VA arbitrarily bumping business class pax to economy

9 replies

vbarberini

Member since 16 Oct 2012

Total posts 37

I recently heard about VA acquiring aircraft with only economy configurations (heaven knows why they’d want them).

Nonetheless, today I logged in to an existing business class booking to check on seating, but was shocked to see the business class cabin was gone… replaced by an all economy seat map. And my business class seat was now an economy seat.

VA have not notified me. Needless to say, it’s not good form.

Keen to hear from others who might have been affected likewise.

Dan22

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

Member since 07 Aug 2013

Total posts 165

Its not that they acquiring new all economy aircraft, without all the details I'd bank on your flight is now being operated by a VARA aircraft which is all economy. Are you flying between Perth and Adelaide? A lot of these flights are having to be operated by VARA A320 whilst VA still battles crew shortages and utilises crew for other flights. There's a big Perth base with several A320s that can atleast keep these flights operating. How long is it until you fly? I would say scheduling is still subject to change maybe why you haven't been notified already. If your ticket is still business but have an economy seat and B737-800 is then scheduled you will be placed back in a business seat. If you find your still placed in economy on the day then ground staff customer service can advise you, I believe you still get lounge access and lounge customer service may be able to assist you also.

Last editedby Dan22 at Nov 24, 2022, 04:40 AM.

vbarberini

Member since 16 Oct 2012

Total posts 37

Thanks Dan22, the equipment has switched from 737-800 to a newly acquired (from KLM) 737-700. These new aircraft are being based in BNE and on speaking to VA yesterday I was told at least one of them will now fly the BNE-CNS-BNE route.

tommygun

Delta Air Lines - SkyMiles

Member since 16 Oct 2017

Total posts 282

I just checked KLM website. Business class on their 737-700 is 3-3 seating with the middle seat blocked. So, Clayton's business class as is common in Europe is what you can expect on these aircraft unless VA will be installing better seats.

Warragul

Member since 22 Jan 2019

Total posts 16

The ex KLM -700's have been installed with VA seats in an all Economy config.

Flyer86

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

Member since 30 Mar 2018

Total posts 5

It’s on the website fleet section at the end (737-700 economy range)

Travellz

Member since 26 Mar 2020

Total posts 55

Originally Posted by Dan22

Its not that they acquiring new all economy aircraft, without all the details I'd bank on your flight is now being operated by an VARA A320 which is all economy. Are you flying between Perth and Adelaide? A lot of these flights are having to be operated by VARA A320 whilst VA still battles crew shortages and utilises crew for other flights. There's a big Perth base with several A320s that can atleast keep these flights operating. How long is it until you fly? I would say scheduling is still subject to change maybe why you haven't been notified already. If your ticket is still business but have an economy seat and B737 is then scheduled you will be placed back in a business seat. If you find your still places in economy on the day then ground staff customer service can advise you, I believe you still get lounge access and lounge customer service may be able to assist you also.


Demand for a refund if you paid for business then you should get business - there is no excuse.


And don't let them try to refund you based on "highest economy class fare on the day of departure" either.

Your better off getting full refunded and then rebooking economy from stratch


tommygun

Delta Air Lines - SkyMiles

Member since 16 Oct 2017

Total posts 282

"Your better off getting full refunded and then rebooking economy from stratch"

And better still, voting with your feet and ditching VA for a business seat on Qantas or Rex.


SimmoOz007

Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards

Member since 12 May 2022

Total posts 6

The 737-700's and the A320's are all for VARA from February as I understand it. The new 737-700's are to replace the Fokker 100's in Perth. For now they are using them on some other routes until then.

nix584

Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards

Member since 10 Jan 2012

Total posts 108

Originally Posted by SimmoOz007

The 737-700's and the A320's are all for VARA from February as I understand it. The new 737-700's are to replace the Fokker 100's in Perth. For now they are using them on some other routes until then.

They won't be registered to VARA, they'll be VA aircraft and will (and already are) flying routes like BNE-LST/ADL/CNS/MKY/TSV/ISA as well as intra-WA routes.

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