"Loyalty inclusions" on passenger manifest

[Bofter]

I don't go looking out for passenger manifests to read, but sometimes they are waved right in front of your face (eg. on the drinks trolley as you are waiting to order)

I noticed a heading in there "loyalty inclusions" which had about a half dozen names on it on a MEL-SYD flight with perhaps 90 pax. I didn't see my name there or my seat number nor did anything seem to be included. I'm not miffed not to be on the list, but am curious as to what the criteria might be and what it results in, given that being a bum-in-seat earned platinum member doesn't seem to be it.

 

[shortfinal737]

It's a list of business class and flexi fare guests, so unless you were in either category your name wouldn't have been on it

 

[V-332]

It's a list of business class and flexi fare guests, so unless you were in either category your name wouldn't have been on it

Thats a separate part of the report. The loyalty inclusions section lists the plats onboard. Its just to highlight the plats for the CS and Crew no extras domestically unfortunately.

 

[medhead]

Thats a separate part of the report. The loyalty inclusions section lists the plats onboard. Its just to highlight the plats for the CS and Crew no extras domestically unfortunately.

Which doesn't explain why a platinum members name wasn't on the list.

 

[pshepvic]

Seems to be a problem for both VA and QF. There have been several times where my partner has not received a greeting on QF and I have, despite us both being platinum, both on the same booking, and both sitting next to each other!

 

[Airbumps]

Interesting, I flew back in on VA 2 from LAX-SYD a few days ago in Business. One of the FA's had left a list of all J guests on the bar and glancing a look whilst waiting for the Lav I noted that the first column was listed as "FF Status". Mine had a G for gold, as did the bloke sitting next to me, but with the exception of one other S for Silver we were the only apparent status guests in a cabin of 28 people.

I'm not sure if it was accurate or not, but I did find it strange that on the LAX-SYD there where so few elites.

 

[Ausbt]

Interesting, I flew back in on VA 2 from LAX-SYD a few days ago in Business

So how was it Kaelo? Any particular J seating recommendations or things to be aware of? I'll be doing this trip in Oct.

 

[lovestotravel]

Interesting, I flew back in on VA 2 from LAX-SYD a few days ago in Business. One of the FA's had left a list of all J guests on the bar and glancing a look whilst waiting for the Lav I noted that the first column was listed as "FF Status". Mine had a G for gold, as did the bloke sitting next to me, but with the exception of one other S for Silver we were the only apparent status guests in a cabin of 28 people.

I'm not sure if it was accurate or not, but I did find it strange that on the LAX-SYD there where so few elites.

Does sound very low amount of status passengers. However I do know a few people who do fly in business a bit and they don't care about FF status/points so they don't put their FF number in on the bookings...

 

[Airbumps]

So how was it Kaelo? Any particular J seating recommendations or things to be aware of? I'll be doing this trip in Oct.

Overall, it wasn't too bad. It was my first time in VA Long Haul J having been a *A flyer for over 10 years now. I decided to give VA a go and I'm glad I did.

The flight over which for me was VA 23 MEL-LAX was amazing. The priority checkin and customs lines where the same deal as flying out with SQ or TG in J, as was the use of the NZ Lounge. What really got me was the aircraft itself. I was fortunate enough to have selected 5K. For those that don't know, row 5 is like a private cabin all to itself, and since there was only myself in 5K and another lady in 5A, they curtained each section off and I essentially had my own cabin. The FA assigned to me (my cabin) was amazing. Asked if I had ever flown with them before and then gave me the run down on how it all works. She served meals when I wanted them, not just when everybody else did, made the bed when I asked and continually checked up on me for drinks. Only thing she didn't do was put me dress me in the PJs which would have been fun.

We disembarked at T5 which was great and I was the first one off the plane and through customs in around 2.3 seconds.

The return was much the same with a few exceptions. The departure was from T3. This is the VX terminal and I couldn't really understand why depart from here and not T5. The "Loft" Lounge in T3 is, IMHO, not great. I don't know what Delta have in T5 though so really don't know if that would be a better option. The service on the flight back however was fantastic once again.

I'm sending a letter off to JB and the HR department today with a good work report about the FA on the way over.

In comparison to TG with whom I've maintained *G for a long time now, the bed/seat was better and the service was better. If only VA had a slightly better long haul network we might just become life long friends

I was speaking to my seatmate on the way back who does the trip quite a bit with them (and was the other Gold flyer) and he was saying that the biggest problem he's experienced is the disjointed arrangements with lounges and elite privileges. I guess thats one thing thats easy about *A - if you're *G your *G with each airline and the privileges are the same. Its one thing I don't like about the VA "partnership" arrangments - each airline has its own you can do this but can't do this type thing. Makes it hard to keep track off.

 

[notzac]

I second the motion for row 5 - if you can manage to find a flight that's not fully booked in J (something I've not had much luck with on the LAX flights) - 5A with 5C blocked, or 5K with 5H blocked is around as awesome as you can get!

 

[Ausbt]

Thanks kaelo for the detailed report. I'll post one of my own after my trip.

 

[lovestotravel]

The "Loft" Lounge in T3 is, IMHO, not great.

If only VA had a slightly better long haul network we might just become life long friends

I was speaking to my seatmate on the way back who does the trip quite a bit with them (and was the other Gold flyer) and he was saying that the biggest problem he's experienced is the disjointed arrangements with lounges and elite privileges. Its one thing I don't like about the VA "partnership" arrangments - each airline has its own you can do this but can't do this type thing. Makes it hard to keep track off.

This pretty much sums up my thoughts as well for VA

The 777 is a great product in business and I prefer it over QF J

The lounge at LAX is good, but when the new QF lounges open later this year/early next it will blow the LOFT away in terms of quality/food/wine etc

I also don't really like all the alliances that VA has where you get different privileges on each different airline. However it seems that VA are slowly working to improve this, and given a few years I'd say they will be great!

Would be nice for VA to fly to other places, but I really don't see it happening