Virgin Atlantic and Star Alliance...SA status mean anything?

[n1ckt001]

I am due to fly to Boston next week, and the options (excluding American) are Virgin direct or Continental through Newark (I think)

I know that you can redeem Continental One Pass on Virgin Flights, but does the fact that I am a lowly Silver Status make any difference to Virgin? Upgrades to premium cattle etc?

I am tempted to fly an indirect on Continental to see if the silver status I accumulated this year does in fact do me any favours anyway? Though I imagine besides and extra bag (dont need it) and a shorter queue, not a lot!

[Puggit]

Flying with Star Alliance status on Virgin means Zilch.

Unless you are bmi gold, in which case you (and only you) can use the lounge in Heathrow T3 when flying Virgin.

For trying to blag an improvement in your flight, you'd be better of flying CO, but only by a slim margin. Chances are that won't work either. 60 odd flights as Star Alliance gold and never bumped up...

[n1ckt001]

Puggit said:

60 odd flights as Star Alliance gold and never bumped up...

Thanks muchly... 60 flights with nothing, I am now not sure why I even bothered, especially to get me a paltry silver!!

Think I will go Virgin anyway, still get SA miles, cheapest (so company is happy..), direct... and I have never flown in a 747, plus the CO flight to Newark is on the Wright Brothers old (possibly..) B757!

Is Virgin cattle class a nicer place to be than Continental?

[h0b0]

I have only been upgraded once on Continental and at the time I wasn't elite. While being elite I got priority baggage and was the only time my bags were lost.
I do collect the points and have a credit card from them. It means we can travel a couple of times a year for free.

[Puggit]

When you get to gold - then you know why you bothered. It makes travelling a whole lot easier. Basically the business class experience without the business class seat.

I'm going to lose my gold status in November

Virgin cattle is one of the better ones - especially after they got rid of their own brand spirits! The Boston flight is very short for inter-continental, we flew back once in under 5 hours!

Edited by Puggit on Monday 13th September 16:50

[cjs]

Virgin will give you a drink for free, Continental will not. Virgin's girls are pretty (most), Continental's are like your Gran.

[Targarama]

Virgin use A340s on that route a lot so check what plane you're on before booking (I actually prefer the airbus as they're quieter).

As for upgrades - not a chance. 1. they won't be full (so get a spare seat next to you if you can) and 2. I'm Virgin Gold and hardly ever get a free upgrade (over many many many flights)