Seat selection in new system?

[robd]

Yep, it's wait to be answered that kills ya ... I had the technique of going to the "Velocity" section which seems to reduce wait times ... last time after a 6 minute wait before "Velocity" answered, after indicating seat selection, I was transferred to elsewhere with another 12 minutes wait. :-|

15mins & 30secs later - DONE!

One other thing, is it really necessary to go through all my personal details ie. Velocity number (I already entered that), D.O.B., home address, phone number, email address, shoe size etc., just to do a seat allocation?

 

[Boris spatsky]

So could this row issue for SGs be VA trying to give WP more shadows?

 

[JohnK]

So could this row issue for SGs be VA trying to give WP more shadows?

Why? A Gold does not want to sit in a middle seat.

So a Platinum sitting in 3F should have 3DE vacant? Makes no sense. Seat preference is more than enough distinction between the 2 status levels....

 

[anat0l]

Why? A Gold does not want to sit in a middle seat.

Row 3 is plenty reason for some people to take a middle seat.

Of course, unless you are travelling in a group greater than one, almost all AFFers will hardly sit in a middle seat, let alone deliberately select one. But many common people won't care much, especially if the flight is short. Naturally it helps if you are not horizontally challenged.


Still, a Gold sitting in a middle seat in row 3 will likely annoy Plats - (1) the Plat has no shadow, (2) a Plat has to tolerate a less-than-Plat sitting in row 3.

 

[medhead]

Row 3 is plenty reason for some people to take a middle seat.

Indeed. Row 3 middle seat trumps any window for me and at least row 14 aisle (yes I know that is an exit row). There used to be another regular on my SyD-ADL flights who seemed to always take row 4 middle, even on lightly loaded flights, and they were platinum as well.

Did fly ahead last Thursday and opted for 3B :shock: over 7 window or 14 aisle. I was pretty happy to get that 32 minutes before scheduled departure.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

There used to be another regular on my SyD-ADL flights who seemed to always take row 4 middle, even on lightly loaded flights,

Perhaps the thought process is to take the middle early on and hope no one else wants the others.........ie a whole row to himself/herself!

 

[medhead]

Perhaps the thought process is to take the middle early on and hope no one else wants the others.........ie a whole row to himself/herself!

Yeah perhaps. I'm not sure. Just know they were rather annoying when I had them next to me. Didn't stop talking once. Mentioned my taking a "Nanna nap" - 8:45pm departure, lights off, end of a long week. What else would I do?

Actually, I might have mislead. I think she was also in 5F once. I got to hear a full conversation about hubby's like blue (or green) pills from 4D.

 

[VMC73]

My husband and I are both plat, we always get row 3, on a flight BNE - CBR friends of ours that were booked with us with no status got row 3 down and row 4 back, seems a bit unfair that Plat guests get priority over SG.

 

[bullerdude]

seems a bit unfair that Plat guests get priority over SG.

Respectfully, I disagree. That is a very good benefit that should be available to high-tier frequent flyers and a benefit that would encourage more people to try and achieve platinum. It also helps elevate Platinum above Gold by providing a tangible benefit that Gold do not get.

However, I believe Golds get the same benefit, whereby Guests of gold member can be seated in the Gold zone - which I think is also a good benefit.

(NB - I keep in mind that the knowledge / accuracy of this benefit varies between call center staff)

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Respectfully, I disagree. That is a very good benefit that should be available to high-tier frequent flyers
(NB - I keep in mind that the knowledge / accuracy of this benefit varies between call center staff)

I also agree that guests of status members should be able to access the same status benefits if on the same PNR (in fact I get more joy out of watching my family enjoy the benefits then the benefits themselves).

But, have a read of this post,

I made a BNE-PER booking yesterday on a 73H and could select any seat from row 3 and back during the booking process (WP). My partner (Vel Red) could only select row 17 and back.

I've asked the question whether Mackeys partner was on the same PNR but no response back just yet. Let's hope not!

 

[robd]

I made a big boo boo yesterday when trying to book 3 different flights. All flights required assistance from Virgin/Velocity (points redemptions and gift voucher) so I spent a good 3 - 4 hours on the phone making the bookings. On one of the flights, I omitted to book the flight for Jnr#1 who will be travelling with me. I had to phone back and make the additional booking and asked if the PNR's could be linked so that we would be assured to be seated together. I can't recall what the response was (actually, I couldn't understand her) but she said that she would seat us together. I said ok, "what's available in row 7?". The response was "the first row that I can seat you both in is row 15.

My bad. Jnr is Red Velocity. I told her that I am SG, but I guess because she was in Jnr's booking, it wasn't possible.

I expect by the time we actually take this flight, I will be WP, so I guess I will have to just take my chances at check-in.

 

[Mackey]

I've asked the question whether Mackeys partner was on the same PNR but no response back just yet. Let's hope not!

For that booking we are on different PNRs. I booked another flights where we are both on the same PNR (but only my Velocity WP # attached) and we could both select row 3.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

For that booking we are on different PNRs. I booked another flights where we are both on the same PNR (but only my Velocity WP # attached) and we could both select row 3.

That's good. You had me wondering for a minute!

 

[Intra]

From the program updates page, coming from an email I just received...

New Booking and Check-in System | Velocity Frequent Flyer

Changes to Advance Seat Selection and introduction of Preferential Seating#


You can now select your seat at the time of booking free of charge, or at the time of check-in. Following a booking, you can make a seat selection by calling the Guest Contact Centre.


On flights marketed and operated by Virgin Australia you can also select your preferred seat from reserved zones, which are determined by your Velocity membership level and the fare class booked.


When making a flight booking with Virgin Australia, including any bookings using Points, you will need to login to your Velocity Account via the panel on the right hand side of the page when selecting your preferred flights. This will ensure the appropriate seats available for your level of membership are displayed correctly.

Change of seat by calling the GCC after booking actually permanent? :?
This new zoning also is sounding abit dumb; If this is there "enhancements", I might have to look into QF again :?

 

[grubbidok]

Change of seat by calling the GCC after booking actually permanent? :?
This new zoning also is sounding abit dumb; If this is there "enhancements", I might have to look into QF again :?

Welcome to VA's system of the future. Or at least the future as it seemed in 1986.

I can't get why in 2013 a multitude of tasks that could be done much easier online (2-4-1s, upgrades, partner redemptions), and are by many airlines, still need to be done via an operator on VA. I know Brisbane is 1hr and 20yrs behind, but that should still have us in the internet age.

 

[MarkD]

I know Brisbane is 1hr and 20yrs behind, but that should still have us in the internet age.

Thats why we are the quickest growing city. Rather live here with the fresh air and broke govt, than down mexico way.... Not quite sure why you feel superior, living in MEL or SYD, both are ****hole ratraces, and make me feel ill just visiting for an hour
Re computer system, I dont believe the system was designed in BNE, or QLD, or even OZ for that matter, so go blame the yanks, or bloody chinamen

In all seriousness though, the new system is totally useless, glitchy, and in general a pain in the cough to use. They should really be careful, as a lot of simple people will find it too hard, and just go to Jetsar, Tiger, Qantas, whoever else has a system that is USER FRIENDLY, this is not.
Having said that we are all coughing and moaning about seat selection, the average person wouldnt care less where they sit, as long as they sit, and get where they need to go, we are all just pedantic, myself included.

 

[grubbidok]

Thats why we are the quickest growing city. Rather live here with the fresh air and broke govt, than down mexico way.... Not quite sure why you feel superior, living in MEL or SYD, both are ****hole ratraces, and make me feel ill just visiting for an hour
Re computer system, I dont believe the system was designed in BNE, or QLD, or even OZ for that matter, so go blame the yanks, or bloody chinamen

In all seriousness though, the new system is totally useless, glitchy, and in general a pain in the cough to use. They should really be careful, as a lot of simple people will find it too hard, and just go to Jetsar, Tiger, Qantas, whoever else has a system that is USER FRIENDLY, this is not.
Having said that we are all coughing and moaning about seat selection, the average person wouldnt care less where they sit, as long as they sit, and get where they need to go, we are all just pedantic, myself included.

I'll share a little secret... I'm a Queenslander too. Just an expat one who's had to live in SYD for the last 6mths

 

[Intra]

Having said that we are all coughing and moaning about seat selection, the average person wouldnt care less where they sit, as long as they sit, and get where they need to go, we are all just pedantic, myself included.

The Closer to the front obviously the better for us FFs (Unless you snag an Exit Row) I remember booking a Saver fare afew months back (Having no status), sitting right at back with screaming children, someone already in my window seat because "Its my first time flying and I'm scared" blah blah blah... I couldn't be bothered for a SYD -> BNE early Saturday morning, so I just sat in her Middle seat...
Fair point you make; But losing out on your FFs that spend more than probably the majority anyway every year is abit tough if your just taking steps BACKWARDS for the little things like "Seat Selection"... Hang on, who am I kidding; We've just spent 26 pages worth of posts moaning over this, so it is a big thing

*mumbles*

 

[bullerdude]

Just did online check-in for the first of my upcoming flights back on VA post Sabre.

Anyone noticed that the seat-selection is completely different to that displayed during booking?? It pretty much feels like a different system or website - no consistency at all.

Also, the boarding passes seem somewhat blurry.

 

[clarkkent]

Yeah seems really shabby. Low-res bitmap PDF!? Makes no sense. Also why doesn't the flight reminder email have a direct link to OLCI? The link supposedly goes to the OLCI tab on on the front page, but even then in my browser it remained on the default tab. Is it even possible to go from a booking in My Bookings (in your Velocity account) straight to OLCI without typing booking details in?