Well, from what I've gleaned (I didn't do the survey as I wasn't invited...again....so I haven't signed any secrecy pact and I have no idea who told me, as my memory is exceptionally poor) is that VA are canvassing the idea of making row 3 a paid upgrade like exit rows.
I can say, row 3 is the only reason I retain Plat. Even though I fly 120+ sectors a year, the majority are charter flights so no status unfortunately, so to retain plat I've been buying both J and flexi.......cash. Take away row 3 and it might actually be better for me. I'll just settle with gold on VA, then I'll be able to get and keep gold on QF and buy row 3 when it suits and still come out about even cost wise. Flexi especially is an absolute rip off, so going back to buying -Y may be a real benefit to me and open up the QF competition. I wonder if the clowns in VA marketing have actually ever flown on an aircraft or have actually run different scenarios. I have a FFer friend I was just talking to on Friday night and he is (perhaps, was) going to switch domestic travel entirely to VA to gain row 3. He's currently VA gold and has had row 3, which he likes a lot and to get it more consistently, he's prepared to throw his loyalty VA way........that was entirely based on row 3.
Very little differentiates gold from plat on VA and row 3 is a biggie. If VA ditch that for plat, well they've lost the plot.
