WP shadow on VA?

[Mondo]

Does any one know, or have experienced the a regular WP shadow on VA services? There is a lot of talk about this on the QF threads. Seems fairly common, albeit a non published benefit. Cheers

 

[medhead]

There is no regular WP shadow on VA. Simply does not exist. Even if you do get a spare seat there is every chance that the gate agent will move a person who has a shadow into the spare seat next to the WP by simply using a Biro to write a new seat number on their boarding pass.

Still I'm very tempted to write 1A on my boarding pass.

 

[JohnK]

Does any one know, or have experienced the a regular WP shadow on VA services? There is a lot of talk about this on the QF threads. Seems fairly common, albeit a non published benefit. Cheers

A shadow is only good if someone does not select that middle seat. It is not guaranteed.

I can select any middle seat during OLCI and at the airport I have been offered a middle seat in row 3 but I have chosen an aisle seat further back.

 

[Boris spatsky]

There is no regular WP shadow on VA. Simply does not exist. Even if you do get a spare seat there is every chance that the gate agent will move a person who has a shadow into the spare seat next to the WP by simply using a Biro to write a new seat number on their boarding pass.

Still I'm very tempted to write 1A on my boarding pass.

I get a shadow in row 3 on the VA 737 90% of the time. I reckon they do exist.

 

[serfty]

There is no regular WP shadow on VA. Simply does not exist. ...

This indeed seems to be the case - a "real" shadow will 'move' if you change seat preselection.

Such can be demonstrated when a QF booking for a WP/SG is showing the 'shadow' characteristic.

The VA systems now have been set up with a provision to block access to areas of seats depending on status until Check-in opens, but that seems to be pretty much it.

.... Even if you do get a spare seat there is every chance that the gate agent will move a person who has a shadow into the spare seat next to the WP by simply using a Biro to write a new seat number on their boarding pass.

Still I'm very tempted to write 1A on my boarding pass.

 

[medhead]

I get a shadow in row 3 on the VA 737 90% of the time. I reckon they do exist.

I'm lucky to get a shadow 30% of the time, even to ridiculous levels as per the example mentioned of someone (shorter than me) in 30C with a shadow being moved to 3E, on a flight with more empty middle seats than not. Especially, when 30C can get off the aircraft quicker than row 3.

This is part of the reason I have 35 VA flights this year and 60 QF flights.

 

[DGW]

I get a shadow in row 3 on the VA 737 90% of the time. I reckon they do exist.

I'd say you've just been lucky, or perhaps you fly at non-peak times. I would say I get a shadow in row 3 maybe 10% of the time, but I typically fly the triangle and at peak times.

I've taken to sitting down the back (say row 28-29) and asking the check in agent to block the seat next to me (if the load is such that this is possible) and have had good success with this lately.

 

[kevrosmith]

I've had agents offer to "block" the seat next to me, and when I check EF, it shows the seat occupied - not blocked (with the cross) like it does for QF flights. First time it happened, I actually thought someone had taken the seat. The seat block seems to have held, and I've never had anyone moved into the blocked seat next to me by the gate staff.

 

[MartinMemo]

I've had agents offer to "block" the seat next to me, and when I check EF, it shows the seat occupied - not blocked (with the cross) like it does for QF flights. First time it happened, I actually thought someone had taken the seat. The seat block seems to have held, and I've never had anyone moved into the blocked seat next to me by the gate staff.

Last 3 VA flights; OOL-MEL a few weeks ago MEL-PER & PER-MEL last weekend the lounge staff were kind enough to move me to an empty rown and "block" the seats. This doesn't guarantee anything - OOL-MEL was a packed flight, I was in 5F (i think) and no one sat in 5D or 5E. MEL-PER was 2/3rd full, I was in a middle row of 4 on the a330, row 11 i think, and no one took the "blocked" 2 seats next to me... But PER-MEL had all 4 of the middle row 13 "blocked" on an half full flight (because depsite being empty, some **** decided to move right next to me in row 22??) but when boarding, the seat next to me stayed full but the 2 next 2 that were occupied, then one of those passengers was bumped to J? Jery weird flight - i looked like there were a whole bunch of rows blocked for people last min (prob staff)... anyway, the moral is, they will do it if they can and you ask (and still silver).

 

[bass_ke]

I've always had luck with the lounge angels in OOL and scoring a shadow, just another reason OOL is my favourite VA lounge!

 

[drewbles]

I've had VA staff in MEL, PER and SYD all categorically tell me that it was impossible to block seats (this as recently as a few weeks ago). I have had several 'spirited conversations' with lounge managers about this, and the fact that they should have it as an option. The amount of people that select a middle seat in the front few rows over an aisle down the back astound me (i'd rather the latter any day).

 

[JohnK]

I get a shadow in row 3 on the VA 737 90% of the time. I reckon they do exist.

You have been lucky with vacant seats.

I can choose any vacant seat on Virgin and Qantas aircraft at OLCI and at the airport. A shadow would suggest very sophisticated software to take into account customer value and not allow middle seats of high value frequent flyers to be selected if flight was not full.

So while Qantas may keep a vacant seat next to a Platinum at time of booking anyone can choose that seat from T-80 onwards. Not sure why people get so excited. If you get a vacant seat next to you on a full flight then I would be impressed.

 

[drewbles]

You have been lucky with vacant seats.

I can choose any vacant seat on Virgin and Qantas aircraft at OLCI and at the airport. A shadow would suggest very sophisticated software to take into account customer value and not allow middle seats of high value frequent flyers to be selected if flight was not full.

Actually, it'd be a very simple algorithm.

If a/c type = 737, and if percentage of seats sold = y, then block seat next to pax with WP/WP1/CL until percentage of seats sold = y-z.

Quite easy. Substitute a/c type and other numbers, but you get the idea. It's not hard to do the initial blocking based simply on status. Then there's PCV, which you could use in place or in conjunction with status. I'm doubtful there would be many SG's that had a higher PCV than a WP (although i'm sure there are instances of where it may be the case).

 

[Boris spatsky]

I'd say you've just been lucky, or perhaps you fly at non-peak times. I would say I get a shadow in row 3 maybe 10% of the time, but I typically fly the triangle and at peak times.

I've taken to sitting down the back (say row 28-29) and asking the check in agent to block the seat next to me (if the load is such that this is possible) and have had good success with this lately.

I fly extensively on VA as a WP - 93 sectors this year. But no, i do not fly routes in the Golden Triangle...

 

[JohnK]

Actually, it'd be a very simple algorithm.

The algorithm would be fairly simple.

Do you think the airlines would implement it? Too difficult. What if the passenger with the highest customer value decided to move from 4C with vacant seat down to 23D but a couple already in 23EF. What do you do? Move them both? Split them up? What if they have already used OLCI. I can see a lot of musical chairs and a lot of headaches.

 

[serfty]

The algorithm would be fairly simple.

Do you think the airlines would implement it? Too difficult. What if the passenger with the highest customer value decided to move from 4C with vacant seat down to 23D but a couple already in 23EF. What do you do? Move them both? Split them up? What if they have already used OLCI. I can see a lot of musical chairs and a lot of headaches.

I suspect the VA budget for the SABRE implementation is well and truly blown - I would not expect them to spend a rupee more than they absolutely have to ...

 

[mooingchicken]

I have been flying for work, red eye's and friday arvo I have just done airport counter check-in (did online check in once and the drop bag line took longer than the checkin at BNE, I am obviously not WP or any high status to get the express line) and have had quiet good luck with just asking nicley at check-in if it was possible to have a spare seat and failing that an exit row.

Out of 10 flights I got this 8. One time even got an exit row with a spare seat. these were all 2/3 to 3/4 full planes. One time i didnt was because the place was almost 100% and the other was a stopover, and the system wouldnt let him access the 2nd flight for some reason, but moved to row behind during flight (completly empty exit row)

 

[samas]

I have been flying for work, red eye's and friday arvo I have just done airport counter check-in (did online check in once and the drop bag line took longer than the checkin at BNE, I am obviously not WP or any high status to get the express line) and have had quiet good luck with just asking nicley at check-in if it was possible to have a spare seat and failing that an exit row.

If the bag drop queue is quite heavy you could still try the check-in queue. Prior to having status I used check-in queue which was near empty with a decent bag drop queue. Sometimes when priority queue is long these days I will jump on a normal queue instead if it's a lot shorter

 

[Shudai]

I always fly row 3, and I don't remember the last time I had someone sitting next to me.

 

[drewbles]

I have been flying for work, red eye's and friday arvo I have just done airport counter check-in (did online check in once and the drop bag line took longer than the checkin at BNE, I am obviously not WP or any high status to get the express line) and have had quiet good luck with just asking nicley at check-in if it was possible to have a spare seat and failing that an exit row.

Out of 10 flights I got this 8. One time even got an exit row with a spare seat. these were all 2/3 to 3/4 full planes. One time i didnt was because the place was almost 100% and the other was a stopover, and the system wouldnt let him access the 2nd flight for some reason, but moved to row behind during flight (completly empty exit row)

Law of averages shows that if a 737 is 2/3 full, *every* middle seat can (potentially) be empty though. Even at 3/4, that's still a lot of empty middle seats.