Operational changes excuse

[Atleastonce]

I have been Velocity platinum for 5 years and my wife is velocity gold (prior to covid extensions) and I pre selected economy X seats for a flight on a flex fare. I just went to check in for that flight and my seats have been bumped back to row 6. Now, not to sound entitled but when I rang the platinum line I was told the flight schedule had been changed (by 10 minutes) which amounted to an operational reason change and ”all seat allocations at time of booking were not confirmed anymore” and they had allocated me different seats and couldn’t do anything for me. I asked what was the benefit of holding platinum anymore with the “new” Virgin. I am really considering moving to Qantas since the “new” Virgin. I am not impressed and have experienced a number of situations where there appears to be no attempt to continue to reward loyal customers. Rant over….!

 

[antycbr]

Have you double checked online that all Econ X rows are allocated, including the overwing exits? If not just manage your booking and move yourself.

 

[Atleastonce]

Have you double checked online that all Econ X rows are allocated, including the overwing exits? If not just manage your booking and move yourself.

Yeah I have managed to get an exit row but that’s not the point in my mind. Why was I bumped at all when my original booking confirmation was 3A and 3B

 

[Must...Fly!]

Qantas don't do any better. I mean at least you managed to speak to someone at Virgin...

Doesn't make it right, mind you!

 

[antycbr]

Yeah I have managed to get an exit row but that’s not the point in my mind. Why was I bumped at all when my original booking confirmation was 3A and 3B

Agree - they will hide behind operational reasons. I had a personal mental health dog bump us out of row 3 once, VA got a letter about that one.

 

[BNEFlyer]

Agree - they will hide behind operational reasons. I had a personal mental health dog bump us out of row 3 once, VA got a letter about that one.

You wrote a complaint about a service dog?

 

[ozstamps]

The flight number remained unchanged?

Minor 10 minute type time sked changes occur all the time .. have never heard of reserved seating vanishing when it does. Certainly never experienced it myself when that occurs.

You were gazumped by someone far higher up the totem pole it looks like to me
who really wanted Row 3.

As you are on a flex fare only a few 1000 points to upgrade. Even if there are not AWARD seats showing, but sellable inventory is, I'd be pushing them to free those up. They did it for me last week when politely pushed, after a boo boo on their side, and this was a 'good will gesture' a supervisor agreed to. Near ANYTHING is possible if asked the right way there.

 

[antycbr]

You wrote a complaint about a service dog?

The dog was a mental health dog not a service dog. The pax concerned put their feet wearing ugg boots up on the partition between Y and J as well.

I don’t want us becoming America.

 

[henrus]

I just went to check in for that flight and my seats have been bumped back to row 6.

Count yourself lucky that you were only bumped back to row 6. I had this happen on a recent flight from Adelaide and was bumped back to row 22 (despite other economy X and even row 6 being free). Annoyingly as free Economy X for Plat is considered a travel extra once the new flight details were loaded in I couldn't change my seat online as I was getting an error saying seat selection wasn't possible as travel extras existed in the booking.

I tried calling the plat phone number and gave up after 15 minutes as I didn't have the time to waste so I tried reaching out via Facebook but they refused to help becuase I was trying to select economy X seats (the social media will select normal seats but not economy X seats). Eventually I got through later that night via the after hours phone number to an offshore team who answered the phone in a couple of minutes.

 

[Atleastonce]

The flight number remained unchanged?

Minor 10 minute type time sked changes occur all the time .. have never heard of reserved seating vanishing when it does. Certainly never experienced it myself when that occurs.

You were gazumped by someone far higher up the totem pole it looks like to me
who really wanted Row 3.

As you are on a flex fare only a few 1000 points to upgrade. Even if there are not AWARD seats showing, but sellable inventory is, I'd be pushing them to free those up. They did it for me last week when politely pushed, after a boo boo on their side, and this was a 'good will gesture' a supervisor agreed to. Near ANYTHING is possible if asked the right way there.

Yes same flight number and no matter what I tried they would not budge. I tried to use a platinum upgrade and when I asked at the lounge I was told no before she even looked. I politely asked how she could say that without looking, so she looked, smiled and said no!

 

[ozstamps]

Well I spoke too soon.

Just get an email cheerfully telling us this new flight number gets to SYD at 10.10pm. The old flight number does not exist - WHY do they change it totally and mess up seating?

So we had 1D/1F on other flight and now are seated apart at 1A/1D. If a NEW flight why not keep us in SAME seats? Both on same PNR.

Here goes another wasted half hour of my life sorting this mess.

 

[henrus]

Well I spoke too soon.

I don't know if to laugh react or not. Just 10 hours ago you said you haven't seen this happen and now the VA flight change gods are punishing you.

Your change seems even stranger to mine. I had a ADL-BNE flight and they merged two flights about 4 hours apart for a new flight between the two but in your case I doubt they'd have a flight much later than yours due to SYD curfew.

 

[ozstamps]

Yes the final flight for sure. Will try and talk us onto the 2.30pm, but no Biz upgrades showing now.

About a month back the **LAST** Virgin fight out of ADL was 1.40pm on day we were flying.

To anywhere - MEL/SYD/BNE. So things are looking up.

Stuffed up our weekend, as had a lunch to attend, and a 4pm booked home so all fitted fine. They canned all that. 5 changes in all as I recall.

 

[Atleastonce]

yeah I just don’t get what is going on at VA at the moment.

 

[henrus]

yeah I just don’t get what is going on at VA at the moment.

You should see what's going on over at QF, in the last day I've seen people on AFF holding on the phone for 6 hours and others who received flight changed with connections that don't work (arrives after next departure).

It seems both VA and QF are struggling and using the disguise of covid to justify the crazyness going on.

 

[ozstamps]

yeah I just don’t get what is going on at VA at the moment.

Virgin just emailed re our SYD-PERTH-BROOME r/t fights. Spent hours untangling their last changes last week. Losing pre-paid hotels costing me REAL money, and messing up car rentals etc.

Flights were all moved weeks forward, new non-refundable Hotels booked ($500 a NIGHT up there in peak season) and all flights all then after much shuffling upgraded in all directions, and now they cancel it all, and swap in non upgradeable A320 and Fokkers again.

Now hours more re-jigging ahead.

And when all that is all done, they are just as likely to cancel all those. 9 hours or so of flying each way, and only booked it, as it was (apparently) upgradeable.

Honestly, booking anything on Virgin more than a few days ahead in not wise right now. WHY when they have rejigged their PERTH-BROOME a week back they change it all again is exasperating for PAYING customers. It is a nightmare when upgrades are involved.

$1500 of impulse booking to Virgin here, and darn near close to cancelling the entire fiasco. Clients have ZERO confidence right now, booking anything in advance.

Yes now and again plane swaps are necessary - we all know that, but they appear to be doing it madly right now for no apparent reason, and the re-doing it all again the next week etc. This costs them money in cancelled bookings, loses clients like me $1000s of real money due to their changes, wastes HOURS of my time, messes up work schedules here, and the raised blood pressure, and more obviously gives all clients a loss of confidence to book ANYTHING in advance.

 

[antycbr]

Virgin just emailed re our SYD-PERTH-BROOME r/t fights. Spent hours untangling their last changes last week. Losing pre-paid hotels costing me REAL money, and messing up car rentals etc.

Flights were all moved weeks forward, new non-refundable Hotels booked ($500 a NIGHT up there in peak season) and all flights all upgraded in all directions, and now they cancel it all, and swap in non upgradeable A320 and Fokkers again.

Now hours more re-jigging ahead.

And when all that is all done, they are just as likely to cancel all those. 9 hours or so of flying each way, and only booked it, as it was (apparently) upgradeable.

Honestly, booking anything on Virgin more than a few days ahead in not wise right now. WHY when they have rejigged their PERTH-BROOME a week back they change it all again is exasperating for PAYING customers. It is a nightmare when upgrades are involved.

$1500 of impulse booking to Virgin and darn near close to cancelling the entire fiasco. Clients have ZERO confidence right now, booking anything in advance.

Yes now and again plane swaps are necessary - we all know that, but they appear to be doing it madly right now for no apparent reason, and the re-doing it all again the next week etc. This costs them money in cancelled bookings, loses clients like me $1000s due to their changes, wastes HOURS of my time, messes up work schedules here, and the raised blood pressure, and gives all clients a loss of confidence to book ANYTHING in advance.

Moral of the story stay away from flights likely to be substituted to A320s. They seem to be focussing on the Triangle with good frequency, but the schedules to smaller ports are fluid to say the least.

Probably both crew and aircraft shortages.

 

[ozstamps]

yeah I just don’t get what is going on at VA at the moment.

Moral of the story stay away from flights likely to be substituted to A320s. They seem to be focussing on the Triangle with good frequency, but the schedules to smaller ports are fluid to say the least.

Probably both crew and aircraft shortages.

This is late JUNE!

What does crew have to do with that? Just poor business.

Folks will just cancel forward trips that are discretionary, as this is.

 

[antycbr]

This is late JUNE!

What does crew have to do with that? Just poor business.

Folks will just cancel forward trips that are discretionary, as this is.

They’re having trouble recruiting.

 

[ozstamps]

Recruiting? For end June? Is there any difference in crew numbers on an A320 and a 737?