Is DJ OLCI worth it?

[drron]

Just checked in 23.45 hours before tomorrows flight MCY-MEL.Allocated 18E,F.Only 8 other seats to choose from.Took 5C,D-across the aisle from each other but in the front zone that you pay more for-though we didn't.
I wanted to do an airport checkin but mrsdrron likes certainty.

 

[Travel Guru]

I always do OLCI when flying DJ if for no other reason than their bag drop line is usually significantly shorter than the line reserved for those poor souls who are checking in at the gate.

TG

 

[kages]

Drron,

Where did you get the information about paying for front rows on DJ?
I can only see info about over wing exits and 1A,B,C on 737s

Kages

 

[drron]

Drron,

Where did you get the information about paying for front rows on DJ?
I can only see info about over wing exits and 1A,B,C on 737s

Kages

Comes up in the booking process-at least for flights out of MCY.

 

[kages]

Fair enough.
To address the original post I dont usually OLCI unless theres a chance I will be rushing. I am DJ Gold and I find I can usually pickup an exit seat if I am at the airport in reasonable time. I estimate I am running at about 8/10 exit seats on recent flights. One of those misses was due to DJ staff travel.

Kages

 

[drron]

Fair enough.
To address the original post I dont usually OLCI unless theres a chance I will be rushing. I am DJ Gold and I find I can usually pickup an exit seat if I am at the airport in reasonable time. I estimate I am running at about 8/10 exit seats on recent flights. One of those misses was due to DJ staff travel.

Kages

If i am by myself travelling out of MCY especially i will not OLCI-invariably end up with exit row at checkin.

 

[medhead]

I'm not sure. I've done it twice on both my DJ flights. for CBR-ADL it wasn't worth it was the bag drop line and check in line where the same line. But my most recent ADL-SYD was worth it as I had carry only and went straight to the gate.

BTW I also got an op-up, (sorry on op-up thread for DJ) OLCI got me into 12D from 18A (738) beep on board moved to 9D = OP-UP score! Turns out 12D was staff travel and exit row. Still I got off sooner

 

[cmon0005]

Isn't row 5 Premium Economy (red seats)? If so that means your were upgraded?

 

[drron]

Isn't row 5 Premium Economy (red seats)? If so that means your were upgraded?

I doubt it.Will find out tomorrow.

 

[cmon0005]

I doubt it.Will find out tomorrow.

Actually just checked seat Guru, first 3 rows are Premium Economy. So looks like you just have a stock standard seat.

 

[Mrmaxwell]

Having completed 4 return trips over the last month I can say with authority I have been able to get much better seats by asking for exit rows/front seats at the gate.

Each time I have used OLCI there are very limited seats available if any...my DJ insider has told me that only Silver/Gold can select rows 4-11 and my recent experience seems to confirm this...would love to hear from any silver/gold members if this is true?

Asking with a smile at the gate seems to negate any status issues I have (aka Velocity Red!) and on my last flight I was very happy to look down on my freshly gate-printed boarding pass to see 1A!

 

[anat0l]

OLCI is worth it on any airline just to "confirm" a seat.

And if you so desire, to get a sturdy BP (the BPs printed by the kiosks are thermal paper similar to QF; the BPs printed at a bag drop counter (if you choose to get one there) is a thermal paper piece similar to a supermarket docket).

 

[clifford]

My experience with DJ OLCI has been very poor.

You can pick what appears to be a good seat with an empty middle, and they will always fill it with a mother and infant (or a rather large person).

In future I'll do my check-ins at the Lounge (I have access via Priority Pass).

So OLCI is only worthwhile if you have a very short connect time! (and maybe not even then).

 

[brissyflyer]

I like OLCI, my only real seating preference is a window seat and on domestic flights I generally prefer sitting towards the back as most people prefer towards the front therefore on a lightly loaded flight the chances of empty seats beside me are better. Also boarding by the back door can often be quicker too as can disembarking.

 

[medhead]

Each time I have used OLCI there are very limited seats available if any...my DJ insider has told me that only Silver/Gold can select rows 4-11 and my recent experience seems to confirm this...would love to hear from any silver/gold members if this is true?

I have 3 recent flights with DJ, so very limited experience, but I was able to select 6B. Maybe I got that because it was a middle seat.

I also did DJ 8 years ago and got 1B. A very impressive flight and even better landing. (anyone who knows Eddie Murphy stand up will understand about the flash of a rabbits tail in the long grass)

 

[JohnK]

My understanding is one cannot provide a seating preference on DJ.

I have always been allocated a window seat. So I use OLCI to try and get an aisle seat. Would not be a comfortable flight feeling boxed in sitting in the window seats....

 

[drron]

Finally back to the world of communication-in the wilderness on Tassie's West Coast last 4 days.
Well OLCI was worth it this time.We were able to select 5C,D(no status) and bag drop was empty with a very long line at checkin at MCY last Wednesday.So if with mrsdrron I will OLCI.By myself I would look but if nothing good available i would wait until at the airport-they have usually been very good to me at DJ.

 

[clifford]

My understanding is one cannot provide a seating preference on DJ.

Well, yes you can.

You just have to phone the Velocity call centre and tell them your preferences.

How do I know? I did it.

 

[SeaWolf]

I've always found the bag drop line to be much shorter than the line for traditional check in, so I've always been very keen on the OLCI just for that. If it allocates you a seat you aren't happy with I've often found that just asking at the counter when you do bag drop will often get you the result you want, or something similar to it.

 

[auriga]

I seem to get "better" seats if I dont OLCI.