Economy X [Domestic free for Platinum] - May 2017

[Mattg]

Well my last few VA flights I've asked at check-in if they could move me to an Economy X seat, and each time I've been told I would have to pay. So I'm surprised they moved you there for free.

If they keep up the policy of making everyone (even SG at check-in) pay, the seats may well end up empty more often than not. Of course, not much you can do if the flight is full.

 

[pauly7]

Well my last few VA flights I've asked at check-in if they could move me to an Economy X seat, and each time I've been told I would have to pay. So I'm surprised they moved you there for free.

If they keep up the policy of making everyone (even SG at check-in) pay, the seats may well end up empty more often than not. Of course, not much you can do if the flight is full.

Interesting. I've had a good strike rate of getting free Economy X (as a SG). I don't ask for it I just ask if there is anything closer to the front, aisle or window fine. 40% success rate roughly Id say - so I'd never personally pay for it!'
I think it will take a while to bed in and 'train' their PAX to pay for it.
Annoyingly though I'm still seeing pax move themselves into X seating onboard once the seatbelt sign turns off - and the staff still not blinking.
So personally there is no way I'd pay for it myself.

 

[OzEire]

As VA WP i have had about 50% shadows in row 3 and half full flights with a full row 3. However if 3 is looking full i select exit row instead and close to 100% shadow there.

Not sure what this row 4/5 is you speak of? Makes sense for something to exist between rows 3 and 13 !

 

[Pleb Status]

As VA WP i have had about 50% shadows in row 3 and half full flights with a full row 3. However if 3 is looking full i select exit row instead and close to 100% shadow there.

Not sure what this row 4/5 is you speak of? Makes sense for something to exist between rows 3 and 13 !

There appears to be something between row 3 and the aft toilets but I try not spend any time there....

 

[pauly7]

As VA WP i have had about 50% shadows in row 3 and half full flights with a full row 3. However if 3 is looking full i select exit row instead and close to 100% shadow there.

Yes the shadows don't appear to be as 'solid', but to be fair in my experience even when I was VA WP they were never that 'strong'.

 

[frequentclicker]

Just got off a flight from MEL to CBR. Asked if any seat further in the front was free and was told to that I'd have to pay for the Economy X seats if I wanted to move up any further than row 6. The flight went out with row 3 half empty and completely empty rows 4 and 5. As a SG I'm really annoyed at this. I don't expect to be moved if the seats are taken but if they are free, what's the harm in giving loyal customers a bit of special treatment? I also flew QF on the outbound leg and found the food, ambience and service to be miles better at the QF lounge. The service onboard was also miles ahead and I actually got proper food, not two super dry biscuits with a glass of water. All things considered, I'm now seriously considering switching to QF for all my domestic flying. VA feels more and more like a budget airline every time I fly with them.

 

[OzEire]

F.C., not much better on QF for that sector im afraid. I fly both VA and QF often enough to know it's a race to the bottom. Swap dry biscuits for micro (33% size) granola bar on QF/VA with a micro muffin or pack of soy crisps on VA/QF. It really doesn't matter they aren't competing.

 

[Muppet501st]

Im loving the WP shadows, since the introduction of YX. Granted the routes i fly arent as popular as the SYD/BNE/MEL. Its a clear benefit for WP over SG.

 

[Happy Dude]

Im loving the WP shadows, since the introduction of YX. Granted the routes i fly arent as popular as the SYD/BNE/MEL. Its a clear benefit for WP over SG.

As a SG I used to get shadows in rows 4-10 regularly. Or maybe it was the WP's on the other end or fluked light loads?

It's a benefit possible only if folks don't start paying. Probably safe then.

 

[andyhui01]

Just got off a flight from MEL to CBR. Asked if any seat further in the front was free and was told to that I'd have to pay for the Economy X seats if I wanted to move up any further than row 6. The flight went out with row 3 half empty and completely empty rows 4 and 5. As a SG I'm really annoyed at this. I don't expect to be moved if the seats are taken but if they are free, what's the harm in giving loyal customers a bit of special treatment?

The problem with doing this is it then becomes an expectation, this would also mean there is less chance of other SG pax paying for it. You might not be inclined to pay but a tall SG might, it sucks but all of us here need VA to be profitable, (inc loyal QF flyers).

If the flight and all non X seats are taken. They should move SG pax at the gate. But doing it more often than that sets an expectation which only leads to disappointment. We have all been asking for a point of difference between WP/SG and now there is one and might give more SG pax inspiration to go for WP.

 

[Haplo]

I had similar experience as a Singapore Gold member. On the outbound flight to Ayers Rock the plane was half full and row 3, 4 and 5 was empty. I asked the flight attendant if I could move up and she said that is fine so I had row 3 seat for the entire flight. On the inbound flight the plane was full and this time I was told I cannot take a row 3, 4 or 5 seat even through these three seats were empty.

 

[Pleb Status]

I am very happy to report that I still have a 100% success rate with YX shadows when not seated next to a couple. Five out of the six possible forward shadows were evident last night (including for me) on a fairly full flight (>80%).

My shadow percentage as a VA WP since the introduction of YX is currently more than double that of when I was a QF P1.

 

[jordzilla]

Thinking of upgrading to economy X for SYD>LAX, I am a gold already so have all the other perks they are including like priority etc.. so would only be getting leg room and better seat position.

Anyone done this on an LAX bound flight yet and give feedback of experience? thanks

 

[Yipchoi]

I am very happy to report that I still have a 100% success rate with YX shadows when not seated next to a couple. Five out of the six possible forward shadows were evident last night (including for me) on a fairly full flight (>80%).

My shadow percentage as a VA WP since the introduction of YX is currently more than double that of when I was a QF P1.

Same here 100% sucess rate ADL-SYD-ADL every week and same for SYD-DRW-SYD every other week recently

 

[galend]

Thinking of upgrading to economy X for SYD>LAX, I am a gold already so have all the other perks they are including like priority etc.. so would only be getting leg room and better seat position.

Anyone done this on an LAX bound flight yet and give feedback of experience? thanks

I'm gold and did MEL>LAX and back in yX at the end of August. Work paid the $150 each way so it was an easy decision. I'm around 6"3 but I've never sat in normal economy on a Virgin long haul, so I can't compare directly, but I can say I was reasonably comfortable as far as economy goes and I could pretty much stretch right out even when the person in front reclined.

The premium headsets were relatively good too but might be moot for you. I also had a shadow on both hauls, the yX cabin was probably 85-90% full both ways.

I'd personally pay it myself on another long haul, I couldn't imagine being stuck in a smaller seat than that for 14+ hours.


In regards to domestic and trans Tasman yX, I used to have about an 80% success rate on asking for an 'upgrade' at check in but the last 3 times I've asked at check in or in the lounge I've been told it's not a full flight so they are unable to move me unless I pay. I did notice you can upgrade to an economy X seat from 3900 points (or the $29). I'm hoping to hit Plat by the end of the year so that will be great as the yX seat will be covered in 95% of my travel. In a normal economy seat if I have someone next to me I'm not able to lower my tray table, where as yX allows me room to get the laptop out and work.

 

[Edge]

Thinking of upgrading to economy X for SYD>LAX, I am a gold already so have all the other perks they are including like priority etc.. so would only be getting leg room and better seat position.

Anyone done this on an LAX bound flight yet and give feedback of experience? thanks

I flew it last week. I was WP flying on a freedom fare so was hoping to be able to upgrade to J or PE but both flights were full. On the way over I had a row of standard Y to myself which was nice. I asked about moving to Economy X but they said I would have to pay. On the way back they moved me to Economy X for free. I liked it - got plenty of sleep. Worth the $150 in my opinion (I'm 6'5).

 

[jordzilla]

Great thanks for the replies I'm gonna book in, my flights in a week so and showing about 50% spare in Economy X still. So may even get lucky with a couple of shadows next to me.

 

[Notyourbag]

I'm in a similar position but Platinum member flying SYD-LAX on Saturday. I considered the $149 to Economy X but ended up putting in a bid to Premium Y for the minimum $445. Will post back if the bid is successful.

If unsuccessful I'll chance my luck for an upgrade to E-X at check-in (never been knocked back yet!)

Thinking of upgrading to economy X for SYD>LAX, I am a gold already so have all the other perks they are including like priority etc.. so would only be getting leg room and better seat position.

Anyone done this on an LAX bound flight yet and give feedback of experience? thanks

 

[Notyourbag]

My bid was unsuccessful. Although I will pay the $149 for Economy X dispute this should be a Platinum perk. Don't want to risk being cramped up for the 13 hour flight.

I'm in a similar position but Platinum member flying SYD-LAX on Saturday. I considered the $149 to Economy X but ended up putting in a bid to Premium Y for the minimum $445. Will post back if the bid is successful.

If unsuccessful I'll chance my luck for an upgrade to E-X at check-in (never been knocked back yet!)

 

[Jet L]

The only time a WP shadow has failed me since YX is on a SYD-OOL flight that was at the start of the SYD school holidays and the flight was overbooked, 4B was allocated to someone who wasn't even a member of VFF (they kept their boarding pass on their lap the entire flight)