VA - ANA Codeshare Seat Selection

[mickismick]

Has anyone purchased an ANA flight through VA and managed to select their seats?

Just booked Haneda->Sydney on a codeshare and don't seem to be able to select seats. I have the ANA booking reference and can find it on the ANA website, but the seat selection option is greyed out. I also receive a message when managing the booking on ANA that "Only viewing is available for this reservation."

My ticket allows seat selection, and the booking page had the seat selection check mark, but it's not available on VA or ANA website. Thankfully the flight out is Sydney->Cairns->Haneda on a VA operated flight.

 

[elanshin]

Has anyone purchased an ANA flight through VA and managed to select their seats?

Just booked Haneda->Sydney on a codeshare and don't seem to be able to select seats. I have the ANA booking reference and can find it on the ANA website, but the seat selection option is greyed out. I also receive a message when managing the booking on ANA that "Only viewing is available for this reservation."

My ticket allows seat selection, and the booking page had the seat selection check mark, but it's not available on VA or ANA website. Thankfully the flight out is Sydney->Cairns->Haneda on a VA operated flight.

A bit off topic but just curious as to why purchasing ANA codeshare on VA out of Sydney, i get other Aus domestic cities. I've generally found ANAs own tickets to be a fair bit cheaper with their constant sales. You can still get points and credits.

 

[ben95]

You can still get points and credits.

you’d usually get more points and SCs if you book the VA codeshare as that’s usually a more favorable earning chart versus the partner earning chart.

Also OP seems to be using VA metal on the way out and only opting for the codeshare on the way back. It’s possible that the round trip fare is better than paying the one-way tax.

 

[mickismick]

Update: ANA call centre would not assign seats until check-in. So VA not meeting expectation of seat selection per their ticketing. Have raised complaints internally.

A bit off topic but just curious as to why purchasing ANA codeshare on VA out of Sydney, i get other Aus domestic cities. I've generally found ANAs own tickets to be a fair bit cheaper with their constant sales. You can still get points and credits.

ANA tickets one way for the family on the desired date were over $8000.

The VA total return ticket through VA was $4400.

Flying ANA metal both ways for the desired dates was $4900.

So $500 difference.

To be honest, had I known the flight was falsely advertised with advanced seat selection, I probably would have booked direct through ANA. It should also be noted that prior to paying for the booking, I confirmed with VA phone staff that I would be able to select my seats straight away through the ANA website and was provided with the ANA reference to do so.

 

[Must...Fly!]

Update: ANA call centre would not assign seats until check-in

Try calling again and see if you get a different result? Frustrating I agree

 

[PERLHR]

Just come across this thread. Is it still as coughbersome and bad? It's rather sad that partners can't sort this out. I guess I will.just need to ask ANA nicely! VA are sometimes a liability!!

 

[HS-TQE]

The lackluster VA/NH partnership on both ends is probably one of the many reasons why NH is struggling on the Australian POS for their flights, especially when they're suffering the reverse problem of brand recognition in AU except the Star Alliance loyalists (Most ex-Australia pax gravitate towards either their local rival JL or QF) as VA did in Japan. The weak JPY doesn't help for their local POS either.

 

[mickismick]

Just come across this thread. Is it still as coughbersome and bad? It's rather sad that partners can't sort this out. I guess I will.just need to ask ANA nicely! VA are sometimes a liability!!

Yeah it's no good. Neither ANA or VA give consistent information. I've called both a few times and each agent gives a conflicting answer to my questions. If I'd have know how bad it was, I'd have avoided flying on a code share. It's been my worst experience with VA ever.

 

[PERLHR]

Yeah it's no good. Neither ANA or VA give consistent information. I've called both a few times and each agent gives a conflicting answer to my questions. If I'd have know how bad it was, I'd have avoided flying on a code share. It's been my worst experience with VA ever.

Yep likewise. I think it's just rather sad and not a great experience at all.

VA it seems, has many restrictions placed on it's pax from NH. So this is certainly worth noting. Also defo avoid code share in future but actually I've just booked another trip to Japan for later in the year and totally ignoring VA and NH. I'm going QF and JL so much easier. I also hear that NH loads are not great ..certainly they are not helping themselves in the mind of VA FF.

 

[pungpui]

Yep there is zero reason to book an ANA flight through Virgin. I’m star alliance gold, couldn’t select seats until check in, had the worst seats on the plane. Called Virgin, they said call ANA. Called ANA, they said call virgin. If both call centres didn’t have really bad hold times, I’d probably try to get them on a 3-way call and let them argue it out.

 

[PERLHR]

Yep there is zero reason to book an ANA flight through Virgin. I’m star alliance gold, couldn’t select seats until check in, had the worst seats on the plane. Called Virgin, they said call ANA. Called ANA, they said call virgin. If both call centres didn’t have really bad hold times, I’d probably try to get them on a 3-way call and let them argue it out.

Agree 100 percent. It's hopeless. Hopefully there is not worse seats on the aircraft. I worry it's overbooked and we get bumped down!! I called ANA twice and yes check in 24 hours before for seats and I bet it still will not work until at airport fo desk check in. Very disappointing. What seats did you end up with? Full load?

 

[madrooster]

Seat selection does work on VA codeshares operated by NH.... but the problem is you cannot do it online.

You need someone at either VA or NH to request the seat selection as a "need need" request. The NH flight management system should then confirm the seat.

Here's a dummy test that I just created, and seating does work:

 

[PERLHR]

Seat selection does work on VA codeshares operated by NH.... but the problem is you cannot do it online.

You need someone at either VA or NH to request the seat selection as a "need need" request. The NH flight management system should then confirm the seat.

Here's a dummy test that I just created, and seating does work:

View attachment 404413

But the problem is no one at VA or NH do it!! Or if they do they are no where near consistent. Do we call NH again and say we need a "need need" when they are frankly adament that they can't do it? It's ridiculous. How did you create it? I know you are an agent....but is there any special number at NH as example that can help rather than standard line...

 

[madrooster]

Do we call NH again and say we need a "need need" when they are frankly adament that they can't do it? It's ridiculous. How did you create it? I know you are an agent....but is there any special number at NH as example that can help rather than standard line...

I doubt the contact centre even tried a need need request. It's not standard thinking in an airline contact centre. Perhaps if you specifically ask for it, they might be willing to try it.

I created a brand new PNR, sold a VA*NH codeshare and then put in the need need request for the seat. I didn't bother to issue a ticket for it... NH don't require a ticket to be issued before seat allocation is allowed.

 

[PERLHR]

I doubt the contact centre even tried a need need request. It's not standard thinking in an airline contact centre. Perhaps if you specifically ask for it, they might be willing to try it.

I created a brand new PNR, sold a VA*NH codeshare and then put in the need need request for the seat. I didn't bother to issue a ticket for it... NH don't require a ticket to be issued before seat allocation is allowed.

Sounds complicated for us lay people! Albeit also just disappointing that it can't be easier for the pax. I'll be booking through you next time. (Still co sidering the Malaysian trip we talked about previous KCH and Bali!).

 

[PERLHR]

Update: ANA call centre would not assign seats until check-in. So VA not meeting expectation of seat selection per their ticketing. Have raised complaints internally.



ANA tickets one way for the family on the desired date were over $8000.

The VA total return ticket through VA was $4400.

Flying ANA metal both ways for the desired dates was $4900.

So $500 difference.

To be honest, had I known the flight was falsely advertised with advanced seat selection, I probably would have booked direct through ANA. It should also be noted that prior to paying for the booking, I confirmed with VA phone staff that I would be able to select my seats straight away through the ANA website and was provided with the ANA reference to do so.

Did you ever get a response from VA when you raised a complaint?

Have you flown this flight yet? I'm also fearing that VA will not provide the international boarding cards (check in) at PER and we. Willbeforced to pick up bags at SYD, clear the termi al, find a bus transfer and then re check on withNH.and people say Heathrow is hard!!

Also, for confirmation, if you are Virgin Australia Platinum, flying ANA biz, with a VA codeshare, do you get definitely get lounge access? A Google search has not turned up any definite ans
wer that I can see. Has anyone done this? Last time.i am ever buying a VA codeshare. It's far to hard!

 

[mickismick]

I doubt the contact centre even tried a need need request. It's not standard thinking in an airline contact centre. Perhaps if you specifically ask for it, they might be willing to try it.

I created a brand new PNR, sold a VA*NH codeshare and then put in the need need request for the seat. I didn't bother to issue a ticket for it... NH don't require a ticket to be issued before seat allocation is allowed.

Who did you put the need need request through? I just called VA again asking for it, but again they flat out refused, even when outlining why it would be need need (my son has additional needs).

Assuming NH would be best to contact in that case? What constitutes a need need request? Via the phone I assume.

 

[madrooster]

Who did you put the need need request through?

No one - I can enter the request myself as an agent, which I did for testing to confirm whether VA codeshares can select seats or not.

 

[mickismick]

Was unable to do anything to get the seats assigned. Neither side would budge when mentioning need need, no escalation path or complaint forms resulted in anything. I even asked them to bring up the recorded audio from the call when I booked, as the agent stated I could book seats immediately. No go.

We could only assign seats 24 hours before the flight through checking in on the ANA website.

Availability was slim, and we were split into two separate rows.

0/10 experience, would not recommend using VA codeshare with ANA.

 

[PERLHR]

Was unable to do anything to get the seats assigned. Neither side would budge when mentioning need need, no escalation path or complaint forms resulted in anything. I even asked them to bring up the recorded audio from the call when I booked, as the agent stated I could book seats immediately. No go.

We could only assign seats 24 hours before the flight through checking in on the ANA website.

Availability was slim, and we were split into two separate rows.

0/10 experience, would not recommend using VA codeshare with ANA.

Overall I agree. Also we were not overly impressed with the NH hard and soft product at all.

Seating wise, ANA had allocated row 2 (front central seats) on the 787 for us which was actually pretty good in terms of seat choice. Also the points/credits gained on this VA code share especially with the current promotion was what made it really worthy. However I agree generally in what you say but I think I would.avoid ANA anyway full stop.