Thanks for the clarification. I guess my comment was exactly that, but moreso highlighting that there are other options for non-WP flyers to have the same benefit (or more) as row 3. It comes down to a question of the value of status. As a silver, you don't automatically gain access to the other status benefits that VA offer SG and WP and SG members don't automatically gain access to the few status benefits that VA offer exclusively to WPs. I don't think anyone denies row 3 is the best seating (apart from J) in a 737-800 but not everyone on the plane can have it and VA have supposedly made this a benefit for WP flyers. I did admit however, that I certainly realise VA have never officially made shadows a WP perk, but the ability of non WP members to be able to select row 3 middle at T-48, coupled with the willingness of many to grab a middle row 3 seat, often means the WPs in row 3 lose the spare seat beside them even when there are heaps of spare seats further back (sometimes not that much further back and I recall Medhead saying he's even relocated himself to have a spare middle). It just doesn't make sense to me. The PITA SG I referred to earlier (on my last flight, which was 3+ hours) did not have a laptop, was not overly tall and there were spare isle and window seats further back........in short, no real reson for him to squash into a middle seat which affects the two other WPs either side of him.
In any case, with the changes to the forward exit row, I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if row 3 suffered the same fate in the future.
