Credit for PE Rogue aircraft

[Deleted member 24491]

Am told as of 1 March, all Boeing 737 aircraft are now fitted with Premium Economy seating with rows 1 and 2 permanently fixed. Although most aircraft do have Recaro convertible tables fitted, some have been permanently fitted with bolster tables. ​

As Premium Economy seating is now available on all aircraft, compensation is no longer offered for rogue aircraft.​

Premium Economy is now limited to 8 Guests per aircraft
B737-700 are now restricted to 140 Guests and B737-800, 176 Guests
Row 3 is no longer used for Premium Economy seating​

Economy Guests may be seated in rows 1 and 2 where required, however will not receive the Premium Economy product unless they are sat in the same half row as a Premium Economy Guest.

Experienced this today on DJ 678. Disgusting that Virgin continues to pass-off Brett's Jet, and similar rogue aircraft that feature no L2A/VOD with narrower/fixed arm seats, as a "premium economy" service.

 

[markis10]

Experienced this today on DJ 678. Disgusting that Virgin continues to pass-off Brett's Jet, and similar rogue aircraft that feature no L2A/VOD with narrower/fixed arm seats, as a "premium economy" service.

But you can get a digeplayer, so you are only missing out on the wider seat, not to mention free food and drinks as you select!

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Experienced this today on DJ 678. Disgusting that Virgin continues to pass-off Brett's Jet, and similar rogue aircraft that feature no L2A/VOD with narrower/fixed arm seats, as a "premium economy" service.

I agree with statement. I too found it unacceptable even though other AFFers disagree. You only have to sit in one of those blue narrow seats to realise what a mug you are for paying PE and getting worse than SAVER fare seating. Best advice I've read here is book SAVER and pay the blue zone upgrade if available.

I was initially told no compensation would be offered for my less than salubrious experience, but the tone did change and I was happy with the offer made. I cannot praise DJ for selling a product that they cannot deliver on some routes. In those cases, a refund back to SAVER fare should be generated without debate and continue until such time all PE seats are changed to business (at least I think that is the intention....scrap PE and replace with J throughout the fleet).

 

[Deleted member 24491]

With respect markis10, I wasn't offered a DigEplayer.

I happily purchase PE because it generally represents value for domestic travel – a bit of space to relax/work, some entertainment and some food. This flight from PER-MEL failed on two of the three promoted criteria. I also don’t expect compensation because a half-sincere apology would suffice.

As a side note, I was the first to post on AFF about the rogue aircraft issue in April 2010. My last experience with it was a SYD-MEL flight in late May (I can survive an hour and wasn’t aggrieved because I got to fly from MEL-SYD in the new PE earlier that week!).

That said, at Christmas, I had the misfortune of sitting in 2F, with my Partner in 2D, on a rouge aircraft. A well-built UK businessman was in 1F and became very vocal when he couldn’t fit into his seat that he’d paid good money for, etc. Hopefully the inconsistency sorts itself out sooner rather than later!

 

[markis10]

With respect markis10, I wasn't offered a DigEplayer.

I was on the Gold Coast Suns aircraft last week and got offered one, I did 6 flights over the weekend with a mix of equipment and I did notice the narrower seat , and obviously no LTA on the EMB. Given its less than $5 of value in terms of having to pay for it, it was not an issue for me as I entertained myself emptying the cart of mini spirit bottles of a red variety. The seat issue is related to a safety issue otherwise the Recaros would be installed pending the conversion to J.

 

[Deleted member 24491]

There was certainly more than a $5 difference between a Saver and a Flexi ticket on my flight today, let alone PE!

 

[markis10]

There was certainly more than a $5 difference between a Saver and a Flexi ticket on my flight today, let alone PE!

Of course there was, flexi's include food and flexi changes etc, but its around $5 for LTA if you have to pay for it, which was your beef, thats the value of what you were missing, seat width aside.

 

[Deleted member 24491]

I don't the thread to go off-topic, so I'll end my input for now. However, I still am unsure where you get $5 from?
My "beef" (your words, not mine) was only part related to the LTA/VOD feature. There was no LTA on my flight and if there was, it would be $9.90 or so (not $5).

 

[markis10]

Longer flights such as your flight are $9, mine was a $5 (or thereabouts) one, essentially thats all you missed out on, everything else such as flexi fares, self select food, lounge access etc you got!Next time ask for a Digeplayer, although you should have been offered one based on my experience, or wait for true J and the resultant fare increases - a la the A330 flights.

 

[QLDOOL]

Isn’t the point that when booking you expect to get 'premium seating' and you end up with the narrow blue seats. VA appear to have different opinions on the classification of the aircraft, some call it a 'rogue' whilst Guest Relations believe that you got what you paid for. A digi player is not available gate to gate as is LTA and on a 2 hour flight you end up with the DP for about 1 hour, what is the point.


This is the type of reponse from VA when you dare to ask the question about the lack of width with the blue seating:

" As of the 1st of March 2011, all Boeing 737-800 aircraft are now fitted with Premium Economy seating. There are variations across our fleet, such as some aircraft having blue seats as opposed to red. However they all feature 2 abreast Premium Economy seating, a 34” seat pitch and a permanent table for use.

All of our aircraft are being refitted to reflect the new interior look of Virgin Australia, including the new premium seating. We are updating the aircraft that are not currently fitted with live2air as a priority.

 

[markis10]

Isn’t the point that when booking you expect to get 'premium seating' and you end up with the narrow blue seats. VA appear to have different opinions on the classification of the aircraft, some call it a 'rogue' whilst Guest Relations believe that you got what you paid for. A digi player is not available gate to gate as is LTA and on a 2 hour flight you end up with the DP for about 1 hour, what is the point.


This is the type of reponse from VA when you dare to ask the question about the lack of width with the blue seating:

" As of the 1st of March 2011, all Boeing 737-800 aircraft are now fitted with Premium Economy seating. There are variations across our fleet, such as some aircraft having blue seats as opposed to red. However they all feature 2 abreast Premium Economy seating, a 34” seat pitch and a permanent table for use.

All of our aircraft are being refitted to reflect the new interior look of Virgin Australia, including the new premium seating. We are updating the aircraft that are not currently fitted with live2air as a priority.

Welcome to AFF, when did you get a blue seat, AFAIK they no longer exist?

 

[firefox]

Hi Markis10,
Definitely still exist! There is about 8 aircraft i believe maybe more.. Like VH-VUX

It's very frustrating as i prefer row 1, and the seats have fixed arm rests, making them very uncomfortable..

I believe these are getting upgraded sort of first to the new layout, but the sooner the better.

In past month, i've had about 20-30 flights, and i can say i think i've had a rogue about 4 times in that batch..

 

[Meggsy]

Hi Markis10,
Definitely still exist! There is about 8 aircraft i believe maybe more.. Like VH-VUX

It's very frustrating as i prefer row 1, and the seats have fixed arm rests, making them very uncomfortable..

I believe these are getting upgraded sort of first to the new layout, but the sooner the better.

In past month, i've had about 20-30 flights, and i can say i think i've had a rogue about 4 times in that batch..

Yes

I too had the narrow blue seats with the fixed arm rest in seat 1F last Friday night flying MEL-BNE. Thats 3 of my last 4 paid PE flights, not tasters, that have been in these types. The other 2 being SYD-OOL and TSV-BNE, so no idea really of where they pop up. Personally, I have had enough and won't risk any more PE flights until VA sort the fleet out. I purchase the seats for the extra width and comfort and that is certainly not being delivered. I acknowledge that VA does not advertise them as being wider seats.

 

[markis10]

Sounds like the dreaded Blue seats are very much around, I have been lucky to miss them by the sounds of it.

 

[firefox]

yeah it's annoying, i do know they know how much i hate it. (i've mentioned it numerous times to management)
Prior to the terrible booster seat stuck in the middle, i used to request credits on flights. Although they don't really offer them now.

(I don't fly any Taster upgrades, all flights are full paying PE).. And it's really really frustrating..

Prior to my flights, the lounge angels normally check the aircraft code (and hump) to ensure it's not rogue... I am sometimes flexible and will move my flight to avoid a rogue..
But it's not something i should have to do.

Hopefully they've been smart enough and taking these non-upgraded aircraft out of service to upgrade to the new layout first, before the others??

 

[VMAN]

yeah it's annoying, i do know they know how much i hate it. (i've mentioned it numerous times to management)
Prior to the terrible booster seat stuck in the middle, i used to request credits on flights. Although they don't really offer them now.

(I don't fly any Taster upgrades, all flights are full paying PE).. And it's really really frustrating..

Prior to my flights, the lounge angels normally check the aircraft code (and hump) to ensure it's not rogue... I am sometimes flexible and will move my flight to avoid a rogue..
But it's not something i should have to do.

Hopefully they've been smart enough and taking these non-upgraded aircraft out of service to upgrade to the new layout first, before the others??

I had a flight today from BNE to MEL on a PE ticket. I understand that VA are upgrading their planes and that it takes time to do so. What really irks me is that at check in they don't tell you. I was on a 6am flight and would have waited an hour and get on the next plane. Really getting annoyed at wasting money on a service that is not delivered


Sent from my iPhone using AFF app

 

[cavemanzk]

Surely it would be worth them ripping the PE seats on the ZK-* registered aircraft and put them in the VH rogues. Its not like anyone purchases PE on the tasman anyway

 

[markis10]

Surely it would be worth them ripping the PE seats on the ZK-* registered aircraft and put them in the VH rogues. Its not like anyone purchases PE on the tasman anyway

I don't believe it can be done as that configuration is no longer allowed by Boeing, so the existing configs are grandfathered, which is why the rogues exist.

 

[ash.1111]

Why aren't the PE configurations allowed?

 

[markis10]

Why aren't the PE configurations allowed?

Having different seat makers on the one plane caused head impact clearance issues, see here:

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....rgin-blue-dj725-1-apr-22464-2.html#post313730