VA to Coffs & Ballina

[agentgerko]

VA flies daily to CFS and BNK using wither B737s or E190s yet they do not sell Business Class on these flights despite the aircraft clearly being configured with these seats. I asked them how does one get one of these seats as they don't appear on the plan even at full economy fare. They said they leave these seats empty on the plane but I do not believe that. Does anyone have any info on how to obtain these seats?

 

[markis10]

You might not believe it but they do leave it empty, same happens on other non J routes.

 

[jaspon]

When pax loads are light, on the 737, they do seat status pax there for aircraft balance etc

 

[agentgerko]

Blimey, the best seats on the plane and they leave them empty rather than getting revennue for them? Madness! I flew down to Canberra in VA Business on the E190 ten days ago. It might seem an extravagance on a short flight but having the lounge at both ends as well as the onboard extras makes it worthwhile to me. Well, I think VA is crazy but thanks for the confirmation.

 

[Fruitcake]

Blimey, the best seats on the plane and they leave them empty rather than getting revennue for them?

VA presumably feels that the reduction in crew costs by not carrying the J flight attendant on these flights probably offsets any revenue foregone from not selling the occasional J fare.

 

[agentgerko]

Can understand that, Fruitcake but then the obvious answer would be to sell off these seats for a fee on the Economy seatmap the way they do exit row seats. So you get the wider seat and extra legroom but with no expectations of receving any Business Class service. I'm after the seat, not a free bikkie and cuppa.

 

[rockplat]

On the BNE/ROK route, they seat status pax in the business seats in the E90 and 737. We select the seats when booking. We get Y service

 

[brad330]

VA presumably feels that the reduction in crew costs by not carrying the J flight attendant on these flights probably offsets any revenue foregone from not selling the occasional J fare.

On the EJET they have to carry a 3rd f/a regardless of J.

 

[agentgerko]

Have you noticed that according to the VA website under "Cabin Classes' they claim that the J class aisle seats in the E190 are not sold, only the windows, making it effectively a 1 x 1 configuration. They certainly did not do this on my flight as my son was immediatelly allocated the aisle seat next to me.

Embraer E190 Business Class seat features include:

• Luxury leather
• Two seats per row*
• Generous recline
• 34 inch (85cm) seat pitch

*Guests must be assigned a window seat for boarding. If you wish to change to another seat within Business Class, please check with the cabin crew on your flight.

 

[markis10]

Have you noticed that according to the VA website under "Cabin Classes' they claim that the J class aisle seats in the E190 are not sold, only the windows, making it effectively a 1 x 1 configuration. They certainly did not do this on my flight as my son was immediatelly allocated the aisle seat next to me.

Embraer E190 Business Class seat features include:

• Luxury leather
• Two seats per row*
• Generous recline
• 34 inch (85cm) seat pitch

*Guests must be assigned a window seat for boarding. If you wish to change to another seat within Business Class, please check with the cabin crew on your flight.

That was the case before the conversion, not any more (obviously should be not on the web site but that is the least of VAs issues when it comes to the web site.

 

[Fruitcake]

Can understand that, Fruitcake but then the obvious answer would be to sell off these seats for a fee on the Economy seatmap the way they do exit row seats. So you get the wider seat and extra legroom but with no expectations of receving any Business Class service. I'm after the seat, not a free bikkie and cuppa.

Agreed - but the risk then is that you introduce massive inconsistency in your "extra legroom" product. The pax who paid "extra legroom" and happened to get the six or eight J seats get extra pitch, width, and elbow room. Extra legroom in the exit rows might see you in a middle seat with two rugby players.

So... should "extra legroom" at the front of the plane on SYD-BNK be sold at a higher price than the exit rows? If so that's another layer of complexity for the booking system and, as markis says, they probably have better things to be looking at in terms of their booking engine and website at the moment.


The happy medium seems to be use of the J seats as an unpublished benefits for gold/platinum flyers. But even that's a risk... there is actually a post on AFF somewhere from a member who got their knickers in a massive knot about a year ago when VA seated them in the J cabin on one of these flights but then, in accordance with the fare purchased, only offered a flexi meal and not business class service.