Who changed my pre-allocated seat and why?

[JohnK]

Simply not good enough?

I had a return booking this week BNE-SYD.

I realised that I forgot to pre-allocate seats when I went to use web check-in on Wednesday 15 February. Luckily I was allocated 4D by the computer but I could not improve on that seat. No big deal but I was still happy.

At the same time I went in to the return flight for Sunday 19 February and pre-allocated 3D and saved the selection.

Did not have much time on the weekend and used web check-in on Sunday lunchtime to find that I no longer had 3D! :shock: What? I was re-allocated 4C though which is not the end of the world but still not good enough to lose my pre-allocated seat especially as I took the time to pre-allocate one a few days ago.

I wanted an explanation of what had happened so I enquired at the lounge before my flight. She could see that I had pre-allocated 3D on Wednesday but could not explain what happened to it. It does not appear to have been done by anyone in particular and it was not for a wheelchair passenger or someone requiring assistance. The other person was a Platinum as well though which I guess is a relief.

Why bother to offer seat pre-allocation to status frequent flyers if that pre-allocation is going to change? Now I know some are going to say 4C is not that bad but that is not the point. What if the new seat allocation was 23B?

From memory this had only happened at QF and that was manual intervention at an airport where the check-in agent overrode my pre-allocated exit row and gave it to someone checking in earlier than me.

Criticise me all you like but the more I have to deal with VA the more I am convinced that not much has changed and they are simply a LCC who aspire to be much much more but have no idea of getting there....

 

[markis10]

There have been quite a few reports of this happening, I don't think it's good enough.

 

[medhead]

It has happened to me, it annoyed me no end and I sent feedback. However, I'm pretty sure they say seats are not guaranteed on either airline.


Sent from the Throne (80% chance) using Aust Freq Fly app

 

[Mal]

Had this happen as well to me (3C moved to 4F I think - can't recall now, it was a longish flight BNE-CHC). No rhyme or reason why. Presume equipment changed and the seating got mucked up.

It happens and don't have a solution. Would I ditch DJ over that? No. (Actually I'll be a "real platinum" by mid next month - waves at LiamR !!)

 

[JohnK]

It has happened to me, it annoyed me no end and I sent feedback. However, I'm pretty sure they say seats are not guaranteed on either airline.

Well this does not happen to me on QF.

And if that is the case with VA then I believe it is best they removed the part about pre-allocated seats being a benefit of status.

 

[777]

used web check-in on Sunday lunchtime to find that I no longer had 3D! ...
<therefore> they are simply a LCC who aspire to be much much more but have no idea of getting there....

FWIW, i think you're right to be (mildly) inconvenienced at being moved back a row. I have had it happen to me on occasions (about 1 in 20 or so flights) but i'm willing to accept there are legitimate operation reasons why this might happen. Equipment changes, cancellations of earlier services forcing reallocation of passengers (for example if the person on 3D on a cancelled flight got bumped to yours and they decided it would add insult to injury to put him or her in 27F), etc.

It does not necessarily follow that there is something wrong with everthing. See: See: http://www.australianfrequentflyer....platinum-lounge-valet-36769-3.html#post563221

For what it's worth, using the search function in the top right you can find scores of posts where people complain about Qantas stuffing up their seat allocations. This too, i take it, is proof that they are simply a LCC?

 

[oz_mark]

Criticise me all you like but the more I have to deal with VA the more I am convinced that not much has changed and they are simply a LCC who aspire to be much much more but have no idea of getting there....

I think that the LCC tag is a bit overdone, as they have come quite a way in the past year. What they do seem to have is some delivery issues around some of the things that they have changed, and hopefully they will get these things sorted sooner of later.

FWIW, I have had an allocation changed, although I only moved from an aisle seat to a window seat in row 3.

 

[medhead]

Well this does not happen to me on QF.

And if that is the case with VA then I believe it is best they removed the part about pre-allocated seats being a benefit of status.

As I said both airlines do not guarantee the pre allocation, that is not changed by it not happening to you or me on QF, it might have happened to someone. However, QF don't guarantee the pre-allocation so I guess they need to remove it as a benefit as well

I guess I should say my re-allocation was from 4C to 3A, I hate window seats so it really annoyed me - greatly.

Sent from the Throne (80% chance) using Aust Freq Fly app

 

[TonyHancock]

Well this does not happen to me on QF.

Happened to me twice with QF last year. On both occasions it appeared I had been moved to allow a couple to sit together.

 

[777]

Happened to me twice with QF last year. On both occasions it appeared I had been moved to allow a couple to sit together.

Criticise me all you like but the more I hear stories like these about QF the more I am convinced that they are simply an overpriced LCC who aspire to be much much more but have no idea of getting there.

 

[oz_mark]

Happened to me twice with QF last year. On both occasions it appeared I had been moved to allow a couple to sit together.

Happens to me every time I get a good seat on a 767. Then they change config and my seat doesn't exist anymore.

 

[straitman]

Simply not good enough?

I had a return booking this week BNE-SYD.

I realised that I forgot to pre-allocate seats when I went to use web check-in on Wednesday 15 February. Luckily I was allocated 4D by the computer but I could not improve on that seat. No big deal but I was still happy.

At the same time I went in to the return flight for Sunday 19 February and pre-allocated 3D and saved the selection.

Did not have much time on the weekend and used web check-in on Sunday lunchtime to find that I no longer had 3D! :shock: What? I was re-allocated 4C though which is not the end of the world but still not good enough to lose my pre-allocated seat especially as I took the time to pre-allocate one a few days ago.

I wanted an explanation of what had happened so I enquired at the lounge before my flight. She could see that I had pre-allocated 3D on Wednesday but could not explain what happened to it. It does not appear to have been done by anyone in particular and it was not for a wheelchair passenger or someone requiring assistance. The other person was a Platinum as well though which I guess is a relief.

Why bother to offer seat pre-allocation to status frequent flyers if that pre-allocation is going to change? Now I know some are going to say 4C is not that bad but that is not the point. What if the new seat allocation was 23B?

From memory this had only happened at QF and that was manual intervention at an airport where the check-in agent overrode my pre-allocated exit row and gave it to someone checking in earlier than me.

Criticise me all you like but the more I have to deal with VA the more I am convinced that not much has changed and they are simply a LCC who aspire to be much much more but have no idea of getting there....

The reverse story.

We were in 1A & 1C for our flight tomorrow from OOL-MEL. I tried to change it but row 2 was not available as it was allocated.

I did OLCI tonight and we are now in 2D & 2F which is what we wanted to change to.

Draw your own conclusions :!:

 

[kamchatsky]

Happened to my better half too. Pre-allocated 3F for ADL-SYD, then somehow ended up at 4D when check-in at desk but then check-in agent fixed it manually.

 

[JohnK]

FWIW, i think you're right to be (mildly) inconvenienced at being moved back a row.

I was not an inconvenience to go back a row. I would have been extremely upset though at a middle seat allocation further back.

FWIW the person sitting in 3D looked like some sort of wanker with iPod or similar and reclined for duration of flight while the person behind was extremely patient trying to use his laptop. It would appear his son was in 3F.

And as usual I was stuck in 4D with 2 women in 4AB who appeared to be part of a bigger group all seated around the front of the aircraft.

Criticise me all you like but the more I hear stories like these about QF the more I am convinced that they are simply an overpriced LCC who aspire to be much much more but have no idea of getting there.

Sorry but you are getting Qantas and Jetstar mixed up.

VA would like to have people believe they are a full service carrier when they are nowhere near it.

And yes I know we can all be critical of each airline but I am still getting insurance added to my VA bookings and I have to make sure I uncheck the box. Deception?

 

[TonyHancock]

And yes I know we can all be critical of each airline but I am still getting insurance added to my VA bookings and I have to make sure I uncheck the box. Deception?

Could be worse, you could try to book a J international long haul classic award and find yourself in Y on the longest leg after shelling out hard earned points for J!! err err........ ultimately there are problems with both QF and DJ. From what I have seen DJ appears keener to accept that problems exist and fix them.

 

[djfuzz]

the person sitting in 3D looked like some sort of wanker with iPod or similar

Oh dear, I hope you haven't just described my travel mode there! FWIW I would never recline except on long haul and only then if the person behind me had done so as well. And I haven't used an iPod in years, though I am guilty of 'similar'.

On topic, I've not yet had this happen to me on VA, but it does concern me that it wasn't for the usual equipment change / infant bassinet reason. I have had this happen on QF for non-equipment change reasons, somehow related to groups of people sitting together as well. Ironically, on those flights there were plenty of really good seats available in other sections of the cabin that I would have selected in a heartbeat had I known of the issue and not assumed that a seat further forward was unqualifiedly better.

 

[straitman]

I was not an inconvenience to go back a row. I would have been extremely upset though at a middle seat allocation further back.

Sorry but you are getting Qantas and Jetstar mixed up.

John,

You do not fly Jetstar so you have no idea other than 'reports'.

I would like to have people believe they are a full service carrier when they are nowhere near it.

Many of us do not agree with you :!:

And yes I know we can all be critical of each airline but I am still getting insurance added to my VA bookings and I have to make sure I uncheck the box. Deception?

Deception? No.

If they did the opposite there would be people complaining that they should set it up the other way.

IMHO the box should probably be left unpicked though.

 

[777]

FWIW the person sitting in 3D looked like some sort of wanker with iPod or similar

Yes, we should definitely ban everyone with ipods, ipads, or any other kind of electronic device that plays music from the front half of the plane. That would solve your seating problems permanently.

 

[straitman]

A question for you all.

With DJ have you had your seat allocation and simply accepted it or have you then gone through and done you seat selection? I have found that the booking shows an allocation but it shows you have not done a selection.

How does the outcome change if you do the selection versus not doing it? (I agree that you should not have to do so but also think that this is the solution to the problem)

Maybe I'm wrong but it is a theory that I have thought about and seems to work for me.

Thoughts :?:

If I'm right then the answer is in our own hands until they update the web site.

 

[JohnK]

Draw your own conclusions :!:

My conclusion is that no one is allowed to say anything bad about VA or people jump down their throat.

Could be worse, you could try to book a J international long haul classic award and find yourself in Y on the longest leg after shelling out hard earned points for J!!

Qantas have heaps of issues as well but it does not make the issues VA have any more acceptable. And this post is in the VA forum not the Qantas forum.

But while we are on the issue you mention would you actually go ahead with the booking without checking every single detail including class of travel?

Yes, we should definitely ban everyone with ipods, ipads, or any other kind of electronic device that plays music from the front half of the plane. That would solve your seating problems permanently.

No. The wanker with the iPod reclined without even looking who was behind and could not care about anyone else expect for themselves. That is why is a wanker and I am not afraid to call him one either.