Seat allocation on 332 and 738

[tuapekastar]

Just a quickie:

Have been allocated 24J on a 332 QF25 MEL-AKL later in the year (though rumoured that 743s may substitute on this service). 24DC are occupied but 24FG are available. According to seat maps I have seen there is a row 23 (not available on this flight according to CMT) in front of the 'side' row 24 seats, but not for DCFG.

Is it (IYHOs) preferable to stay where I am or request a move to 24G?

Bassinets (and babies) lurk, and presumably (?) the trays and IFE screens being in the armrest will contribute to a lessening of seat and/or armrest width if I move to 24G.

Not unhappy with my allocation, just wondering whether people who have flown the 332 (I'm assuming international config on this flight) think moving would be beneficial. Nothing worse than voluntarily moving from ok to worse.

And on the return I have 5C on a 738. 4C is available and I think that may have much better legroom...zat so?

Cheers

 

[Dave Noble]

And on the return I have 5C on a 738. 4C is available and I think that may have much better legroom...zat so?

Cheers

Row 4 on a 73H is 3rd best imo ( after 14 and 13 ) so move to it; it has a nice amount of space

Dave

 

[JohnK]

On the 332 row 23 has the bassinet seats which would explain why you could not pre-allocate this row. Row 24 is a bulkhead which would have restricted legroom. As a Oneworld Emerald I would try to pre-allocate row 45 exit row.

Also 4C on the 738 would definitely be a smart choice with extra legroom.

 

[NM]

Row 4 on a 73H is 3rd best imo ( after 14 and 13 ) so move to it; it has a nice amount of space

Dave

I would have rated it 6th best, after rows 1, 2, 3, 13 and 14

 

[Dave Noble]

I would have rated it 6th best, after rows 1, 2, 3, 13 and 14

True ; I was subsetting to economy

Dave

 

[tuapekastar]

Thanks. Y it is!

I would imagine my OWE - and to be fair I did not mention this in my OP -, being with CX, and expiring very shortly , wouldn't count as far as pre-allocating exit rows go, given my QP NB number is in the booking.

I'll see how I go with that (no high hopes), and 4C it is for the 737

 

[serfty]

... I'll see how I go with that (no high hopes), and 4C it is for the 737

FWIW, it's your QP that gets you 4C!

The first 3 or 4 rows of WHY on the 737's are reserved for preallocation for QF PS(/oneworld Ruby) and above [includes QP].

 

[Joemac]

I have a query for any frequent International traveller. I recently flew to UK from Sydney on Virgin Atlantic and was amazed to be informed by check in staff that I would have to pay an extras $150 per leg for an exit seat. (Syd-HK and HK-London) All up an extra $600 for the round trip. I asked the other passengers on the exit seats if they experienced the same and none of them had to pay as they didn't specifically ask for the exit seat. This stinks of discrimination and opportunism. I've tried writing to their customer service via e-mail but they just wrote 2 paragraphs without explaining anything or answering the specific requests I made. I'm still waiting on another response to a more direct e-mail.

Does anyone know the contact details for the Ombudsman or any Senior personnel in Virgin Atlantic to take this further?

Cheers

 

[JohnK]

You also created a new thread with the same question.

Did you ask for exit row? Did they inform you that you needed to pay extra? Did you accept? It is almost irrelevant what the arrangement was for the other passengers. I am surprised that you feel that exit row seating was worth $600 extra for the return trip.

I don't think the ombudsman can do anything for you. The situation is similar to upgrades to business class cabin. Some people pay for business class, others pay for economy and request upgrade to business class with points or cash and others get op-ups. Just because the person next to you received an op-up and you paid for the upgrade with points does not mean that you have a case with the airline.

Anyway good luck....

 

[thadocta]

Does anyone know the contact details for the Ombudsman or any Senior personnel in Virgin Atlantic to take this further?

What good would the Ombudsman be? They are for dealings with government departments.

Dave

 

[oz_mark]

This stinks of discrimination and opportunism.

Does anyone know the contact details for the Ombudsman or any Senior personnel in Virgin Atlantic to take this further?

If you take the discrimination tack, you will find that you will probably need to identify the basis of that discrimination. Virgin Atlantic can readily defend themselves by pointing to their policy on the matter.

 

[Dave Noble]

I have a query for any frequent International traveller. I recently flew to UK from Sydney on Virgin Atlantic and was amazed to be informed by check in staff that I would have to pay an extras $150 per leg for an exit seat. (Syd-HK and HK-London) All up an extra $600 for the round trip.

This occurs on a number of airlines and is perfectly valid. The airline recognises that these are better seats than the others and , for those that want to get them, will charge extra

Virgin Blue charges extra to pre-book exit rows for example iirc

Dave