Ticketed and boarding pass on away 1a - changed to 3b at gate

[djchuckles]

No explanation as to why

Didnt even keep my window seat

 

[Ewing]

Were you booked in business, or did you receive an upgrade and then had it taken away?
(http://www.australianfrequentflyer....tralia-velocity/dj-op-up-given-but-39536.html)

I'd be livid if I had my seat swapped for a middle.

 

[LiamR]

This seems to be a really common occurrence these days, I really hope Virgin do something to correct it.

 

[Bolthead]

This seems to be a really common occurrence these days, I really hope Virgin do something to correct it.

+1 on this however it hasn't happened to me yet (not that I get upgraded all that often) But I am sure if it did happen to me I would be pretty upset.

 

[777]

Was it actually an upgrade, was it a paid J fare, or was it an old plane without J seating and simply a change of seat allocation?

 

[Hvr]

What ever the reason it highlights the necessity to take a photo of your BP as soon as you get it.

Then if they take it from you and give you a new one you still have proof of your original seat allocation. It can be essential when you argue that you have been downgraded/moved etc.

 

[djchuckles]

Economy booking but it preselected me seats 1a and 1b when booking so I guessed it was a plane without business

but on board - had business rows 1 and 2 (empty)

Whilst I don't mind not getting business as I didn't pay for it - I did want a window seat and has that taken away without explanation or apology.

NB nobody sat in 1a or 1b for the flight.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Economy booking but it preselected me seats 1a and 1b when booking so I guessed it was a plane without business

but on board - had business rows 1 and 2 (empty)

Whilst I don't mind not getting business as I didn't pay for it - I did want a window seat and has that taken away without explanation or apology.

NB nobody sat in 1a or 1b for the flight.

A non business route? A little while ago VA wouldn't let anyone sit in J seats on a non-J route, but I was of the impression that had changed.

 

[djchuckles]

Sydney to Gold Coast which I think is a biz route.

No idea how I ended up with 1a and 1b when I poked a fortnight ago

 

[ozbeachbabe]

A non business route? A little while ago VA wouldn't let anyone sit in J seats on a non-J route, but I was of the impression that had changed.

If they don't want anyone to sit there they should just block off rows 1 & 2 altogether on flights that don't operate with a J cabin.

If they choose not to & the system allows someone to allocate row 1 or 2 then it's better PR to honour that than bump people for no reason as it's not exactly an op-up if it's whY catering.

 

[medhead]

Surely the issue is an aircraft change happened.


Sent from the Throne

 

[Meggsy]

No explanation as to why

Didnt even keep my window seat

Your original allocation would have been on an all economy 737-700. This aircraft will then have been changed to one with business class fitted

 

[djchuckles]

Ah ok. But isn't SYD to OOL a business route anyway?

Either way - surely they knew this at check in so could have explained then and could have got me a window seat as per my preference (which is in my velocity account - and 90% of my recent flights have been in 3a)?

 

[Justchecking]

Ah ok. But isn't SYD to OOL a business route anyway?

Either way - surely they knew this at check in so could have explained then and could have got me a window seat as per my preference (which is in my velocity account - and 90% of my recent flights have been in 3a)?

Actually all the 700's should be J class fitted now. So the system should never have allowedd the original seat allocation. And since that route is also a J route all aircraft that fly there have J class fitted so I'm baffled as to why the 1a was ever selectable. Clearly there's a glitch in their system they need to srt out. You were probably bumped to a middle seat as that would have been the only seat left by the time the error was discovered. POssibly it was free, being another platinums shadow? Not saying that's an excuse, just saying that's the most likely reason. I cant imagine the gate agents would want to shuffle several guests around at the last minute just to ensure you a window seat.

I do agree that check-in should have picked it up first, especially as SYD has DJ rather than contract staff on the ground there. Definately provide feedback to the company, until they know about it, they won't sort it. In the mean time, I wouldn't select rows 1 or 2 on any known business class route, as the likelihood of you keeping that seat will be zero and none. Better to go for the favoured row 3 seat instead and ensure you're not bumped.

 

[Justchecking]

Okay just read on the 700 thread there are still 2 all economy 700's floating around. How frustrating. But my advice still stands to pick row 3 even where 1 and 2 are available. The likelihood of an aircraft swap is too high to risk it. And if you are on an economy plane then row 3 on those planes still has long leg room as they are the old PE seats at 38" pitch, so you don't lose out.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Economy booking but it preselected me seats 1a and 1b when booking so I guessed it was a plane without business

but on board - had business rows 1 and 2 (empty)

Whilst I don't mind not getting business as I didn't pay for it - I did want a window seat and has that taken away without explanation or apology.

NB nobody sat in 1a or 1b for the flight.

Sydney to Gold Coast which I think is a biz route.

No idea how I ended up with 1a and 1b when I poked a fortnight ago

Were there two of you travelling & you went from 1A to 3B & your companion went from 1B to 3A?

Either way - surely they knew this at check in so could have explained then and could have got me a window seat as per my preference (which is in my velocity account - and 90% of my recent flights have been in 3a)?

Did you OLCI then arrive at checkin holding boarding passes for 1AB? If not the CSA would see seating for 3AB & probably assumed those were the seats you had selected to begin with.

Might be an idea to print out your itin with the 1AB seating & take with you to checkin as proof you did have it then if you've been bumped further back ask nicely if you can have your original seating reinstated - assuming nil J cabin.

 

[onezero]

While the handling of this seems to be pretty piss-poor by Virgin, the fact remains....

"We are unable to guarantee seat selection requests as they may need to be changed for operational or safety reasons."​

 

[djchuckles]

Were there two of you travelling & you went from 1A to 3B & your companion went from 1B to 3A?



Did you OLCI then arrive at checkin holding boarding passes for 1AB? If not the CSA would see seating for 3AB & probably assumed those were the seats you had selected to begin with.

Might be an idea to print out your itin with the 1AB seating & take with you to checkin as proof you did have it then if you've been bumped further back ask nicely if you can have your original seating reinstated - assuming nil J cabin.

We had 1A and 1B originally. Didn't check in Online - checked in at priority check in - then went to the lounge. Still no mention at either point of seat change.

Got to gate - given 3B and 3C.

Am usually totally happy with Row 3 but always favour a window seat as I lean against the window to sleep - which is hard to do in B or C!

 

[Bolthead]

We had 1A and 1B originally. Didn't check in Online - checked in at priority check in - then went to the lounge. Still no mention at either point of seat change.

Got to gate - given 3B and 3C.

Am usually totally happy with Row 3 but always favour a window seat as I lean against the window to sleep - which is hard to do in B or C!

Depends how long your neck is...

 

[ozbeachbabe]

We had 1A and 1B originally. Didn't check in Online - checked in at priority check in - then went to the lounge. Still no mention at either point of seat change.

Got to gate - given 3B and 3C.

Am usually totally happy with Row 3 but always favour a window seat as I lean against the window to sleep - which is hard to do in B or C!

I realise that you pre-allocated 1AB 14 days prior, but are you saying that you got boarding passes for 1AB at Priority Checkin & then it was only at the gate you got 3BC or did you in fact get boarding passes for 3BC at checkin?