Getting toward the front of the plane

[empiretraveller]

Hi All,

Is there a trick or status required to being able to choose seats closer to the front of the plane? I've been Silver for a bit with VA and just went Gold and was wondering if it's a status thing to access seats 3 - 12/14. Always seems if I'm not flying business I can never choose seats closer to the front and can only choose 15 onwards.

 

[kalboy]

Once your Gold status kicks in you will have better access.

 

[RooFlyer]

As a VA Silver I don't choose seats until I check in on line, 24 hrs prior and usually get row 7 or 8 aisle, occasionally row 5.

 

[snabbu]

As a general rule the higher the status the further forward access you will have.

 

[blackcat20]

Gold won't usually get you row 3. We usually get 5 but ask nicely in the lounge if 3 is vacant.

 

[italianlover]

I flew to Brisbane on Saturday, I am VA Gold and husband VA Silver, twin daughters no Status Red. Seats allocated at check in, girls got Row 3, husband and I row 6!!!
Returning to Sydney last night we got Row 9 and girls were in 27!!

 

[Deleted member]

I flew to Brisbane on Saturday, I am VA Gold and husband VA Silver, twin daughters no Status Red. Seats allocated at check in, girls got Row 3, husband and I row 6!!!
Returning to Sydney last night we got Row 9 and girls were in 27!!

You will choose to fly VA

 

[empiretraveller]

Thanks, so it is about status. Wasn't sure if I was just unlucky in my seat choices. Now that I'm Gold I look forward to seeing what I can get in future.

 

[blackcat20]

We asked for row 3 at T-3.5 and told full. Get on board to find NBs in row 3. How that happens is a mystery to me and a bit annoying.

 

[Major]

As a very general rule Plats are able to select rows 3-6 and Golds rows 7-10 at time of booking. This sometimes changes at online checkin and you may be able to move forward.

I am usually HLO and also ask at the Lounge if I can move forward. Sometime they just check me straight into row 3 without asking. Every flight is different

 

[aaronm]

Flying MEL-OOL last week (VA Silver) I was offered row 4 at check in, on the return trip I could only get as far forward as row 9. When choosing seats during the booking process typically I can select row 11 and back.

 

[empiretraveller]

Can I only get further to the front when I check in at the terminal or being a Gold member (hate saying Gold Member, always makes me think of the villain from Austin Powers) will I now see rows 11 and lower when I choose a seat when doing my booking online?

I had heard frequent flyers talking about their disdain for being seated rows 14 and onwards as those areas are more the casual flyers with the screaming kids and wanted in on the more front seats for myself too.

 

[Major]

Can I only get further to the front when I check in at the terminal or being a Gold member (hate saying Gold Member, always makes me think of the villain from Austin Powers) will I now see rows 11 and lower when I choose a seat when doing my booking online?

I had heard frequent flyers talking about their disdain for being seated rows 14 and onwards as those areas are more the casual flyers with the screaming kids and wanted in on the more front seats for myself too.

As a Gold you will be able to select row 7 and back at the time of booking

 

[empiretraveller]

As a Gold you will be able to select row 7 and back at the time of booking

Brilliant, thanks for clarifying that. It's the small things with status that make it worthwhile : )

 

[EUROPA]

Plats pretty much have access to an open seat map at time of booking (including row 5 on VA international)....

 

[Wezza]

I always choose row 7 when booking then check again within 48 hours of flying, usually row 5 & 6 have opened up. Then sometimes you can get row 3 at check in.

 

[Major]

Plats pretty much have access to an open seat map at time of booking (including row 5 on VA international)....

Only if you have a J ticket on the 777

 

[Jurahn]

I booked PER-SYD-PER just after I dropped from Plat to Gold, and can now only select from Row 17 and back on the A330 at the time of booking.

 

[empiretraveller]

I always choose row 7 when booking then check again within 48 hours of flying, usually row 5 & 6 have opened up. Then sometimes you can get row 3 at check in.

Nice, thanks for the tip. I'll keep this in mind from now on.

 

[blackcat20]

Plats pretty much have access to an open seat map at time of booking (including row 5 on VA international)....

Golds also get Row 5 on the 777.