Air Canada MEL > SYD > YVR - impossible to select seats on VA

[simmomelb]

I've booked an airfare (2 bookings - 4 pax) directly with Air Canada and entered my Velocity number. Booking appears in my Velocity app, and all looks good. I tried to select seats from MEL to SYD for the VA metal, and Air Canada states to contact Virgin Australia for this, VA app states to contact Air Canada for this.
Call both, Air Canada confirmed I need to contact VA, I called VA and they said they can't select a paid-for seat as it was booked via Air Canada.
There are 4 of us going, on 2 separate bookings. I am personally on Platinum, and I managed to score Econ X via the VA call centre (due to "no payment"), yet my brother and partner could not, as they need to pay (being red), yet neither airline can take the payment to select Econ X.
Has anyone else had this issue?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I've booked an airfare (2 bookings - 4 pax) directly with Air Canada and entered my Velocity number. Booking appears in my Velocity app, and all looks good. I tried to select seats from MEL to SYD for the VA metal, and Air Canada states to contact Virgin Australia for this, VA app states to contact Air Canada for this.
Call both, Air Canada confirmed I need to contact VA, I called VA and they said they can't select a paid-for seat as it was booked via Air Canada.
There are 4 of us going, on 2 separate bookings. I am personally on Platinum, and I managed to score Econ X via the VA call centre (due to "no payment"), yet my brother and partner could not, as they need to pay (being red), yet neither airline can take the payment to select Econ X.
Has anyone else had this issue?

I’ve never had an issue assigning seats on VA when booked as an aeroplan award. Just needed the VA PNR.

And a friend of mine just two weeks ago managed to pay for economy X on an aeroplan award (business unavailable for that leg so was seated in economy… but somehow the call centre managed to boom and pay). Interestingly the call centre offered the use of velocity points to pay for the seat as well as cash!

 

[simmomelb]

I’ve never had an issue assigning seats on VA when booked as an aeroplan award. Just needed the VA PNR.

And a friend of mine just two weeks ago managed to pay for economy X on an aeroplan award (business unavailable for that leg so was seated in economy… but somehow the call centre managed to boom and pay). Interestingly the call centre offered the use of velocity points to pay for the seat as well as cash!

This wasn't Aeroplan Award, but a cash flight.
I've called both Air Canada (usual wait time 90 to 120minutes) and VA (usual wait time zero to a couple of mins), and both are refusing to be able to assign a seat on the VA leg from MEL to SYD :/
VA stated because it was booked through a "travel agent" being Air Canada, they aren't allowed to make changes, yet Air Canada tell me to call VA for the VA metal seat selection - can't win.
Glad it worked out for your friend, though
I'll keep annoying them, but it shouldn't be this difficult.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

This wasn't Aeroplan Award, but a cash flight.
I've called both Air Canada (usual wait time 90 to 120minutes) and VA (usual wait time zero to a couple of mins), and both are refusing to be able to assign a seat on the VA leg from MEL to SYD :/
VA stated because it was booked through a "travel agent" being Air Canada, they aren't allowed to make changes, yet Air Canada tell me to call VA for the VA metal seat selection - can't win.
Glad it worked out for your friend, though
I'll keep annoying them, but it shouldn't be this difficult.

Is the VA fright a codeshare? Or prime VA number?

If the latter, did you get the VA PNR?

You get the same message ‘booked through an agent’ for reward bookings… so in theory it should be same same.

 

[simmomelb]

Is the VA fright a codeshare? Or prime VA number?

If the latter, did you get the VA PNR?

You get the same message ‘booked through an agent’ for reward bookings… so in theory it should be same same.

Codeshare

Have the VA PNR

Even the VA website/app says, "seat selection unavailable" and the Air Canada site shows "This flight is operated by VIRGIN AUST INTL FOR VIRGIN AUST. Seat selection is not available on our website. You’ll need to complete your seat selection with the airline operating your flight. Seat fees may apply."

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Codeshare

Have the VA PNR

Even the VA website/app says, "seat selection unavailable" and the Air Canada site shows "This flight is operated by VIRGIN AUST INTL FOR VIRGIN AUST. Seat selection is not available on our website. You’ll need to complete your seat selection with the airline operating your flight. Seat fees may apply."

Maybe the codeshare is complicating it?

Award tickets are all prime numbers, and never had an issue in the 6+ aeroplan issued awards for travel on VA. But you have to call, as you did.

Only difference here is that is seems you are on an AC flight number, operated by VA.

 

[simmomelb]

Maybe the codeshare is complicating it?

Award tickets are all prime numbers, and never had an issue in the 6+ aeroplan issued awards for travel on VA. But you have to call, as you did.

Only difference here is that is seems you are on an AC flight number, operated by VA.

Yeah, I think we'll give up and accept a random seat. Air Canada call centre wait times are outrageous.

After all, it's only the VA metal short flight MEL to SYD that's the issue. No biggie, just annoying.