Seat selection in new system?

[medhead]

Well I must chime in with "you are a gold FF". Rows 3-6 are reserved for platinum. The non-FFs getting those seats is majorly bad. But again you are a gold. I think a large number of gold FF are going to have to adjust their expectations.

I also have to question why in the world you'd take 3E. Cuddle class indeed that could have been avoided.

 

[bullerdude]

In saying this, I am unsure as to why a non-velocity guest was allocated a seat in row 3 on your most recent flight with us.

Pathetic on VA' part... Given the number of people complaining about this you think they might pay attention to the problem - but this is in line with a chat I had with Velocity Platinum Monday.

Btw... you have you been sending your emails to? If its just the general Plat email I might be able to suggest a better place to send them.

 

[tickthelist]

Yes, I know they have a new policy, my point is that it is a new policy and they haven't articulated it. Previously, Gold/Plat had the same seating priority, Plat has not changed but Gold has no priority. Of course they can move the goal posts but I think they are obliged to tell us they are doing (or have done). Have I missed something on their website or correspondence that tells people of the change?

Why 3E? Because I value the room in front of me rather than the room besides me due to computer opening disasters with people leaning back their seats (why oh why do people do this on a one hour flight!!). Looks like 3B and 3E will be my new selected seats as I doubt many Plats will select a middle seat. Apologies in advance if you are either side of me in the future, broad shoulders never a good thing in this situation.

 

[tickthelist]

Sending to the "contact us" section on their website, working fine. Response take a day or so to come back.

 

[bullerdude]

Sending to the "contact us" section on their website, working fine. Response take a day or so to come back.

I'll send you some details of other places to send feedback...

 

[kevrosmith]

Yes, I know they have a new policy, my point is that it is a new policy and they haven't articulated it. Previously, Gold/Plat had the same seating priority, Plat has not changed but Gold has no priority. Of course they can move the goal posts but I think they are obliged to tell us they are doing (or have done). Have I missed something on their website or correspondence that tells people of the change?

I received a Velocity newsletter on 5-Feb notifying of changes, including changes to Advanced Seat selection and introduction of Preferential Seating, with a link to this: New Booking and Check-in System | Velocity Frequent Flyer

Did you receive this newsletter? Have you disabled any of the options in your profile regarding receiving email notifications etc.? If so, you may want to turn them back on.

 

[eastwest101]

...occasions when we do not completely fill the Platinum zone and we may be able to accommodate our Velocity Gold members in this zone, in which case you may be able to sit in row 3. In saying this, I am unsure as to why a non-velocity guest was allocated a seat in row 3 on your most recent flight with us.

This seems to be the crucial statement - it seems to be a case of "left hand hearing for the very first time that there is something new in the world called the right hand."

Most of AFF can guess why - because those seats are being allocated at the airport to anyone regardless of status. If that's VA intention then fine, but perhaps they'd be well advised to decide what they actually want, and tell everyone in Check-in staff/Sales, Phone Centres, Lounge Angels, Management, Public Relations and possibly even the IT guys and the Sabre transition team what their intention is.

 

[777]

Most of AFF can guess why - because those seats are being allocated at the airport to anyone regardless of status.

^^^^^^^^ This.

 

[atreides]

What ever happened to the VA rep?

 

[eastwest101]

What ever happened to the VA rep?

Just ducked out to poison the water cooler at the Sabre transition team??

 

[777]

What ever happened to the VA rep?

The old one is gone. The new one seems intent on destroying many years of goodwill built up at a great deal of time, expense and effort by not even bothering to provide straightforward information here, on the blog, or anyone else that can it be easily found.

 

[eastwest101]

The old one is gone. The new one seems intent on destroying many years of goodwill built up at a great deal of time, expense and effort by not even bothering to provide straightforward information here, on the blog, or anyone else that can it be easily found.

I do not use it myself - but have they been active on the Virgin Facebook page? I assume thats where a large volume of the complaints and smoke & fire is at the moment. But you are right & I agree - the VA rep has been noticeably absent for quite a while, can others whom monitor both forums say if FlyerTalk ever had a VA company rep active there?

 

[777]

I do not use it myself - but have they been active on the Virgin Facebook page? I assume thats where a large volume of the complaints and smoke & fire is at the moment. But you are right & I agree - the VA rep has been noticeably absent for quite a while, can others whom monitor both forums say if FlyerTalk ever had a VA company rep active there?

They're putting out a lot of fired over there. It's a great way to get a complaint heard but they've done nothing to attempt to proactively inform about the changes.

The VA rep from here was also active on Flyertalk for a while but less so that here.

 

[eastwest101]

They're putting out a lot of fired over there. It's a great way to get a complaint heard but they've done nothing to attempt to proactively inform about the changes.

The VA rep from here was also active on Flyertalk for a while but less so that here.

Thats what I sort of expected to hear - thanks for replying. I agree - too reactive and not enough pro-active communication about fixes.

I sort of get the impression that the people in VA whom know they have a fire on their hands, are so busy putting out fires that no-one has thought about turning off the fuel taps yet.....

 

[tickthelist]

I received a Velocity newsletter on 5-Feb notifying of changes, including changes to Advanced Seat selection and introduction of Preferential Seating, with a link

Did you receive this newsletter? Have you disabled any of the options in your profile regarding receiving email notifications etc.? If so, you may want to turn them back on.

Do you mean this:
On flights marketed and operated by Virgin Australia you can also select your preferred seat from reserved zones, which are determined by your Velocity membership level and the fare class booked.

Talk about vague, tells me nothing, I simply don't think it is good enough. My customers certainly wouldn't accept it.

 

[medhead]

Do you mean this:
On flights marketed and operated by Virgin Australia you can also select your preferred seat from reserved zones, which are determined by your Velocity membership level and the fare class booked.

Talk about vague, tells me nothing, I simply don't think it is good enough. My customers certainly wouldn't accept it.

It actually tells you everything. I've highlighted the critical bit.

 

[777]

It actually tells you everything. I've highlighted the critical bit.

I'm not sure it does because the major problem is that it breaks down in implementation. The zones become an unintended free-for-all.

 

[medhead]

I'm not sure it does because the major problem is that it breaks down in implementation. The zones become an unintended free-for-all.

Yes true. I did not address that situation. But the complaint was that no one was informed of the zone system. The failure of implementation is a separate, and IMO much more important, issue.

 

[tickthelist]

Yes true. I did not address that situation. But the complaint was that no one was informed of the zone system. The failure of implementation is a separate, and IMO much more important, issue.

Sorry I disagree, we haven't been informed, the vague sentence provided by them doesn't state what the changes are. It would simply take a table within the current Virgin page to tell you what the new system is. I do agree, implementation is a separate issue.

I would simply say that both the plan and implementation have been done poorly.

 

[straitman]

Sorry I disagree, we haven't been informed, the vague sentence provided by them doesn't state what the changes are. It would simply take a table within the current Virgin page to tell you what the new system is. I do agree, implementation is a separate issue.

Sorry but I disagree with you.

By stating what they have and no more it ultimately gives them flexibility to move things around to suit any given situation when needed. The information, or lack there of is no better or worse than Qantas and others.