Seat selection in new system?

[medhead]

Since the launch of the Sabre Toothless Tiger I noticed the seat map has gone from a "north-south" view of the plane to an "east-west" view (or west-east really). I see from the screenshots above that they are back to normal? I haven't got a booking at present to check so don't know.

I did hate the new orientation and won't be sad if it's changed back. Conservative bugger that I am. I don't mind change but I do mind change for change's sake.

I haven't seen any east west view since the intro.

 

[eastwest101]

And we have a response from Virgin Australia as well now (also de-identified):

Dear Mr eastwest101,

Firstly, thank you for your feedback. I do appreciate the time and effort taken to advise us of your recent experience with Virgin Australia and I apologise for the time taken in responding to your feedback.

Mr eastwest101, it is with regret that I read of the issues you have experienced recently whilst attempting to use your Velocity status on our website. Please allow me to extend my apologies for any inconvenience and frustration caused.

As you are aware we have recently updated our reservation and check – in system which will bring us in line with most of the rest of the worlds’ airlines in being able to offer many more features and benefits to our valued guests. During this period of transition we have tried our best to minimise the impact that this would have on our guests, regrettably there have been some issues and restrictions experienced on our website.

Mr eastwest101, I can only apologise for any inconvenience that this may have caused you. I can assure you that we are aware of the issues and our IT teams are doing everything they can to correct any issues and insure full functionality of the website as soon as possible. In the meantime if you have any issues or queries please don’t hesitate to contact our Velocity Team on 13 18 75 who will be happy to help.

Once again I do thank you for taking the time to contact us with your concerns, I hope we have the pleasure of welcoming you onboard in the near future.


Kind Regards

Virgin Australia Team

 

[Deleted member 29185]

More SG data points.

OLCI @ T-48 BNE-ROK (non-J route) I could select 2F on an 738 which I did.
Could OLCI at the same time for return, but only as far forward as row 4 on an Ejet (old config showing), which I declined to do.

OLCI @ T-48 ROK-BNE, I could select as far forward as row 3. Tempted but declined. I'll look again tomorrow.

Update on above:

Looked a few times this morning and best showing for ROK-BNE was row 3. Went in to see this afternoon and it says I'm checked in :shock:. I've now rung VA (got Malasia) and he told me I'm not checked in but best seat is in row 4! Entirely possible row 3 was taken while I was experimenting, but then he says I haven't seat selected for the BNE-ROK either!!!! Yes I have, and I've got a passbook boarding card showing 2F.

So tomorrow is a lucky dip. Maybe I have 2F BNE-ROK, maybe not. Maybe I can jag a J seat ROK-BNE, maybe row 3 or maybe row 4.

Funny thing is, when I try on-line, it shows I haven't checked in for ROK-BNE but the (landscape) seat map shows new config E90 J product. On the phone this morning (via the VA flight specials app) the (portrait) seat map showed an old config.

Fun and games.

 

[tickthelist]

Update on above:

Looked a few times this morning and best showing for ROK-BNE was row 3. Went in to see this afternoon and it says I'm checked in :shock:. I've now rung VA (got Malasia) and he told me I'm not checked in but best seat is in row 4! Entirely possible row 3 was taken while I was experimenting, but then he says I haven't seat selected for the BNE-ROK either!!!! Yes I have, and I've got a passbook boarding card showing 2F.

So tomorrow is a lucky dip. Maybe I have 2F BNE-ROK, maybe not. Maybe I can jag a J seat ROK-BNE, maybe row 3 or maybe row 4.

Funny thing is, when I try on-line, it shows I haven't checked in for ROK-BNE but the (landscape) seat map shows new config E90 J product. On the phone this morning (via the VA flight specials app) the (portrait) seat map showed an old config.

Fun and games.

I'll be interested to hear the results.

(Note I am Gold status for context of following context)
I booked in within 24 hours for flight today BNE/MEL and could check into any seat - 3F winner!
Return is Wed so with <48 hours to go I can up to Row 5 ( was 7 previously), my suspicion is if I wait until < 24 hours I will be able to select rows 3 & 4, will know tomorrow.
My suspicion is that Gold can select up to Row 7 with > 48hrs, Row 5 < 48hrs & Row 3 < 24hrs which is a very good/fair system in my view. I hope to prove my thesis tomorrow!

Personally I don't mind the above eventuality (encourages me to reach for Plat) just happy they get a system that is appropriate and recognises FF status.

 

[smatho10]

More meh - so my "married " red & gold booking is now ready for CKIN. Mrs smatho10 can select row 4 onwards myself row 8.. Since reports are improving on bagging row 3 onwards.. I now have to wait till airport check-in.. I'm sure we will be looked after cause I do get a lot of exit row seating but Mrs smatho10 is 29 weeks along.. Not a good look for the nervous flyer..

Could start a "Really?? Who let you sit in exit row??" Thread...

 

[Deleted member 29185]

I'll be interested to hear the results.

BNE-ROK ....2F
ROK-BNE ....2F

Both 737 - 800s

The return BNE-ROK was checked in at the valet park desk and was given 2F without asking.

I'm a very happy camper now that they seem to be opening up J seats on non-J routes.

2D and 2F are the only two J taken but I did hear the CS offer a J seat to someone else but they haven't seated them there yet. Maybe after take off. Doors just shut.

 

[KCMil]

More meh - so my "married " red & gold booking is now ready for CKIN. Mrs smatho10 can select row 4 onwards myself row 8.. Since reports are improving on bagging row 3 onwards.. I now have to wait till airport check-in.. I'm sure we will be looked after cause I do get a lot of exit row seating but Mrs smatho10 is 29 weeks along.. Not a good look for the nervous flyer..

Could start a "Really?? Who let you sit in exit row??" Thread...

I can assure you that pregnancy is not a restriction on exit row seating, on the condition that Mrs smatho10 appears to be physically capably of handling the exit and doesn't require an extension belt. There is a misconception that being overweight / prenant is the issue in the exit row, it is actually the need for an extension belt that is the issue as in an evac it is an extra long strap that can present a trip hazard. 737 exits are easier to operate being a pull and release handle so she should be okay. Again, assuming that a pregnant guest is physically capable of moving easily to op exit.

 

[KCMil]

Yeah, sounds reasonable. I actually got the wrong LA because the last time the flight to BNE was cancelled the other one did upgrade me. Stupidly I did try to get any information from 3A and C.

I'm now trying to decide if I'm annoyed about being told no upgrade because J is full when it wasn't, or whether I don't care because the situation didn't warrant an upgrade anyway.

The issue with J class is that the guests can be web or mobile checked in and the cabin does appear full, they can't remove the guest from the flight until 7 minutes before departure, so then the cabin is not full anymore. I've seen this one happen so so often, and been the victim of it! I am told that there is a fix to this coming whereby a CS will have a listing of guests requesting upgrade and can then move guests as per listing.

 

[Mackey]

So I just accompanied the missus to the airport this morning and watched on while she checked in herself on the self check-in machines (BNE-SYD). I was very surprised to see that she (Velocity Red) has access to 3B, 3E, 4A, 4B and 4E on the seat selection screen. It seems that seats are available to ALL passengers at check in time. I was also surprised that 3B and 3E weren't blocked with shadows like I would have expected. I guess this explains why we are seeing so many non-status pax in the seats that usually would have been shadow seats previously.

 

[eastwest101]

So I just accompanied the missus to the airport this morning and watched on while she checked in herself on the self check-in machines (BNE-SYD). I was very surprised to see that she (Velocity Red) has access to 3B, 3E, 4A, 4B and 4E on the seat selection screen. It seems that seats are available to ALL passengers at check in time. I was also surprised that 3B and 3E weren't blocked with shadows like I would have expected. I guess this explains why we are seeing so many non-status pax in the seats that usually would have been shadow seats previously.

Well that explains that - add another one to the list of things that are broken - Plat shadows possibly not working.

 

[clarkkent]

And yet for a flight this Saturday OLCI won't give me (gold) further forward than row 7. Interesting contrast with swanning_it's and tickthelist's posts above - maybe difference is I chose seats when I booked a few weeks ago? Will try again at T-24.

 

[Mackey]

Well that explains that - add another one to the list of things that are broken - Plat shadows possibly not working.

Well, I think shadows have only ever been applied by check in/Lounge Angels in the past anyway (please correct me if I'm wrong), and I do see a LOT more status travellers checking in online these days (5 iPhones in a row at SYD the other day in the priority queue), so that could also be the reason. It is a bit of a pain that non-status pax get unrestricted access to 3B, 3E etc though.

 

[bullerdude]

So I just accompanied the missus to the airport this morning and watched on while she checked in herself on the self check-in machines (BNE-SYD). I was very surprised to see that she (Velocity Red) has access to 3B, 3E, 4A, 4B and 4E on the seat selection screen. It seems that seats are available to ALL passengers at check in time. I was also surprised that 3B and 3E weren't blocked with shadows like I would have expected. I guess this explains why we are seeing so many non-status pax in the seats that usually would have been shadow seats previously.

Not meaning to be rude, but this is not the way it should be... the only people who should be able to access those rows are Platinums and perhaps gold at checkin.

 

[alister]

Well that explains that - add another one to the list of things that are broken - Plat shadows possibly not working.

I had people next to me on 3 of my 4 flights last week and the flights were not full. The one where I didn't was in J upgrade.

 

[Mackey]

Not meaning to be rude, but this is not the way it should be... the only people who should be able to access those rows are Platinums and perhaps gold at checkin.

Oh, I completely agree. I was very surprised when she was able to select those seats. Of course I recommended she pick 4A, but I think this should be fixed ASAP to limit the first few rows to WP and SG.

I didn't have any problems in the old system. I was SG and would regularly get row 3 and a shadow, and now I'm a WP and getting row 4 and non-status in the B/E seats.

 

[bullerdude]

Oh, I completely agree. I was very surprised when she was able to select those seats. Of course I recommended she pick 4A, but I think this should be fixed ASAP to limit the first few rows to WP and SG.

I didn't have any problems in the old system. I was SG and would regularly get row 3 and a shadow, and now I'm a WP and getting row 4 and non-status in the B/E seats.

Have you sent feedback about this instance? Its a good one as you have firm evidence of the problem.

 

[eastwest101]

Have you sent feedback about this instance? Its a good one as you have firm evidence of the problem.

I second this motion - if you do have the time Mackey - its specific, self evident and something they may not be aware of.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

And yet for a flight this Saturday OLCI won't give me (gold) further forward than row 7. Interesting contrast with swanning_it's and tickthelist's posts above - maybe difference is I chose seats when I booked a few weeks ago? Will try again at T-24.

What I bolded here is the issue I think.

I cannot speak for tickthelist but I deliberately did not seat select on booking. I was graced with enough circumstantial evidence to enable me to suspect the flights were lightly booked and I wanted to experiment a bit.

Of course, the downside is that waiting may see a flight fill up and the malingerers relegated to row 365.2!

 

[tickthelist]

I'll be interested to hear the results.

(Note I am Gold status for context of following context)
I booked in within 24 hours for flight today BNE/MEL and could check into any seat - 3F winner!
Return is Wed so with <48 hours to go I can up to Row 5 ( was 7 previously), my suspicion is if I wait until < 24 hours I will be able to select rows 3 & 4, will know tomorrow.
My suspicion is that Gold can select up to Row 7 with > 48hrs, Row 5 < 48hrs & Row 3 < 24hrs which is a very good/fair system in my view. I hope to prove my thesis tomorrow!

Personally I don't mind the above eventuality (encourages me to reach for Plat) just happy they get a system that is appropriate and recognises FF status.

Well tried to checkin with < 24 hrs before flight & get to row 3 however I think I inadvertently selected row 5 when I did my check with < 48 hrs b4 flight and I was unable to move my seat, told me to check at airport, allocating me to row 5.
At airport I had an extra bag ( golf clubs) and they checked it without an extra charge, very nice gesture.
Went to the lounge and asked for a row 3 seat, they offered me a middle seat in row 3 or alternatiively to block the seat next to me in row 5, I chose the latter. The person on the desk also offered to confirm the seat next to me was vacant b4 the flight boarded in case I wanted to move - excellent.
When boarding the aircraft, I was greeted by name & staff were excellent on the flight.
Very good experience for this flight, felt Virgin have lifted their game compared to my recent flights - well done V people!

i also asked the person on the desk if she knew how the seating worked, turned out I knew more than her so I am none the wiser. Will try OLCI with < 24 hours to go for flights next week and see what happens.

 

[clarkkent]

Mine didn't improve at T-24, so maybe the front 24 seats really were all full at T-48, or choosing at time of booking limits your later choices, or the increased availability mentioned above is only for bookings made more recently than mine.