The DJ Op UP Thread.

[Boris spatsky]

First 4 sectors on VA after Platinum status match. 2 on 737, 2 on E Jet.

All 4 sectors got moved from row 3 to row 1 or 2 in lounge or at the gate.

Not that impressed with PE though. Better legroom. Thats about it. No complaints though

 

[cityloop]

Are you guys asking for the upgrade at checkin/lounge etc or is the upgrade simply offered to you without asking for it.

 

[Boris spatsky]

Dont ask for it. It just happens.

 

[reductionist]

When you guys did seat selection online were the first 2 rows showing up as being allocated?

Like this:



I'm just trying to figure out if "Reserved Premium Cabin" actually means "Occupied Premium Cabin".

 

[Noob]

First 4 sectors on VA after Platinum status match. 2 on 737, 2 on E Jet.

All 4 sectors got moved from row 3 to row 1 or 2 in lounge or at the gate.

Not that impressed with PE though. Better legroom. Thats about it. No complaints though

No need to fear! Premium economy on Virgin Australia as we know it will be replaced with Business Class. I can't wait for E-190 Business class, they are such beautiful airliners.

 

[Jama]

First 4 sectors on VA after Platinum status match. 2 on 737, 2 on E Jet.

All 4 sectors got moved from row 3 to row 1 or 2 in lounge or at the gate.

Not that impressed with PE though. Better legroom. Thats about it. No complaints though

I wasn't impressed with PE either. I wouldn't pay for it again, put it that way. If the taster was still around for Gold's I would try it again as things are improved, but its not, so I won't. I have earnt my status on domestic flexi's and saver's so considering the amount of flying to do this on these fare types, PE is a very significant additional investment to justify.

 

[obrienja]

I was very kindly upgraded (Plat, Flexi) from economy to a 1/4 full Business after take-off by the CSM for a PER-SYD flight a little while ago & received the full business treatment. Is was very unexpected (I've previously benefitted from the shadow that others have spoken about too) but very grateful given it was the overnight shocker

I also overheard a crew member telling a passenger up from that the "proper, new" business class seats would fold flat (I assume she commented that they didn't).

 

[Noob]

I was very kindly upgraded (Plat, Flexi) from economy to a 1/4 full Business after take-off by the CSM for a PER-SYD flight a little while ago & received the full business treatment. Is was very unexpected (I've previously benefitted from the shadow that others have spoken about too) but very grateful given it was the overnight shocker

I also overheard a crew member telling a passenger up from that the "proper, new" business class seats would fold flat (I assume she commented that they didn't).

This would be regarding the new A330-200s from Airbus, the new hard product will be fitted on the current A330-200s also.

 

[cityloop]

Dont ask for it. It just happens.

Well if ever there was a chance for op up for me it would have been last night. 7 spare PE seats and no op up for me. I do appreciate however the shadow seats for us 4 Gold members in row 3. Was a BSI aircraft too.

 

[BVT]

I have a few VA flights coming up, as a result of status match.

Called them yesterday to change one flight that had been booked as a flexi and was told that I had already been op upped to PE. When we sorted the new flights, now two sectors instead on direct, the CSA kindly told me that she had op upped me on both of the new sectors! Nice.

I will be interested to see how the onboard experience compares to the call centre.

 

[Jama]

I cant believe all the Perks you guys are seeing. I am yet to see any flight benefits for Gold other than the priority queue and lounge but I already had paid lounge and got priority with flexi.

 

[reductionist]

MEL-CBR.

Selected row 3, kiosk printed boarding passes for row 1.

SWMBO very happy.

 

[Mh4k]

i've had a couple of op-ups to row 2 in the last couple of months, both times with full PE service, though on both occasions I've just ordered a bottle of water and/or slept through the entire service (red-eye east coast commuter runs). But it seems far from guaranteed. Perhaps 10% of my recent flying or less has resulted in the op up. I think once was from a flex ticket, the other time from a discount economy ticket. My flying is about a 50/50 mix of flex or DE and I don't think the original fare class has made any difference.

I also always get offered a flex meal now even when flying on a discount economy ticket. Never seem to get the platinum shadow, but then I'm almost always on full or oversold flights, so fair enough really.

Unrelated to the above, some new benefits seem to have kicked in. Both my flights this week had domestic priority luggage handling, which is nice, and hasn't been available on the Syd/Mel route in previous weeks. Last night's flight the new interior 737 seemed a step closer to having full business class service; the little leather divider was put up to separate the J cabin from Y which I hadn't seen previously on east coast runs. J also seemed to have an amenity kit, but was still receiving the standard PE service. So I guess they are slowly phasing in the J service, which is probably smarter than rolling it out all in one go as it'll help give the crew time to assimilate the new processes.

I'm much more interested to see/hear how Platinum flyers are being treated on V Australia as the little east coast commuter runs are too short for me to really care very much about my seat or service. 15 hours + long haul is another matter entirely!

 

[notzac]

I'm much more interested to see/hear how Platinum flyers are being treated on V Australia as the little east coast commuter runs are too short for me to really care very much about my seat or service. 15 hours + long haul is another matter entirely!

I'm yet to fly in whY on VA, so I don't know if they do anything special for Platinum pax - you should at the very least get express passes on flights inbound to Australia. Service is pretty much uniformly excellent, but you'll probably get "welcomed back" on board. Haven't been in receipt of PDBs or anything special from the J cabin, but have gotten the occasional beep at the gate..

 

[Mh4k]

A few recent experiences... flew back from Melbourne last Friday night and for the first time in as long as I can remember I was not offered the Flexi meal when flying on my Saver fare. Fair enough - but I'd gotten so used to it that I had to get out of my seat and retrieve my wallet to buy a drink. :shock: Just goes to show how spoiled I've been lately!

Flying back again from Melbourne yesterday was an interesting experience. I was on a Saver fare and booked to fly at 4.30. I got to the airport at 2.30 as my meeting had ended early and asked if I could be moved to an earlier flight. The (lovely) desk agent replied "I can put you on the 3pm but there are no Premium seats available - if you'd like to stay in Premium seating I can put you on the 3.30".

I replied that I didn't think I'd booked a Premium Economy seat, but she assured me "I'll be seating you in Premium Economy today". Had her issue me a BP for 2F on the 3.30 - new interior business class seat. Very nice.

All my prior op-ups have been issued at the gate. Never had an agent who was hell-bent on getting me a PE seat even when I had an A-class fare. More like this, please

Unrelated, but we landed at a JQ/Qantaslink gate at Sydney yesterday. That was a bit odd. Took me ages to figure out how to get to baggage reclaim once i was off the plane!

 

[DGW]

Success again today SYD>MEL. I arrived at the airport early and availed myself of the "Fly Ahead" benefit through the premium entry at SYD and was informed by the lovely lady at the desk that I had been "upgraded to premium". Seated in row 2 with all the usual PE treatment. Very nice Virgin.

 

[flyingfan]

MEL-SYD on Christmas Eve, I was allocated 3A – my favourite seat. At the gate I was paged to the desk and was told “Just a seat change” while handed a pass for 2B. My first time in premium economy – terrific! Despite all my flying I have yet to tire of the view so I still prefer window seats but wasn’t complaining at all.

Then while boarding (at the thoroughly effective priority lane) the computer threw out an error. “Another seat change,” I was told – now I was in 1A. Grinning all the way now - thank you Virgin

 

[dsotm]

I made Platinum on Dec 31. On the next flight a few days later with the family of four, we all got op-up to Premium on SYD/MEL. They are all VA Reds.

 

[hgwells01]

First Gold flight after status match in Dec I was allocated 3D ex Williamtown to Melb with spare middle seat in new config aircraft, seemed there were 4 golds on the flight and we were given the front econ seats with middle blocked off as the rest of the aircraft was full. J class was completely full, and everyone of them pulled down bags with Q plat tags on them, so I wondered if they had filled J class with them. On the trip back I had something like 23D that I chose as it seemed to have vacant seats around it, and was told on check in i'd had a seat change to PE, first upgrade ever, so was very happy, and my priority tagged bag was 3rd out.

This weekend slightly different, had 3D allocated again on full plane, and it seemed again that the first econ row had 3 golds in it and middle seats blocked out and the rest of the plane totally full, but J class was completely empty so no one got an upgrade, my priority taged bag came out 38th . On the way home was a Sat so a Embraer 190, first couple of rows were PE and no one sitting in them, once again in front, 3C this time with window seat vacant, plane was only 3/4 full, my bag.... first out )

Must say its an improvement on flying Jet* all the time, just a pity they only have one direct flight a day or i'd use them more often.

 

[MarkD]

I can't believe you counted the bags to know yours was 38th off LOL