Golds make your voices heard regarding the new seating choice arrangements!

[jazza1971]

Fully understand VA making the changes and giving Plats first crack at rows 3-6, but for us to only access a choice of them at the airport and fight the masses....well I think that is quite disappointing.

I strongly urge all of you Golds on this forum to use the feedback form on the velocity website (Comments & Feedback | Velocity Frequent Flyer) to let them know it is a rubbish change! Perhaps if they get enough feedback they will be prepared to release rows 3-6 at T-72/48 or something!

 

[Sprucegoose]

You'll change your tune once you hit plats!

 

[jazza1971]

You'll change your tune once you hit plats!

I wouldnt if I had the choice of those seats at booking and then didnt take the oppertunty

I just think Golds should get a choice before Joe Public!

 

[MarkD]

Why only Golds? The Silvers will then crack the ****s. You cant please everyone, and I have no sympathy for Golds.

I wouldnt if I had the choice of those seats at booking and then didnt take the oppertunty

I just think Golds should get a choice before Joe Public!

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Why only Golds? The Silvers will then crack the ****s. You cant please everyone, and I have no sympathy for Golds.

Turncoat!

What's that old saying......"Rank has it's privileges".

 

[Sprucegoose]

Why only Golds? The Silvers will then crack the ****s. You cant please everyone, and I have no sympathy for Golds.

the great unwashed?

 

[Bolthead]

Just be a bit sensitive with the Velocity website at the moment..... she is not feeling well....

 

[jazza1971]

Why only Golds? The Silvers will then crack the ****s. You cant please everyone, and I have no sympathy for Golds.

Didnt ask for your sympathy or to erode any of your platinum benifits, asked for Golds who are unhappy with the current situation to offer feedback to VA.

 

[pshepvic]

You'll change your tune once you hit plats!

Exactly! As a Plat with Virgin I'm happy! (Especially as I've achieved it without a status match, and have now qualified with my third year of platinum with them - nice to get a more guaranteed benefit).

As a WP with QF of course I don't like the fact that P1 and CL get a better choice, but hey that's life!

 

[james1]

Checked in online last night for my 5pm flight today from OOL to SYD. As a Gold, the best I could do was 7C. No ability to change. My mother and grandmother checked in at the airport for the same flight approx one hour prior to boarding. They were given 5A and 5B. Neither are even Velocity members.

As a SG on Qantas, at least I am given more options at T-80 and T-24.

I have split most of my travelling between the two airlines over the last 12mths and although I travel mostly in J on VA, if I am not feeling the love when in Y, I will most likely return full time to Qantas where my options for seating are are more status aligned and preferential.

i hope VA recognize that this is a quirk of the new system which needs to be addressed.

 

[medhead]

As a plat I'm not concerned about golden issues. But I am concerned about how they've set this up. I can see potential issues for plat as well. Inability to select seats at will - I just need to retrain. More concerned about shadow protection and missing preferred seats if I don't book until late in the piece.

I was going to see how things pan out but perhaps I should express my concerns to VA as well.

 

[MarkD]

LOL This is so hilarious, amazing how POed the golds are over a seat. Seriously, if getting row 7 is the worst thing that happens on a flight, you really have very little to worry about. Id be more worried about the contents of the maggot wrap myself, or the lack of catering alltogether, or the inferior inconsitant service across the board, or the coughpy res system, or the promises of all this new and exciting stuff that has been "coming" for two years. Honestly they must be on one hell of a dose of cough to be coming for the time its taking them.
But, lets just have a cry about seats instead of all the inconsistancies and pathetic shortcomings!!!!!
Yes, as a Platinum, I get the "Better" seats, however, I really would prefer some consistancy and qulity, rather than the half hearted cough ups, scrooge like SC behaviour and broken promises that are occuring far too often

 

[medhead]

LOL This is so hilarious, amazing how POed the golds are over a seat. Seriously, if getting row 7 is the worst thing that happens on a flight, you really have very little to worry about. Id be more worried about the contents of the maggot wrap myself, or the lack of catering alltogether, or the inferior inconsitant service across the board, or the coughpy res system, or the promises of all this new and exciting stuff that has been "coming" for two years. Honestly they must be on one hell of a dose of cough to be coming for the time its taking them.
But, lets just have a cry about seats instead of all the inconsistancies and pathetic shortcomings!!!!!
Yes, as a Platinum, I get the "Better" seats, however, I really would prefer some consistancy and qulity, rather than the half hearted cough ups, scrooge like SC behaviour and broken promises that are occuring far too often

I can't agree with about 45% of what you've written. I wouldn't call throwing out SC Scrooge like behaviour. The service might be inferior, that's another whole debate, but I do find it to be consistently "inferior". Priority boarding is also consistently superior, IME. Anyway at least it is an interesting ride.

 

[serfty]

LOL This is so hilarious, amazing how POed the golds are over a seat. Seriously, if getting row 7 is the worst thing that happens on a flight, you really have very little to worry about. ...

That is not the problem; it's that there's no "T-80" opening of availability nor any further availability upon on line check-in to 'improve' seating allocation, unlike there is on VA's major competitor.

Coupled with no changes or forfeiting a fare, even flexible, if a no show after OLCI then it's certainly retrograde.

 

[MarkD]

Well they will find out the hard way I guess, if the golds get so annoyed, they go back to said competitor. Really, if they are making it so difficult to even book a seat with them, why bother. Their fares have really blown out since they put this new system in, and I have booked a heap of QF Flights because I cannot be bothered with the dramas and unknowns any more.
What exactly is the problem over there, because they really were heading in the right direction, yet all of a sudden its all turned to ****, and they dont seem to know how to shovel their way out.
Re the seating issue, I see your point, re Times, it seems strange that Golds cant get any access, yet a red can :O How long can they keep blaming the computer system upgrades etc? I know a lot on here work in IT, but 99% of people who book will only want to book a seat, when they need to jump through hoops to do it, including signing into velocity site multiple times, they will just go to qantas.com and do it so much easier.
Anyone know without a doubt why they are having so much trouble????

That is not the problem; it's that there's no "T-80" opening of availability nor any further availability upon on line check-in to 'improve' seating allocation, unlike there is on VA's major competitor.

 

[medhead]

It's worth remembering that the no changes via the website to seating except at purchase or on check in also applies to platinum.

 

[777]

Do we have any confirmation that the "no changes til check in" part of the problem is actually the plan? Seems to be one of many minor sabre glitches to me. I can't see any reason whatsoever why they would force golds behind row 7 while choosing to give better seats to non status pax (excluding the few with medical reasons) except that the IT system hasn't set up properly yet.

Never assume a conspiracy when a stuff up would better explain it.

 

[medhead]

Do we have any confirmation that the "no changes til check in" part of the problem is actually the plan? Seems to be one of many minor sabre glitches to me. I can't see any reason whatsoever why they would force golds behind row 7 while choosing to give better seats to non status pax (excluding the few with medical reasons) except that the IT system hasn't set up properly yet.

Never assume a conspiracy when a stuff up would better explain it.

My mistake. Changes are possible if you ring VA. I just meant via electronic means. Edit made.

 

[Daggs01]

I think Velocity PS should be able to select 3-6 and with NR's at time of booking too.

They are on the same flight and deserve the same service as everyone else.

This is how pointless this argument is. Seriously, SG's fly a fair bit on VA metal, no question there. But WP's fly so much more they actually deserve the small creature comforts like first shot at 3-6!

I don't know how many times, I've booked on the old system, with 3 sectors and then not been able to select seats. Then having Golds in front of me while I'm in row 14!

 

[clarkkent]

I don't know how many times, I've booked on the old system, with 3 sectors and then not been able to select seats. Then having Golds in front of me while I'm in row 14!

Bit strange eh. Wasn't enough of a problem for you to care about it 3 weeks ago: "The only 2 enhancements to the program I would like to see are status credits for points and a business lounge." That thread does not make a strong case for widespread disappointment at seating assignments. Nor do any other threads here.

As I said in the other thread, by and large seating was working fine, no changes were needed. I see no substance in post-hoc justifications from people who have benefited but had no issue before. Likewise for removing silvers from the (predominantly empty) priority check-in queue.