Seat Selection for SYD-HKG

[clipped_wings]

Hi all

This may have been discussed on a previous thread, so apologies for duplication.

Husband and I are currently planning a quick 2 night stay in Hong Kong. As we reside in Sydney, we are mindful of selecting an itinerary that allows us to fly down to Melbourne (B737) and onward to HKG in dedicated VA A332 aircraft. We will be paid J passengers, so obviously we want to choose our seating on all sectors to ensure we are together. We have tried to explore bookings using VA87 as our outbound international and VA86 back in.

Here is our problem: Seat selection does not appear to be available for any sector of our itinerary, no matter which flight we choose, or which dates we play with. Some flights actually offer the full fare J option, yet bump us to economy on the long haul sector in the final itinerary.

I'm aware that codeshare arrangements don't qualify for online seat selection, but I am referring specifically to VA flights on VA metal here.

I thought this odd and am hoping someone here could explain what we are doing wrong. Thanks in advance....

 

[serfty]

I have a booking for travel direct from MEL and had no issue selecting seats during the booking process and after ticketing.

Presumably this is while booking.

It seems strange - what browser are you using?

 

[clipped_wings]

Chrome. Could that be the problem?

 

[clipped_wings]

I keep trying but to no avail. I can easily select seats for any VA1, VA2 flights to LAX, or any domestic flights. But each time I search Hong Kong flights with VA87, VA86 - I am given the "seat selection is not available for this flight..." So I guess it can't be the browser and I'm pretty sure I'm selecting eligible Virgin Australia flights.

It really makes things hard, given that we are trying to plan a trip with no specific dates, but placing emphasis on whether there will be any couple's centre seats in "The Business". I guess I will just have to phone Velocity with my preferred dates and do things the hard way.

First World problems I know, so please go easy on me...........

 

[serfty]

If you post to the following thread people could look up available seating for you:

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....lity-allocation-configuration-help-25680.html

 

[clipped_wings]

Thanks Serfty, appreciate your advice very much.

 

[clipped_wings]

I have a booking for travel direct from MEL and had no issue selecting seats during the booking process and after ticketing.

Presumably this is while booking.

It seems strange - what browser are you using?

It seems strange - what browser are you using?[/QUOTE]

Just a quick question Serfty, I have been liaising with Virgin directly and they are also stumped by this occurrence. May I ask if you are flying VA87 and VA86? Someone told me that I am trying to book a codeshare flight and that's why I can't select seats, however Virgin hasn't indicated that to me and I'm pretty sure it's VA metal I am choosing....

 

[serfty]

OK, I have done a test booking definitely VA Flight number and VA metal.

It's Business class that's the problem - I'm booked in Economy.

On expertflyer, seat maps show as A/D G/K pairs with a single aisle between D & G. This is because that how VA is responding to the GDS. I guess the forward cabin not been coded correctly.

It should be single seats A & K with Pairs D/G.

 

[clipped_wings]

Oh wow, this is very interesting. I will forward something to Virgin for their thoughts as they were going to consult with their e-commerce team.

 

[Ausbt]

As per Clipped's original post, I've just had precisely the same experience trying to allocate VA69 MEL-HKG for Dec 2018. No online seat selection and the call centre can only see rows 1 & 2 single aisle J. None-the-less the call centre confirmed it is supposed to be the A330-200 (subject to change of course). I've gone with 2A/2D because well ...what choice do we have? Might have preferred 3D/3G but I guess there is little difference anyway over the entire 330 cabin, unless you really want window. Point is, VA's seat selection woes continue.

1,000th post.