PE Taster

[Jama]

Now that Platinumm get a certain number of free upgrades, I dont suppose there is any possibility Gold will continue to have access to the paid upgrades.

At least I got to try it before the 31st Aug cutoff. Upgraded my free Amex flights to PE today and earlier in the week.

 

[indigo1]

Now that Platinumm get a certain number of free upgrades, I dont suppose there is any possibility Gold will continue to have access to the paid upgrades.

At least I got to try it before the 31st Aug cutoff. Upgraded my free Amex flights to PE today and earlier in the week.

I'd imagine that this promo has been pulled, due to yesterdays changes

 

[oz_mark]

I'd imagine that this promo has been pulled, due to yesterdays changes

The promo had an end date of 31 August, and DJ stopped promoting it earlier this month.

 

[QF WP]

I dont suppose there is any possibility Gold will continue to have access to the paid upgrades.

At least I got to try it before the 31st Aug cutoff. Upgraded my free Amex flights to PE today and earlier in the week.

Damn, that was my cunning plan to try out VA . Oh well, will just have to find another way...like paying the full fare

 

[Justinf]

I was going to try for a PE taste tester for my flight to ADL tomorrow, but curiosity got the better of me and I went to online checkin to see what seat I had been assigned without going through with the checkin.
To my astonishment, the first 7 rows were blocked out as occupied. I know Richmond are playing the Crows on Sunday, so is is probable that the team is on this flight (1.05pm) and they are sitting at the front?
If so, it would be likely that the PE seats would be occupied by them as well??????

 

[markis10]

. I know Richmond are playing the Crows on Sunday, so is is probable that the team is on this flight (1.05pm) and they are sitting at the front?
If so, it would be likely that the PE seats would be occupied by them as well??????

I have had a couple of flights with AFL teams and they do take up the PE seats, even if it means the legs block the LTA!

 

[Justinf]

Thanks Mark. Bummer. There goes my PE taste tester by the looks of it.
May as well check in online now and get row 7 or risked being put even further back.

 

[markis10]

Thanks Mark. Bummer. There goes my PE taste tester by the looks of it.
May as well check in online now and get row 7 or risked being put even further back.

If there is seats for sale its worth calling, I am sure DJ will take the extra revenue!

 

[Justinf]

If there is seats for sale its worth calling, I am sure DJ will take the extra revenue!

Can you do it even if you've checked in? I was under the impression that once you'd checked in, you couldn't.

 

[markis10]

Yes you can do it after check in, other members have reported it!

 

[QF WP]

I just hope they institute some kind of PE program for all the disaffected QFF's who are status matching...

 

[markis10]

I just hope they institute some kind of PE program for all the disaffected QFF's who are status matching...

You mean those that have arrived late to the party

 

[QF WP]

Yes, that's me...I know I should have done it in October last year *ducks *, then I would have re-qualed VA Gold by now with Tasters

 

[Justinf]

No bingo for me this morning I am afraid. Phoned up and there were PE seats available and was going to get one, but was told no can do because I had already checked in.
Tried again at the Lounge for the same result, but at least got 3C.
I won't do onloine checkin for the return flight on Monday and will try again.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

It can be done, and has been done for me. They have said though, that the "supervisor" or something like that needs to "uncheck" you first. Maybe laziness was creeping in, or a supervisor was unavailable!

 

[pshepvic]

Putting the AFL teams in PE annoys me a little. I don't know if the AFL pays anything for the seats, or if it's all free with a contra deal, but yesterday I checked in at Sydney, and asked for 2C or 2D, because I hate the left front row with the door, and I hate the bulkhead on the right on most aircraft as there is not enough leg room. The check in lady did some shuffling around and got me 2D.

As it turned out, the aircraft was VH-YVA so brand new with J seating, however even on those aircraft I still prefer row 2 for the space under the seat.

When I went to board, it came up with an error so I went to the service desk and I had been moved to 1F (I don't particularly like window seats either).

So I said I would prefer row 2 which had originally been allocated, and she looked in the system and said "oh sorry, it's a group of 4 that they've put across row 2 so that's why we've had to move you and I can't do anything I'm sorry". Needless to say I was a little ******* off when row 4 was occupied by 4 Sydney Swans players. Quite frankly as a paying PE customer, I should be able to have row 2 if I want it and it's not already allocated to another paying PE customer, and I shouldn't be kicked out for an AFL team. They could have put one of the players in 1F and still given me 2D.

In addition to that, I think if the flight is so full that they have to put Y customers in J, then it shouldn't be an AFL team on a cheap or non-existant fare. They should upgrade a higher status pax who's paid for a Flexi fare. Hopefully the new system will mean this doesn't happen anymore, but it was the first thing in quite a while where DJ has disappointed me.

 

[medhead]

Even if they aren't paying cash money, it's not as if seats are free. There is some sort of arrangement with the advertising and the benefits DJ get from being the official airline of the AFL.

 

[pshepvic]

Even if they aren't paying cash money, it's not as if seats are free. There is some sort of arrangement with the advertising and the benefits DJ get from being the official airline of the AFL.

Yes agree, but I still think the seating preference of a full fare paying PE passengers trumps an AFL player who hasn't paid for the seat. The benefit to Virgin isn't provided by those 4 passengers that were sitting in row 4, it's provided by the AFL. So if they want to fly Andrew Demetriou & co around in PE I'm fine with that, but not the players.

Particularly when most of them were behaving like children - in the lounge, in the terminal, and on board...in fact, that's an insult to the actual children on the flight who were better behaved.

 

[777]

I would have assumed that the AFL contract is one of the most lucrative and important ones that Virgin have (if not in cash, certainly in kind) and it pays to keep your most important customers happy.

 

[pshepvic]

I would have assumed that the AFL contract is one of the most lucrative and important ones that Virgin have (if not in cash, certainly in kind) and it pays to keep your most important customers happy.

Which means keeping Andrew Demetriou & co happy, not the players! They're not going to be the ones who make the call to switch airlines. In fact, they complained when the AFL ditched Qantas, but it didn't make the slightest difference.