Hi
I've confirmed that PE seats are now supposed to be empty, and not upgraded even on the plane.
As a PE guest to be honest, if you paid for the product as it is marketed as a "Quiet, easy place" when they fill it up, or CS's let people sit in their then it totally devalues the purpose of the product. One would ask the question, if you can easily get a seat upgrade by being Gold, why the hang would anyone buy the product. Because it would easier for us PE guests to get FREE upgrades and sit in the seats.. The only difference on flights is the food then, which i would be lucky to spend more then $10 of on food if i was buying.
So for a ticket BNE - SYD Say $129 i can have Row 1 or 2, as an upgrade because i am gold, and then spend $10 and buy the food, and presto my flight costs me $139.
Instead i spend $419 (which is nearly $300 difference).. From a business standpoint this makes NO sense, they would never sell the product.. Just give away free upgrades!
I just got off a flight were someone was put into 2A/2C in which i turned to the CS and asked WHY? Oh they just wanted to sit together.! Said what about your new policy, looks at me and says oh i can upgrade anyone! Funnily during the flight, the food cart was put at row 4, and the people in row 2 got asked for food/options first before the 2PAX in PE got asked!!!!! Go Figure.
Now i know some of you call people elitist and so on.. The simple fact is the product is there with specific "options" if you don't pay for them, don't expect them. Thats the simple facts! For people to be running around claiming they are entitled to these perks as a GOLD.. I say well i am GOLD (significantly) if i am sitting beside someone whom paid $100 whilst i paid $400 this makes NO business sense whatsoever and they will never sell the product properly.
VA know this and are trying to fix it. After tonight's flight there's still a problem on flight crew not giving a damn.. Tonight the flight was FULL, ground crew had not allowed Rows 1 or 2 to fill to ensure quiet for the PE PAX, yet the CS throw's it out the window..
Was certainly interesting again, I am sure we've not seen the last of this pain, but surely they can get this right.!