Virgin Atlantic miles on Delta flights - limited routes only?

[Mendel72]

I just got off the phone with a Virgin Atlantic agent, trying to book a Delta DTW-FCO business class flight with their miles (I checked first to make sure that the lowest Delta rate was available for the dates I requested).

Her response was that this route was simply not available for redemption. According to her, Delta only releases certain routes for redemption with Virgin miles, and that route is not one of them. There is no available list of those routes, and the only way to find out if a route is available is by calling them and having them enter it into the system.

Has anyone experienced this before? Is this practice documented anywhere? Is there any way around it?

[ilherman]

Oiy!

Regular phone rep BS.

Lets start off like that, what dates and flights are you looking to book?

[avrumy]

The only way it is available on delta is if it available for MILES on Virgin Atlantic. Not all routes are available on points on Virgin Atlantic themself.

[Mendel72]

Oiy!

Regular phone rep BS.

Lets start off like that, what dates and flights are you looking to book?

5/18/16 DL236
5/25/16 DL237

[Mendel72]

I just found the following in the TOC:

All reward flights on Delta Air Lines are subject to availability. Blackout dates may apply and certain routes may not be available.

This wording is specific to Delta. It doesn't appear regarding other airlines.

So maybe the rep did know what she was talking about.

[eliraps]

Was just on the phone to VS phone rep. Looking to book LHR -ORD in April. They don't fly to ORD at that time of year.  She says I would have to book a ticket to [E.G.] JFK and then a separate award from the connection point to Chicago on Delta.
Is this true? Can I not book a ticket for the regular price of Europe - USA?