Originally Posted by
Placebogirl
Alistair, I have a couple of points/questions:
1. For this HVC with a new baby, this charge has a significant impact. Before the change I could simply select a bassinet seat at the time of booking and it cost me nothing. Now I have to pay for it--even in J class, which feels like petty nickel-and-diming. I know the advantage is supposed to be some certainty that I will, in fact, be allocated the bassinet seat, but TT ex MEL there are frequently enough changes d/t operational issues that this guarantee does not hold much water for me.
2. The ability to choose a seat ahead of booking is being sold as an advantage of the new system, however the two are not intrinsically linked. I happen to know that this part of the system was trialled at least two years ago and deemed to be "too confusing". It's pretty irritating that something that could have been of great benefit to a few of us years ago was too confusing when there was no money to be made, but somehow acceptable now.
3. You are selling exit rows that used to be reserved for airport use. How are you ensuring that those who purchase these seats are suitable for exit row seating? I suspect that having paid for such a seat makes it more difficult to reseat someone who should not be seated in an exit row--this seems like a conflict of interest to me.
Re your infant question – I actually have young children as well and along with a number of other customer with young children appreciated that for a small fee ($25 for a long haul sector where the majority of our bassinets are is a small fee) you now have certainty as to whether you have the bassinet or not. Also as you can now see seating before you pay for your flight this lets you move to another flight if no bassinets are available on the flight you selected. Further we do not charge for bassinets (or any other seats) in J class.
Re your second point – I have no knowledge of this trial – however as you are I imagine an HVC you will be getting free seat selection now, so this should be a benefit irrespective of whether we charge non HVC’s or not .
Re your third point there is a pop up online warning people they need to meet certain requirements to purchase these exit row seats. If they continue to purchase these in spite of the warnings, then our current airport checks today will pick them up if they are not suitable and no refunds will be given when they are moved out.