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Original poster

How to get on to a popular gym class??

59 replies

AliceRR · 12/05/2019 11:52

I’m a member of a well known gym chain. I have been to various classes in the past but currently I am not quite up to some of the more vigorous classes. I keep trying to get on to pilates or yoga but even pilates or yoga class this week is full with 7-12 people on the waitlist. It is the same every time I use the app to check.

You can book a class for 8 days so e.g. today is Sunday so you can book on classes for today up to a week today. I can only assume people know what time the booking goes live for each class and then do it straight away or that the classes are just wildly oversubscribed and there are too many people for not enough classes.

WWYD? I am wondering whether to call the them and at least feedback the issue as there may be a demand for more classes.

I pay for gym membership and so don’t really want to pay extra to do yoga elsewhere but there has to be a limit to classes and some people are clearly more on the ball at booking on.

Maybe it’s as simply as getting up early to book on each class 8 days before 🤷‍♀️

OP posts:
ememem84 · 12/05/2019 15:54

At my gym you can book a class a week in advance (but booking opens around half hour before each class iyswim) so if I go to a 6pm spin class I can book for next week at 530.

RandomMess · 12/05/2019 15:52

Don't just mention it to the receptionist you need to put your complaint in writing to the manager and the sales person, focusing on how there seems little point in you being a member when you can't access the classes and the issues with being notified about last minute cancellations.

Ohnotanothernamechange · 12/05/2019 15:27

I often go to body pump and step and have never been glared at for stealing places. In fact Ive found people to be very friendly. By far the cliquiest and unwelcoming class is yoga, which is a shame because Ive always wanted to do it.

Norma27 · 12/05/2019 15:17

I’m dreading it soon at my gym tho. A massive new housing development is being built on all the surrounding land to my gym. There is a sales desk in the gym and if people buy from there they get a years gym membership too. It is already horrendous to park there even tho the actual gym isn’t ever too bad. If it becomes the case that I can’t ever get a parking space I will leave, which I will be gutted about as I have been there nearly 13 years.

Original poster
AliceRR · 12/05/2019 14:57

What part of the country are you?

West Yorkshire

It seems to be a particular problem with yoga and pilates classes

I’ve been thinking of going to then for years and can’t get on except sometimes I can get onto the lunchtime pilates at the Leeds gym

OP posts:
VanessaShanessaJenkins · 12/05/2019 14:56

What part of the country are you?
The nuffield I go to gets busy but as long as I go on the app 8 days before I'm usually ok. The only class you have to actually book on within a few hours of 7am is evening zumba.
Always get on the waiting list too as the nuffield I go to does have regulars but also lots of movement with random people each week. You definitely wouldn't be classed as 'taking up someone's space' at my nuffield.

Original poster
AliceRR · 12/05/2019 14:52

I also got glared at in a spin class once for taking a regular's space blush never went back

I’ve had it where I’ve been on the waitlist for a class after work and then got an email about half an hour to an hour before to say I’m booked in but I didn’t see the email as I was working

OP posts:
Original poster
AliceRR · 12/05/2019 14:50

I also got glared at in a spin class once for taking a regular's space blush never went back

I think this is really bad. It doesn’t surprise me it’s the same people who go every week as that’s been my experience with some of the classes I’ve been to (I used to do body attack and body combat a lot and some hiit classes) but if we’re all paying members then we have just as much right to use the classes

If I get up early and still can’t book on (like when I call the go surgery st 8:30 when it opens and all the appointments have gone by the time I get through) then I’ll be a bit more miffed

I need to work out which days I want to go now and set the alarm ⏰

OP posts:
HunterHearstHelmsley · 12/05/2019 14:44

David Lloyd is 8pm 9 days before (I.e. at 8pm today I will book my classes for Tuesday 21st). If I forget, I join the wait list as someone always cancels. It only gives you a few minutes to book before the option goes to the next person on the list.

Loopytiles · 12/05/2019 14:32

Yes, you need to book via the app as soon as the classes are released. Spaces often come up the evening before or even right before the class. If wait listed you could head for the gym for the time of the class, then use other facilities if you can’t get in.

thankyourforthemusic · 12/05/2019 14:14

This used to drive me mad , I used to go to spin class on a Saturday morning, you could book 1 week in advance at midnight. So people would book at midnight, no way am I doing that it's silly . Anyway if I booked in I'd turn up a few minutes before but the clique were there early and some hadn't booked so we're waiting to see if anyone wasn't going to turn up and take the place . It annoyed me someone on your bike not booked in to see if you had booked was going to turn up or not . It just seemed like a lot of hassle and I stopped going .

OverInfestedBadger · 12/05/2019 14:07

At Virgin I have been in off 12th place on the wait list. Go on it!

user87382294757 · 12/05/2019 14:01

I just left the gym and went to the local sports centre instead due to this. Still need to book but much bigger and more classes / spaces. I was with Fitness first and it used to be OK but became a nightmare. It was due to them cutting classes as well, and paying the instructors less so lots left. I used to swim though and that was in a way better, but so far I'm happier with the sports centre.

IncyWincyHider · 12/05/2019 13:50

At my gym, classes are released on midnight so I just book on then

Never had any problems with "stealing" a regular's spot though - there are the regulars and some changing people each week

Norma27 · 12/05/2019 13:46

I’m at a virgin gym and find the system works well. I often get in off the wait list.
They have a policy where if you don’t turn up for 3 classes in 30 days then you are suspended from booking any classes for 7 days.

isabellerossignol · 12/05/2019 13:27

I have problems with this too. And worse than that, a lot of people book every single class for the entire week as soon as they are released and then only come to the ones they feel like on the day. I wish they would suspend their membership for misusing the booking system...

IntentsandPorpoises · 12/05/2019 13:25

I'm a member of pure gym and pay £3.99 bolt on a month to be able to book 14 days in advance.

DramaRamaLlama · 12/05/2019 13:16

I cancelled my David Lloyd membership because of this - I could never get the classes, even when setting my alarm to make sure I booked the instant they were available.

All too much bother

TinselAndKnickers · 12/05/2019 13:13

There's no hope of me EVER getting the late Thursday morning aqua!

I also got glared at in a spin class once for taking a regular's space Blush never went back

Gone2far · 12/05/2019 12:56

I go to the Nuffield, and have given up on doing their Bodybalance classes for this very reason.

Original poster
AliceRR · 12/05/2019 12:45

I called and apparently bookings go live from 7am, 8 days in advance...

I mentioned I’d had trouble getting on as there are always lots of people already in the waitlist when I look but she didn’t sound interested so I left it 😬

OP posts:
Original poster
AliceRR · 12/05/2019 12:42

Also be prepared to have people glare at you and talk loudly that someone has ‘stolen’ Sharon’s space in the class. At least I had that!

Oh gosh! It did occur to me that it’s the same people who get in every week...

Its v annoying but usually if I look the night before the class someone has cancelled so I book then.

This doesn’t seem to happen. They are always full. I have managed to get on some other classes from being in the waitlist so people obviously do cancel.

I think I will call to (a) feedback the classes are always busy and I have had difficulty getting on so maybe there are others (probably if there are 13 people on waitlist) and (b) ask when they go live

My gym chain begins with an “N” by the way 🤓

OP posts:
Floofsquidge · 12/05/2019 12:25

If it's the same gym chain I use the system works well as you can just set a reminder each week to sign up 8 days before rather than the old way of turning up at least an hour before and putting your name on a paper list at reception. Total waste of a journey if you turn up and no space.
This way, even when there are umpteen people on the list by the time the week comes around enough people have usually cancelled to free up for others on the list. If you don't cancel and don't turn up you go on the naughty list, 3 strikes and you can't book any classes for a month.

lisasimpsonssaxophone · 12/05/2019 12:19

Mine is 10pm 2 weeks before. You do just need to figure out when booking opens, and then set a reminder to go on and book at that time.

DecomposingComposers · 12/05/2019 12:17

Our booking goes live at 10pm 8 days before so you do have to be on the app at that time or you don't get a space.

Previously it went live at midnight so I used to set an alarm to wake up at 5am to book then. It's stupid. There's clearly a demand so don't know why they can't just add another class.