On board recognition - who gets any?

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As a Plat with VA, I'm welcomed at both the gate and door generally by name (but I don't need to be, I simply need a smile). Occassionally there is a shadow next to me (but I won't whinge if it's not there all the time).

Do you (or anyone else for that matter) think that who you are/who you work for is somewhere noted on your profile, and this affects how you are treated? I have never (that I recall in recent times) been welcomed by name at the gate and rarely at the door. I usually fly J and just get the "row x on the right/left".

Regarding the difference in treatment based on age, we had a thread a while back about this... seemed fairly common. Not that makes it acceptable.
 
Do you (or anyone else for that matter) think that who you are/who you work for is somewhere noted on your profile, and this affects how you are treated? I have never (that I recall in recent times) been welcomed by name at the gate and rarely at the door. I usually fly J and just get the "row x on the right/left".

Regarding the difference in treatment based on age, we had a thread a while back about this... seemed fairly common. Not that makes it acceptable.

Without a doubt. We flew J last year to Hamilton Island (we are both WP) and one couple were fussed over so much it was nauseating, on landing we were told to wait, the ground staff were waiting for them on the tarmac and they were escorted toward the airport (they were in 2A we in 1A). No idea who they were but they were not first into the airport as her 9 inch heals were no match for our thongs!
 
Occasionally there is a shadow next to me (but I won't whinge if it's not there all the time). Haven't seen many extra drinks but unsure if downing two bottles of red is really a good idea domestically. And certainly not if I'm to go anywhere near a keyboard and this website anytime afterward.

I have noticed the term "shadow" being used in a few posts now and for the life of me I cant figure out what it means.

Can someone please enlighten me :)

Cheers
Dave.
 
I have noticed the term "shadow" being used in a few posts now and for the life of me I cant figure out what it means.

Can someone please enlighten me :)

Cheers
Dave.

Someone in the middle seat. Usually WP will get row 3 aisle or window with noone in the middle (shadow), anyway that is my assumption as when I looked at the list of acronyms used on the site I didn't get to the end of A!
 
Yep thats it

I find often 3B is occupied next to me - so im' guessing it's either not working consistently or i've had other plats choose that seat - mind you I often fly at busy times
 
Someone in the middle seat. Usually WP will get row 3 aisle or window with noone in the middle (shadow), anyway that is my assumption as when I looked at the list of acronyms used on the site I didn't get to the end of A!

Thanks for the reply, I thought that may been the explanation.

In that case SG's travel with shadows as well as on a flight on Monday I snagged row 3 with an empty seat next to me !

Cheers
Dave.
 
Yep thats it

I find often 3B is occupied next to me - so im' guessing it's either not working consistently or i've had other plats choose that seat - mind you I often fly at busy times

Would most plats take 4A and not shadow someone? Curious as most of my flying is not peak and when it is have never had that dilema.
 
My flight on Monday was a 6.00pm SYD to BNE so fairly busy time.

Sorry to the OP for hijacking your thread.

In regards to recognition either onboard, while boarding on the ground. I have found that on board it varies depending on the FA's I have been addressed by both christian and surname at times or just a "welcome back". I have never had free drinks or meals given me unless they were part of the fare.

On the ground I find the Lounge staff to be far more friendly than what I remember of the QP.

Cheers
Dave.
 
Someone in the middle seat. Usually WP will get row 3 aisle or window with noone in the middle (shadow), anyway that is my assumption as when I looked at the list of acronyms used on the site I didn't get to the end of A!

I always assumed the idea was having a seat for one's shadow... As in an empty space you can fill just with your shadow.
 
As a Gold in my last 20 or so flights I have had a shadow every time. Yesterday I used fly ahead and they couldn't seat me and Mr Mella in the same row. When I was greeted on board, the CM looked at my boarding pass, welcomed me and asked why were we separated. I said we chose to fly ahead and there wasn't availability (I wasnt fussed, however she wrote my seat number on her hand!) 5 mins before flight was about to leave, she came and told us she found us an empty row for us to move to for us to be more comfortable. Some of the looks I got made me feel quite uncomfortable!!
 
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Officially - according the the Plat line - VA do not have a 'shadow' policy. However, as people have clearly observed, their airport staff do have to power to block seats which gives you a shadow. On other occasions, you may just be luckey enough to not have another status member allocated the seat next to you.

I think an 'official' shadow (unless plane full) would be a fantastic platinum benefit. It doesn't have to be automatic, but the ability to call and request a shawdow - say within T-14 - would be great.
 
Lets pester them until they relent. :)


Now to figure out how to get my computer to automatically send a form email every day...

[TABLE="class: outer_border, width: 500, align: left"]
[TR]
[TD]To:john.borghetti@virginaustralia

Dear John,
Can we have our platinum shadows in writing please.

Regards,
AFF[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
 
Lets pester them until they relent. :)


Now to figure out how to get my computer to automatically send a form email every day...

[TABLE="class: outer_border, width: 500, align: left"]
[TR]
[TD]To:john.borghetti@virginaustralia

Dear John,
Can we have our platinum shadows in writing please.

Regards,
AFF[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]







Why would they relent? It's not a documented feature on QF either (I just had 2/2 shadows on Long haul QF flights though which was lucky).

I've never once had a 'shadow' as a VA WP either, so the SG's here commenting they get it every time must be lucky, or know how to flirt well ;)
 
Why would they relent? It's not a documented feature on QF either (I just had 2/2 shadows on Long haul QF flights though which was lucky).

I've never once had a 'shadow' as a VA WP either, so the SG's here commenting they get it every time must be lucky, or know how to flirt well ;)

Or in my case spend a lot of money through my business. And I'm still not plat in spite of it!
 
Officially - according the the Plat line - VA do not have a 'shadow' policy. However, as people have clearly observed, their airport staff do have to power to block seats which gives you a shadow.

On a couple of occassions I've had checkin staff advise me they will block the seat. Once on a 3 hour flight, when travelling with my non-status partner, we chose 4A & 4C with advice 4B will be blocked. It was a light load though. That said, as a solo travelling Plat I have been 'guilty' of purposefully choosing 3B & 3E on a few occassions, no doubt A, C, D & F find that quite annoying.
 
On a couple of occassions I've had checkin staff advise me they will block the seat. Once on a 3 hour flight, when travelling with my non-status partner, we chose 4A & 4C with advice 4B will be blocked. It was a light load though. That said, as a solo travelling Plat I have been 'guilty' of purposefully choosing 3B & 3E on a few occassions, no doubt A, C, D & F find that quite annoying.

I too would choose 3B or 3E if they were avaiable because at 6'3 I appreciate the extra legroom.

I personally do not have an issue with another platinum member sitting in these middle seats if I am unable to obtain a 'shawdow' - what would bug me a non-status passenger (an too some extent silver/gold) taking up those seats which has been happening a little recently - Row 3 is Platinum territory, period.
 
Do you (or anyone else for that matter) think that who you are/who you work for is somewhere noted on your profile, and this affects how you are treated? I have never (that I recall in recent times) been welcomed by name at the gate and rarely at the door. I usually fly J and just get the "row x on the right/left".

I'm always welcomed by name at the door, and I'm a "nobody" (quite literally, being a NB).
 
I have been VA gold for approx 12 months and in that time I have had 1 op-up, quite a few spare seats beside me but little recognition other than the usual hello and name from the boarding pass. I am happy with this as I don't expect anything else.
Previously I was sg on QF for 10 years and I had 1 op-up, a few spare seats and rarely greeted by name. I am now QF silver and get very little, as expected.
At this point I am staying with VA.
 
WP for me with VA and I always get welcomed and I have always been successful in getting greeted by name. Also, on BNE - LAX last year, they came to me in Y and offered me a Y+ Menu with Y+ drinks....
 
WP for me with VA and I always get welcomed and I have always been successful in getting greeted by name. Also, on BNE - LAX last year, they came to me in Y and offered me a Y+ Menu with Y+ drinks....

Know a VA FA and that is true WP's (only) get food and drink choices from the J menu.
 
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