Fly Ahead and row 3

[MattJX]

Hi all
I used Fly Ahead for the first time this week - what a great perk for a new Gold member.
First flight had 15 mins to boarding and I was lucky enough to get row 3. The return flight had 30 mins to boarding and I was given a seat in row 4.
On both flights there were empty seats between row 3 A-C and D-F. So I'm wondering how and when the middle seats are allocated and if status/boarding time is taken into consideration. Do they ever fill those coveted middle seats on row 3 on a non-full flight or would they be reserved for full flights or WPs?

 

[Burrito]

Yes they do fill those middle seats. 3B & 3E are often allocated on flights that are not full and it appears common that those seats are occupied by passengers that are not WP. Id upgrade to business before taking 3B or 3E. I wouldnt want to be "that" guy plonked in the middle.

 

[Jousams]

Currently on VA520. Used fly ahead got a seat in the middle of the plane (fine).
Get on, FA in uniform (likely being ferried) in 3B, between two WPs. Plenty of spare seats elsewhere on the plane.
Classic VA....

 

[medhead]

VA actually have a KPI for ensure that 3B/E are full on every flight.

 

[toowongman]

Currently on VA520. Used fly ahead got a seat in the middle of the plane (fine).
Get on, FA in uniform (likely being ferried) in 3B, between two WPs. Plenty of spare seats elsewhere on the plane.
Classic VA....

FA in uniform, FA not in uniform, FA's friends... all seem to end up in rows 1~3 either just before or soon after take-off.
Rushed checkin agents have also been known to put non-status people in 3 as it's the first free seat they see in the system.

 

[Ausbt]

Fly ahead is certainly fantastic.

As far as 3B & 3E goes - well sometimes it can be looked as as yet another unpublished benefit for WPs: you see if you are allocated 3A, C, D or F as a WP you might 'invite' a travelling colleague to simply sit 'on' your shadow! Yep, I've seen it happen.

 

[AdMEL]

FA in uniform, FA not in uniform, FA's friends... all seem to end up in rows 1~3 either just before or soon after take-off.
Rushed checkin agents have also been known to put non-status people in 3 as it's the first free seat they see in the system.

It's not always because the agents are rushed. As a non status pax, I have been given a row 3 seat a couple of times in the lounge for the extra legroom.

 

[Eggsbenedict]

I get that having row 3 is not technically a benefit except for advance seat selection but I really don't understand why they can't make it a policy that 3/4/5 middles seats are left to the absolute end except for status pax and then I have to ask who are the status pax taking these seats?? Come on guys lets join together and so NO to taking someones shadow and settle with a nice aisle or window further down the plane

 

[Fiches Mouser]

I get that having row 3 is not technically a benefit except for advance seat selection but I really don't understand why they can't make it a policy that 3/4/5 middles seats are left to the absolute end except for status pax and then I have to ask who are the status pax taking these seats?? Come on guys lets join together and so NO to taking someones shadow and settle with a nice aisle or window further down the plane

Happy to join that pact. I'd never take a middle seat in a million years.

My (potential) shadows are usually taken by WP couples, rather than singles taking the last seat. I seem to get a shadow when it's a light load.

 

[pauly7]

I've fallen back to gold on VFF and have still maintained 100% economy flying in row 3. How is it restricted in any way to Plat??

 

[Eggsbenedict]

Can you pre select row 3 online a week away from your flight?

I've fallen back to gold on VFF and have still maintained 100% economy flying in row 3. How is it restricted in any way to Plat??

 

[pauly7]

Can you pre select row 3 online a week away from your flight?

Sure can! And on all Eco flights I can nab J seats too.

 

[Eggsbenedict]

I've fallen back to gold on VFF and have still maintained 100% economy flying in row 3. How is it restricted in any way to Plat??

I can't see that anyone on this thread has suggested that it's restricted to WP, however since the ability to select row 3 online is a benefit to WP only this infers a certain status to row 3 and 4/5 for that matter. This seat selection restriction by default suggests that this is a particular benefit of WP and it does not seem unreasonable based on this perceived benefit that these seats be left for these Status Pax and other seats be used up before.

 

[pauly7]

I can't see that anyone on this thread has suggested that it's restricted to WP, however since the ability to select row 3 online is a benefit to WP only this infers a certain status to row 3 and 4/5 for that matter. This seat selection restriction by default suggests that this is a particular benefit of WP and it does not seem unreasonable based on this perceived benefit that these seats be left for these Status Pax and other seats be used up before.

Was just asking the question as I can still grab 3 being a gold as easily as I could being a plat.

 

[Eggsbenedict]

Was just asking the question as I can still grab 3 being a gold as easily as I could being a plat.

Great news, I don't have any 1st hand experience trying to select seats as a gold. Feedback I have got from my wife and work colleges is that they can't select rows 5 and below as gold members. Glad it works out for you.

 

[pauly7]

Great news, I don't have any 1st hand experience trying to select seats as a gold. Feedback I have got from my wife and work colleges is that they can't select rows 5 and below as gold members. Glad it works out for you.

Yes great news for me perhaps a bug that my gold held onto it...

I'm sure some VA WPs aren't so happy though

 

[toowongman]

It's not always because the agents are rushed. As a non status pax, I have been given a row 3 seat a couple of times in the lounge for the extra legroom.

They shouldn't be doing this, you should be paying for an exit row