Velocity member flying Delta codeshare from LA to Sydney - Star Alliance lounge access?

Greetings all. This may be a silly question, but if I'm flying Virgin Australia on a Delta ticket (e.g. DL6798) from LAX to SYD, would I have lounge access to the Star Alliance lounge at TBIT? It seems from the Velocity website this would be the case (as it states "Virgin Australia operated services"). Also, would the same apply for outbound from SYD on DL6799 (access to Koru Club, or SkyTeam lounge?)

In my experience the VA virtual alliance has some quirks re: consistency & application of benefits, so I thought I'd ask! Thanks in advance.

SYD-LAX: Velocity  Gold and Platinum and Business class will get you into ETIHAD. 

LAX-SYD: Chill out in the Star Alliance lounge if in Business or Velocity. 

Sorry, I should have been a bit more specific.  I'm VA Gold, but have never flown VA via a Delta codeshare before - only on VA-marketeted & operated tickets.  My travel will be in June-July.

I'm unsure in this instance as to whether the boarding passes are issued by the operating airline (VA), or the ticketing airline (DL)?  That is to say, will my boarding passes read VA1 for SYD-LAX & VA2 for LAX -SYD, or will they be issued by the Delta check-in desk, indicating DL6799 & DL6798 respectively?

Thanks for your response, daschok!  Would it be correct to assume that if the Koru lounge at SYD T1 is re-opening in April that I'd likely end up there rather than Etihad?
Thanks again!

The answer to your question is no. Virgin Australia has codeshare with Singapore Airlines which allows its frequent flyers to enjoy the respective lounges only. Your boarding pass will indicate a Delta operated flight and it will automatically eliminates your chance of entering Star Alliance lounges irregardless of your VA Gold status.

Delta is part of Skyteam which is not of Star Alliance group of airlines. Hope this clarifies.

The *A lounge in LAX is parteneted with Virgin to provide Virgin customers with lounge access it has nothing to do with the DL ticket

You'll have access to the DL Skyclub as a DL partner status pax flying DL. DL and VA have nothing to do with *A.

Yes VA does have something to do with *A as they use the *A Lounge in LAX and are partnered with the *A carrier Air New Zealand

Slim, I know what you are talking about on the International Lounge Access page on VA's website, with it's wording specifically referred to operator rather than codeshare owner (i.e, does it matter if it's DLXXX or VAXXX, if VA is the actual operator).

Unfortunately I cannot give you a rock solid answer because I have not done this myself (nor does it seem any of the other commenters have done so), but I believe your understanding has some legs. I would advise contacting VA/Velocity direct for clarification, given the vagueness.

With codeshares, it's generally the operator that you check in with (for example, even if you booked at QF codeshare on EK, it's EK you check in with, not QF). So you would be issued your boarding pass at the VA desk at TBIT unless you have a prior connecting DL operated flight (if that is the case it might be worth getting your boarding pass reissued at TBIT). It's possible you could get a lounge invite at this point (if the booking is linked to your Velocity number) if it's only the actual operator that counts (as the wording suggests).

Note that the Koru Club no longer exists at LAX (it closed it's doors) - it was in another terminal (T2, which Air New Zealand used to operate out of) anyway. Air New Zealand now just operates the Star Alliance Lounge on behalf of the Star Alliance (which is a real pain if you are a Velocity Gold/Platinum travelling on NZ flights because when the Koru Club existed you had a lounge, but even though Air New Zealand runs this new lounge, no such access now exists).

The Delta Sky Club lounge operates from T5, so references to that aren't that helpful for someone travelling through TBIT (and transferring between terminals at LAX is a real pain in the arse).

Thanks all.

gippsflyer, i agree with you.  my past experiences on codeshares are that the operating carrier issues the tickets (unless as you noted you board the flight elsewhere on the carrier that the codeshare ticket is issued on), and that the best way to get an operating flight-issued ticket is from the last check-in point prior to departing on said flight.  

as for me, my journey on this leg originates in MSP so I'm guessing they'll probably give me tickets through to SYD at that point.  however as per your suggestion, on walking over to TBIT I may just rock up to the VA desk & ask for a new boarding pass for VA2.

also agree: i would have access to to the Sky Club at T5, which is of no use whilst departing from TBIT.  however it will come in handy on my inbound from australia connecting onwards on DL :)

lastly: I did give Velocity a ring, and after reaching the 'gold desk' the agent put me on hold while they looked into my query.  the answer i was given was that notwithstanding holding a DL-marketed ticket on a VA-operated flight, I would have access to the *A lounge at TBIT.  

will post an update after my travels if i remember to ;)

You will have access to all the Virgin Partner Lounges both Etihad in SYD and the *A lounge in LAX due to the service being operated by Virgin Aus - The Ticket does not matter 

Even if you don't have access to the VA *A lounge in LAX you can always use the Korean Airlines lounge which is open to delta codeshares from TBIT

I have flown LAX - SYD on a DL ticket OPPERATED BY VA. I was allowed to enter into the *A lounge in LAX. It doesnt matter if you have a DL ticket it matters that VA opperated it. Enjoy the lounge in LAX. :-)