Seat selection in new system?

[serfty]

I have made at least 10 phone call with am average hold of around fifteen minutes since the SABRE change purely in relation to seat selection.

Two attempts failed after being assured it had been done correctly.

Contrast that with approx. one minutes to do it online that had previously been the case.

I'm sure they'll implement that soon - it must be costing them as non premium seat selection would not be generating much revenue, if at all.

 

[Warks]

After being slotted into 7A again for my TSV-SYD flight I just asked at the desk and got 3A again, same as on the way up. Probably wouldn't be as lucky on an "inter-city" flight.

Didn't do the online check-in at all - even at T-2 rows 3-6 were still blocked so I left it (after logging in three times as per usual!)

 

[tickthelist]

I guess we will agree to disagree then .
My argument it that a customer focussed organisation does not behave this way, they provide certainty and clarity for their customers. I have worked in a number on industries, all B2B admittedly, & this would not be accepted.

 

[medhead]

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.

What's vague about you can select seats in a zone based on status? We don't have to have the zones defined to know that there are zones. That seems to be the basis of your position lack of definition of the "zones". As the zones also include fare type, I think it is unreasonable to expect the airline to explicitly state the zones in a table.

 

[serfty]

... As the zones also include fare type, ...

Not that I have seen.

Same seat selection for SG whether "saver lite" or "Flexi".

 

[tickthelist]

What's vague about you can select seats in a zone based on status? We don't have to have the zones defined to know that there are zones. That seems to be the basis of your position lack of definition of the "zones". As the zones also include fare type, I think it is unreasonable to expect the airline to explicitly state the zones in a table.

Vague, err, yes cant get much more opaque - it tells me nothing. How about tell me what the zones are (seems to be only two) and if they differentiate between fair types tell me what that is (does any exist at present?).

Seriously, how hard would it be to write: "The first four rows of economy are reserved for Platinum FF's, other passengers can choose from the remaining seats when your booking is made. The Platinum area may be available when you checkin." Not that hard & they can update it when they change their policy in the future. As best I can understand that is their current policy - I don't like it, but at least tell me the policy, why the need for secrecy?

 

[serfty]

Actually, there appear to be 3 zones for 73H: [EDIT]73H MEL-SYD SOLD as 2 Class[/EDIT]

WP: 3 and back
SG: 7 and back
Others: 11 and back

 

[eastwest101]

Actually, there appear to be 3 zones for 73H:

WP: 3 and back
SG: 7 and back
Others: 11 and back

Until check-in opens, and then everyone is jammed into rows 7 to 16 regardless of status/fare class leaving rows 17 to 25 for eastwest101 on his own!

 

[medhead]

Not that I have seen.

Same seat selection for SG whether "saver lite" or "Flexi".

I was just repeating the info in the email. Agree it is probably the same.

Vague, err, yes cant get much more opaque - it tells me nothing. How about tell me what the zones are (seems to be only two) and if they differentiate between fair types tell me what that is (does any exist at present?).

Seriously, how hard would it be to write: "The first four rows of economy are reserved for Platinum FF's, other passengers can choose from the remaining seats when your booking is made. The Platinum area may be available when you checkin." Not that hard & they can update it when they change their policy in the future. As best I can understand that is their current policy - I don't like it, but at least tell me the policy, why the need for secrecy?

As Serfty mentions below plus I would have guessed there would be a silver zone as well. But Serfty knows all.

Actually, there appear to be 3 zones for 73H:

WP: 3 and back
SG: 7 and back
Others: 11 and back

 

[Whatever]

Actually, there appear to be 3 zones for 73H:

WP: 3 and back
SG: 7 and back
Others: 11 and back

Except where it's a non business class flight then it's 1 back (WP) 4 back (SG) 7 back Silver and flexi???, 9 back everyone else.

This is of course different to the E90 (in business class mode ) 3 back (WP) , 6 back (SG), 10 back silver and flexi ??, 13 back everyone else.
Then there is the economy only mode of the above.

A300 - different again , looks like 10-15 for WP except on the old bird as it's first economy row is 5 not 10. So SG is 16 back on the new one and 11 back on the old ones ......

ATR is completely reversed , but it's not that simple, there are 2 difference versions of those as well.

lets not forget the good old Fokker 100 as well.

the 777 isinteresting as WG and SG seems to share rows

gee can't imagine why they don't post that on the website. Oh ...it might just blow the minds of non AFF's

 

[MarkD]

Any Non business flights I have been on, have closed off the Business Cabin and not used it at all.

 

[VMC73]

Any Non business flights I have been on, have closed off the Business Cabin and not used it at all.

I flew BNE-CBR-BNE last week same thing no business passengers and closed off.

 

[eastwest101]

I flew BNE-CBR-BNE last week same thing no business passengers and closed off.

As far as I know business class is for sale between CBR and BNE an all flights. I think what you saw VMC73 was an empty business (J) class cabin with no seats sold.

By the way has anyone looked at the J fares between Canberra and Brisbane - are they correct?

 

[serfty]

... But Serfty knows all.

Not necessarily, however since SWMBO is a VA PS it was easy to check.

Target flight was a 73H sold as two class morning MEL-SYD, flexi & lite.

 

[tickthelist]

Not necessarily, however since SWMBO is a DJ PS it was easy to check.

Target flight was a 73H sold as two class morning MEL-SYD, flexi & lite.

I'm going to have to learn these acronyms, I've no idea what you just said

Re the comments about closing off the section does that mean they don't allow people to use the toilets at the front of the bus?

 

[serfty]

I'm going to have to learn these acronyms, I've no idea what you just said ...

see here: AFF - Abbreviations and Explanations

 

[medhead]

Not necessarily, however since SWMBO is a VA PS it was easy to check.

Target flight was a 73H sold as two class morning MEL-SYD, flexi & lite.

Perhaps I should have said you information is always reliable because you check things.

 

[VMC73]

Re the comments about closing off the section does that mean they don't allow people to use the toilets at the front of the bus?

You can still use the toilets if none is up the front

 

[ROTR]

Just done a MEL-SYD round trip, couldn't do advance seat selection, but OLCI gave me 3A for both legs (I am WP).

 

[eastwest101]

Just done a MEL-SYD round trip, couldn't do advance seat selection, but OLCI gave me 3A for both legs (I am WP).

Just to clarify - you did OLCI on the VA web site? Were you able to select your seat on the Virgin Australia web site and print a boarding pass before you got to the airport?