Q re PE seat allocation/olci

[katiec]

I know its MONTHS and MONTHS away but just wondering...

Providing all goes according to plan we are supposed to have pre-allocated seats in the bubble (as have booked a 4/5V hotel according to the brochure) - and the TA says they should be "guaranteed"!!!
Has anyone had experience of this? and how it may affect OLCI?
Just wondering if we might "lose" the seats if we dont get to do check in 24hrs beforehand?

Cant spend the next 16 months worrying about this as this is one of the main reasons we booked PE. (I know if there is a plane change this will all change, but hopefully it'll all be ok).

 

[wickesy]

As far as I understand it as long as you check in within 13 hours of departure time then you shouldn't 'lose' your seats, so just do OLCI or twilight check-in as soon as you can and you will be fine.

We've flown a few times with Virgin and never been moved from the bubble yet. I've probably jinxed us now.

 

[katiec]

As far as I understand it as long as you check in within 13 hours of departure time then you shouldn't 'lose' your seats, so just do OLCI or twilight check-in as soon as you can and you will be fine.
Thank you

We've flown a few times with Virgin and never been moved from the bubble yet. I've probably jinxed us now.

Oh i hope not
Its a bit like when the commentator says "he hasn't scored all season...." ?You just know they'll score against your team!!!

 

[Hodkys]

Hi, our situation is slightly the reverse of yours. We are a family of 5. We only booked our holiday on Monday! We booked 5 PE VA seats. At the time of the booking we were advised that, although our seats were not allocated as 'five in a row' in the downstairs PE section, we would not be split up. This is pretty important to us as our kids are quite young. My daughter will be under two when we go on holiday and VA's on-line check in can't cope with a <2 year old having their own seat, so we can't use on-line check in.

We posed a question to VA to make sure that we would not be split up. We don't mind sitting behind each other (which would be upstairs or down) just so long as there aren't other rows of passengers between us. We were assured that it is VA's policy not to split up families. Even if people have used on-line check in and have their boarding cards then these may be reissued to accommodate other passenger groups. I'm sure it may just mean that you may have to move to another row.

 

[katiec]

Congratulations on your booking - any more details?

We were assured that it is VA's policy not to split up families. Even if people have used on-line check in and have their boarding cards then these may be reissued to accommodate other passenger groups. I'm sure it may just mean that you may have to move to another row.

I'm really sorry to say this, and its probably not very politically correct but it would really really annoy me if I had to move a pre-booked seat to accommodate a family!!!
I feel it would be penalising us because there are only the 2 of us!!

Of course i would not expect a 2 year old to sit on their own.... my DS was that age once , but in January we were moved to accommodate a couple of large groups on a Monarch PE flight back from Calgary - i couldnt understand why they were quite happy to move us from pre-booked seats but wouldnt re-arrange a large group - there were no children involved there though. It annoyed me the whole flight - silly I know but I felt we were treated like p**h just to accommodate other people, when there didnt appear to be any need for it. (Their policy appeared to be that they like to keep big groups together - fine if there are young children - but why should i be penalised for another group of adults?)

As long as we stay within the bubble and sit directly next to each other it'll be ok. My DH, who is as mild mannered as they come, would kick up such a stink if we were moved to where he didnt want to be - i wouldnt want to be present!!!

 

[tigger137]

I'm really sorry to say this, and its probably not very politically correct but it would really really annoy me if I had to move a pre-booked seat to accommodate a family!!!
I feel it would be penalising us because there are only the 2 of us!!

I agree with you Katie. I don't see why we should be discriminated against for the benefit of family groups, especially when it may even be that some members of those groups, ie the children, have paid lower a lower fare than we have.

I only book with airlines where I can choose my seat either as I'm booking (United, American) or immediately afterwards (Virgin). Where possible, I check the specific seats available before I book and sometimes change my dates accordingly.

I know that all airlines say they may change your pre-booked seats to meet operational requirements. But I don't think they should move people who have chosen to book well ahead and have pre-booked their seats simply in order to accommodate the seating requirements of those who have booked closer to the time.

Whilst I accept that young children should not be sat on their own next to a stranger, I don't see that families should automatically expect other passengers to be moved to allow the whole family to sit together. As long as each child is next to one adult from the family group, that should suffice.

 

[tigger137]

Hi, our situation is slightly the reverse of yours. We are a family of 5. We only booked our holiday on Monday! We booked 5 PE VA seats. At the time of the booking we were advised that, although our seats were not allocated as 'five in a row' in the downstairs PE section, we would not be split up. This is pretty important to us as our kids are quite young. My daughter will be under two when we go on holiday and VA's on-line check in can't cope with a <2 year old having their own seat, so we can't use on-line check in.

We posed a question to VA to make sure that we would not be split up. We don't mind sitting behind each other (which would be upstairs or down) just so long as there aren't other rows of passengers between us. We were assured that it is VA's policy not to split up families. Even if people have used on-line check in and have their boarding cards then these may be reissued to accommodate other passenger groups. I'm sure it may just mean that you may have to move to another row.

I have to say, I object to your expectation that passengers who have chosen to book earlier and pre-book their seats should be moved to accommodate your family. PE isn't a big cabin and it may not be a simple as, "... it may just mean that you may have to move to another row". Passengers choose their seats for a variety of reasons - it may just be "another row" to you, but not to someone else.

Obviously I would not expect that your <2 year old should be seated alone. But as long as each child is next to at least one adult, that should suffice. If you are able to be accommodated all together or in adjacent rows, as you say, then that's fortunate. But it should not be arranged to the detriment of those passengers who have booked earlier than you did and have pre-booked their seats.

I'll probably be flamed for this, but if it is vital to you that your family is accommodated as you describe in your post then I believe you should book early and pre-book your seats.

 

[janiebubble]

without wanting to worry you my friend has been moved from his prebooked 'bubble' seats to downstairs PE for his last two trips ... its one of the reasons he's thinking of switching from flying virgin.

I have yet to actually get my pre booked and online checked in seats with virgin, they have always moved us, and twice (from LA) it's been to opposite sides of the plane.

On my last trip they placed me and my partner in the middle of a large school party of 15 year olds, it ruined my trip home

 

[katiec]

without wanting to worry you my friend has been moved from his prebooked 'bubble' seats to downstairs PE for his last two trips ... its one of the reasons he's thinking of switching from flying virgin.

I have yet to actually get my pre booked and online checked in seats with virgin, they have always moved us, and twice (from LA) it's been to opposite sides of the plane.

On my last trip they placed me and my partner in the middle of a large school party of 15 year olds, it ruined my trip home

This is what i am worried about - more so than moving up or down the cabin. I cant even discuss this with DH as its the only reason he would let me spend the extra £££ on the upgraded seats. I think DH would have something to say if this happens - as said above he is usually a really quiet person - but I know he would blow his top if this happened - esp at a cost of £500 each!!!! (He has a thing about getting what he paid for - eso at that price!)

We did once come back from Calgary, with BA (econ), and a 2 year old child screamed the whole journey - and i mean from the time he got on the plane until we parked up!!! THAT was a journey from h*ll!!!!

 

[janiebubble]

This is what i am worried about - more so than moving up or down the cabin. I cant even discuss this with DH as its the only reason he would let me spend the extra £££ on the upgraded seats. I think DH would have something to say if this happens - as said above he is usually a really quiet person - but I know he would blow his top if this happened - esp at a cost of £500 each!!!! (He has a thing about getting what he paid for - eso at that price!)

We did once come back from Calgary, with BA (econ), and a 2 year old child screamed the whole journey - and i mean from the time he got on the plane until we parked up!!! THAT was a journey from h*ll!!!!

he's a DVC member so his flight bookings are flight only not in a package, so maybe you have a guarantee?

I know what you mean about the baby crying, we were stuck behind two crying babies all the way to LA once ... it was not fun!

 

[Hodkys]

Katiec - I actually posted details of our scenario because I thought you were seeking information as to whether you may/may not be moved to another row to the one you had requested. I'm sorry it doesn't provide the reassurance you may have been seeking. I really hope that you are successful.

Tigger 137 - We didn't have an blind expectation that VA should sit us 'together'. We phoned VA, we asked, we got their answer. Based upon that response we decided to book. It's VA's company policy and they are saying that seat preferences aren't guaranteed. I'm not sure about other airlines. If others offer a cast iron guarantee then perhaps stick with them.
I'm sure you are not saying, that as we are a family with 3 children , our eldest should go sit on his own.

Fingers crossed for everyone hey!

 

[Rohais]

On my August 09 flight to Orlando, DF and I were seated in bulkhead seats, with my Nan and brother sat behind us. The three seats next to us were a woman, her son and a toddler, who didn't have her own seat. The woman's husband and elder child were sat behind them.

As soon as we arrived at our seats the woman asked us to swap with her woman. When I explained that I have a physical disability (which is not always visible as it is a pain disorder and can affect my mobility) she did not seem to accept this. She even had a flight attendant come over and ask me if I would move. Again, I explained I called Virgin Atlantic prior, as I have a disability. I have to say, again, I was responded to as though she didn't believe me.

The whole flight the woman was complaing, huffiing and puffing and just generally being rude. I don't know whether she thought that a young (21 years old) woman couldn't possibly be 'disabled' when she's not in a wheelchair etc...I think she got the picture when she saw some of the 26 tablets I take daily or took note of just how many times I had to stand up because of the pain and discomfort.

Overall, I have to say, she was very rude for the vast majority of the flight and her attitude was highly offensive.

If I wasn't disabled, I would happily have swapped seats with her. But it irked me that my 'excuse' wasn't good enough for her and she carried on for the whole flight. I'm sorry, but I struggle to sit for fifteen minutes at a time in the bulkhead seats...its unbearable anywhere else. I can't move to accommodate your family to the detriment of my health

EDIT: Sorry, just read this back. The 'you' or the story at all isn't aimed to the OP. Just my experience I'd move if I could, but I can't usually

 

[2Tiggies]

Well moving adults is bad enough, but how about separating a mum from her not-quite-4-year-old! Yep, my favourite airline, KLM. Went to South Africa for a wedding. On the return when I checked in I discovered that my little one was seated diagonally in front of me. Turned out that Gold or Platinum card holders could "bump" anyone from the seat they wanted. I was FURIOUS!!!! It is a 12 hour flight. Ended up standing in the aisle and waving £50 for anyone who would relocate so I could sit with my daughter. Tacky I know but their exchange rate was down the toilet at the time and it was a matter of seconds before I had a taker.

Bottom line is that nothing is guaranteed, but just like anyone else, I don't see the point of allowing pre-booking of seats if they aren't really pre-booked. That is worse than Disney's ADR system with ressies that aren't really ressies.

I do hope you don't get moved. Do you know how late before your flight you can check in before they open up your pre-booked seats? It may be the sole reason I end up taking a laptop next trip.

 

[islandmum]

I agree with you Katie. I don't see why we should be discriminated against for the benefit of family groups, especially when it may even be that some members of those groups, ie the children, have paid lower a lower fare than we have.

funny that everyone is always trying to screw down the lowest price and but yet here we are condemning someone who may have a lower price seat as in your view not really deserving the same entitlements ..... I'm sure other paid more than you did, does that mean they should get priority over you??? No - and as someone who pays 2 kids fares if you put that argument to me you'd be getting a vent right back at you.

I think people with children/disabled should stay together (as in 1 parent/carer to 1 child/disabled person) and that should be mandatory. Should that include splitting up a couple to do that - absoloutely.

But I dont see any reason if they've missed the allocated seat reservation why a group of adults, or 4 adults and 1 child etc should expect to sit together. Tough cheese guys, your big boys, make sure the child has their parent with them but everyone else should not have the priority to bump others.

 

[katiec]

Katiec - I actually posted details of our scenario because I thought you were seeking information as to whether you may/may not be moved to another row to the one you had requested. I'm sorry it doesn't provide the reassurance you may have been seeking. I really hope that you are successful.

If I wasn't disabled, I would happily have swapped seats with her. But it irked me that my 'excuse' wasn't good enough for her and she carried on for the whole flight. I'm sorry, but I struggle to sit for fifteen minutes at a time in the bulkhead seats...its unbearable anywhere else. I can't move to accommodate your family to the detriment of my health

EDIT: Sorry, just read this back. The 'you' or the story at all isn't aimed to the OP. Just my experience I'd move if I could, but I can't usually

Guys - i think we've gone off the topic a little... i dont want everyone to be getting upset over this
(It was just a simple question at the outset )
I MAY mind being moved (but I WOULD do it) to accommodate a young child or someone else who may need my seat for medical reasons, but I would really really mind being moved just for the sake of it.

I personally dont want anyone else to suffer on their very expensive upgraded seats on my behalf.

It was more a question of whether i still needed to do OLCI to guarantee our seats that are already supposed to be "guaranteed"!! or whether I could just turn up for twilight check in and still get my seats.

 

[Elise79]

You should be fine with Twlight check in as they are held till 13 hours before the flight.

Yes you could be moved as the seats we were in on the way home I know were pre-booked by someone else (no free seats to pre-book when they changed our flight) - we were a family of 3 with an under 2 in her own seat and they seated us together.

 

[Rohais]

I'd go for twilight. When I've requested seats/prebooked seats, we've managed to get them if we turn up early enough. If you don't get the seats you want/need you may find someone will be willing to swap with you though so don't get too deflated

 

[Red-Snapper]

Reading your first post (followed by all the ranting) I think the important point here is that you have booked via Virgin Holidays - who these days do have their own allocation of seats up in the coveted "bubble".

So I think this actually means your chances of sitting upstairs are probably a bit better than someone who has booked via VA/elsewhere.

Yes you can still get moved for operational reasons but you are not fighting it out with everyone else to get in and get seats in the remaining part of the bubble not allocated to VH customers.

As usual check-in as early as you can and get your boarding cards - then its just a case of being unlucky if a family strolls up late or something.

 

[katiec]

Reading your first post (followed by all the ranting) ?Yes - sorry but I highlighted 2 posts and then said "you guys" - i'm sorry i wasnt referrening specifically to you ) I think the important point here is that you have booked via Virgin Holidays - who these days do have their own allocation of seats up in the coveted "bubble".

So I think this actually means your chances of sitting upstairs are probably a bit better than someone who has booked via VA/elsewhere.

Yes you can still get moved for operational reasons but you are not fighting it out with everyone else to get in and get seats in the remaining part of the bubble not allocated to VH customers.

As usual check-in as early as you can and get your boarding cards - then its just a case of being unlucky if a family strolls up late or something.

Thank you for your reply. Its kinda what i was thinking/hoping. The brochure does state that VH have a guaranteed allocation of seats in the bubble - and they were the seats that the TA (Virgins own) booked for us.

DH plans to do OLCI at the 24hr mark and as we're booked into the Hilton (or will be ) we'll get there nice and early for twilight check in to get boarding cards etc (Fingers crossed for no plane change etc...)

Just interesting to note that there are NO UC seats available and NO PE seats available on the return journey - and its 16 months away

Thanks again for All your replies

X x

 

[2Tiggies]

Just interesting to note that there are NO UC seats available and NO PE seats available on the return journey - and its 16 months away

Thanks again for All your replies

X x

I think that is because those seats have not gone on sale yet.

However I rang in January to find out about prices of upgrades for our October flights and there were a handful of PE and UC seats on the outbound and no PE seats with a few UC available on the return. Apparently economy was fully booked on that flight within a couple of months of the seats being released