Virgin upgrade likelihood if you choose your own seats?

[Aerocat4]

Hi all, 1st time posting after being here for years...
I'm wondering that if you choose your seats for a few flights when travelling on Virgin Australia connecting flights, and the return leg, what is the likelihood of getting an upgrade to premium X or business when you check-in at the counter? Is there a Check-in person out there that could ascertain that people who have previously booked their seats, probably wouldn't be upgraded compared to those that just rock up, find all the economy seats are taken as such, and get a free upgrade to the better seats....
Is it better to not pre-choose your seats, and see if upgrade happens?
Thanks, KP

 

[andyhui01]

Assuming you are not a WP and your original flight was not cancelled. Upgrading to J is almost nil.

I think the chance of getting assigned a YX seat is higher if you don't select a seat and check in at the counter late. My seat mates in YX are either other WP's or people who don't look like they know how to check in online/fly very often. (Only problem is I have no idea who is a paid YX customer. I am guessing people who don't fly very often are more likely to fork out money for YX)

 

[Aerocat4]

Thanks Andy, but what is a WP?

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

WP are Platinum members, ie one of the upper echelons of Virgin or Qantas or any any other frequent flyer programs.
We call them "wan***" because they think they own it all.
RED/SILVER/GOLD/PLATINUM is the tier status.
Qantas has Platinum 1.
Edit: I normally now adays pay for YX.
As colleague above says, its hard to tell if the person next to you in YX paid for it, or was moved up, or complimented up as a WP. WP have the most chances of being complimented up to YX.
On most fares, paying $39/$49/$59 will see you get to be in YX with out having to worry if they will compliment you to YX or not.
I have been a VA member for 10 years, and have never been upgraded to J. Have been up to VA PS (plebian Siliver). Now on VA NR (no status Red).

 

[CPMaverick]

I've been upgraded to PE complimentary (due to Economy being full) on my last two LAX-MEL flights.

The first time I had purchased YX. The second time I had not. Both times I had seat assignments.

The first time I was one of the only people in PE. The second time PE was full of people like me who were upgraded FOC. All were Platinums.

My experience suggests that it doesn't matter if you have a seat assignment or not, they will op-up members in order of status, at least when it comes to op-ups to PE. Not sure about op-ups to YX.

 

[tomasp]

Are you talking about Domestic or International?

Can't speak about international, but I'm WP and have been upgraded from EconX (row 3) to Business (MEL-BNE) twice in the past month (during school holidays). Once was whilst at the lounge, and once at the gate immediately prior to boarding (I think a family wanted to sit together so they did some switches and bumped me up to free up room). Both times I was flying on fully flexible fares.

Been WP for the last few months and these were the first times I've been upgraded (ever).

 

[andyhui01]

I have only been upgraded once in the hundreds of MEL-SYD flights. earlier MEL-SYD flight was cancelled (not the one I was on), name gets called at the lounge with a new BP and a sticker for no catering. I already had BP for my regular 4A seat.

Does anyone know what happens if they call and I happen to be outside the lounge or miss the announcement? Would I get a magical red light while boarding and handed a new BP or do they give it to the next pax in line?

complimented up as a WP. WP have the most chances of being complimented up to YX.

Just thought I rephrase this. Getting upgraded to YX on any Economy ticket (Even the cheapest/redemption ones) is a published WP benefit (unless YX is full at the time of seat selection/booking).

 

[Muppet501st]

I have only been upgraded once in the hundreds of MEL-SYD flights. earlier MEL-SYD flight was cancelled (not the one I was on), name gets called at the lounge with a new BP and a sticker for no catering. I already had BP for my regular 4A seat.

Does anyone know what happens if they call and I happen to be outside the lounge or miss the announcement? Would I get a magical red light while boarding and handed a new BP or do they give it to the next pax in line?



Just thought I rephrase this. Getting upgraded to YX on any Economy ticket (Even the cheapest/redemption ones) is a published WP benefit (unless YX is full at the time of seat selection/booking).

You'd get the magical beep and handed your new bp at the gate.

Ive been upgraded on a handfull of occasions, Domestic only. All because of oversold Y and cancelled flights.

 

[MarkD]

Only ever hd 2 complmentary domestic upgrades. Have had 4 on SQ flights (SIN -MEL x 2 and SIN-SYD x 2) and 8 on NZ (PE trans tasman and J AKL-LAX X 1. LAX-AKL x 2) as VA WP

 

[johnnyfive]

I've been upgraded to PE complimentary (due to Economy being full) on my last two LAX-MEL flights.

The first time I had purchased YX. The second time I had not. Both times I had seat assignments.

The first time I was one of the only people in PE. The second time PE was full of people like me who were upgraded FOC. All were Platinums.

My experience suggests that it doesn't matter if you have a seat assignment or not, they will op-up members in order of status, at least when it comes to op-ups to PE. Not sure about op-ups to YX.

Very interesting. I have an upcoming flight to LAX and according to Expert flyer economy is sold out. I put in for a points upgrade, which I'm waitlisted on.

What type of fare were you on? When did you get the op-up? At check-in or at the gate?

 

[CPMaverick]

Very interesting. I have an upcoming flight to LAX and according to Expert flyer economy is sold out. I put in for a points upgrade, which I'm waitlisted on.

What type of fare were you on? When did you get the op-up? At check-in or at the gate?

I believe I was on Elevate fares both times. They were definitely not Freedom fares.

Once I got the op-up at Check-in. The other time I was in the Emirates lounge and they called me up.

Just flew LAX-BNE, and no op-up for me unfortunately! My streak ran out.

 

[grubbidok]

Feeling a bit left out here now. I've been WP for over 5 years and have received an op-up precisely zero times.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

I think they (VA) are a bit of a tight &rs& in that op up sense.
At the least, with QF I have been only given one op up with QF, and several shadows.
But now with VA selling their Y(X) on a lot of their routes, and a person can buy those from the get go, without "hoping/paying with points" for a go at J, I am all for the VA system over QF.
Of course, different kettle of fish so to speak where there is no Y(X).

 

[johnnyfive]

So in theory who would get unsold Y(X) seats when all of economy is sold out?

 

[CPMaverick]

So in theory who would get unsold Y(X) seats when all of economy is sold out?

Not sure what the official policy is, but I would suspect that window and aisle YX uprgrades would be given to elites in order of status. Then middle seats filled with either travel companions of those pax, or non-status flyers without seat assignments.

It is also possible that they just fill the empty seats with anyone without a seat assignment, that would be easier but less equitable for the elite flyers.

 

[johnnyfive]

You would hope so. I've got an LAX flight coming up that shows an empty seat next to me in the Plat Y zone, but Expert Flyer is showing zero Y fares left, which the VA website also reflects. So it might pay to not have seat assignments on this flight as a Plat shadow won't be happening. Plus VA opens up preferred seating zones at 24 hours before departure. So should I call up and give up my assignment in the hopes that VA can assign that regular Y seat to a non-status member and hopefully give me an unsold Y(X) at check-in?

 

[CPMaverick]

It's too risky IMO to give up your seat assignment. You might end up in a middle seat. In my two op-up experiences I had a seat assignment, so I feel reasonably confident that VA will upgrade elites before non-status pax.

 

[johnnyfive]

It's too risky IMO to give up your seat assignment. You might end up in a middle seat. In my two op-up experiences I had a seat assignment, so I feel reasonably confident that VA will upgrade elites before non-status pax.

Yea sounds like a good idea. I'll wait and see. Cheers!

 

[johnnyfive]

Waitlist system worked for us. I noticed on expert flyer that at T-72 that a bunch of Business and Premium seats were released for sale, no reward seats showed up on the website. At around T-52 our points upgrades got approved and a previously sold out Y got 2 seats open, and now a few reward seats are available on the website. Just in before the Upgrade Bids get processed.

 

[Rubix]

I was on a recent flight back from HBA>BNE. Couple in 4Dand 5D had to told me they paid the $39 or $49 or whatever to upgrade to Economy X.

The guy was 2m tall imo and said it was worth it. He had no status he said.

Every time, touch wood, I fly since Velocity X has started I always get an upgrade (VA Gold) domestically (usually from checkin counter and then if no luck the lounge angels) from my pre picked seat. Even if it is row 14 & 15 exit rows.

I always pre select an aisle to have more stretch room and easy access to walk around when I get tight.