Picking 3B or 3E when solo!

[day-heg]

To all those SM’d and subsequently comp’d another year at elite status, good luck to you. If I need to wait another 30 seconds in the Lounge for my free coffee or beer because you’re ahead of me, then that’s OK. If Virgin think that you deserve it, then far be it for me to think I know better, because I don’t.

I am a BIS Platinum, from day one. Nearly 300 flights with DJ since Feb ’10, saver fares the whole way, so I’ve done it the hard way. Since August last year, (with the help of family pooling, a double SC offer and a trip to Europe), I’ve earned and retained Platinum for me & Mrs D-H, and we’ve been given a partner Plat and Gold between us too, so I fly a fair bit.

I guess only two things would pi$$ me off…

The first that is if someone who had been comp’d another year at Plat got an op-up before I did. Yes I know, it’s impossible to find out, but assuming that those who make these decisions don’t discriminate/can’t tell the difference between various types of Platinum, there is without question an increased likelihood of this happening. While I NEVER expect an op-up, anecdotally from this forum I know they happen – and with some frequency for some members. For the man who's earned 250SCs, half of which was on a partner airline to get that op-up before me or another proper BIS Plat, well that jars with my sense of fair play.
I reckon I’ve had 2 since VFF was relaunched (so from about 100 flights), and one of those was after I’d made a complaint about something else and something must have been recorded in their database as I was moved just before boarding, and no-one sat in my original seat, so not a true op-up IMO.

The second is this – and I think/hope that many people may be with me on this… when someone (comped or not) chooses the middle seat in row 3. Seriously? When the plane is only 75% full?? Surely 3B & 3E should be the very last seats on the plane to be filled (travelling buddies excepted)? Why anyone would choose to sit in the middle for a bit of extra leg room for a 60 minute flight is beyond me! Give me a window seat in row 17 before middle seat row 3.
With more comp’d high level fliers, there is more chance of that happening, and it really annoys me! Irrational? Probably. But nonetheless, the number of times it happens is frequent (for me) and this frequency is directly affected by the number of people that can choose those seats…

So in conclusion, don’t get op-up’d before me if you’ve been comp’d, and don’t choose 3B or 3E. Beyond that, fill your boots!

 

[medhead]

The second is this – and I think/hope that many people may be with me on this… when someone (comped or not) chooses the middle seat in row 3. Seriously? When the plane is only 75% full?? Surely 3B & 3E should be the very last seats on the plane to be filled (travelling buddies excepted)? Why anyone would choose to sit in the middle for a bit of extra leg room for a 60 minute flight is beyond me!

Actually row 3 middle seats should be the first seats filled after all the window and aisle seats. They could even be the first filled after all the aisle seats are filled as some people don't like a window seat and would take the leg room over A window seat. Definitely not the last on the plane to be filled.


Sent from the Throne

 

[jpk]

Re: Welcome to another year of Velocity Platinum membership

The second is this – and I think/hope that many people may be with me on this… when someone (comped or not) chooses the middle seat in row 3. Seriously? When the plane is only 75% full?? Surely 3B & 3E should be the very last seats on the plane to be filled (travelling buddies excepted)? Why anyone would choose to sit in the middle for a bit of extra leg room for a 60 minute flight is beyond me! Give me a window seat in row 17 before middle seat row 3.

I agree with you on this, does my head in as well. With the skinnier seats, fitting 3 guys in that row is always tight. There should be a WP shadow that makes these some of the last seats to be filled. I think it often happens at check in, when someone asks for more legroom and the agent throws them in there. But this is OT and deserves its own thread.

 

[drewbles]

Re: Welcome to another year of Velocity Platinum membership

Actually row 3 middle seats should be the first seats filled after all the window and aisle seats. They could even be the first filled after all the aisle seats are filled as some people don't like a window seat and would take the leg room over A window seat. Definitely not the last on the plane to be filled.


Sent from the Throne

I have had it confirmed by several VA staffers that row 3 and 4 middles seats are the *last* to be allocated on a flight, as WP's are pre-allocated these rows, and they like to try and keep them empty wherever possible. Obviously that's not happening though....

 

[day-heg]

Re: Welcome to another year of Velocity Platinum membership

I have had it confirmed by several VA staffers that row 3 and 4 middles seats are the *last* to be allocated on a flight, as WP's are pre-allocated these rows, and they like to try and keep them empty wherever possible. Obviously that's not happening though....

This is definitely not happening... I can recall at least 4 occasions in the last 12 months when I've moved from a window seat in row 3 (because the middle seat was occupied), and taken an aisle seat in row 4, 5 or 6 where the middle seat was also empty. Only once was the middle seat person obviously a traveling buddy with the other person in the aisle seat.

They can't try to keep them empty, as they are selectable 14 days out by Plats (and Golds?), so they could be filled by someone anytime up to when OLCI closes an hour before departure.

I think jpk is right - this is off topic, but I agree that this discussion maybe deserves it;s own thread... Mods?

 

[medhead]

I have had it confirmed by several VA staffers that row 3 and 4 middles seats are the *last* to be allocated on a flight, as WP's are pre-allocated these rows, and they like to try and keep them empty wherever possible. Obviously that's not happening though....

I was using the OP's logic that window/aisle seats would fill up first and made no mention of status considerations. The OP mentioned people choosing to sit in the middle seat. I'm simply pointing out that row 3 middle seats should be the first middle seat that people would choose if the aisle/windows are full. Not the last. What should happen based on status level is an entirely separate matter.

FWIW DJ have a great track record with giving me an empty middle seat in row 3.

Oh and this is a pointless topic that is undeserving of its own thread. We all know there is no guarantees with seating on any airline.

 

[MadFairlane]

The only time I take the middle is when I am travelling with the wife.

I've been caught out before by selecting the two outside seats and having someone end up between us.

In saying that though, would you pick an aisle seat, if say, A & B were already selected?


As always, YMMV...

 

[simongr]

I have picked the equivalent seat previously on QF - and wont do it again. This is one of the main reasons I prefer to be on the QF 763s.

 

[jpk]

Re: Welcome to another year of Velocity Platinum membership

This is definitely not happening... I can recall at least 4 occasions in the last 12 months when I've moved from a window seat in row 3 (because the middle seat was occupied), and taken an aisle seat in row 4, 5 or 6 where the middle seat was also empty. Only once was the middle seat person obviously a traveling buddy with the other person in the aisle seat.

Same, seems to have happened a lot lately, solo traveller in 3B or 3E, when the rest of the plane is pretty empty. I am not one to spy on BPs so unsure what status these people have.

 

[hydrabyss]

I've been caught out before by selecting the two outside seats and having someone end up between us.


...

Im sure not everyone would feel this was a bad thing.

 

[samas]

I usually seat select 14 days out from travel and have always got 3C or 3D. A couple of months ago when I checked in at the airport I was allocated a seat in row 4. I was pretty sure I had done advanced seat selection but admit it may have slipped on that flight. 3B and 3E were the only seats available with the extra leg room. At 1.95m tall I'd rather a middle seat there then a normal row.. This was ADL-PER so a decent journey.

Yesterday I flew PER-BNE and was glad to have 3C whilst 3B and 3E were both empty.

 

[pshepvic]

But if every aisle and window in the plane was taken, which middle seat would you take? I'd take row 3 before any other!

I've had about 5-6 op-ups since J was introduced (and about 10 when it was PE) out of 100 flights in 2 years. At least half would have been in J through upgrade credits, points and paying the difference, so out of about 50 flights in Y that's a 30% op-up rate. It has definitely decreased with J being introduced - previously if there was a PE seat the upgrade was about a 50% chance, now with J it's about 20% of my Y flights.

I earned enough SCs this year for plat for myself, pooling to get my partner to plat, and companion plat for my brother in law. So I reckon they do have some sort of priority in the system for op-ups (some airlines use a code - SFU - which stands for "suitable for upgrade").


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[thegurio]

I thought that was shut ..... up?

 

[tuapekastar]

I earned enough SCs this year for plat for myself, pooling to get my partner to plat, and companion plat for my brother in law. So I reckon they do have some sort of priority in the system for op-ups (some airlines use a code - SFU - which stands for "suitable for upgrade").


Sent from my iPhone using AustFreqFly app

I'm sure in my case it would mean 'Suitable For Unloading'.

 

[MH_fan]

I have only chosen 3B/E once as a solo traveller and that was because I had a very tight connection and I really needed to get out of the plane quickly. On that occasion, I just made my connecting flight. If I was further back, I would've been up cough creek!!

 

[Justinf]

I chose 3D for a MEL-SYD flight this Sunday (30 September). All good.
Now I find I have been moved to 4D while 3E remains vacant. I will be staying with 4D, but just wondering why the system would have moved me? It doesn't bother me, just curious.
Also, on an unrelated matter but is row 3 a little cramped these days? I flew MEL-CBR in row 3 on an E190 and there was ample room. Flew back in row 3 on a 738 and it was cramped widthwise?