Virgin to charge for Seat Selection - WP/SG Exempt

[twinaisle]

On the 737, QF holds back the forward rows (I believe usually ahead of row 10?) exclusively for status holders until check-in/T-80.

Without signing into QFF the seat selection gave me row 9 as preferred seats.

Pretty much VA are aligning themselves with other value/low and full cost airlines. It's pretty standard these days.

WP still get seat selection whereever they like.
Gold is charged on a lite fare.
Silver/red charged for preferred seating.

Even if a flight gets canceled and a platinum member gets moved elsewhere in the cabin on different flights it pretty much aligns with flights before this seating charge. It would be rate to have a seat upfront if flight A got CXL and you're moved to flight B.

I've seen plenty of platinum guests in the last few rows and a matter of fact, after conversation with them, they're just glad they got onto a flight.

 

[FlyingKangaroo]

As has been suggested, I doubt many will pay more to sit in the front half of the aircraft when they can still secure a seat in the back for free.

I also doubt many VA elites would jump ship on the basis that on occasion a preferred seat they like isn't available. Heck, one of the key benefits of Platinum is FlyAhead... I've often had to give up 3A (or EconomyX entirely in some cases) to take advantage of that.

Still, the optics of nickel-and-diming aren't ideal.

That said, this isn't going to feature anywhere high on my wish-list of things I wish they didn't change or that I wish they would change.

 

[clifford]

I just wonder why, for the minimal amount of extra revenue they will receive, they have decided to p... off pretty well all types of Pax.

Seems like an own goal to me.

 

[oz_mark]

Could non gold/platinum select those seats at all before?

 

[Harrison_133]

Could non gold/platinum select those seats at all before?

Silver got access to Rows 11 & 12 previously, but apart from that, no they couldn’t. They had to wait for the remaining seats in the forward section to became available when check-in opened.

 

[kerfuffle]

Could non gold/platinum select those seats at all before?

Not Row 6 for Gold, no

 

[AIRwin]

Not Row 6 for Gold, no

I've noticed that's a new enhancement!

 

[twinaisle]

Silver got access to Rows 11 & 12 previously, but apart from that, no they couldn’t. They had to wait for the remaining seats in the forward section to became available when check-in opened.

And it will open up when check in opens for everyone.

 

[twinaisle]

I just wonder why, for the minimal amount of extra revenue they will receive, they have decided to p... off pretty well all types of Pax.

Seems like an own goal to me.

Who exactly is pissed off? They haven't with WP as it doesn't really impact them.

Gold's can select those seats now for a fee as they were unable to select anything prior row 6.

Silver had access to row 11/12 onwards. If the preferred seating really matters to you then strive for WP or select it. You can also wait until check in opens to go for it.

 

[twinaisle]

I just wonder why, for the minimal amount of extra revenue

Someone justifying their job?

Someone has realised VA can generate extra ancillary fees somewhere?

They're an airline who's a LCC but saying they're a hybrid?

Other airlines do it so why shouldn't they?

Bain want $$$?

There's really a heap of possibilities if true FF are going to get P off about it then maybe the only Airline who doesn't charge for seating selection is rex.. I take that back. They do also charge for seating.

 

[jakeseven7]

They're an airline who's a LCC but saying they're a hybrid?

Well if you read through the ‘Virgin up for sale thread’ there’s some interesting commentary and analysis that points to Virgin needing to get their books in order and optimise their P&L so the probably care less about being a LCC-hybrid whatever they are - and just need to back some more $ urgently so Bain can offload them!

It will be very interesting to see if the other ancillary revenue suggestions they were testing alongside this one come into the daylight, like paying for PB.

 

[twinaisle]

Well if you read through the ‘Virgin up for sale thread’ there’s some interesting commentary and analysis that points to Virgin needing to get their books in order and optimise their P&L so the probably care less about being a LCC-hybrid whatever they are - and just need to back some more $ urgently so Bain can offload them!

It will be very interesting to see if the other ancillary revenue suggestions they were testing alongside this one come into the daylight, like paying for PB.

I want to see the workplace strive and of course make money so I'm all for the company making $

 

[JohnK]

I used to care where I sat but not anymore except for middle seat. But in saying not good to sell seats they used to reserve for status holders.

As long as I can still choose seats for free when wife/daughter travel together that will be OK.

 

[antycbr]

I used to care where I sat but not anymore except for middle seat. But in saying not good to sell seats they used to reserve for status holders.

As long as I can still choose seats for free when wife/daughter travel together that will be OK.

They’ve always had EconX reserved for platinums but also for sale, so it’s more of a change for Gold members.

 

[jakeseven7]

I want to see the workplace strive and of course make money so I'm all for the company making $

Good luck

 

[marcojim]

I was able to select an Economy X seat for free at online check-in as a gold member. Is this a glitch or part of the changes being made?

 

[henrus]

I was able to select an Economy X seat for free at online check-in as a gold member. Is this a glitch or part of the changes being made?

Same, I hope it's an actual thing moving forward. Rex will offer it on their program and other partner carriers like United do the same.

 

[marcojim]

Same, I hope it's an actual thing moving forward. Rex will offer it on their program and other partner carriers like United do the same.

Yeah I was always surprised it wasn’t already a thing, although some may think that it devalues the already quite minor Platinum benefits

 

[luckypierre]

I was able to select an Economy X seat for free at online check-in as a gold member. Is this a glitch or part of the changes being made?

Perhaps due to flight (s) being fully booked, some preference given to Gold status? The flights I’ve had this year look to be nearly full. I assume at some point after OLC on fully booked flights all seats become available.

 

[henrus]

Perhaps due to flight (s) being fully booked, some preference given to Gold status?

No the flight I got the free economy X was hardly full based on the seat map.