Will velocity platinum get me a better y seat BNE -LAX

[Atleastonce]

I have just made platinum with velocity and am wondering if I will get better seat selection when I travel BNE - LAX in Y later this year. I booked this flight when I was gold, but just having made platinum I was going to try to get exit row seats for no extra charge. Any experience in obtaining these seats or tips on getting the better seats will be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[malmacdowall]

Call the platinum call centre (not the main call centre)and ask if you can select a seat and the availability of an exit row seat ...

 

[Atleastonce]

Call the platinum call centre (not the main call centre)and ask if you can select a seat and the availability of an exit row seat ...

Thanks, they would not give me an exit row, so took row 20 on the 777, although a bulk head a little more room than normal.

 

[MandM]

IMO 20C or 20H are as good as, if not better than, the exit row. They are not near the toilets, so no one standing around and steping on your toes and no noise or lights. There is very little traffic between PE and Y and the food trolley does not go back and forth past that area. The pax in A and B or J and K can get past without you getting out of your seat. You have full leg space as the bulk head does not go all the way across to this seat. Plus you are the first one out of the economy section of the plane. Only issue is that you may get unlucky and get a noisy baby as it is the bassinet area.

 

[DirkDiggler]

I do this route a fair bit and have always been Platinum when doing it, also I have always been on reward seats.

From Y I have a 50% upgrade record (always only to PE) which is pretty good.

If stuck in Y, I always take row 20 window, mainly because I find it easy to sleep putting my legs up against the wall in front. Just take some ear plugs because I am yet to be on a flight with no babies in that row.

Other than that, as a Plat only other benefits on this route have been special service of food (get first choice and brought out to you before main service, along with people getting special meals) express cards have been hit and miss when in Y but also get them when in PE.

For what its worth, if your Plat and you get a decent seat in Y its very hard to justify the extra cost of PE on this route. The food is marginally better but still served in the same coughpy containers with the foil and cling film on.

Another tip on this route, if you get hungry easy, take snacks! you will get a meal about an hour in, then a snack (small sandwhich or similar) about 5 hours after that then breakfast about an hour before landing, I just can't go 5 hours with no food. In Y the only snacks are plain chips and soft drink.

They used to let you pick the exit for free at checkin and now they don't (well not last time I tried anyway, but that was leaving LAX)

 

[Atleastonce]

Thanks for the tips, I have only done this route with VA once before and that was last year in PE, and, although a good experience, I did not think the cost was worth it, thus the return to Y. I don't think an upgrade is going to be possible, there are 4 of us traveling. My wife is gold status but my children have only red status.