Seat selection in new system?

[Fruitcake]

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

In their defence, and possibly at the risk of appering a fool myself, the first time that I sat in row 3, I suggested to my wife that she could put her handbag under the seat in front. I assumed (and when standing, it looked like) the footwell (which is black) was actually a cutout and space under row 2 was accessible.

 

[Jama]

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.

Nice in theory, but are you going to sit squashed into row 37 with 2 other people when b and e are sitting empty in row 3.

 

[alister]

When I checked in at cairns yesterday for a cairns to brissy, brissy to rocky flight the check in person told me (without prompting) that I had seats blocked next to me on both flights. The flights were only about half full though. I never selected seats prior and was allocated 4A and then 17A (its the back row, rear access only on this plane so first off the plane) at check-in. Row 3 was full in front of me so 4A with a spare seat next to me was a much better option anyway. Shame about the guy in the non-ironed t-shirt, shorts and thongs, smelling like he had been out fishing the reef for a few days sitting near me...oh hang on, that was me.

 

[Jama]

I agree row 4 with a shadow is better than a full row 3. But even with a shadow I'm not sitting up the back if I don't have to. I value the priority aspects of status and am always in a rush to get off the plane to make a meeting or get to a job.

 

[smit0847]

Before I boarded my BNE-NTL flight last weekend I asked at the BNE lounge about the possibility of getting row 3 for my subsequent NTL-MEL flight (it was about 4 hours before that flight left). Was automatically given 3F and offered a shadow (and Im only SG). I assume this was because of how early before the flight I asked.

 

[aupirate]

Yesterday I booked 3 flights starting 12th March I`m SG couldn`t get any further forward than row 7 and the whole process took 2 hours so no changes yet............................

 

[Foreigner]

Flew CNS-SYD today and flew row 7. VA experience was so much better in row 3 which, today, had young teens. WTF!

Business had no pax. Front toilet was in full flight.

 

[eastwest101]

Flew CNS-SYD today and flew row 7. VA experience was so much better in row 3 which, today, had young teens. WTF!

So you are a Velocity Gold or Plat? I assume that if you couldn't do better than row 7 that you tried at the airport/lounge?

Just as a further data point - as a VA Silver on a saver fare I was able to get a row 7 on a fairly full E190 and then Row 9 on a two-thirds full B738 today, again J cabins empty. I probably could have done a little "better" on the B738 flight but then I would have been "that guy" in 3B or 3E for no good reason - these boarding passes were issued at the Lounge as OLCI is broken of course.

Business had no pax. Front toilet was in full flight.

Yes its surprising how often I see empty J cabins on VA, I assume the toilet was in use for Y cabin passengers and not ejected from the aircraft?

 

[Foreigner]

VA Gold. CNS doesn't have a lounge. This thread came to mind once I had boarded. Should have checked with staff at check-in in priority counter. Will be smarter traveller next VA flight.

 

[eastwest101]

Okay - that makes sense, others have reported that booking early and selecting seat early (over phone on Velocity Gold line) could work but it seems that VA Golds are still locked out of Row 3 to 5 in Y. Of course you can turn up at the airport very early and request a better seat at the VA counter or lounge but it seems you still run the risk of people without any status being allocated seats next to you in Rows 3-6 so its still a lottery. Is that your understanding as well?

I can sympathize with CNS not having a VA Lounge, we don't have one in TSV either.....

 

[MH_fan]

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.

If I have a tight connection, and 3B or 3E is open to me, I will be that guy rather than be stuck somewhere in the middle of the plane and running the risk of missing my connecting flight!

 

[bullerdude]

Look like seat selection during the booking process has been fixed.

I can now enter both a Platinum and Red FF number into a 2 person booking and select Row 3 for both passengers. (Where as previously this I would only see Row 15 onwards)

So it look like VA are starting to fix the long list of issues.

 

[Fruitcake]

I can now enter both a Platinum and Red FF number into a 2 person booking and select Row 3 for both passengers. (Where as previously this I would only see Row 15 onwards)

I can second this. I noticed it when booking yesterday.

 

[grubbidok]

As a test I came in this morning without checking in to my flight and did it in the lounge. Was given 3F and they blocked out the seat next to me.

 

[smit0847]

Yes it does look like this 'row 3 for SG' issue has finally been fixed. I went to do check-in on my mobile at about T-20 hours last night and it allowed me to select rows 3 - 6.

Im glad this appears to be sorted. Now onto the next thing on the (long) list.

 

[alister]

I hope no Golds take my Row 3 seats on todays flights

note: I am not being serious.

 

[clarkkent]

Just made a booking for gold+red, was able to select from the gold allocation, but after payment "Seat selection cannot be confirmed for some/all guests. Seats will be assigned upon check in." Haven't seen that one before. Seats listed as N/A. Hmm.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Just made a booking for gold+red, was able to select from the gold allocation, but after payment "Seat selection cannot be confirmed for some/all guests. Seats will be assigned upon check in." Haven't seen that one before. Seats listed as N/A. Hmm.

I hope they don't start that rubbish. Surely it's not too much to expect a status member and their +1 can sit together!

 

[quick_dry]

Just made a booking for gold+red, was able to select from the gold allocation, but after payment "Seat selection cannot be confirmed for some/all guests. Seats will be assigned upon check in." Haven't seen that one before. Seats listed as N/A. Hmm.

It may be unrelated, but I received this same error on a booking made a half an hour ago. I'm not gold till after next weekend, it was just a regular aisle seat.

 

[clarkkent]

It may be unrelated, but I received this same error on a booking made a half an hour ago. I'm not gold till after next weekend, it was just a regular aisle seat.

Maybe we've fallen through the cracks while they're patching something (ever the optimist). I'm not too fussed, I expect to use mobile check-in to move forward later anyway.