Seat selection in new system?

[eastwest101]

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?

First of all - you are lucky that the OLCI even recognizes your PNR or Velocity number.

Second of all - even if you can get in to OLCI from My Bokings you will be asked for your Velocity number and password at least twice from what I have seen.

 

[clarkkent]

First of all - you are lucky that the OLCI even recognizes your PNR or Velocity number.

Haha, indeed it couldn't find my booking from my Velocity number.

 

[carwashhair]

Completed a SYD-OOL-MEL-SYD run late last week and seating was definitely askew.

Had a flexi fare SYD-OOL and as a SG I selected 7F when booking. Checkin thru Premium entry and asked If there were any seats further forward, so was given 5F. Flight took off with 3ABC and E free, and 4B free. Rows 5-7 all full, but further back there were some empty seats dotted around. Maybe 85% load.

In any case there were a lot of leisure travellers, including the guys seated in 4DE and 5DE. Almost certainly not FF's. Before the plane had even pushed back, they had asked if they could take 3A and 3C and the FA told them once the plane had levelled off after takeoff they were free to move. The DYKWIA part of me wanted to ask the FA if they had any policy on offering or allowing status passengers to move, but decided the short hop doesn't really warrant it.

Was in Business on OOL-MEL-SYD and from memory, row 3 still had seats B and E free on both flights, but rows 4-6 looked pretty full. Some older/less mobile passengers on the OOL-MEL leg in row 4-5, while these rows definitely taken up with FF status pax from MEL-SYD. Strangely, only 1/8 business load on this leg!

Seating definitely feels like a shambles, and needs to be sorted.

 

[Warks]

So I checked in yesterday after entering my Velocity number three times (!) and as usual only 7A was available. I fly tomorrow so just then I tried again and entered my Velocity number three times to get to the place where I thought I could change my seat, hopefully forward. No way. All I get is a chance to reprint my boarding pass - all other options are greyed out. What is the point?

This is making the Optus website look good.

 

[clarkkent]

As another data point, I asked at the lounge (~20 min before boarding) whether there were any seats further forward for the two of us and was told 'no nothing together'. Seemed fair enough, but at the gate a family was reissued boarding passes and ended up in rows 5 and 6 on the left hand side (somehow they had seats in a nonexistent row 30, which appeared to catch the gate crew off guard as they stopped processing passengers while sorting it out). So maybe they do still try to keep a block free for operational reasons (though not the original 4,5,6DEF, and not blocked for platinums so not sure what happens when the mythical 16+ platinums are on the same flight).

Anyway as others have said, surely they should give golds access to the remaining seats at OLCI.

 

[Shano]

Just booked a flight for tomorrow (departing 1:00pm) as a newly minted SG on a Saver-lite fare.

Rows 3 and 4 were the only rows completely blocked off for seat selection. Seats available in rows 5 back. Out of interest did a dummy booking for a non-status pax on teh same flight and seats are available for selection (flexi fare) from Row 9 back.

Similar, booked a flight last Friday at T-2hours as a PS and managed to select Row 9.

So for those prepared to take the chance and book late, seat selection does open up somewhat.

 

[jajappamon]

Just booked a flight for tomorrow (departing 1:00pm) as a newly minted SG on a Saver-lite fare.

Rows 3 and 4 were the only rows completely blocked off for seat selection. Seats available in rows 5 back. Out of interest did a dummy booking for a non-status pax on teh same flight and seats are available for selection (flexi fare) from Row 9 back.

Similar, booked a flight last Friday at T-2hours as a PS and managed to select Row 9.

So for those prepared to take the chance and book late, seat selection does open up somewhat.

Would this have been on a flight that doesn't offer business class by any chance?...
If so, I have noticed that row 5 back is available to Golds on these flights as it counts row 1 & 2 business class seats as economy, even though they generally don't sit anyone there!

Looks like they block the first 4 rows of economy for Plats.

 

[Shano]

Would this have been on a flight that doesn't offer business class by any chance?...
If so, I have noticed that row 5 back is available to Golds on these flights as it counts row 1 & 2 business class seats as economy, even though they generally don't sit anyone there!

Looks like they block the first 4 rows of economy for Plats.

Seat map showed 2 - 2 seating for rows 1 and 2 so assume teh flight is equipped with J class.

 

[jajappamon]

Seat map showed 2 - 2 seating for rows 1 and 2 so assume teh flight is equipped with J class.

Yep, it still shows the 2-2 seating, but isn't actually considered business class on flights that don't offer it.
They have been know to move Plat and Gold FF's in to row 1 & 2 on these flights in the past, however I've found since the system changes this is less likely.

 

[bullerdude]

On my BNE-MEL yesterday it looked like there were a lot of Non-Plat\Gold passengers sitting in rows 3-6... Also had a conversation with the Plat centre this morning and they were quite surprised to hear that many non-FF's end up in the reserved seating zones.

 

[alister]

how do you tell they are non-platinum\gold members?
I have my own successful business, don't wear or even own a suit and often dress casually when travelling (shorts and tshirt). Would I meet your criteria for not looking like a platinum\gold member?

As for seat selection, if you fly on the fokkers get the back seat as it's the one closest to the only door. I wonder if the reservation system caters for this backwards arrangement? Last few times I have flown it then ground crew offered me the back seats.
I often don't reserve seating at all and normally end up in great seats or emergency exit rows (I am 6ft 2) so appreciate the extra legroom. I hate bulkhead seats as they provide less legroom as I can't fully stretch out my legs which is OK for an hour or 2 but long haul I need room. (which is why it's PE or up).

 

[anat0l]

how do you tell they are non-platinum\gold members?
I have my own successful business, don't wear or even own a suit and often dress casually when travelling (shorts and tshirt). Would I meet your criteria for not looking like a platinum\gold member?

One way some people tell is that they manage to sneak a peek at the boarding passes of some people who sit in those rows. It's rare that a status member would not have their status printed on the boarding pass. This is a little easier to do if they are sitting in said rows themselves.

In other cases, everyone is just guessing based on mannerisms. One of the assertions is that Gold or Platinum members are seasoned travellers - if someone looks like it's their first time flying or otherwise looking rather inexperienced, they may not be status members. Then you do get the other assertion which is based on dress code (though suffice to say I do travel both for business and leisure; I am not obviously wearing a suit at all those times yet I do travel sometimes in rush hour times, so it's fair to say I do "stick out").

In short, it's rather all guessing.

 

[bullerdude]

how do you tell they are non-platinum\gold members?
I have my own successful business, don't wear or even own a suit and often dress casually when travelling (shorts and tshirt). Would I meet your criteria for not looking like a platinum\gold member?

Lol... given I was in business wearing T-shirt/Shorts/Thongs I wouldn't meet that criteria

One way some people tell is that they manage to sneak a peek at the boarding passes of some people who sit in those rows. It's rare that a status member would not have their status printed on the boarding pass. This is a little easier to do if they are sitting in said rows themselves.

In other cases, everyone is just guessing based on mannerisms. One of the assertions is that Gold or Platinum members are seasoned travellers - if someone looks like it's their first time flying or otherwise looking rather inexperienced, they may not be status members. Then you do get the other assertion which is based on dress code (though suffice to say I do travel both for business and leisure; I am not obviously wearing a suit at all those times yet I do travel sometimes in rush hour times, so it's fair to say I do "stick out").

In short, it's rather all guessing.

This.

In general, you can tell through observation, the young ladies in Row 3 on my flight were unlikely Gold/Platinum members

 

[alister]

One way some people tell is that they manage to sneak a peek at the boarding passes of some people who sit in those rows. It's rare that a status member would not have their status printed on the boarding pass. This is a little easier to do if they are sitting in said rows themselves.

You must have eagle eyes. I will make a point of making sure mine is hidden from view from now on now that I know people are looking.

 

[alister]

Lol... given I was in business wearing T-shirt/Shorts/Thongs I wouldn't meet that criteria

well I was gonna mention thongs but didn't want to sound like I was too casual

 

[anat0l]

You must have eagle eyes. I will make a point of making sure mine is hidden from view from now on now that I know people are looking.

I don't usually project my BP details out to the world either. But if it's out there, it's much harder not to take notice (most popular spot is the seat pocket, or whilst juggling everything in hands when getting seated). Now I'm not insinuating it's as "unavoidable to notice" as a man meeting a well-endowed woman, but......

I have to say it's a bit easier with QF boarding passes because there is a very clear lack of text in the Service Information field if the flyer is not a QFFer at all, then all you looking for is PLATINUM, GOLD, or SILVER (along with E, SAPPH or RUBY a little further down). The relevant information on a VA boarding pass is usually a bit more difficult to find, especially since the text is smaller.

During major business travel times, status baggage tags (or lack thereof) may also give away the kind of flyer (and with VA giving very sturdy luggage tags, more often than not they will be on carry-on bags!)

If I recall correctly in the old days (and maybe even now), weren't Platinums / Golds given a personal greeting by the purser?

 

[scwappy]

how do you tell they are non-platinum\gold members?

I often think those looking to poo in the galley haven't flown too much :mrgreen:

 

[Fruitcake]

I often think those looking to poo in the galley haven't flown too much :mrgreen:

Either that or they're making a statement about 'gourmet wraps' .

 

[bullerdude]

If I recall correctly in the old days (and maybe even now), weren't Platinums / Golds given a personal greeting by the purser?

Used to be, but it seems to have died.. or perhaps it was 'enhanced' as part of some recent changes.

 

[VMC73]

My husband, myself and our 2 children (13 & 8) are all Platinum and I have no doubt we would not look like traditional FF's (although we all obviously fly a lot). I am sure it looks even more like that when the kids travel with their grandparents who are seriously not FF's and they get row 3 or 1!