Flying VA PER-BNE with baby--will paying for Flexi vs Saver help get bassinet seat?

[kheong]

Hi, we've not flown domestically with a baby before. We'd like a bassinet for the baby and the more expensive Flexi seat allows us to select seat up to 2 weeks prior to flying. Does anyone know if this will our chances to secure a bassinet vs a Saver seat?

thanks!

 

[mannej]

Hi, we've not flown domestically with a baby before. We'd like a bassinet for the baby and the more expensive Flexi seat allows us to select seat up to 2 weeks prior to flying. Does anyone know if this will our chances to secure a bassinet vs a Saver seat?

thanks!

Is there a bassinet on the 737?

 

[kheong]

Re: Flying VA PER-BNE with baby--will paying for Flexi vs Saver help get bassinet sea

Yes, this is the Airbus (I think A330) and it does have bassinet

 

[mella2007]

Re: Flying VA PER-BNE with baby--will paying for Flexi vs Saver help get bassinet sea

Have you called the call centre to advise them you are travelling with an infant? In many cases even on a saver fare they will ensure you are looked after..but all depends on the baby load and no guarantee whether you buy a flexi or a saver fare.

 

[kheong]

Re: Flying VA PER-BNE with baby--will paying for Flexi vs Saver help get bassinet sea

Not yet but thanks...yes, I thought that would be the case as well.. cheers!

 

[pat25d]

Re: Flying VA PER-BNE with baby--will paying for Flexi vs Saver help get bassinet sea

What date has a A330 flying to Brisbane? Or does it go via Sydney?

 

[kheong]

Re: Flying VA PER-BNE with baby--will paying for Flexi vs Saver help get bassinet sea

I'm looking at Nov 23rd, flight DJ682 - it does PER-BNE direct.

 

[Jurahn]

Re: Flying VA PER-BNE with baby--will paying for Flexi vs Saver help get bassinet sea

I'm looking at Nov 23rd, flight DJ682 - it does PER-BNE direct.

DJ682 is a PER-MEL flight, not PER-BNE?

As far as I know, all PER-BNE flights are 737s, unfortunately they don't have the A330 on that route yet (I wish!)

 

[Noob]

Re: Flying VA PER-BNE with baby--will paying for Flexi vs Saver help get bassinet sea

I'm looking at Nov 23rd, flight DJ682 - it does PER-BNE direct.

There might be a problem - DJ682 is PER-MEL (which is an A330) - You may be going to BNE via MEL in which case the MEL-BNE leg will be on a 737/E190.

I'd give Virgin a call just to check everything

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Re: Flying VA PER-BNE with baby--will paying for Flexi vs Saver help get bassinet sea

You'll have to weigh up taking a non-stop 737 flight with no bassinet vs 2 flights via MEL where you may get the bassinet.

Even if you do purchase the more expensive fare that allows seat selection 2 weeks prior the bassinets rows may have already been taken as Velocity Silver Gold & Platinum pax can allocate seats at the time of booking which can be more than 2 weeks prior to travel so you could miss out.

Pax with infants face these issues on QF's 767 or A330 flights PER/BNE where premium pax snaffle the bulkhead seats.

If you fly QF you can allocate your seats immediately the booking is made even on the cheapest fares but make sure you book the infant & request a bassinet seat. I would also call up res to see if they can pre-allocate the bassinet seats for you.

Aircraft changes do happen so there are never any guarantees the seat selection will stay the same.

 

[kheong]

Re: Flying VA PER-BNE with baby--will paying for Flexi vs Saver help get bassinet sea

Opps.. apologies! I had change in plans and will be flying to Melbourne first.. thanks for all the advice. I'll call VA after booking and see if I can get a bassinet seat.

cheers!

 

[kheong]

Re: Flying VA PER-BNE with baby--will paying for Flexi vs Saver help get bassinet sea

FYI I've made the booking and called VA call centre. I'm not sure if it helped since they just told me to show up an hour before departure and request for a bassinet. When I asked how can I get a bulkhead seat, they just said I can select a seat 24 hours before departure... hmmm.... but it's no drama if we can't get a bassinet since the flight isn't super long.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Re: Flying VA PER-BNE with baby--will paying for Flexi vs Saver help get bassinet sea

FYI I've made the booking and called VA call centre. I'm not sure if it helped since they just told me to show up an hour before departure and request for a bassinet.

When I asked how can I get a bulkhead seat, they just said I can select a seat 24 hours before departure... hmmm.... but it's no drama if we can't get a bassinet since the flight isn't super long.

IMO waiting until you're at tbe airport is way too late. If res can't do it I would try to do OLCI 24 hours before for your best chance then at then at the airport if you weren't successful the first time but I'd get there early like maybe 2 hours prior if you're able to.

Do you know what row numbers the bassinets are in? Have a look at wwww.seatguru.com for the DJ seat maps.

 

[kheong]

Re: Flying VA PER-BNE with baby--will paying for Flexi vs Saver help get bassinet sea

FYI I wasn't able to get bassinet PER-MEL but got it coming back. We were late checking in both times (had to be pulled off the queue). I couldn't do OLCI both flights. First time, they told us there were no more bulkhead seats (basketball team on the plane!). Although the call centre noted our request, they didn't assign a code. So before heading back, I complained to the call centre and made sure they assign a code to my bassinet request. When we checked in, we got the bulkhead seats.
So from my experience, requesting it through the call centre is still the way to go but you need to make sure a code is assigned to your request.