have to get off, clear immigration etc and the reboard (it's probably a different plane as well).

I've been looking at this as well on my trip on DL as I'm crediting to VS.

On a codeshare you would only get VS TPs if it had a VS flight number. You can't generally collect TPs on a partner of a partner.


As far as I can tell if the e.g. LHR-LAX-LAS/SFO flights are the same flight number then only one set of TPs apply - even though you have to get off, clear immigration etc and the reboard (it's probably a different plane as well).

Thanks Tonty, I was looking at SFO-LAS and back, which has a connection & plane change in LAX.

I thought I might not get the TPs for Delta partner but just wanted to check. There are some flights that are all Delta between SFO-LAS which also include the connection in LAX, which is why I'm wondering if I'd get 6TPs each way or 3 in F. Otherwise maybe a simpler option is to fly VX which is direct in 90 minutes.

All very confusing for me!

You would indeed earn 3 TPs per sector, so 12 in total for SFO-LAS via LAX return on DL in First.

And don't worry about DBA: many of DL's short-hop routes are farmed out to regional airlines but they're still DL services on DL branded planes, similar to Little Red which is operated by Aer Lingus but is for all intents and purposes a VS service.

All in all a very easy and cost effective way of gaining/retaining VS status although if your long term aim is to achieve Lifetime Gold, remember TPs earned on DL don't count towards that.

Slightly off topic, but using the original post as a reference - how would you go about booking a SFO-LAX-LAS-LAX-SFO trip, in Delta first class and receive virgin TP's? Would you also receive miles, albeit not very many?!

Would you book it via Delta?

Would someone be kind enough to give an example, with flights etc?

Thank you.

You would indeed earn 3 TPs per sector, so 12 in total for SFO-LAS via LAX return on DL in First.

And don't worry about DBA: many of DL's short-hop routes are farmed out to regional airlines but they're still DL services on DL branded planes, similar to Little Red which is operated by Aer Lingus but is for all intents and purposes a VS service.

All in all a very easy and cost effective way of gaining/retaining VS status although if your long term aim is to achieve Lifetime Gold, remember TPs earned on DL don't count towards that.

Thanks Gumshoe, that's useful info.
Unfortunately I'll never make lifetime Gold, I'm just a lowly Silver at present and don't normally chase status; however, this trip would potentially leave me 2 TPs shy of reaching Gold for the first time, which then makes me think where I could get the extra 2 TPs before 31st May!

I think the most probable answer is nowhere! I live in't North, well East Midlands really, so doing a TP run before LR finally closes isn't going to happen and apart from our hop over to NYC at Christmas have no other trips planned which is a bone of contention in this house. So I might end up just doing the VX direct flights. But 2 TPs short of Gold... thinking cap on

Maybe a day trip somewhere while you're in NY? If you only need 2 more TPs a quick round trip in economy on DL would do it.

Slightly off topic, but using the original post as a reference - how would you go about booking a SFO-LAX-LAS-LAX-SFO trip, in Delta first class and receive virgin TP's? Would you also receive miles, albeit not very many?!

Would you book it via Delta?

Yes, you can book on delta.com. They don't fly SFO-LAS direct so if you search for that route it'll route you via LAX by default.

Just checking random dates in Feb you can get all four legs for as little as $324 which works out at £18 per TP - very good value.

It's also worth looking into fares to/from other local airports eg Oakland or San Jose instead of SFO as they can often be cheaper not to mention more convenient and quieter. I'm seeing $304 for SJC-LAS via LAX return in First which is £16 per TP!

During the booking process you can enter your VS FC number and the miles and TPs should credit automatically after the flight (although sometimes they slip through the net so be sure to keep your boarding cards in case you need to make a claim as you'll need to scan them and email them to VS).

Thanks gumshoe for the information - I appreciate it.

I have an idea in my head now - I shall raise another thread instead of bloating this one!

Been caught by the two flight one number thing before. BNA to LAS is via LAX, and involves de plane and re bard, but because one flight number its one set of TP. Worth making sure your routing does change flight number if seeking TP

Hello folks,

Hoping someone can help. Planning an SFO-LAS trip next year and looking at internal flight options, it's Delta or VX.

With Delta flights connect, with plane change, in LAX. Would this therefore count as 2 sectors each way, i.e. if travelling in First 3TP per sector on a return trip would be 12TP for 4 sectors?

Also I'm noticing that some of the Delta flights have one sector operated by Delta and one by a partner DBA on a codeshare. Would I still be able to earn VS tier points on the partner flights.

I'm just considering my options as Delta offers 3TPs per sector in first and VX is 2TPs.

I've yet to book my outbound flights but that's another story. No Gs available on the SFO route at all in May so far. I've been checking for a few weeks now, 2-3 times per day. Have considered LAX, but again no Gs, and ATL which has masses of G availability. But then considered ex-DUB again and the costs ex-DUB are the same as buying M and upgrading with miles. Seems a bit of a no-brainer really to go for ex-DUB.

Nonetheless, if anyone can answer my queries I'd be much obliged.

Cheers, John

I share your situation regarding G availability Bretty, I booked reward seats a couple of days ago for return flights to Miami in March, best I could get at the time was PE out & UC return, as the flight is ages away I told myself to only re-check UC availability every now & then, reality is that like you, I am checking 2 or 3 times a day

Fingers crossed

oldboy

And don't worry about DBA: many of DL's short-hop routes are farmed out to regional airlines but they're still DL services on DL branded planes, similar to Little Red which is operated by Aer Lingus but is for all intents and purposes a VS service.

Bretty does indeed need to worry about DBA etc as per the DL page on VS website

Flying Club members can earn on all Delta operated and marketed services including the flights operated by Delta regional services; Delta, Delta Shuttle, Delta Connection. This excludes any codeshare flights unless booked with a VS flight number.

If the regional services have a VS codeshare number they will earn TPs but of they don't have a VS number then they wont.

Although badly written, I think that condition on the website just means you won't earn VS miles or TPs on DL codeshare flights operated by, say, KLM or Air France.

DBA, however, is different. It's part of Delta Connection and for earning purposes its flights are DL-operated not DL codeshares, just as Little Red flights are VS flights even though VS doesn't actually operate them.

Flew DBA last year from SFO - LAX - SFO and tier points were awarded to my Virgin account within a couple of days. Also plan on doing the same trip later this year as a very easy TP run.

Just to re-iterate from AlphaEcho, that the SFO-LAX shuttle is a Delta Connection (Operated by Compass) service and you get full Tier Points and Miles allocated.

Here was my last trip...

Thanks guys, you're all very helpful. Having done some digging I had come to the conclusion I'd get the TPs if I book. Anyway, I've yet to get my booking sorted to get me out there, bleedin' Expedia!

Does VS Gold status get SkyClub access on these sort of itineraries? The website seems a bit ambiguous as to whether a transatlantic sector is needed for Au flying in F domestically, to access the lounge.

VS golds travelling on domestic DL flights must have a same day TATL sector for lounge access (irrespective of class of travel).

The exception being non-stop transcontinental flights between New York JFK and Denver, Las Vegas, LA, Portland, Phoenix, San Diego, Seattle or San Francisco where all First Class pax do get lounge access.