Virgin Seat Selection Quirky / Virgin Feedback Process Even Quirkier...

[markis10]

I described their feedback process as "quirky" and that my view of them was "not as rosy". Subsequently I added that I didn't want to blow it out of all proportion. Take another look at my post - it's there in it's original, unedited form. You are the one who has called me names (a DYKWIA) and described my post as a "tirade". Are you sure you're a moderator???

I am a community member just like you who cannot understand why you would get upset at being offered the suggestion that sitting down the back might be better, when there are pros and cons for each when traveling with a youngster. We obviously have to beg to differ when it comes to choices when travelling with kids, but to vent about being given an alternate option is not something I would be doing, I would be grateful for the input! But that's just me, each to out own!

 

[Homer]

I am a community member just like you who cannot understand why you would get upset at being offered the suggestion that sitting down the back might be better, when there are pros and cons for each when traveling with a youngster. We obviously have to beg to differ when it comes to choices when travelling with kids, but to vent about being given an alternate option is not something I would be doing, I would be grateful for the input! But that's just me, each to out own!

There have been numerous threads on AFF about discriminating against children travelling "up the front" - usually in J/F - including calls for children to be banned, etc. I like travelling up the front with my family, even if it's only the front of domestic Y in this case. I am surprised that you cannot understand why somebody from an airline suggesting that we would be more comfortable down the back might be offensive. But if I look up those threads about sticking kids down the back of the plane I'll probably find that you weren't involved in any of the discussions so this is all completely new territory for you...and on that basis I am happy to accept that your lack of understanding for how I feel is due to genuine surprise and is not a self-interested attempt to twist my position.

 

[markis10]

But if I look up those threads about sticking kids down the back of the plane I'll probably find that you weren't involved in any of the discussions so this is all completely new territory for you...and on that basis I am happy to accept that your lack of understanding for how I feel is due to genuine surprise and is not a self-interested attempt to twist my position.

If you did look then up you might be surprised to see who originated a few of them, hardly new territory at all as a father myself!

EG

http://www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au/community/open-discussion/should-j-f-ao-kids-28049.html

 

[Homer]

If you did look then up you might be surprised to see who originated a few of them, hardly new territory at all as a father myself!

EG

http://www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au/community/open-discussion/should-j-f-ao-kids-28049.html

Great to see. It's a sensitive issue and the DJ rep made me feel like a first time flyer with a hoard of barefoot children jumping over the seats. I didn't elaborate on our conversation in my original post but she also went on about parents stuffing dirty nappies in seat pockets as if she was accusing me. She was on a mission to move all kids to the back and, perhaps because I'm overly sensitive to the issue, I made it my mission to resist.

 

[ben7k]

Hey guys,

I'm also having no joy with seat selection on a flight, although for different reasons to the OP. The booking for my flight (also on the 13th of January as with the OP, so well within the 14 day window) was made using a flight credit from a booking cancelled mid last year, before I became silver. At the time the new booking was made using the credit I was silver.

In chronological order I think this is what may be happening...

• Book original flight with no status.
• Cancel original flight and create credit with no status.
• Gain status.
• Book new flight using credit, new booking reservation number issued, but still carries over non status form old booking ref.
• 14 day seat selection window open, no seat selection allowed even though silver.

Does this sound right? Did the call centre rep stuff up when I made the new booking? Anyone else have a similar experience?

I intend calling in the morning to get it straightened out, but just thought I'd put it out there first.

I should also mention that the free baggage allowance is not being reflected, instead offering me the chance to buy it for $12. Not that I will have any bags to check on the day. So not an issue this time, but that's beside the point.

And yes, for those wondering Velocity Silver does allow free baggage and seat selection.

Cheers

 

[JohnK]

Book new flight using credit, new booking reservation number issued, but still carries over non status form old booking ref.

....

I should also mention that the free baggage allowance is not being reflected, instead offering me the chance to buy it for $12. Not that I will have any bags to check on the day. So not an issue this time, but that's beside the point.

I suspect your new status is not reflected in the new booking and QA testing may not have taken into consideration where someone uses credit on a new booking and they have a new higher status.

Would this be as simple as removing Velocity FF number from booking and adding it back again?

 

[markis10]

Great to see. It's a sensitive issue and the DJ rep made me feel like a first time flyer with a hoard of barefoot children jumping over the seats. I didn't elaborate on our conversation in my original post but she also went on about parents stuffing dirty nappies in seat pockets as if she was accusing me. She was on a mission to move all kids to the back and, perhaps because I'm overly sensitive to the issue, I made it my mission to resist.

If comments like the nappies etc were made then I dont think you are being overly sensitive, and in that context defining the response is quirky is being rather generous. I would find such comments unacceptable to be frank, it takes the situation from one where an agent is trying to present all the options as I saw it originally, to one where you have an agent with an agenda that paints us all with the same brush!

 

[Homer]

If comments like the nappies etc were made then I dont think you are being overly sensitive, and in that context defining the response is quirky is being rather generous. I would find such comments unacceptable to be frank, it takes the situation from one where an agent is trying to present all the options as I saw it originally, to one where you have an agent with an agenda that paints us all with the same brush!

Yep. I used the term "quirky" to describe the seat selection process due to their error with timezones. I described the feedback process as "even quirkier" to (attempt to) be clever with the title rather than generous with my assessment . As I said originally: "I won't burden anyone with the rest of my conversation after this suggestion (suffice to say it was robust)". The reason I wound it up this way is that I didn't want to post a rant (or "tirade" as you suggested) and I knew that once I started detailing the whole thing, including the dirty nappy comment, it could appear that way. Anyway I think this topic has been flogged enough. I'm battered and bruised and moving on...

 

[ben7k]

I suspect your new status is not reflected in the new booking and QA testing may not have taken into consideration where someone uses credit on a new booking and they have a new higher status.

Would this be as simple as removing Velocity FF number from booking and adding it back again?

Thanks John, that's a good thought. I tried it, but the manage booking page doesn't seem to offer that option. I'll call Virgin at lunch time today and see what happens...

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Hey guys,

I'm also having no joy with seat selection on a flight, although for different reasons to the OP. The booking for my flight (also on the 13th of January as with the OP, so well within the 14 day window) was made using a flight credit from a booking cancelled mid last year, before I became silver. At the time the new booking was made using the credit I was silver.

In chronological order I think this is what may be happening...

• Book original flight with no status.
• Cancel original flight and create credit with no status.
• Gain status.
• Book new flight using credit, new booking reservation number issued, but still carries over non status form old booking ref.
• 14 day seat selection window open, no seat selection allowed even though silver.

Does this sound right? Did the call centre rep stuff up when I made the new booking? Anyone else have a similar experience?

I intend calling in the morning to get it straightened out, but just thought I'd put it out there first.

I should also mention that the free baggage allowance is not being reflected, instead offering me the chance to buy it for $12. Not that I will have any bags to check on the day. So not an issue this time, but that's beside the point.

And yes, for those wondering Velocity Silver does allow free baggage and seat selection.

Cheers

Is your Silver Velocity number in the new booking? They may not have transferred it over when they created a new pnr. I wonder if the Navitaire software won't reflect the new status maybe.

I wonder where the bassinet positions are on DJ's A330 aircraft?

On a side note, a friend of mine who was on a DJ flight as a passenger said that there were 3 women in the last row of the aircraft all nursing infants on their laps which seems crazy. There would only be 4 oxygen masks per block of 3 seats either the ABC or DEF side so that would seem to in breach of regulations.

 

[ben7k]

Is your Silver Velocity number in the new booking? They may not have transferred it over when they created a new pnr. I wonder if the Navitaire software won't reflect the new status maybe.

Yes my Velocity number is on the new booking. I called up this afternoon and the person I spoke to assigned a seat for me manually, and re sent the itinerary reflecting the change. (I also got a nice congratulations over the phone for reaching the heady heights of silver. Only 3.5 months late, and not at all necessary) I can now change my seat using the manage booking page on the website, which is all I ever wanted. What is odd is that the baggage allowance does not reflect the change in status, the new itinerary still has the "BGNO No checked baggage; Carry-on bags only" notation rather than the "BX23 Baggage Allowance: 23 kg" notation that I've had on other bookings I've made since gaining silver.

I think you could be right, there may be a bug or limitation in the Navitaire software. It would seem in my case that the variables of the booking were all locked in and transferred to the new booking. I wonder at what stage it was locked though?

It seems the only way around it is a manual over ride by the contact centre staff.

Thanks to JohnK and ozbeachbabe for your replies. Appologies the OP, I realise I sort of hijacked this thread, similar, but different problems...