Let's talk about Economy X

[gazzax2]

On a recent flight from OOL to CBR I was in row 6, the overhead baggage on that aircraft for row 6 was reserved for Economy X baggage. I put my bag in there anyway, having a velocity Gold member for 6 years, I think I've earn it

 

[jsm2090]

No I didn't. It's not in my nature, and he was clearly agitated. It would have ended badly. As you say, hopefully I never have to sit next to him again!

It's not in my nature either, but I've started confronting people like this. I find they're often shocked by being confronted by someone they assumed would just sit there passively, and they comply

 

[Pleb Status]

I put my bag in there anyway, having a velocity Gold member for 6 years, I think I've earn it

Why do you believe that you have earn [sic] it?

 

[Must...Fly!]

Anyone who has a seat in Row 6 earns the space above the seat in the overhead, for mine...but if you're in row 12 then put it above you, not in row 3...

 

[babysun]

You would think with a bit of patience there would be no point in paying for YX if you're flying frequently enough that you consider paying for lounge membership. You'd be Gold pretty quickly. Free lounge & priority boarding.


The benefit of status for me is way more than sitting in the first few rows. I get free YX for my family of 4 for starters.

Onboard recently I was treated with the same indifference as any other passenger and my tray table was just as filthy.

My husband thinks I'm a sook but my knees hurt sitting squished for a short domestic flight. I don't care where the seat is located on the plane but the legroom matters. I also don't care whether the person sitting next to me paid extra for it or paid for it through status. Either way it was paid for. I've always had a (window) seat available when I've wanted it but avoid travelling at peak times during the day.

After travelling back and forth across the US with Delta I have a new appreciation for Australian domestic airlines. We flew Comfort Plus which meant we had dedicated overhead lockers just for us thank god. It was a nightmare. People pulling out each other's bags, a woman loudly cracking the sads because she had to put her bag 4 rows away from her because they won't pay to check their bags in. Or they don't want to wait for it at the other end. It was very eye opening. It was like travelling on a flying bus full of snarky cry babies some of the time.

Hi there,

Long time reader, first time poster! I apologise if this has been brought up in another thread but I can't seem to find anyone talking about it...
I love Economy X as a general rule. I've paid extra for it travelling to the US a couple of times. I think that I'd rather that over PE value wise and I can lift the armrest and lay down if I get all three seats.
Generally speaking I don't care where I sit in the plane as long as it's next to a window.
Prior to Economy X being introduced I was had bugger all status with VA but I'm WP now and it's nice just to have the extra leg room.


So once upon a time about February last year Virgin introduced something called Economy X, which gives row 3-5 extra legroom AND priority boarding for a small introductory fee of $15 per seat.

Before this was implemented, rows 3-5 were offered to platinum and gold members. The legroom was the same as the rest of the cabin, but it made sense that upper tier members of Velocity would be offered row 3-5 by default.

Enter Economy X, which gives ANYONE the option to take rows 3-5, including priority boarding, for a fee. That fee for SYD-MEL has now increased to $35.

What is the point of status anymore if you have most of the benefits of platinum/gold status if you purchase a yearly lounge pass and pay for Economy X on every flight?

Even on the Virgin Australia Seat Promise it says

• We reserve our best seats for our most loyal and valuable guests.

???? Don't you mean you reserve your best seats who are willing to pay more?


Anyway, rant over, keep an eye out for my rant about how Virgin have changed their classes to make it more confusing for customers and at the same time slashing SC's by half (or doubling the price of airfares - depends which way you look at it) making it way more difficult than it used to be to earn SC's.

Thanks for reading!

Mark

You would think with a bit of patience there would be no point in paying for YX if you're flying frequently enough that you consider paying for lounge membership. You'd be Gold pretty quickly. Free lounge.

The benefit of status for me is way more than sitting in the first few rows. I get free YX for my family of 4 for starters.

 

[a1ring23]

Has anyone managed to get YX/exit row seating (as a VA Gold) since YX was introduced?

Asked at the lounge and was told its chargeable now...

 

[GSP]

Has anyone managed to get YX/exit row seating (as a VA Gold) since YX was introduced?

Asked at the lounge and was told its chargeable now...

When I was Gold I got it once but it seemed more like a favor and other times they said no to any YX, so in general no go.

 

[Aus ATC]

Has anyone managed to get YX/exit row seating (as a VA Gold) since YX was introduced?

Asked at the lounge and was told its chargeable now...

A couple of months ago ex CBR. I was travelling with a (non-status) colleague and we enquired about a row together with middle seat blocked (aircraft was lightly loaded). Lounge agent gave us exit row without charge.

 

[kamchatsky]

I have to say that my last flights SYD-ADL on QF I found that the leg room is tiny, even when I am QF Gold. YX is so excellent from leg space point of view.

 

[pauly7]

Has anyone managed to get YX/exit row seating (as a VA Gold) since YX was introduced?

Asked at the lounge and was told its chargeable now...

Sure do, would say about one in 5 flights I wing it and seems to be the busier golden triangle flights that I have the most luck. Enough luck that I don’t pay for it

 

[flying_duck]

Has anyone managed to get YX/exit row seating (as a VA Gold) since YX was introduced?

Asked at the lounge and was told its chargeable now...

It is supposed to be chargable for Golds, but I have been given it as an "opup" upon occasion. I don't ask for it as usually that means exit row and I detest being in the middle of the plane.

 

[oz_mark]

It is supposed to be chargable for Golds, but I have been given it as an "opup" upon occasion. I don't ask for it as usually that means exit row and I detest being in the middle of the plane.

In the end, they need someone in the emergency exit rows, so they have to be free for someone if no one wants to pay!

 

[flying_duck]

In the end, they need someone in the emergency exit rows, so they have to be free for someone if no one wants to pay!

Row 14 is a huge upgrade for those otherwise in row 28... always someone surely?

 

[BAM1748]

VA 242 ADL-MEL last night and shadow in every row of YX. As a WP I honestly don’t know if it’s just luck or not but I seem to get a shadow more often than not in YX these days so no complaints from me

Let's hope it's not lack of passengers!

 

[GSP]

Row 14 is a huge upgrade for those otherwise in row 28... always someone surely?

Unless they have boarding out the back where those late rows are not so bad.

 

[Strategic Aviation]

ATR row 1 is Economy X lol

 

[jpp42]

My first time on VA in a while, SG status, I noticed that exit row seats were mostly open, upon asking the service desk attendant at the lounge moved me to an aisle exit row with no charge. I'd assume this was due to having to fill 2 of the 3 exit row seats as policy, however the flight ended up being 100% full with every seat taken anyway, so I'm sure they would have found someone else for the exit row. At least this shows there is some discretion available even if you aren't WP.

 

[yohy?!]

A data point on YX for HKG-SYD flown this week:

Pros: priority boarding worked, luggage bin space protected, empty seats in row protected, attentive service with multiple drinks offered and choice of meals

Cons: A330 cabin not configured for long haul: hard seats and no curtains over lavs

Verdict: good value for day flight, wasted for night flights until cabin config issues resolved - might be better if YX was row 10 to minimise traffic. Some cosmetic changes needed to seating or signage to highlight this is not economy as Y pax frequently tried to move into empty seats when crew weren’t lo9king

 

[Must...Fly!]

I would not appreciate row 10 being opened up to paying passengers. It's one of the few tangible benefits of VA WP.

 

[Wozza]

Totally agree. I sat directly behind YX on that flight to and from LHR via HKG and saw all you mention in the cabin. Except, the Ys won sneaking into empty YX seats! There's no way I would pay for it / use my points, despite how well the YXs were looked after by the crew.