To think this a bit unfair? Gym related

[MintyChapstick]

About two months ago I joined a gym. I've been going every other day for the last few weeks as I'm training for a 5k in June, but Ive not once been able to get into any of the classes I'm interested in as they are always booked up, sometimes a week or so in advance. The gym has an online booking system so you book it that way, but Body Pump, Body Combat and Zumba are booked solidly all the time.
I've not been able to get into one of these classes in the whole time ive been going.

Now clearly there are some gym members who do nothing but watch the online time table like Hawks and book themselves in as soon as a class is announced , but what has annoyed me is on the occasions that I've been in the gym when one of the classes is in session, ive peaked in and realised that there are empty places, so people are booking them up and then not turning up keaning people like me are missing out!

Am I being unreasonable to think this isn't fair, and there should be some sort of punishment for gym members whom not turn up? I was a member of a different gym a few years back, and their system was that you just turned up in the studio at the time the class started and it was first come first served. I think this is probably a fairer system in all honesty.

Would it be worth complaining about this?

Most gyms I have been to have a policy that says of you don't turn up, you can't book anything for so many months.

Some it's one strike, some it's 3. Why not ask at the gym. They may do this and it may be loads of different people doing it.

I would turn up to the class and have a word with the instructor and ask if there are any spaces. It could be that some arent no shows at all an they have called to cancel, but not in enough time for staff to make the class available on line again.

Oh and first come first served isn't really fair either. Our gym used to do this for Pilates and yoga. People would start queuing 45 mins before. So unless you have a lot of time to spare, you could find yourself still not getting in.

We are members of David Lloyd and think the system they now use of 3 strikes and lose booking privileges for a while is working.
However, I once forgot to cancel a class, received a phone call to tell me off for not cancelling and didn't incur a penalty at all so not sure if it really exists!
Particular classes are always booked out on the app, but lots of spaces tend to crop up on the morning of the class.
I have an alarm set on Tuesday at 9pm to remind me to book my spin class for 10 days later. I don't think that makes me selfish, it makes me organised.

If you've noticed that there are spaces why don't you just get there on time and take part

What about a system where they charge you for missing a class but it's free to take a class? Would remind people to cancel it!

I hate first come first served. I haven't got all day to queue.

cakeninja

I have an alarm set on Tuesday at 9pm to remind me to book my spin class for 10 days later.

It is always the spinning classes that are booked out

Cakeninja

I have an alarm set on Tuesday at 9pm to remind me to book my spin class for 10 days later.

Those are the only classes that are booked out at our gym. (DL)

At our club it's the yoga, pilates, bodybalance and spinning classes that are booked within hours on the app.

My gym classes are fully booked within minutes! You have to be really on the ball.

It is Pure Gym. It's very cheap and cheerful, but the staff are nice and the girl who did my induction has given me a really good plan to work on at no extra charge and they are open 24/7, so the positives IMO do outweight the negatives. I will try and find out when the timetable is updated and see if I can get into anything that way.

Yes the early morning spin ones are really popular, but at least at ours people do remember to cancel them, usually the night before or on the morning of, and in about 2.5 years and going to spin 3 times a week, there has only been a truly 'full' (no spare bikes) twice!

And the app makes it so easy, takes less than 20 seconds to book.

The best answer would seem to me to prevent someone who no-shows from using the booking facility for a period of time, say one week. However, I cannot see a gym doing that for fear of losing members.

Pure gym bookings open 8 days before, so bookings opened today for next Wednesday. I have the app on my phone and book in while I'm waiting for my train, it takes a minute.

I know I'm a bit late coming back to this conversation. It somehow just showed up on my phone.
Anyway as the poster above says Pure gym bookings open 8 days before.
Also Pure gym is the one I go to and they do have a policy of just being able to go into a class if there are empty spaces and you can also go in and ask the trainer if you can join in with the class if you get there before the start.