How to add a comfort seat? ['Extra Seat Booking' on VA]

[Tuddy]

Have to head up to DRW to sign some things for work in feb and with the great sales on atm was thinking i could slip under the radar and book two seats for myself (which i dont need. But works paying). Am i correct in assuming this entitles the same number of points and scs? And how does one book this additional seat? It cant be done online? If over the phone does it incur the surcharge? Response asap appreciated. Cheers.

 

[Hvr]

<snip> was thinking i could slip under the radar and book two seats for myself (which i dont need. But works paying).

And now I will rip open the huge can of works you've mentioned.

It looks like you want to defraud your employer to get some extra QFF points. When you get caught (and you will) whether it is immediately or in the longer term these will turn out to be the most expensive QFF points you've ever received.

I've seen some stupid frauds in my time and this one would be right up there with them. It would probably be used as an example for years to come in your company. Probably as long as it would take you to get another job.

It would be a major breach of trust to use your employer's money in this way. Continue at your own risk.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

I'm curious as well (but as I'm the boss, I'd just be ripping myself off ).

Dependant upon the fares, this may be a better way of accruing SCs than buying flexis. Lose a snack, but gain a spare seat! I know what I'd prefer (assuming a points upgrade is not required). I seem to remember that comfort seats do accrue points and SCs but I can't be sure.

 

[samh004]

How to add a comfort seat?

You'd need to give them a call. If VA are anything like QF then it'll be over the phone only, and as it can't be booked online the telephone assistance fee will be waived.

As for what Hvr says, even if 2 savers were cheaper than a flexi you'd still be setting yourself up for trouble if you didn't need the comfort seat... Eg. How big are you?

I will note though that comfort seats just remove taxes on one seat, and most jet services don't have many taxes so the savings can be little.

 

[Tuddy]

And now I will rip open the huge can of works you've mentioned.

It looks like you want to defraud your employer to get some extra QFF points. When you get caught (and you will) whether it is immediately or in the longer term these will turn out to be the most expensive QFF points you've ever received.

I've seen some stupid frauds in my time and this one would be right up there with them. It would probably be used as an example for years to come in your company. Probably as long as it would take you to get another job.

It would be a major breach of trust to use your employer's money in this way. Continue at your own risk.

I should've been a bit more specific. Work did say to travel comfortably. They said that they wouldn't pay for J class, but were willing to get me up there in emergency exit row or with a spare seat or what not (I'm 6'6", so they know a bit of space is important). So no fraud. The employer knows and wants to make sure that the trip's a bit comfortable. Thanks for your concern - but it's all above board and transparent.

The fares at present are significantly cheaper to buy two saver fares than a flexi (it's only $105 SYD-DRW for Feb when I'd be travelling)

 

[bullerdude]

I should've been a bit more specific. Work did say to travel comfortably. They said that they wouldn't pay for J class, but were willing to get me up there in emergency exit row or with a spare seat or what not (I'm 6'6", so they know a bit of space is important). So no fraud. The employer knows and wants to make sure that the trip's a bit comfortable. Thanks for your concern - but it's all above board and transparent.

The fares at present are significantly cheaper to buy two saver fares than a flexi (it's only $105 SYD-DRW for Feb when I'd be travelling)

Its called a 'Extra Seat Booking' on VA and I have made them before with little difficulty. I suggest you make your entire booking via the guest service centre as they will be able to book both seats under your name right away, and they should wave any service fee as the booking cannot be made online.

For points and status credits, you will need to call velocity after you fly and have them manually add them for the 'Extra seat'.

 

[medhead]

How to add a comfort seat?

I can confirm the second seat earns status and points. You need to call to arrange the second seat.

I'm not sure about savings for taxes as I booked 2 seats using my credit card 2 for 1 flight. Note I won't do that again as there were some hassles.

 

[bullerdude]

I'm not sure about savings for taxes as I booked 2 seats using my credit card 2 for 1 flight. Note I won't do that again as there were some hassles.

Out of interest, what hassles did you have - if you don't mind me asking?

I have done exactly this in Business Class and the only hassle was that one of the check-in staff wasn't sure what too do but another staff members quickly came over and sorted it out.

 

[Justinf]

You'll have to do it over the phone.
The loads are usually VERY light at that time of year. It's entirely probable that you will be able to find a spare seat without paying for it anyway. I did MEL-DRW-MEL last year at that time and had a row of 3 to myself.
But I guess if you want to be certain, go for it. But it will need to be done over the phone. And I was under the imression you did get the SCs and points for the other seat as well.

 

[medhead]

How to add a comfort seat?

Out of interest, what hassles did you have - if you don't mind me asking?

I have done exactly this in Business Class and the only hassle was that one of the check-in staff wasn't sure what too do but another staff members quickly came over and sorted it out.

I rang a few times over the booking. The ordinary call center staff flatly refused to book a 2 for 1 flight at all. This was despite platinum call center putting notes in my profile on this point. They claimed there needed to be 2 people on the booking and wouldn't accept my reply that there was and they were both me. Platinum call center staff booked it no problems.

I couldn't online check in, fair enough. but the airport check in person said they'd put the wrong codes on the booking. Only one BP issued which is not my understanding of the process.

Points didn't credit automatically and I thought others have reported that they have credited automatically. When I called about it the call center told me outright I wasn't eligible for points on the second seat (due to being a 2 for 1). I'm pretty sure the website says that they are eligible. After I pushed the point and following consultation with a supervisor they agreed to provide points only as a one off good will gesture. I left it at that to see what would happen, luckily points and status credited.

 

[samh004]

Only one BP issued which is not my understanding of the process.

I know we're talking about VA not QF here, but on QF, only one boarding pass is issued, with Service Information listing EXST under the FF status portion, but above the Operated by... and ETKT bits. It's good to know the differences.

 

[medhead]

How to add a comfort seat?

I know we're talking about VA not QF here, but on QF, only one boarding pass is issued, with Service Information listing EXST under the FF status portion, but above the Operated by... and ETKT bits. It's good to know the differences.

I was only expecting 2 BPs based on reports here. I don't recall any notes on the VA BP. So I was rather concerned about someone else being given the second seat and hence mentioning it here.

 

[bullerdude]

I rang a few times over the booking. The ordinary call center staff flatly refused to book a 2 for 1 flight at all. This was despite platinum call center putting notes in my profile on this point. They claimed there needed to be 2 people on the booking and wouldn't accept my reply that there was and they were both me. Platinum call center staff booked it no problems.

I only ever call the plat line, as the ordinary call centre can't handle these slightly non-standard bookings. They also told there is a specific booking code on Virgin's system for 'Extra Seat' bookings, so it should be relatively easy to get them done.

I couldn't online check in, fair enough. but the airport check in person said they'd put the wrong codes on the booking. Only one BP issued which is not my understanding of the process.

One boarding pass is actually the correct outcome - It was explained to me that passengers may not hold 2 boarding passes to the same flight as it presents a security risk.

Points didn't credit automatically and I thought others have reported that they have credited automatically. When I called about it the call center told me outright I wasn't eligible for points on the second seat (due to being a 2 for 1). I'm pretty sure the website says that they are eligible. After I pushed the point and following consultation with a supervisor they agreed to provide points only as a one off good will gesture. I left it at that to see what would happen, luckily points and status credited.

Wow! Poor form Virgin - that is just not cool. There are no terms and conditions that prohibit allocation of points and status credits for a Extra Seat or 2 for 1 booking. I didn't have this much trouble with points allocation, just had to make the staff member understand that I had booked two seats and then she went away and added the points.

Did you send feedback to Virgin about this? They usually act on this kind of feedback when is happening at the Gold/Plat call centre.

 

[Fruitcake]

Wow! Poor form Virgin - that is just not cool. There are no terms and conditions that prohibit allocation of points and status credits for a Extra Seat or 2 for 1 booking.

During the first half of 2012 when I booked my first three 2-for-1s I was told (on three different occasions, weeks apart) that my companion on the flight would be unable to earn points or SCs, and that I couldn't add her number to the booking.

Of course, I just added it via the Velocity website, and points and SCs posted to her account as per normal.

When I made my fourth booking for the year at the end of the November, the operator instead took both our numbers and applied them herself at the time of booking. So I suspect there was some large-scale "re-education" at some point during the middle of 2012. medhead's experience might be from earlier in the year.

I don't think it's true to try and say that "T&Cs don't prohibit allocation of points" - the card T&Cs don't guarantee your 2-for-1s will book into a points-earning fare class.