Platinum Shadows?

[LiamR]

Last week I travelled with a colleage, in 3A and 3C. When I went to look at the seat map 3B appeared to be occupied. I assumed somebody was sitting there. When I asked at the airport, I was told it had been blocked off. Same thing happened on the return journey that afternoon. When I used SYD Premium Entry I was informed 3B was blocked off by HQ for us.

Same trip, same flights this week and 3B was again blocked off.

I did two day trips on Tuesday & Thursday this week on my own, and again. 3B was blocked off.

All flights had fairly light loadings, I'd say no more than 80%

But it's made me wonder, are Virgin (unofficially) proactively blocking off seats for Platinums? Lately it sounds to be like I've gained a shadow.

All of my flights which I've experienced this on are OOL/SYD, which isn't generally that full.

What's the experience of other AFF'ers?

 

[markis10]

I have had a shadow since becoming plat, even on some really full flights.

 

[chrisjrn]

I've had a fairly mixed run. Maybe 50% with a block, 50% without. The same back when I was Gold.

 

[Tooner]

In all the flights I've done (to MEL, MCY and BNE) 3B has shown as taken and on the flight there was a large human sitting there. I wouldn't mind a shadow!

 

[obrienja]

I've had the same experience as Tooner most of the time, but once my shadow worked. Last night's SYD-PER involved a few of us pax taking the initiative with the crew's blessing to rearrange so a couple with a baby could sit together in bassinet seats and another couple traveling could sit next to each other as well. Of course these little mixups happen.

 

[straitman]

I've had the same experience as Tooner most of the time, but once my shadow worked. Last night's SYD-PER involved a few of us pax taking the initiative with the crew's blessing to rearrange so a couple with a baby could sit together in bassinet seats and another couple traveling could sit next to each other as well. Of course these little mixups happen.

It looks to me that this works a bit like the shadow in Qantas and as the aircraft becomes fuller the shadows become real people. :shock:

 

[pshepvic]

MEL-SYD on Wednesday I was in 4C. Noticed other Plats in 4A, 3D, 3F, 4D, 4F.

4B was empty, as well as 3E & 4E.

Mind you there were several empty seats scattered around further back.

Strangely, 3A&B were taken by 2 people traveling together, but 3C was empty! Unless they had a shadow but then sat next to each other.

Slightly O/T, but does anyone else think that row 4 on the BSI aircraft has about 2 inches extra legroom compared to the rows further back? Wonder of this was intentional seeing rows 3 & 4 are reserved for Plat & Gold?


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[Bolthead]

Late last year (SYD-MEL) was in 3C and my daughter was in 8A (Silver). I tried to get her shifted via the call centre next to me and they couldn't (not wouldn't) do it. The supervisor was called and she also could not fix it. They offered me 8B (and I declined graciously) At the Lounge check in no problems.... they moved her then. (including return)

 

[muppet]

Flights this weekend to/from BNE on the 737-700 the lounge lady specifically said she'd block 3B. (all but one of the J seats empty - not allowed to purchase or upgrade into them - looked fine).

Then today on the E190, totally full plane except for the 4(8) J seats and 3F next to me. I was originally in row 5, but she moved me on checkin unprompted.
m.

 

[LiamR]

Slightly O/T, but does anyone else think that row 4 on the BSI aircraft has about 2 inches extra legroom compared to the rows further back? Wonder of this was intentional seeing rows 3 & 4 are reserved for Plat & Gold?


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In the older aircraft I remember Row 4 having the least amount of legroom forward of the exit rows. I haven't sat in a Row 4 BSI yet, so I wouldn't know.

 

[pshepvic]

In the older aircraft I remember Row 4 having the least amount of legroom forward of the exit rows. I haven't sat in a Row 4 BSI yet, so I wouldn't know.

Previously though, on some a/c the seats on the left all had a little more room than those on the right, as row 1 was further forward on the left with no bulkhead. That meant that each left side seat had a bit more room.

I think now row 4 is the old row 5, and is pretty much in the same spot. Rows 1-3 plus two new bulkheads (the second very thin) are effectively in the same space as rows 1-4 used to be and I reckon that has added a small amount of space to row 4 - of course rows 1-3 still
got most of it.


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[pshepvic]

Previously though, on some a/c the seats on the left all had a little more room than those on the right, as row 1 was further forward on the left with no bulkhead. That meant that each left side seat had a bit more room.

I think now row 4 is the old row 5, and is pretty much in the same spot. Rows 1-3 plus two new bulkheads (the second very thin) are effectively in the same space as rows 1-4 used to be and I reckon that has added a small amount of space to row 4 - of course rows 1-3 still
got most of it.


Sent from my iPhone using AustFreqFly app

Sent from my iPhone using AustFreqFly app

 

[day-heg]

I had a shadow for virtually all my flights for the first 3 weeks or so after Plat was launched.... and then all the status matches came along and no longer do I cast a shadow.

On a number of occasions, I've shared my half of row 3 with 2 other plats... which is fine if the plane is chockers full, but odd when it isn't. I know I'd prefer window or aisle in Row 4, 5 or 6 before I was in seat B or E, even if the leg room is good... only a 60 minute hop on the east cost here - not talking trans-con.

In fact in Dec, I actually moved to 4D because 3B & C was taken and 4D & E was empty... as were probably 30% of the rest of the seats on the a/c.... so either no shadow for this original (can we still whinge about that LiamR!?!) Platinum, or other Plats/Golds are requesting 3B & E, and getting them.

Either way, annoying on a one third empty plane!

 

[LiamR]

I had a shadow for virtually all my flights for the first 3 weeks or so after Plat was launched.... and then all the status matches came along and no longer do I cast a shadow.

On a number of occasions, I've shared my half of row 3 with 2 other plats... which is fine if the plane is chockers full, but odd when it isn't. I know I'd prefer window or aisle in Row 4, 5 or 6 before I was in seat B or E, even if the leg room is good... only a 60 minute hop on the east cost here - not talking trans-con.

In fact in Dec, I actually moved to 4D because 3B & C was taken and 4D & E was empty... as were probably 30% of the rest of the seats on the a/c.... so either no shadow for this original (can we still whinge about that LiamR!?!) Platinum, or other Plats/Golds are requesting 3B & E, and getting them.

Either way, annoying on a one third empty plane!

What annoys me is when there are two plats travelling (3A and 3C for example) and even though the aircraft is lightly loaded, somebody at checkin (or somebody checking in via a kiosk) plonks themselves in 3B or 3E, usually a over eager Silver or Red member.

 

[ecole16]

As for shadows there's no such thing. It just comes alot down to luck and who is the supervisor for the editing of a particular flight they may block seats next to plats / golds and others will not.

 

[day-heg]

Can reds or silvers even choose row 3 at kiosk check in??
And if they are requesting and getting row 3 at regular check in when there are other seats available... then maybe the check in 'angel' need a little training!!

 

[ecole16]

Can reds or silvers even choose row 3 at kiosk check in??
And if they are requesting and getting row 3 at regular check in when there are other seats available... then maybe the check in 'angel' need a little training!!

The only way for a red to get anything further than than row 10 or for a Silver further forward than 8 is to be assigned by a 'check in angel'!

 

[oz_mark]

What annoys me is when there are two plats travelling (3A and 3C for example) and even though the aircraft is lightly loaded, somebody at checkin (or somebody checking in via a kiosk) plonks themselves in 3B or 3E, usually a over eager Silver or Red member.

Crikey. You're starting to sound like those row 4 plats on QF :shock:

 

[LiamR]

Can reds or silvers even choose row 3 at kiosk check in??
And if they are requesting and getting row 3 at regular check in when there are other seats available... then maybe the check in 'angel' need a little training!!

The only way for a red to get anything further than than row 10 or for a Silver further forward than 8 is to be assigned by a 'check in angel'!

I think they can only select the middle seats very close to the flight. But I'm not sure, maybe it is just check in agents assigning the seats.

 

[straitman]

As for shadows there's no such thing. It just comes alot down to luck and who is the supervisor for the editing of a particular flight they may block seats next to plats / golds and others will not.

You say that with such authority. Do you have a source :?: