Upgrade from a cheap fare

[wallacej]

Was booked on a 0645 MEL-SYD on a cheap $49 flight with DJ.

Went to do OLCI the night before (Sunday night), and was given a message that the flight was cnacelled, and to call the number given.

Called the number, and offered a change to the 0600 or the 0700. I took the 0700, then continued with my OLCI.

On arrival at the lounge, I was presently surprised to find that I was offered row 1, seated next to a paying premium economy passenger.

I was pretty happy until I heard my name being paged in the lounge!!! I thought here we go, down to the back of the bus. However, I was simply asked if I would mind switching from 1C to 1A - of course not

Once on board I over heard the FA's speaking to each other asking if both the pax in PE were paid, or was one an upgrade. I guess they couldn't work it out, and offered us both the comp TV, food etc.

At the lounge, the CSA said that they were able to upgrade me because I was a Gold Member..... HOORAY, it was a feel good moment for me...

Just thought I would share that to give hope to us all

 

[Slats7]

Well done!

 

[anat0l]

At the lounge, the CSA said that they were able to upgrade me because I was a Gold Member..... HOORAY, it was a feel good moment for me...

Just thought I would share that to give hope to us all

Well...you got the status, and it definitely isn't easy (unless you fly VA a lot, esp. in premium). You gotta feel the love some time - and more often than not for that matter!

 

[wallacej]

Must have been my lucky week... also bumped up to row 1 on the return SYD-MEL flight, however, my luck seems to have come to an end with my MEL-BNE flight this morning offering no such sweetner...

 

[Davos]

Heading into my second year as a gold member. Cant say i have ever seen any love from them regarding seating. Still get row 11 and behind as default, (blue saver fares) usually window seats when i always get an aisle seat. Very very rarely see any genuine premium econ pax on the flights,i am surprised they have continued with the service to be honest. Another thing, i requalified for gold after 8 months of travel - the next 4 months is just dead credit really. Apart from the velicity points the credits dont mean anything after 50000.

 

[crazydave98]

Heading into my second year as a gold member. Cant say i have ever seen any love from them regarding seating. Still get row 11 and behind as default, (blue saver fares) usually window seats when i always get an aisle seat. Very very rarely see any genuine premium econ pax on the flights,i am surprised they have continued with the service to be honest.

Davos the lack of seating love is systems related - we are upgrading our res system at the end of this year which will greatly improve our capabilities to recognised valued guests. Sorry for the wait.

Premium Economy is pure gravy for us which is why we continue it. If we can't sell the seats in their premium config and there are 144 or 180 people wanting to travel we simply flip up the tray tables, put the armrests back to the "normal" position and use them as regular economy seats. They do actually sell quite well on certain routes and at certain times of the day. We also use it in conjunction with business class interline fares on V Australia and other airlines. So for virtually no effort it's all upside.

cheers

CrazyDave98

 

[Davos]

Hi Crazy Dave,
From a regular customers perspective, i find it a bit annoying that often all the "blue" seats are almost full, everyone is squashed in and there are "red seats" empty. On a flight this week, i was in row 4 aisle seat, next to a rather large lady, i'm 6'4 myself, i had my leg in the aisle and my shoulder hanging out past the seat. I asked the cabin supervisor if i could move to one of the emply premium seats (all were vacant) - i was told "sorry they are for premim pax only" - I said "yes i know but as you can see its rather squashy here: - reply "sorry" and a sweet smile.

My other gripe is (and i dont want to sound like a W#nker here) is as a Gold flyer and i fly at least weekly,why is it that when the flights are full and the centre tables get flipped up as you say, is it that it always seems its the pax that manually check in that get these seats, granny and grandpa who fly twice a year are in row one while your regular customers who check in online get stuck down the back. Could the lounge reception staff realise the red seats will be used and offer to change status flyers to these seats?

 

[wallacej]

Hi Crazy Dave,
...

My other gripe is (and i dont want to sound like a W#nker here) is as a Gold flyer and i fly at least weekly,why is it that when the flights are full and the centre tables get flipped up as you say, is it that it always seems its the pax that manually check in that get these seats, granny and grandpa who fly twice a year are in row one while your regular customers who check in online get stuck down the back. Could the lounge reception staff realise the red seats will be used and offer to change status flyers to these seats?

I think this has happened a few times where the CSA at the lounge has had the ability to move me forward (I am Gold also), although it doesn't happen all the time.
I have found the last few times it has happened it has been coupled with the comment that it is a very full flight.
This may be a way around over booking problems where all the pax turn up for a flight so they shunt pax into rows 1-3 to free up some extra seats.
As Dave said, it is a 10 second job to convert the 2 seats into 3.

Hopefully the system if/when implemented later this year will sort out a lot of those issues. I do however have window as my preference, and I think out of the hundreds of flights only have been given a window or aisle on VERY few flights.

 

[anat0l]

As Dave said, it is a 10 second job to convert the 2 seats into 3.

Is it that quick?

QF have convertible seats on their 734s, but even though a friend and I found out the little bits and bobs hidden by the seat coverings that probably make the conversion thing work, if it was that easy then we might just have been curious enough to try and convert our row 4 section into a J seat!

But it wasn't that easy (and I guess plus we didn't exactly want to be caught by the FAs....)

I guess the other thing too is that this thread highlights (although from a DJ point of view for a change) that love for elite pax isn't uniform. Just ask JohnK

 

[crazydave98]

Hi Crazy Dave,
From a regular customers perspective, i find it a bit annoying that often all the "blue" seats are almost full, everyone is squashed in and there are "red seats" empty. On a flight this week, i was in row 4 aisle seat, next to a rather large lady, i'm 6'4 myself, i had my leg in the aisle and my shoulder hanging out past the seat. I asked the cabin supervisor if i could move to one of the emply premium seats (all were vacant) - i was told "sorry they are for premim pax only" - I said "yes i know but as you can see its rather squashy here: - reply "sorry" and a sweet smile.

My other gripe is (and i dont want to sound like a W#nker here) is as a Gold flyer and i fly at least weekly,why is it that when the flights are full and the centre tables get flipped up as you say, is it that it always seems its the pax that manually check in that get these seats, granny and grandpa who fly twice a year are in row one while your regular customers who check in online get stuck down the back. Could the lounge reception staff realise the red seats will be used and offer to change status flyers to these seats?

Davos, we hear you loud and clear. On the first point you raise I can't promise a solution quickly. Just letting anyone sit in the seats devalues them - we want people to see a premium in the leg and hip/shoulder room. But against this we have to balance the annoyance factor you raise. Other airlines wouldn't let you sit in business class just because it's crowded in economy, but these are convertible seats and a "product" rather than a class/cabin and people are aware of the difference. My personal view is that we would be better off converting the seats to normal (3 abreast, tray table up) configuration and spreading people out more as I don't think this would cannibalize sales of PE seats too much. We have to work out the right balance and obviously we are not there yet sorry.

As an aside, a colleague has suggested allowing "on board upgrades" for points or cash - personally I favour points, but again we have to make the technology work.

On your other gripe I totally agree. Our aim is to make sure that Golds and Silvers get the "op up" where it has to happen. This is about straight out recognition and priority.

cheers

CrazyDave98