Velocity/Virgin - further enhancements to seat selection!

[AdMEL]

Last night I booked my first flight on Virgin in a couple of months - MEL-CHC in Feb. A few observations, both good and bad. Whilst it was great that the flights were cheap - the same price as Jetstar, but better times (no red eye!), it was not great that the sale fares were not advertised on their website, nor did I receive an e-mail about the sale.

I was very annoyed to find that as Silver, the seats I can select have been again moved back from when I last flew a couple of months ago (MEL-LST), and I can no longer select seats in the first exit row (14 on 737). The closest to the front I can now select is row 11! When did this change (again)? I'm sure I could previously select further forward (row 9?), but despite a lot of searching, I can't find the thread where this was discussed and I commented on it. On the positive side, it seems you can change your seats selection after booking now.

This constant giving of benefits and then taking them away after you get used to them, without notice, is getting very annoying!

And the Velocity website interface is still horrible - having to log on twice to see my booking is also very annoying!

It seems Virgin are letting more and more things slip!

I want to be a Virgin supporter, but gee they are making it hard!

 

[MartinMemo]

I was very annoyed to find that as Silver, the seats I can select have been again moved back from when I last flew a couple of months ago (MEL-LST), and I can no longer select seats in the first exit row (14 on 737). The closest to the front I can now select is row 11! When did this change (again)? I'm sure I could previously select further forward (row 9?), but despite a lot of searching, I can't find the thread where this was discussed and I commented on it.

Since I hit silver I have only been able to book 11 and back on a 747 or 9 and back on an E190. The exceptions being booking a flexi only a few days before, where I can choose any seat row 5 and back (if open) and the same when checking into the flight 48 hours before departure.

 

[AdMEL]

Since I hit silver I have only been able to book 11 and back on a 747 or 9 and back on an E190. The exceptions being booking a flexi only a few days before, where I can choose any seat row 5 and back (if open) and the same when checking into the flight 48 hours before departure.

When did you hit Silver? Maybe I'm wrong about row 11 on a 737. But I'm sure about the exit row, which is the most annoying!

 

[MartinMemo]

When did you hit Silver? Maybe I'm wrong about row 11 on a 737. But I'm sure about the exit row, which is the most annoying!

December 2012 - I think you are right about the exit row, but the only time I have been able to select for free was again when checking in on my mobile a few days before departure. After trying to delay gold as much as possible, I have decided the benefits of delaying it are overshadowed by getting it now! so should have it in a few weeks.

 

[AdMEL]

December 2012 - I think you are right about the exit row, but the only time I have been able to select for free was again when checking in on my mobile a few days before departure. After trying to delay gold as much as possible, I have decided the benefits of delaying it are overshadowed by getting it now! so should have it in a few weeks.

I hit Silver in January. Was tempted to go for Gold when reward flights earnt status credits, but decided against, as I didn't expect to be flying much in the 12 months I would have had gold.

Are you saying that you can change your seat and select an exit row when you check in?

 

[MartinMemo]

Are you saying that you can change your seat and select an exit row when you check in?

Yep - its always hard to choose between row 5/6 or exit on checkin.

 

[AdMEL]

Yep - its always hard to choose between row 5/6 or exit on checkin.

Thanks. Good to know. At 6'9", my preference is for an exit row seat! Doubt I'll be able to do that for NZ though!

 

[MartinMemo]

I am only about 6'1 but have found when checking luggage or checking in to the lounge if there are spare exit row seats no one has paid for they usually offer them to me, and other tall people.

 

[Demonoid]

I am only about 6'1 but have found when checking luggage or checking in to the lounge if there are spare exit row seats no one has paid for they usually offer them to me, and other tall people.

Do you have to ask for these or are they just offered? As a Gold I have never been offered at Priority checkin - or at the lounge (although with the lounge - I obviously assume you have to go up and ask them yourself).

 

[MartinMemo]

Do you have to ask for these or are they just offered? As a Gold I have never been offered at Priority checkin - or at the lounge (although with the lounge - I obviously assume you have to go up and ask them yourself).

They usually just ask me - ive even had FA's come to me at the gate prior to boarding, or staff in the lounge holding my ticket approach me and ask. Really I think they just look for tall average guys from 20-40 that look big enough that they might need it and fit enough that they could help in an emergency... There would be no harm asking at checkin for Gold, or any status - especially if they havent filled them.

 

[toowongman]

I want to be a Virgin supporter, but gee they are making it hard!

Sometimes However you're only Silver, which is just a small carrot to get you to Gold - where you eye off row 3 from row 6 and aim for WP. Show VA more love and they'll show it to you. In the meanwhile, just ask at check-in for a better seat - sometimes you have a win.

 

[tuttytown]

I've generally had pretty decent luck with asking for row 3 at check-in as a gold member, even if when booking I can't get that close. Guess it depends on the day!

 

[medhead]

As a platinum I'm unable to select the first exit row for free either. Not just a silver thing.

 

[arbo]

As medhead mentioned they won't preallocate exit row for free as they want payment for them in advance. That said I usually don't have a problem getting exit rows or row 3 if I get to the lounge early enough.

I'm six four and I ask politely for an exit row or row 3, pointing out I prefer to have my knees around my ears only on the weekend, never on a work day. That usually works a treat

 

[Intra]

I had luck as a Silver earlier this year selecting Rows 3-7 during mobile check-in, only being able to snag Row 11 back at first...
I even somehow managed to select Exit Row seats for me and my colleague once when I was only Red (Colleague wasn't even a Velocity member, still have no idea how we managed that one) :shock: Earlier this year, back when I finally managed to get funds together to start building myself up the ladder again/having work pay for my travel.

I'm Gold now, and am hoping to secure something abit more closer for my upcoming flight WLG-BNE T-48 hours out...

Hang in there; Its gets better

 

[AdMEL]

As a platinum I'm unable to select the first exit row for free either. Not just a silver thing.

Interesting. I figured the change must have been related to status, but it appears not. Thanks for clarifying.

As medhead mentioned they won't preallocate exit row for free as they want payment for them in advance. That said I usually don't have a problem getting exit rows or row 3 if I get to the lounge early enough.

I'm six four and I ask politely for an exit row or row 3, pointing out I prefer to have my knees around my ears only on the weekend, never on a work day. That usually works a treat

My understanding is that when Sabre was introduced early this year, VA decided to allow selection of the first exit row at no cost on the basis that the seats don't recline. As silver, I was able to select this row for every booking, but this has changed in the last month or two (between a flight I took to Tassie a couple of months ago and the flights I booked a couple of nights ago).

In my experience, it seems to be getting harder to get an exit row seat allocated, unless you pay the increasingly hefty premium.

I had luck as a Silver earlier this year selecting Rows 3-7 during mobile check-in, only being able to snag Row 11 back at first...
I even somehow managed to select Exit Row seats for me and my colleague once when I was only Red (Colleague wasn't even a Velocity member, still have no idea how we managed that one) :shock: Earlier this year, back when I finally managed to get funds together to start building myself up the ladder again/having work pay for my travel.

I'm Gold now, and am hoping to secure something abit more closer for my upcoming flight WLG-BNE T-48 hours out...

Hang in there; Its gets better

Interesting comments about being able to select rows 3-7 using mobile check-in. You're the second person to mention something like that.

As noted in my comment above, for several months anyone could select a seat in the first exit row.

How are you hoping to get something better for your WLG-BNE flight at T-48? My understanding was that you can't do mobile or online checkin for NZ flights. Does the seating open up at that time?

 

[bullerdude]

As a platinum I'm unable to select the first exit row for free either. Not just a silver thing.

Same here - I cannot select the first exit row.

I believe that this row is reserved for 'airport ops' and cannot be preallocated anymore.

 

[AdMEL]

Same here - I cannot select the first exit row.

I believe that this row is reserved for 'airport ops' and cannot be preallocated anymore.

Thanks for clarifying. Wonder why that is? Seems like wasted opportunity to either earn additional revenue or good will from status pax.

 

[Intra]

As noted in my comment above, for several months anyone could select a seat in the first exit row.

How are you hoping to get something better for your WLG-BNE flight at T-48? My understanding was that you can't do mobile or online checkin for NZ flights. Does the seating open up at that time?

Fair point - I just was abit taken back it was something I could do even as a Red

Online Seat Select; Hoping something opens up, else I'll pester the Gold line afew times pre-flight....

 

[eastwest101]

Same here - I cannot select the first exit row.

I believe that this row is reserved for 'airport ops' and cannot be preallocated anymore.

I think the explanation from bullerdude seems most likely at the moment. I have been on quite a few VA B737 flights and have noticed the crew helping passengers requiring assistance ie wheelchair/broken limbs/elderly passengers etc and have quite often noticed this happening in the first exit row that does not recline.

I am just guessing here but when Sabre first came to VA we saw quite a lot of these passengers being assigned Row 3 which obviously did not impress high status VA flyers whom had already preselected row 3 before coming under airport control and could lose their seats and/or shadow....

So could be a case of designing the system to be convenient for airport control/checkin flexibility - but I still question the practise of putting anyone who needs assistance in an exit row (or maybe unless a healthy able bodied person definately has the actual window A and F seats).

The exit rows are there for legislative safety reasons, if airlines want to charge passengers more for a few extra inches of leg room then great - I say the airline should arrange/provide the extra legroom in the economy cabin and not try to raise revenue from a mandatory safety system.

In any case - with this row under airport control the OP should find that they can ask for a seat in this row at checkin...... and possibly the earlier the better.