Seat selection in new system?

[eastwest101]

Got row 4 on E190 CNS-SYD today. Almost full flight in Y but J had just 2 pax for 6 available seats. On checkin I did ask if row 3 was available but advised no. Yet 3B was vacant. Nevertheless, I have enjoyed all E190 flights. Flight attendants are very attentive. Pre-flight safety drill looks decent and in sync with what's being described.

Interesting. So if 3C was vacant (remember no B and E seats in Y on VA E190s!) then you could only assume that whomever was in 3A must have been Plat and their requested shadow stuck/worked? Or the checkin staff at CNS are unable to allocate 3C to you - may or may not be status related, as I see you are a VA Gold Foreigner.

I agree that now the fleet is consistent the E190's are better than the B738 in Y and arguably almost as good/possibly better for J (if solo). If you are going to be stuck in a VA narrowbody, that is.

 

[wallacej]

Out of interest I went through a dummy booking MEL to LAX in J. My first booking allowed me to select pretty much any seat in rows 1-4.

When I went back in, logged in with my Velocity number (platinum), row 5 showed as available to book This is great as row 5, is pretty much a cabin on its own. Status has its perks.

 

[bullerdude]

Out of interest I went through a dummy booking MEL to LAX in J. My first booking allowed me to select pretty much any seat in rows 1-4.

When I went back in, logged in with my Velocity number (platinum), row 5 showed as available to book This is great as row 5, is pretty much a cabin on its own. Status has its perks.

Yes row 5 is reserved for Platinum (and perhaps Gold?) - but I did a booking recently, select Row 5 and got the 'Cannot confirm seating request' message... One call later and it was sorted, but annoying that the systems still doesn't work correctly.

 

[Rdarby]

Eastwest101, the booking was made a couple of weeks ago. It was domestic (Adelaide to Brisbane), and I checked in with a PC, printed a paper boarding pass. OLCI seems to now allow for me to select seats before row 7, so in other words back to the way it was really (except for the selecting seats 14 days before).

 

[eastwest101]

Eastwest101, the booking was made a couple of weeks ago. It was domestic (Adelaide to Brisbane), and I checked in with a PC, printed a paper boarding pass. OLCI seems to now allow for me to select seats before row 7, so in other words back to the way it was really (except for the selecting seats 14 days before).

Yes - something has changed since yesterday afternoon or this morning. Its implied from your comments that you were previously able to do OLCI over the last few weeks, but as a Velocity Gold you were restricted to Row 7 and back? Were you on a Flexi ticket or some sort of saver fare? Did your 3C OLCI stick when you actually boarded and took the flight? Assuming it was a B737 flight? Very full or fairly empty?

Other people are starting to see some things work that previously didn't/wouldn't work for them earlier on in the week. Unfortunately there seems to be not a lot of consistency between different AFF members as to what is still broken/buggy and what is working again in the Velocity and VA web sites.

 

[quick_dry]

How does the shadow for Plats work on fairly full flights? I'm Gold and had an AKL-SYD, rang GCC for seat allocation who said the system blocked row 3 for Plats only. Moved to 3A on checkin and told there was already a Platinum in 3C but surprised there was a Red in 3B when we boarded. Is that normal or have a I misunderstood the way they normally do things? (3C was invited up to an empty row 1 so I ended up with a premium econ seat anyway, just curious)

 

[eastwest101]

How does the shadow for Plats work on fairly full flights? I'm Gold and had an AKL-SYD, rang GCC for seat allocation who said the system blocked row 3 for Plats only. Moved to 3A on checkin and told there was already a Platinum in 3C but surprised there was a Red in 3B when we boarded. Is that normal or have a I misunderstood the way they normally do things? (3C was invited up to an empty row 1 so I ended up with a premium econ seat anyway, just curious)

Other VA Plats may know more than I but in theory the WP shadow should be preserved until it has to be over-ridden by the logistics of a very full flight. In practice, as you have seen, there are common reports of the WP shadow can get over-ridden at the airport for any reason at all. Possibly the Red sitting in 3B simply called the GCC and was allocated that seat over the phone, or was given to them at the airport, its pretty difficult to tell.

There have been various reports of VA WP's shadows "sticking" and "not sticking" but obviosly a biased sample as the shadows that don't "stick" tend to be the source of threads and comments on AFF, wheras a shadow that "sticks" if often not noteworthy or commented on.

 

[day-heg]

I haven't had a shadow since the Sabretooth switch, and very rarely had one previously.

While there may be a shadow applied, a Platinum choosing to sit in 3B/E can override it. This is a big niggle for me (I even started a thread on it! - http://www.australianfrequentflyer....a-velocity/picking-3b-3e-when-solo-43526.html)

A bigger annoyance for me is the Red/Silver/ dare I say Gold who is allocated the seat at checkin when there are other empty seats on board.
There is no reason for this to happen and really devalues the on board experience when it could be a real easy win for Virgin's high status pax.

 

[hummel]

Just been on the phone to Velocity (who I must say are always friendly to deal with) about selecting seats for MEL-BNE on friday for the lady and I.

7A and 7B is obviously as far forward as we can get. However, what's the best way to move forward? Speak to the lounge angels at Melbourne before checkin?

Cheers

 

[clarkkent]

7A and 7B is obviously as far forward as we can get. However, what's the best way to move forward? Speak to the lounge angels at Melbourne before checkin?

Try mobile check-in at T-48 h (I've been able to select seats in row 4 this way), or based on recent posts above online check-in might now also allow you into those seats. Failing that yes ask at the airport, or even try kiosk check-in (last I heard this even lets reds and silvers move forward).

 

[Mackey]

Platinum BNE-MEL this morning and I was in 9A! And in the window seat without a window! I was pretty ticked off.

I'm pretty sure there is a Serko->Sabre integration issue where the Velocity number isn't sent alongside the seat request - all my Serko bookings have me in 9A with no way of selecting other seats.

 

[JKjnr]

Thought I would throw this one in too to add to the intel. Booked over phone 1 month ago us 2 PLat pax RTN saver BNE to Rocky. Going up is E190 coming back 737 (Business not sold on these flights). As both of us Plat, given Row 1 both ways. E190 originally an old fitout with 4 PE seats to a row. Last week I check seat allocation - back in row 12 on E190. But aircraft now new fitout with 3 seats a row in new Bis class fitout. Call GC, put back in row 1. Will be good to try out the new E190 config. I can also report the off shore lad asked my status first up - then without delay put me through to PLat GC Brisbane. Perhaps it is finally getting better.

 

[Bolthead]

........I can also report the off shore lad asked my status first up - then without delay put me through to PLat GC Brisbane. Perhaps it is finally getting better.

Good, but isn't the phone system suppose to point you to the correct call centre based on your status??

 

[bullerdude]

Good, but isn't the phone system suppose to point to to the correct call centre based on your status??

It does if you press the right buttons, but that means listening to like 5 menus to get there...

I have spoken to them about this and pointed out that the old system was far supperior to the new one, but they don't seem to want to change.

 

[wallacej]

OK, just to add to this. Made on online booking today. MEL-CBR return for this week. 737 each way.
I was able to select (from what looked like very light loading) row 3 on both sectors.

Once I finished (paid) for the booking I had a message on screen advising the seating allocation is not confirmed (or words to that effect)

Checking the booking online, there was no seating listed on the booking.

I made a call to the call centre (to deal with another flight I needed to amend) and at the same time I asked to lock in my row three. I explained the error message I got. I was not given a reason. I must say EXCELLENT service the whole time. She locked it in, and all was done.

I also took the chance to ask if they have a team of people just for platinum as she answered the phone "platinum desk". Her response was that they have a team of people specifically in one area that deal with Gold and Platinum only.

Once again, call was answered quickly which I think is FANTASTIC.

 

[dandandan]

Same error when I booked some flights early last week, I had to call up and get the seats, row 3, selected and confirmed over the phone.

OK, just to add to this. Made on online booking today. MEL-CBR return for this week. 737 each way.
I was able to select (from what looked like very light loading) row 3 on both sectors.

Once I finished (paid) for the booking I had a message on screen advising the seating allocation is not confirmed (or words to that effect)

Checking the booking online, there was no seating listed on the booking.

I made a call to the call centre (to deal with another flight I needed to amend) and at the same time I asked to lock in my row three. I explained the error message I got. I was not given a reason. I must say EXCELLENT service the whole time. She locked it in, and all was done.

I also took the chance to ask if they have a team of people just for platinum as she answered the phone "platinum desk". Her response was that they have a team of people specifically in one area that deal with Gold and Platinum only.

Once again, call was answered quickly which I think is FANTASTIC.

 

[Jurahn]

It does if you press the right buttons, but that means listening to like 5 menus to get there...

I have spoken to them about this and pointed out that the old system was far supperior to the new one, but they don't seem to want to change.

Would you be able to give a rundown of which are the right buttons? I have to ring them about seat selection so want to make sure I get through to someone on the Gold desk!

Many thanks

 

[wallacej]

Would you be able to give a rundown of which are the right buttons? I have to ring them about seat selection so want to make sure I get through to someone on the Gold desk!

Many thanks

I just call 136789 punch in my velocity number and whamo, I am there....press the right selections for the purpose of your call.

 

[alister]

Again i never selected seats at booking and have been assigned 2F (business seat) at checkin. Seems to be the new thing. I am finding i get much better seats by not selecting at time of booking. Maybe i am being rewarded for not clogging up the phone lines. Happy travels.

edit: flight was not full, one other platinum in business as well, rest of business empty 2/6. Row 3 had 3/4 seats taken

 

[CMak]

Flight from Brisbane to Townsville on the weekend with no seat selection or olci and was given 4F at front counter.
Aircraft was very full.