As a silver Vantage customer, i too am wondering on the latest Monarch strategy.
I always pay for the extra leg room ( £15 e/w short haul + £25 e/w med haul)
Having paid this on a recent flight booked months ago, was a little hacked off to see the leg room seats being flogged off at £9.99 when I checked in on line.
I have also planned ahead to take a New Year break- but the Monarch fares were incredibly uncompetitive. So on the same flights days / times I've booked with the Orange brigade, not to save a couple of quid, but to save over £100 for one person on a short flight.
None of this is really encouraging me to remain a Vantage customer.
By and large I like the Monarch product over many of the others out there, but please ZB you're biting the hand that feeds you. !