Advance Seat Selection on Virgin - now available!!

[Timba-Jet]

Yeah, they do. (LCC from my point of view)

Qantas to return to full service, pledges CEO - Flights | hotels | frequent flyer | business class - Australian Business Traveller

Hehee, cheeky article!

On the matter at hand, another genuine improvement offered by Virgin Australia. Can't wait for the next surprise & delight offer, hope they keep coming.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Hehee, cheeky article!

Topical though! Perhaps AJ should read more often! The metal cutlery did strike a chord with me. I've wondered many a time why we have metal detectors in security screening points, but airside lounges can have metal cutlery :shock:.

I'll also chip in my 2 bobs worth to say quite selfishly that I don't want to see non-status/non-premium flyers being offered early seat selection at a cost. I use to be critical of the lack of difference between an old GO!Fare and a flexi fare apart from cost. The flexibility was easily discounted by the ease of forfeiting and buying another ticket and I proved it was more cost effective by far to do that then pay for a flexi ticket (and I've forfeited a number of altered flights). At last we see real difference and benefit for flexis with meals, priority check-in and now seat options (as well as the traditional flight flexibility). PE/J needs difference as well and of course the most loyal and frequent flyers also need to be shown courtesy over the once a year holiday maker. (Hey, I said it was selfish).

 

[mannej]

Swanning, I think you will find that on QF, status determines where one can select a seat from in advance

 

[oz_mark]

. PE/J needs difference as well and of course the most loyal and frequent flyers also need to be shown courtesy over the once a year holiday maker. (Hey, I said it was selfish).

Similar arguments were used when Qantas first introduced advance seat selection. Some of the platinum folk were up in arms at the thought that the once a year traveller would grab there desired seats. I don't see so many complaints about that these days.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Swanning, I think you will find that on QF, status determines where one can select a seat from in advance

Yes I agree, it's the same with Virgin, but what I was really saying is there does need to be a tangible difference between flexi fares and saver or sale fares. Given DJs poorer than preferred performance on their profit and loss statement, all these changes are about enticing higher fare paying pax to pay higher fares (status matches, perks, J and flexi fares etc). I'm pointing out that a profitable airline benefits all of us (with them being able to afford this new range of perks) and it seems they've recognised that flexi fares do need tangible benefits (hence the not inconsiderable changes recently). Not all flexis will be status holders and early seat selection to red flexis is just another method of persuading pax to part with more cash, for effectively the exact same seat that can be had for (usually) a lot less money!

I'd be curious to see the DJ stats for average flexi fare sales per flight from last year compared with now. I know from personal observation that two years ago, it seemed normal to see 1/2 full planes whereas now I rarely see anything fly much under full capacity (the last 1/2 full plane I was on was the day after ROK airport reopened after the floods). Presumably, a lot of that difference are flexi fare seats.

 

[pauly7]

Topical though! Perhaps AJ should read more often! The metal cutlery did strike a chord with me. I've wondered many a time why we have metal detectors in security screening points, but airside lounges can have metal cutlery :shock:.

I'll also chip in my 2 bobs worth to say quite selfishly that I don't want to see non-status/non-premium flyers being offered early seat selection at a cost. I use to be critical of the lack of difference between an old GO!Fare and a flexi fare apart from cost. The flexibility was easily discounted by the ease of forfeiting and buying another ticket and I proved it was more cost effective by far to do that then pay for a flexi ticket (and I've forfeited a number of altered flights). At last we see real difference and benefit for flexis with meals, priority check-in and now seat options (as well as the traditional flight flexibility). PE/J needs difference as well and of course the most loyal and frequent flyers also need to be shown courtesy over the once a year holiday maker. (Hey, I said it was selfish).

Does it matter if DJ just follow QF and block out the forward cabin for premium pax? I agree that if they let their red members choose row 4 or whatever that wouldn't work.

 

[MarkD]

Does it matter if DJ just follow QF and block out the forward cabin for premium pax? I agree that if they let their red members choose row 4 or whatever that wouldn't work.

Works for me. Even with all these new platinums, still get row 3 almost every time.




Sent from my iphone and AFF app

 

[Timba-Jet]

Just chose 3D for my first DJ flight following my newly Platinum status match.

 

[Qld4101]

Hi Wondering what the situation is on NZ Code share flights - if I book with DJ 8... flight on NZ can I still advance seat select as a platinum member - or am I better booking and using my Air NZ Gold number for this and maybe changing it later?

Any thoughts? Thanks

 

[Jama]

I'll also chip in my 2 bobs worth to say quite selfishly that I don't want to see non-status/non-premium flyers being offered early seat selection at a cost. I use to be critical of the lack of difference between an old GO!Fare and a flexi fare apart from cost. The flexibility was easily discounted by the ease of forfeiting and buying another ticket and I proved it was more cost effective by far to do that then pay for a flexi ticket (and I've forfeited a number of altered flights). At last we see real difference and benefit for flexis with meals, priority check-in and now seat options (as well as the traditional flight flexibility). PE/J needs difference as well and of course the most loyal and frequent flyers also need to be shown courtesy over the once a year holiday maker. (Hey, I said it was selfish).

I agree that status members should see some benefit in getting first option. If everyone gets the same choice and status members don't get to sit where they hoped we will hear the whining over the engines.

If you’re travelling cheap once a year your generally just happy to be on the plane. The fact remains though that even non status fares do get to select seats. Seat selection is available at check-in and 24hrs prior to flying. So status members are just given the oportunity for choice a couple of weeks ahead and everyone else gets a choice a day ahead. At no cost.

 

[Pushka]

Just chose 3D for my first DJ flight following my newly Platinum status match.

I got that seat with a lowly matched Gold.

 

[pshepvic]

Except that sometimes I book <24 hours before my flight (in fact, quite often) so I'd still like to see zones reserved for Gold & Plat FFs even at that point.

I also think that the Extra Legroom seats should be available for Plat & Gold to select at no cost.

 

[markis10]

Except that sometimes I book <24 hours before my flight (in fact, quite often) so I'd still like to see zones reserved for Gold & Plat FFs even at that point.

I also think that the Extra Legroom seats should be available for Plat & Gold to select at no cost.

I think you will find there are zones on hold, either that or my two flights both have the same group in Rows 4-8 starboard side!

 

[Justinf]

Just selected 3C for my MEL-SYD leg on Saturday and the same 3C option for the return leg on Monday morning. Gold member, but only a saver fare.

 

[pshepvic]

I think you will find there are zones on hold, either that or my two flights both have the same group in Rows 4-8 starboard side!

I knew there were zones but wasn't sure when/if they drop off and it becomes a free for all (like the QF ones do at T-80).

If they are still there at T-24 and later then I'm happy!

(On the topic of zones, I always thought the gold zone was the port side though, plus rows 3-4 on the starboard side? I saw it in that brochure for TAs on the Air NZ alliance - however maybe the front of the plane was actually pointing the other way and I had it mixed up! The left side on the old B738s has very slightly more legroom from rows 3-11 due to the left row 1 seats positioned further forward, so that side would actually be better for a gold/plat zone!)

 

[777]

Well report back from my first experiment ... it didn't work.

Went online yesterday and selected 3C for tonight's flight. Just got to the lounge and discovered i was in 3F. Lounge angel moved me back to 3C no problem but it appears to either be a bit glitchy or i did something wrong in the process.

Hmmm. I can't guarantee i didn't do something dumb in the process but pretty sure i completed it ok.

 

[ozmille]

Well report back from my first experiment ... it didn't work.

Went online yesterday and selected 3C for tonight's flight. Just got to the lounge and discovered i was in 3F. Lounge angel moved me back to 3C no problem but it appears to either be a bit glitchy or i did something wrong in the process.

Hmmm. I can't guarantee i didn't do something dumb in the process but pretty sure i completed it ok.

I did something like that before, online check in went all fine (I thought) showed up at the airport and I was in 1D and SWMBO in 3A...

 

[777]

1D would have been fine.

 

[ozmille]

1D would have been fine.

Was on a dodgy BA flight from BRU to LHR so nothing to write home about. Hope will get new 737 on my PE DJ flight coming up

 

[loobloke]

This benefit is nice to see if any of the operating aircraft are BSI/retrofitted aircraft if you are booked on a flexi fare (or just book late) and have flexible departure times.

Pity none of my upcoming flights or any similar timed flights are showing as BSI. Probably because they are mainly on transcontinental now. ADL needs more loving imo!