Computer Check-in System Only "BAD" Seats

[Yada Yada]

I have noticed that when the plane is quite full, that the back of the plane is full, yet the first six or seven rows usually have spare seats. I know this is the "Suit Zone", yet I have never purchased an expensive fare.

It's certainly a mystery. Today on DJ808 SYD-MEL, the first 9 rows were completely full. From there back there were a number of empty seats (including one next to me in 11A) so it was more comfortable (at least laterally) at the back than the front.

 

[serfty]

No longer a Virgin Blue Virgin ...

Web check in thoughts/observations:

-Opens 24 Hours before scheduled departure time; any earlier and you get a "Your Keen" message. (Was able to check in @T-23:55)

-For a fullish flight my Blue saver fare to BNE only allowed options from rows 12 and back.

-With an apparently nearly empty flight my Sale Fare allowed access to any non exit row. (2C anyone ?)

-This no status Velocity member, was pre-allocated window seats in middle of aircraft.

Will post more soon after further evaluation/assessment.

 

[Yada Yada]

No longer a Virgin Blue Virgin ...

Web check in thoughts/observations:

-Opens 24 Hours before scheduled departure time; any earlier and you get a "Your Keen" message. (Was able to check in @T-23:55)

-For a fullish flight my Blue saver fare to BNE only allowed options from rows 12 and back.

-With an apparently nearly empty flight my Sale Fare allowed access to any non exit row. (2C anyone ?)

-This no status Velocity member, was pre-allocated window seats in middle of aircraft.

Will post more soon after further evaluation/assessment.

Hi Ross,

Good to hear that you've sampled the competition!

If you purchase Flexi-Saver or higher, you can access seats in the front 12 rows (except for Blue Zone (1A/B/C).

There is no status with Velocity (at present) so my observation is that pre-allocation just starts at the forward most seat available for your fare type. If I purchase Blue Saver fares I usually get preallocated around row 12 (or row 10 or 11 on a -700). I usually move myself to the back row on such flights (row 24 in a -700 or row 30 in a -800) as that is closest to the rear door.

The only times this does not work out well is when it is raining at the destination, or very windy as it was the week before last in MEL.

 

[serfty]

... The only times this does not work out well is when it is raining at the destination, or very windy as it was the week before last in MEL.

Or when departing from BNE after waiting for a thunderstorm to pass, but still raining. They did board rows 13 & back first however ...

 

[GoldCoastGuy]

Another tip.

If you don't mind your allocated seat, but want the chance to take another (better) seat if someone else checks-in and changes seats, DON'T check-in yourself.

Once you check-in, that seat is permanently yours. If you don't check-in, you are still guaranteed THAT seat, however you still have the chance to change if other seats become available.


Evan :->

 

[openseat]

More strange OLCI allocations.

I am flying tomorrow ADL-MEL on the cheapest lunch time special fare of $60 and noticed that I was given row 2. Every other time on ADL-MEL I have been allocated towards the middle and back. I am really flummoxed by this system.

Thanks for the advice about not checking in and waiting to see if a better seat comes up. I assume that means you abandon the check-in process once you see your seat allocation? Though human check-in at ADL is not always nice as the queues can be messy and I love the idea of going straight to the gate.
Everytime I've flown CBR-ADL I check in with a person and find I get 1F, which is nice.

 

[serfty]

Actually you can check in on line and then recheck later to look for and perhaps select a better seat. (Unlike the DJ checkin)

 

[DJ CC]

I havent read the rest of this post but some more information for you all is that the automatic allocation of seats may also affect the seat you are after. If you are flying on the 5th the night of the 3rd the seat assigning is done by computer to sort out the load and trim of the aircraft. Groups of 2 or more are assigned seats and the singles get what is left over. Most of the time any large groups will be assigned from row 3 onwards and any guests requiring assistance will be given row 2. Now seeing as most of zone 1 (of 3) is now full the rest will be assigned into zones 2 and 3. Zone 2 requires most people be seated there and the other 2 zones balance out the aircraft.
So what I am basically getting at is the most of the time you will end up in the center of the plane and if you want to try and get an extra seat beside you go for the back of the plane but you may end up with the infants sitting around you.
My suggestion for you is to have a look at what is left in the back of the plane, take an aisle seat with a window already taken. This way unless the flight is full you may end up with the B or E seat spare.

 

[Yada Yada]

My suggestion for you is to have a look at what is left in the back of the plane, take an aisle seat with a window already taken. This way unless the flight is full you may end up with the B or E seat spare.

That's exactly what I do, and it generally works well. And yes, a few weeks back I ended up sitting alongside a couple with an infant who only stopped wiggling about 10 mins before we landed in MEL.

Thanks for the general seat allocation info.

Can you tell me why I cannot allocate myself a seat in 1D/E/F? My understanding is that this is not regarded as Blue Zone, and it is not an exit row, but it's never available for selection on OLCI.

 

[DJ CC]

I think this stems from the software that DJ uses at checkin which I had heard was going to be updated some time in the future.
Hopefully guest services and guest feedback will have some input into how the next system is setup. Perhaps alot of what is written in this thread will be rectified.
My only concern is that as DJ is looking to expand again these things will be pushed to the back burner until after the Embraers and the US market is rolled out but who knows...

 

[bravoecho1]

Used the online checkin for our flight tomorrow from OOL to SYD. Two seperate bookings, my wife and I on one and her mother on another.

We were preallocated 8A and 8B while the MIL was given 11F. Thinking that DJ had given me an early Xmas present D), I thought it prudent to try and get everyone together.

When I clicked on change seats for our booking, nothing was shown in Zone 1, only Zone 2 and 3. When I clicked on the MIL's booking once again Zone 2 and 3 showed. Ended up snagging 13D, 13E & 13F. Thought about row 30 however everytime I have done that I have been surrounded by screaming kids and one time a mother using the tray table as a change table:!:

The fact that we booked the same fare type yet were given different zones adds to the vagrancies and mystery of the OLCI experience.

 

[DJ CC]

Ended up snagging 13D, 13E & 13F.

Bravoecho1 - if I were you I would change these non reclining seats as they are infront of the emergency exit row if your on the 800.
Even though its a short flight you dont want someone reclined in your lap.

 

[bravoecho1]

DJ CC,

the idea, which worked by the way, was to pre book 3 seats together as a backup, turn up at the airport and go to the counter as we had bags to check and request the exit row. 15D, E & F down and back.

 

[Mal]

Row 2 pre-allocated to me (entire three seats ) on my last DJ Flight.

Only a cheapy sale fare, so fare class had little or nothing to do with it. Velocity number was in the booking but with only a couple of thousand points I'm hardly a top spender with DJ.

Was nice to stretch out and relax

Plane was maybe 1/2 - 2/3 full. Plenty of room for people to stretch out.