Virgin to charge for Seat Selection - WP/SG Exempt

[Saab34]

The day has come. Further adds to the confusion around what this airline actually is and stands for.

Rows 6-9 $14 (LH Dom $17) ($22 SHI)
Rows 10-12 $9 (LH Dom $12) ($17 SHI)
Rear- Free (woohoo!)
Tokyo $25/$20

Gold/Plat apparently free. If someone can dummy test and let us know, I let my Gold lapse.

 

[FlyingKangaroo]

Facebook has a post about now charging for seat selection. Not sure if true or now, seems legit. Free for Golds and above.

Hmm. Just had a look and not seeing any recent posts to this effect on their timeline, nor on the website. Was this perhaps in relation to Lite fares (where everyone but Plat pays in advance)? Otherwise, while Gold and Plats get free access to the "preferred zone" (front of plane) on Choice/Flex fares (and again, Plats even on Lite), I'm not aware of Silver or Red having to pay for seats unless it's a Lite fare.

Otherwise, seems it'd be a bit of an own goal if they roll that out, though, as one of the distinguishing features for choosing a Choice fare over Lite is the free seat selection, and with the free changes made >14 days going away for Choice fares, there'd be even less reason to opt for the higher Choice fare.

 

[jakeseven7]

Apparently SH Dom
Row 6-9 $14
Row 10-12 $9

Higher for LH Dom and SHI. No charge for Gold or Plat.

Whatttttt really?

Is this confirmed?

If so this needs new thread!

 

[jakeseven7]

Wowwwww

Although we can’t be surprised really this was one of the things they kept on testing in their market research. And charging for priority boarding…

 

[VPS]

If you are Gold to you get free seat selection?

 

[HS-TQE]

Wowwwww

Although we can’t be surprised really this was one of the things they kept on testing in their market research. And charging for priority boarding…

Scoot charges for priority boarding, and they're.considered a.a LCC instead of a Value Carrier, despite providing the same.J recliners as the Value Carriers on their long haul routes

 

[FlyingKangaroo]

Yikes. Here I was about to make a little lol about the tech issue (VA just sent me a promo e-mail telling me about great fares to SYD, where I live), but this is far more significant.

 

[FlyingKangaroo]

If I recall, the forward seats were never available to me for selection before I was Gold or Platinum. So now everyone has the option of purchasing them at time of booking for a fee? If so, this is actually worse value for Gold and above as those seats were already available to us and now aren't being held back until check-in for everyone else.

 

[jase05]

No biggie for me personally as a Plat but I’m sure some people will be upset even though seat selection for non status pax is free down the back.
FWIW I recently paid $148pp to select J seats on AF

 

[FlyingKangaroo]

FWIW I recently paid $148pp to select J seats on AF

Yes, for all our whinging in Australia about both major carriers, we do take for granted some of the shenanigans happening overseas, especially in Europe. AF is one of many. At least VA is leaving the seats at the back free.

Looks just like United's approach.

 

[pauly7]

If I recall, the forward seats were never available to me for selection before I was Gold or Platinum. So now everyone has the option of purchasing them at time of booking for a fee? If so, this is actually worse value for Gold and above as those seats were already available to us and now aren't being held back until check-in for everyone else.

Well technically Virgin charge for economy X as well and anyone can add that to a booking… They are just rolling down the ladder and charging more people for as many things as they can.

 

[HS-TQE]

IIRC SQ also charges for seat selection on ALL seats more than 24 hrs before the flight for non-status members.

It would not surprise me if VA also adopts that from SQ for the back half of the Y cabin as well.

 

[serfty]

IIRC SQ also charges for seat selection on ALL seats more than 24 hrs before the flight for non-status members.

Only on the cheapest sale fares are all economy seats paid only. Varying fare price points and varying free seating. Awards give free seating "down the back".

 

[Must...Fly!]

The day has come. Further adds to the confusion around what this airline actually is and stands for.

Rows 6-9 $14 (LH Dom $17) ($22 SHI)
Rows 10-12 $9 (LH Dom $12) ($17 SHI)
Rear- Free (woohoo!)
Tokyo $25/$20

Gold/Plat apparently free. If someone can dummy test and let us know, I let my Gold lapse.

Not surprised. This is basically unlocking the status based zones in 737s anyway in exchange for $, so I actually don't see the issue. Obviously a negative as a status pax might find it a bit more difficult to get seats up the front if they've been paid for but I doubt that will be a significant issue tbh

 

[Harrison_133]

If I recall, the forward seats were never available to me for selection before I was Gold or Platinum. So now everyone has the option of purchasing them at time of booking for a fee?

Correct. Just tried a dummy booking with no velocity number attached. Rows 6-12 (on a 737-800) are now “Preferred Seats” and can be selected for a fee. These were previously reserved for Silver/Gold/Platinum at the time of booking.

Example from a MEL-LST flight in 2024:

 

[Bundy Bear]

So I travel for the status now the airline is selling the status for money which as a Gold is cough.

 

[Must...Fly!]

So I travel for the status now the airline is selling the status for money which as a Gold is cough.

I don't disagree with you, but this has been the norm for at least a decade in many parts of the world, including on legacy carriers. TBH if it brings in more cash and keeps downward pressure on headline fare prices, I personally am OK with it.

 

[Zanzaid]

Looks like the preferred seating is free for reward seats though, as a Silver at least. Was even able to move up to Row 6 now, which i usually don't get access to until 72 hours out or so. Though the taxes for reward seats just went up recently too so i guess it's all relative... At least the back half is still free for now.

 

[oz_mark]

Correct. Just tried a dummy booking with no velocity number attached. Rows 6-12 (on a 737-800) are now “Preferred Seats” and can be selected for a fee. These were previously reserved for Silver/Gold/Platinum at the time of booking.

Example from a MEL-LST flight in 2024:

Worth noting that rows 6-9 have different pricing to rows 10-12

 

[Daver6]

I think VA risks losing business travellers here. Hear me out.

I think many corporate travel requires BFOD but excludes LCC like J*, Bonza, Rex, Tiger (when they were around). If VA are determined to be a LCC, then all those corporate travellers will only have one choice.

I think VA really need to be careful about that scenario.