Seat selection in new system?

[smatho10]

I can assure you that pregnancy is not a restriction on exit row seating, on the condition that Mrs smatho10 appears to be physically capably of handling the exit and doesn't require an extension belt. There is a misconception that being overweight / prenant is the issue in the exit row, it is actually the need for an extension belt that is the issue as in an evac it is an extra long strap that can present a trip hazard. 737 exits are easier to operate being a pull and release handle so she should be okay. Again, assuming that a pregnant guest is physically capable of moving easily to op exit.

So we did get looked after.. was given exit row with Mrs Smatho10. Although when the boarding pass was scanned we were pulled up - straight onto the walkie talkie. I didn't want to say anything that we have the right - but the answer crackled over the radio "she cannot wear an extension belt.." Normal belt sits under the bub and there was no worries from there...

 

[DGW]

Well that explains that - add another one to the list of things that are broken - Plat shadows possibly not working.

FWIW I've had a shadow on three of my four Y flights so far this year, all peak flights between capitals. I've been in 3D with 3E empty, the only exception was when there was a couple seated in 3E&F.

A small sample size for sure, but so far it's a much higher strike rate than over my 70+ sectors last year.

 

[CMak]

Flew back home from Brisbane earlier this week and was able to get 3F at the lounge after being allocated 6D through the call centre the week before. Ended up with 2 empty seats beside me - not bad for SG!

 

[eastwest101]

FWIW I've had a shadow on three of my four Y flights so far this year, all peak flights between capitals. I've been in 3D with 3E empty, the only exception was when there was a couple seated in 3E&F.

A small sample size for sure, but so far it's a much higher strike rate than over my 70+ sectors last year.

Well that is good news that maybe Plat shadow is starting to work better for Velocity Plats than it was in the past. Interesting. May be peak flight times but what were the actual J and Y loads like as far as total Pax vs empty seats? Light, normal or heavy? Have you been trying to do seat selection when booking or OLCI or just turning up at the airport? Just trying to see if you are doing something different than other Plats whom have not had their shadow "stick".

 

[DGW]

May be peak flight times but what were the actual J and Y loads like as far as total Pax vs empty seats? Light, normal or heavy? Have you been trying to do seat selection when booking or OLCI or just turning up at the airport? Just trying to see if you are doing something different than other Plats whom have not had their shadow "stick".

Yeah that's a fair point, saying I've had good success with having a shadow without talking about loads isn't that helpful. I have to say I didn't take particular note of the loads, but the flights were quite full and I didn't notice more than a handful of empty seats in the front half of Y on any of them (a few more towards the back though). As someone who always gets 3C or 3D when I'm in Y, my experience has typically been that the middle seats from row 4 back are often empty, but 3B and 3E are seldom so (obviously people see the extra legroom as an acceptable trade off for being stuck in a middle seat).

Seat selection for all of the flights was done via calling the Platinum desk, after first sussing out availability on EF. I book my flights 4+ weeks in advance so I got my seat selections in pretty early.

Going slightly OT here but there is obviously still some work to do with training since the transition to Sabre. I got to ADL very early for my flight back to MEL yesterday and asked to move to an earlier flight. We got there in the end but it took two check in staff about 10mins and a couple of phone calls to work it out. Interestingly, I'd booked a Saver fare but was offered a Flexi meal on board; I wasn't that interested in another wrap so I pointed out that I was definitely on a Saver fare but I was listed on the manifest as a Flexi. Perhaps this was a result of the change to the earlier flight? It will be interesting to see how the SCs credit..

 

[Shano]

Going slightly OT here but there is obviously still some work to do with training since the transition to Sabre. I got to ADL very early for my flight back to MEL yesterday and asked to move to an earlier flight. We got there in the end but it took two check in staff about 10mins and a couple of phone calls to work it out. Interestingly, I'd booked a Saver fare but was offered a Flexi meal on board; I wasn't that interested in another wrap so I pointed out that I was definitely on a Saver fare but I was listed on the manifest as a Flexi. Perhaps this was a result of the change to the earlier flight? It will be interesting to see how the SCs credit..

Same thing happened to me last night at CBR for my CBR-SYD-MEL flights. Changed to earlier flights at the CBR lounge and they had a lot of trouble processing this. From what I overheard they had to re-issue the ticket and somehow ended up with Y class on my BP. I only realised something had happened when they offered me a meal on the SYD-MEL leg. Unfortunately it was the pasta salad - must say that I am a bit over these now.

Was given 4C on SYD-MEL. From what I could see Row 3 and 4A, 4F were all WP.

 

[DGW]

I'd booked a Saver fare but was offered a Flexi meal on board; I wasn't that interested in another wrap so I pointed out that I was definitely on a Saver fare but I was listed on the manifest as a Flexi. Perhaps this was a result of the change to the earlier flight? It will be interesting to see how the SCs credit..

Just an update, points and SCs credited overnight and I have indeed been credited at the Flexi rate for both. Interesting.

 

[Shano]

Same here. Made up a bit for the delays.

 

[james1]

Going slightly OT here but there is obviously still some work to do with training since the transition to Sabre. I got to ADL very early for my flight back to MEL yesterday and asked to move to an earlier flight. We got there in the end but it took two check in staff about 10mins and a couple of phone calls to work it out. Interestingly, I'd booked a Saver fare but was offered a Flexi meal on board; I wasn't that interested in another wrap so I pointed out that I was definitely on a Saver fare but I was listed on the manifest as a Flexi. Perhaps this was a result of the change to the earlier flight? It will be interesting to see how the SCs credit..

Exactly the same thing happened to me last week from OOL. Took ages to sort the fly ahead but on board was offered a flexi meal when I had most definitely paid a saver fare. Points and SC posted as flexi though.

 

[Bolthead]

On my flight yesterday row 3 was full in all seats (I was in 3A) and row 4 had both middle seats empty. Didn't quite make sense to me. If I am a plat and miss out on either the isle of window in row 3 there is no way I would go for the middle in Row 3. I would rather be in isle in row 30!!

 

[clarkkent]

Very interesting, for tonight's flight, OLCI still showed nothing forward of row 7. But mobile check-in showed several seats available in rows 4-6! So at the moment it looks like golds should use their mobile if they want a wider range of seats without having to ask at the airport.

 

[medhead]

On my flight yesterday row 3 was full in all seats (I was in 3A) and row 4 had both middle seats empty. Didn't quite make sense to me. If I am a plat and miss out on either the isle of window in row 3 there is no way I would go for the middle in Row 3. I would rather be in isle in row 30!!

With my little blip last week I did indeed take 3B over row 8 aisle. Turned out to be an excellent decision as the plane was full, well beside 2 J seats.

 

[Bolthead]

With my little blip last week I did indeed take 3B over row 8 aisle. Turned out to be an excellent decision as the plane was full, well beside 2 J seats.

I guess it also depends who is sitting next to you....nudge, nudge, wink, wink....

 

[eastwest101]

On VA site the OLCI Web checkin is still broken at T-36hrs, cannot even see my booking - will not recognize PNR or Airline Ref no. Tried going through Velocity website but still appears that Velocity web site is not connected to VA Sabre system.

As bad as the old Virgin and Velocity sites were - at least they did talk to eachother in a slow and clunky way. Now with the current iteration of Sabre it seems we can select seats or checkin only over the phone or at the airport? Call me crazy but that is a step backwards in my opinion. So we went from 2004 technology back to 1995 technology? Have I missed something? :shock:

 

[hydrabyss]

Rang last week to select 3a and 3b checked booking later and all was good.Decided to check this morning and was row 15 there and 17 for the return.Rang again and been reallocated 3a and 3b, was told there is a glitch that may do this.Worth checking your booking till all the problems are sorted.
On another note was told sabre automatically updates your bookings when you go up a status level.Pre sabre cannot be changed at all.

 

[medhead]

As I was covertly studying the BP of 3B this evening, I had a bit of a light bulb moment. A few hours before the flight 3B was empty. So it was a bit surprising to have a couple get on and take 3A/B who had no idea about carry on stowage. Firstly dumped at their feet, then pushed back under the seat. I finally asked an FA to sort them out.

The 3B BP was devoid of FF details. But then I spotted a note to say "marketed as NZ xx_x". It made me wonder if all these non-status people getting row 3 might possibly have NZ or other partner status. :?:

 

[Deleted member 29185]

It made me wonder if all these non-status people getting row 3 might possibly have NZ or other partner status. :?:

CAUTION: Light bulb moments are a health hazard!

That doesn't explain a total lack of knowledge about where to store carry-on when there is no seat forward of them!!!

I love the covert nature discussed here! When I try that, I get frustrated with the BP moving all the time. I feel like politely asking them to hold bloody still for a moment so I can read their status! We do have to laugh at ourselves occasionally!

 

[Lowgoz]

Ok, im just going to say this.

Theres an unwritten rule that 3 bravo and echo are off limits. You don't want to be "that guy" who checks in and thinks that sitting in the middle of row three is fine and dandy.
Stop doing it people. Go exit and get the seat blocked next to you or something.

Dont be that guy.

 

[medhead]

CAUTION: Light bulb moments are a health hazard!

That doesn't explain a total lack of knowledge about where to store carry-on when there is no seat forward of them!!!

I love the covert nature discussed here! When I try that, I get frustrated with the BP moving all the time. I feel like politely asking them to hold bloody still for a moment so I can read their status! We do have to laugh at ourselves occasionally!

No it doesn't explain the luggage. But the guy was "hiding" his BP pretty effectively, so it took most of the flight to fully scan over it. He also explained something to his wife about the aircraft movement/operation that was pretty spot on. Just had me looking for other explanations.

 

[tickthelist]

Ok, im just going to say this.

Theres an unwritten rule that 3 bravo and echo are off limits. You don't want to be "that guy" who checks in and thinks that sitting in the middle of row three is fine and dandy.
Stop doing it people. Go exit and get the seat blocked next to you or something.

Dont be that guy.

Apologies for when I sit next to you, I am that guy.
My Mac has ben crunched too many times by turkeys reclining their seats (even on short flights) so 3B&E are a better option than other seats.