Canberra - Sydney - LAX - Vancouver

8 replies

SeanDardis

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

Member since 08 May 2018

Total posts 12

Hi all, need some advice. My wife and I are travelling to Vancouver on Saturday. Originally we were booked for Saturday at 0630 for our Canberra to Sydney leg, but the other day Virgin moved us to Friday night! When I called and asked why they did that they gave me this hog about it being a connecting flight.... blah blah. So now we have to travel to Sydney on Friday night, stay at the Rydges and then we go on VA1 - Business class through to LAX.


As our flight from CBR to SYD is economy and now on the Friday instead of the Saturday... and we have no status with Virgin, I guess they won't let us in the CBR lounge on the Friday. Any thoughts?

Can you answer me this one.... luggage.... What is the way they'll ask us to do it? Will they want to check out bags through to LAX from CBR, meaning we should have some basic items for the hotel in our ruck sack/travel bags, or will we be asked to take our bags to sydney, pick them up and drop them back in the morning.... meaning that we have to go to bag collection and then walk around to the taxi rank so we can taxi to the Rydges?

Of course normally we'd just get on the bus transfer. But this is my first Virgin trip, normally we travel qantas.

henrus

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

Member since 23 Oct 2013

Total posts 766

Is it this Saturday the 9th of June?


If so they don't look to be operating a 6:30am flight hence the reason why you've been moved to the flight the night before. The only other option I can see is asking to fly via Melbourne leaving Canberra on Saturday at 6:20am and arriving LAX at 9:00am (possibly missing a connection to Vancouver?).

You probably wouldn't get lounge access anyway even if both your flights were on the Saturday. Unlike Qantas lounge access isn't offered to Economy passenger connecting to a Business class flight. It doesn't hurt to ask but it's certainly not an official policy like Qantas.

Luggage... Sydney airport won't allow bags to be checked through and stay at the airport overnight due to security reasons. You'll most likely need to pick it up in Sydney however things might have changed so just ask at check in.

SeanDardis

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

Member since 08 May 2018

Total posts 12

Thank you for the answer, just as I suspected, appreciate the response. I guess we'll have to get our bags at Sydney, then catch a taxi around to the Rydges.


Oh and yes, it is Saturday the 9th. Originally we were on a 0630 flight, now we fly the night before.

henrus

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

Member since 23 Oct 2013

Total posts 766

Thank you for the answer, just as I suspected, appreciate the response. I guess we'll have to get our bags at Sydney, then catch a taxi around to the Rydges.

Oh and yes, it is Saturday the 9th. Originally we were on a 0630 flight, now we fly the night before.

There is also the free TBus that runs until 8:50pm. You can catch it from T2 over to T1 and then walk to the Rydges (which is almost attached to the terminal)

silvyvc

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

Member since 19 Jun 2017

Total posts 62

There is a free transfer bus that drops you in front of the Rydges. What time do you land?

Racala

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

Member since 22 May 2018

Total posts 62

I wouldn't be surprised to see fog in CBR on sat morning.. so they are possibly saving you from missing the LA connection.

jginpil

Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards

Member since 06 Feb 2012

Total posts 25

fog shouldn't have impacted first flight out as the aircraft sleeps in Canberra overnight but given the cancellation / lengthy delay rate from CBR-SYD i think they probably did you a solid too.
if it was the following week i could have assisted re lounge access. assume you don't have an amex plat card? as that will sort out lounge access for VA. i have had lounge passes gifted before when they have messed me around so might also be worth asking the call center especially since you are in J for the other sector.

SeanDardis

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

Member since 08 May 2018

Total posts 12

Well to answer a few questions.... we land at around 2000 - so I guess after we've collected bags the bus might still be running - appreciate that idea


As we have booked Business class I'm sure we can use the Etihad lounge in sydney. I have a platinum card, not sure it's the right one though - does that get me into the VA lounge in Canberra?

jginpil

Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards

Member since 06 Feb 2012

Total posts 25

the platinum charge card is the one that you want for lounge access in Canberra. if you have this it will also give you Delta lounge access and centurion lounge access state side. ( not to mention priority pass lounge program access)
Sydney you will have no problems as you say as you will have access because of J ticket but also should have access to the AMEX lounge.

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