Jeepers you take a week off and come back to more...
The trivial part Boof is that you clearly don't believe that seat selection is an important status benefit.
At no point did I say that seat selecton isn't an important status benefit, in fact I belive quite the opposite and where I dont get it as a status beneft I actively pay for it, such is my desire to sit where I want.
Given your immense knowledge and expertise in airline T&Cs I'm sure you're aware that the airline basically has no obligation to do anything whatsoever.
They don't have to fly you, they don't have to fly you on time, they don't have to carry your bags on the same flight, and yes - they don't have to seat you together or in your preselected seat.
Now - the point is very simple.
If you're going to offer a status benefit - then pax have a reasonable expectation of it being delivered 99.99999% of the time except in extreme circumstances.
I was in row 24 the other day on VA. I promise you I am a higher status than most if not all the other pax on that plane. Despite the fact that my booking was last minute and I could only select from the remaining seats, according to your logic - I should have had the peeps in my preferred seats relocated to the lavatory.
Displacement should occur so infrequently that this thread should not exist.
The fact that multiple incidents are being reported means the benefit is not being delivered.
That you personally don't care about it - is your business.
The fact that others do - well, that's VA's business problem.
You are right (not so much about my immense knowledge, that is way off the mark!) the airlines under the T's and C's can get away with pretty much anything. I urge you to consider how many flights have you taken that have resulted in the seat you selected being changed? Given this thread I stopped and thought about it and I've had 3 moves in 12 months, of which 1 was an Op Up to J, one was a move further forward from 4F to 3F (They needed 4F for a wheelchair passenger, and I'm guessing the 3F pax flew ahead as it was blocked when I checked in only a couple hours prior), and once as I mentioned where I missed out on Row 3 and went back to Row 4. Over 80 sectors with VA I've had one move that was to my detriment so I'm sitting at a 98.75% strike rate. Not quite the 99.99% you expect but I'm happy with that as I would expect most would be.
Multiple incidents seems a bit of a stretch as there as been 3, including mine that I mentioned, in this thread. That's not a lot of noise in the forum.
I don't think you should've contributed in the first place. But that's just my opinion, no need to pay it any attention.
It is utter cough to suggest that a platinum velocity member who has selected seats months in advance should be moved for crew.
It is utter cough to suggest they should be moved for The Club members when there are empty seats in business. If The Club is so special put them in business. Don't F around the customers that are paying you lots of money. That is a simple, easy, win win solution.
But as I've said numerous times VA does not give a cough about status recognition. They'd much rather do special deals for their staff mates than worry after the paying customer. That's an excellent way to lose customers. I wonder how long an airline will last if they only have non-paying crew to fly around.
They plan the fixtures a WHOLE year in advance. The clubs know exactly where they need to be in 6 months time. And that does not change. Doesn't seem very dynamic to me.
Thanks for your opinion, you are welcome to share it. It may be utter cough to suggest that people be moved from selected seats for higher status passengers, or for carriage under contract, or for crew, but it does happen and it's been happening for as long as airlines have existed. The airline industry is one of the last bastions of the class and status system. The LCC model challenges it but legacy carriers embrace it.
As for your comment about the AFL and the rostering, perhaps you don't follow the game? If you dont it would be easy to think that it's all pre planned but it's not. Medical appointments with interstate specialists, tribunal appearances, media commitments, game day injuries resulting in players not flying home with the team, coaching clinics with kids through sponsorship, sponsorship appearances, can all be ad-hoc and can happen at short notice. It is a massive business and as a result has the need for both long term and last minute plans.
A comment regarding this thread:
A difference of opinion between us won't change VA's way of doing things. I've actually been quite offended by the uncalled for personal attacks in this thread. I dont post that often but when I do it's to offer some thoughts and the odd fact. In this thread I offered some thoughts, backed that up with some further explanations, and have done so again just now without singling out anybody for a lack of knowledge, understanding, or their opinion. It would be nice if that was reciprocated.
Play the ball, not the man.
Regards,
Boof