New June 25th Seating System Suspended

Ok, so now I've got to wait until early August to request seats for my October flights .

Just a thought, but lets say the new system does go live in September (when pigs fly!?) this will be before I'm due to fly, so what are the chances of it screwing up my existing request? Or am I just over thinking things way too much?

[Darren Wheeler]

Maybe the Powers-That-Be have realised that no matter what system they use, people will complain about it?

hmm it aint broke dont fix it. what was wrong with the original system where (if you were so inclined) you could request your seat at booking.

[Darren Wheeler]

Because no matter how early you could request, there would always be some who would try to select at the last minute and moan vociferously that they were sat apart from their nearest and dearest. Never mind that 98% of the plane were happy and given the fixed seating, it's never going to be perfect.

Obviously the fee would have hoped the finances no end too

[mitchja]

The original system had a zero revenue stream.

The original system had a zero revenue stream.

true, so when you are on the phone making your booking, "would you like to request seat? that will be 25GBP etc"
Is that too tricky to operate?
im starting to sound like a certain LBC breakfast show presenter lol

hmm it aint broke dont fix it. what was wrong with the original system where (if you were so inclined) you could request your seat at booking.

Exactly and develope your new system without affecting the current product. Monarch a Ryan Air etc have all updated their websites to increase revenue stream seamlessly. Web interface with the customer is so important that it is the first indication of how the company operates. The whole VS web site is just such a bad reflection on the company and to allow the development to run on so long with this mix and match is unbelievable.

@pauls i agree.
what are the IT dept spending their working time doing?
i bet there are a few new web designers in old street who could sort this out quick and easy.
time to up their game!

The original system had a zero revenue stream.

But did it? For me it was part of the overall appeal of the VS product. I always flew VS for Transatlantic flights. I just liked the way they did things, the way I knew I'd be happy with my seat, etc etc.

So although they got 'zero revenue' from my seat selection it did contribute to my loyalty to VS.

As I said above, this year for the first time ever I'm flying with somebody else who *did* offer free seat selection. Irrational? Perhaps, but as a consumer its the only tool available when dissatisfied.

Just because BA do it doesn't make it right (I don't use BA either). I don't mind paying for seat selection on a £19.99 Ryanair flight, because thats just how that pricing model works. But if I've paid £750 quid to fly to Vancouver I don't expect to be charged even more for a seat.

VS is not a low-fare airline so should not expect to be able to introduce low-fare style charges without irritating its customerbase.

Free lemonade on the flight isnt a 'revenue stream' either but all those little things add up to make the product a pleasurable experience you'll go back to time and again and recommend to others.

Great thread folks, hope VS have the right solution and that we all see it asap.

You never know VS could still pull a rabbit out and suprise us.....here's hoping

Maybe Tim will sort it all out

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hkooFJaQ0Q

[mitchja]

If VS stopped wasting money on rubbish like Google Glass and actually invested in a whole new off-the-shelf reservation and flight management package, this problem would simply not exist.

Modern systems does all this kind of stuff out-of-the-box.

Yes, it's a large investment but in the long run would save them money as VS still rely on a lot of processes done manually which these modern systems now all do automatically.

VS are still sticking stuff onto their legacy systems and there is going to come a point when it will all topple over.

I'm actually surprised Delta have not yet forced VS into using the same systems they use?

[Nottingham Nick]

What mitchja said.

Nick

Ditto

I'm sure they'll sort it... eventually

And while we are on the subject of Google Glass, I don't want my images recorded by Virgin - is there a way to stop this?

what images are we talking about here?

are they the one's for security on the ground ?

[honey lamb]

Ditto

+1

what images are we talking about here?

are they the one's for security on the ground ?

Nothing to do with security. https://blog.virgin-atlantic.com/t5/Our ... 6dZFLHC-fo

what images are we talking about here?

are they the one's for security on the ground ?

Nothing to do with security. https://blog.virgin-atlantic.com/t5/Our ... 6dZFLHC-fo

Presumably they would have to capture your image first in some way that would make it evident that that they are doing so, otherwise they would have no benchmark image for the later recognition. Presumably they would then need your permission to store and use that image?

It's all a bit unclear from the articles, as the privacy issues seem to be (a) about being covertly recorded and (b) wearers of google glass being kicked out of restaurants and bars.

How different would it be from a any airline / hotel agent remembering your face from a previous visit?

https://blog.virgin-atlantic.com/t5/Our ... 6fdZJ4aySN

Great piece of spin, it makes it sound like Virgin are increasing the window size not Boeing, of course that's if you could actually get onto. The system and reserve a window seat.

what images are we talking about here?

are they the one's for security on the ground ?

Nothing to do with security. https://blog.virgin-atlantic.com/t5/Our ... 6dZFLHC-fo

Presumably they would have to capture your image first in some way that would make it evident that that they are doing so, otherwise they would have no benchmark image for the later recognition. Presumably they would then need your permission to store and use that image?

It's all a bit unclear from the articles, as the privacy issues seem to be (a) about being covertly recorded and (b) wearers of google glass being kicked out of restaurants and bars.

How different would it be from a any airline / hotel agent remembering your face from a previous visit?

Totally different (to me at least). If I walked into the airline/travel agent and they said "we want to capture your image for the future so we can remember you", the answer would be "no thanks". I am afraid that I don't trust companies and the less information I give them the better, especially as I have no clue what/how they will use it.

Totally different (to me at least). If I walked into the airline/travel agent and they said "we want to capture your image for the future so we can remember you", the answer would be "no thanks". I am afraid that I don't trust companies and the less information I give them the better, especially as I have no clue what/how they will use it.

Slightly OT from the original issue, but interestingly this article

http://www.sita.aero/content/Google-Gla ... vice-smile

makes no reference at all to facial recognition.

Another VS seat booking shamble then!!

When will they realise that seat selection is important to many loyal flyers?

Suppose I'll keep checking until my seat map becomes available!

It very important to us VS were a family of 5 flying PE to orlando in May just wanted to get get seats sorted so I can relax and stop checking virgin atlantic's manage my flight page every 10mins.