Seat selection in new system?

[moa999]

Just had the same, made a booking for myself - Plat and a colleague - Gold, and only given Row 7.....

What a total screw up.

 

[EuroFlyer]

Funny one there on a flight from Adelaide to Melbourne, sitting in row 3 myself and there's a chap who was moved by the ground crew to row 3 who doent seem to have any status, well not on the boarding pass at least (wasnt trying to be nosy but he asked me a question about it and showed me)there's a big amount of plats and gold behind us. Unusual but maybe this kinda thing happens a bit.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Well, from a positive perspective, flights I took yesterday panned out alright.

As a SG, I could not select < row 7, so I chose 13C (exit row) outbound and inbound on same day. Oddly and despite my booking confirmation listing both 13C seats as "confirmed", come check-in the outbound was now 5C (so much for confirmed seats).

I was able to select 4F however and did so (although 5 is probably better than 4 simply because of the free LTA if available). Checked in baggage no problems and at lounge decided to be bold and ask about the changes. The angel pretty much confirmed advice on this thread, but said she was happy to put me in 3C for inbound later in the day.

On board on both flights, rows 3,4 & 5 all had seats B & E vacant (pure luck or actually planned?????).

My summary for SGs is;

1. Best choice at booking possibly the exit row.
2. If choosing, row 5 back will get LTA if available.
3. If inbound same day as outbound, ask the lounge to book your preferred seat in the morning.
4. If the vacant seats (B&E) are being held as shadows until and only if needed, then this is good for both plats and golds.
5. If reds or nothings are being allocated forward seats in preferrence to gold simply for convenience of check-in staff, then that sucks.

 

[medhead]

On board on both flights, rows 3,4 & 5 all had seats B & E vacant (pure luck or actually planned?????).

Pure luck based on my flight last night. According to FA we had about 130 out of 170 odd seats. 4B and E occupied, part of a couple with C and F. In fact all of rows 3 to about 7 were occupied. 4E dropped and left their BP on the floor and was not VFF. 4F travelling with them constantly dropped their rubbish onto the the floor, which makes me think red or nothing.


Definitely on a coughulative score of -1

 

[bullerdude]

Pure luck based on my flight last night. According to FA we had about 130 out of 170 odd seats. 4B and E occupied, part of a couple with C and F. In fact all of rows 3 to about 7 were occupied. 4E dropped and left their BP on the floor and was not VFF. 4F travelling with them constantly dropped their rubbish onto the the floor, which makes me think red or nothing.


Definitely on a coughulative score on -1

Not good :evil:

 

[JohnK]

When I got to OOL airport I got a call from Virgin Lounge informing that my 7:05pm flight was delayed by ~1 hour and would I like a seat on an earlier flight which was about 15 minutes from boarding. I accepted without too much hesitation. I was offered 7D or 14C so I took the exit row.

Flight was delayed ~3 minutes and I was last to board and noticed 4D and 8D vacant. Seat shuffling going on? The flight did not look like it had many higher status passengers on board. Perhaps the long weekend is skewing the numbers slightly.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Pure luck based on my flight last night.

That's really disappointing to hear. I was actually thinking this could be a huge boon with VA, but squandered it seems.

 

[medhead]

That's really disappointing to hear. I was actually thinking this could be a huge boon with VA, but squandered it seems.

I'm still waiting to see what happens. but disappointing. Still I didn't actually take a walk to check out the seating situation.

 

[dfcatch]

Reflecting on this more and more and this is likely to cost VA in terms of my future business.

I have been openly flirting with giving VA more business - particularly in light of QF's contempt for CNS. With the introduction of decent Business Class and the refurbishment of the E190s, together with the impending CNS Lounge - VA are well placed to score extra business.

They didn't so far (during my platinum time), due to the lack of refurbs on the CNS routes (despite me trying them a cpl of times).

I have no problem with dropping to Gold. I also have no problem with Platinum being given the benefit of access to row 3.

But fact is there are not 24 WPs on the average CNS flight and as a Gold I see no reason that I can't have the opportunity to grab Row 3 at T-48 if not yet allocated. To suggest otherwise is ridiculous IMHO.

As it stands - the loss of this benefit is likely to seriously dissuade me from directing business to VA and subsequently regaining WP status.

 

[MH_fan]

The new seat selection is really weird. Was on a new A332 SYD to PER yesterday. Managed to score row 10 from previous seat allocation. I think rows 10-15 or 16 are reserved for plats usually. From what I could see, only 1/3 or even less of the seats from row 10-15 were occupied. After the flight took off, there was a mad scramble for the spare seats in these rows from passengers seated further back. Business class was also less than 1/3 full.

 

[aupirate]

I`m Gold status, tried to book BNE -MEL on Friday 18th Jan for Monday 21 st departure, could only book row 7. When I checked in I was to my surprise allocated row 5, I asked for row 3 and the answer was no problem! This was all 1 hour before flight departure, guess it is the luck of the draw and depends on loading and status members onboard. It was an early afternoon flight which may have been a factor. I do miss being able to book row 3 though, it was good whilst it lasted.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Todays flights-

Morning:
6F was the closest to the front I could book. At booking, chose and confirmed 13C but computer moved me to 7C. On board, row 3 had two spare seats, row 4 had three spare seats, row 5 had 5 spare seats, row 6 had 2 spare seats and row 7 had three spare seats. A lady seated in 6D moved herself to 5F.

Afternoon:
I booked 13C but in the lounge this morning, asked and received row 3. Row 3 had three spare seats, row 4 had 4 spare seats and since I was in row 3, I couldn't care less about row 5! Some moved themselves into 3C and 4D.

Neither flight had any J pax and no upgrades but the J toilet became a free for all and I even heard some discussing moving themselves into the J seats but they decided they wouldn't get away with it.

The flight had lots of, umm, more lower than middle class pax (trying to be polite there) and I decided to myself that VA have to watch the self reassignees and protect the J cabin even when no one is in J.

On last Thursdays return flight, the empty J cabin was protected (barrier up, announcement made) but much to my surprise, following a very quick food delivery and clean up on a 2 hour flight, ALL the FAs took up residence in J. 1A and 1C was taken and the others stood around the seated two and chatted. Even when the pilot asked "crew prepare cab for landing" they stayed there and kept chatting until the seat belt light went on some minutes later. I was a bit taken back by that and I guess it shows VA still have a way to go before even the staff lose the LCC mentality.

 

[MH_fan]

Just checked in for a PER-SYD flight. Originally on a new A332 but has now been subbed for the old configurated one. Originally in row 10 (pre-allocated via phone call) on new A332 but remained in row 10 when aircraft changed. Now, at check-in, moved to row 12. Unable to select any seats in rows 6 to 11.

 

[awilcockson]

I also asked if the plan was for us to be able to select seats online at any point after making a booking, as advertised, and the lady said she would find out and get back to me. Stay tuned.

I had an emailed response in regards to this, but when I asked permission to post the response here it was denied. So if you want to know the answer for yourself then you are going to have to get in contact with them ...

 

[dfcatch]

I had an emailed response in regards to this, but when I asked permission to post the response here it was denied. So if you want to know the answer for yourself then you are going to have to get in contact with them ...

I'm sorry.... Let me understand this correctly....

1/ You asked for clarification from VA as to whether they would provide a facility in accordance with their advertised product;

2/ They emailed you a response;

3/ They denied you permission to publish that response (presumably clarifying their intention or otherwise to provide said advertised facility)?

Did I miss something?


FAIL Virgin, Major FAIL.

 

[awilcockson]

Did I miss something?

FAIL Virgin, Major FAIL.

Nope you didn't miss anything. I think the point is that the rep told me what the intended outcome is, but doesn't want it published publically (at a guess in case for whatever reason it doesn't happen or the plan changes).

 

[dfcatch]

Nope you didn't miss anything. I think the point is that the rep told me what the intended outcome is, but doesn't want it published publically (at a guess in case for whatever reason it doesn't happen or the plan changes).

Fair enough for the rep - but then it doesn't answer the question about whether they will provide an advertised facility or not

You sought an official response - not the rep's personal opinion (which may or may not be helpful for you).

 

[Deleted member 29185]

I had an emailed response in regards to this, but when I asked permission to post the response here it was denied.

I find that bordering on bizarre. Surely they know what their intentions are and surely they know what Sabre is capable of doing........so why keep secrets, even if they are somewhat embarrassed by the transitional errors.

 

[bullerdude]

I had an emailed response in regards to this, but when I asked permission to post the response here it was denied. So if you want to know the answer for yourself then you are going to have to get in contact with them ...

(I presume) You are not bound by an NDA or a commercial agreement??? Once they tell you the info, I do not believe that have the right to deny you from telling other people without any legal agreement.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

(I presume) You are not bound by an NDA or a commercial agreement??? Once they tell you the info, I do not believe that have the right to deny you from telling other people without any legal agreement.

I agree with awilcocksons decision. The "binding" agreement is etiquette. If someone asks for information they impart to you to be kept confidential, then it is good manners to do so. There may be reasons for it that we don't immediately understand. It use to be called a gentlemans agreement and is very much pivotal upon a person honour. It's also why an old phrase came about which said "always treat reporters with the contempt they deserve"........simply because as part of their job, etiquette and honour had to be hollow words.

To me, it's a mark of a persons character and we shouldn't insist nor request, anyone breach a requested confidentiality. (Bloody annoying though).