Pre Booking flight seats with Virgin

[XAVIER]

We always pre-book our seats when flying with Virgin but have never yet been allocated the ones we booked! Even when we use Twilight check-in.

Has this improved in the last couple of years? We have just booked our seats on-line (which was neat) but does this new on-line service mean you actually get the seats you booked?

 

[mandymouse]

We have flown with Virgin three times and we have always had the seats that we have pre-booked. A couple of weeks ago I pre-booked on-line (which I thought was brilliant) and I just hope we get the seats we want. By the look of your countdown clock you go just after us, only about another 10 months to go!!!


mandymouse

 

[Bekki]

Mandymouse,

How did you do it on line, I have tried several times to do this but could not get it to work. Does this still work if you have booked your holiday through virgin holidays or just a flight through VA?

Thanks
Bekki

 

[Bexx]

Bekki - you should be able to book your seats via the website if you booked directly though Virgin Holidays. I don't thinks it's available if you booked via a travel agent.

Mandymouse - do you check in very early, or use twilight check-in to make sure you get your pre-booked seats?

 

[Bekki]

Hi Bexx

Yes I have booked direct with Virgin (did it online), I have tried again today but it just does not recongize my booking ref.

 

[Bexx]

That doesn't sound promising. Probably best ringing them to check it out - don't email it can take several days to get an answer!

Hope it's soon sorted

 

[LorraineH]

Bekki,

I had the same problem as you - we booked online with Virgin and the reference numer wasnt compatible on the VA website - just give Virgin Atlantic a call, quote the booking ref number you have and they will confirm the flight with you. Ask them for the reference so you can check the status on their website and they will give it to you.

Then you can see your seats and any special meal requests!!


I am really hoping we get the seats we've booked!!



Lorraine

 

[Jane and Ian]

It has something to do with Virgin Holidays having to let Virgin Atlantic have your details and something called locators!!! We travel May 28th and am stil trying to pre book seats, but as we are going for 3 weeks, I have to wait till we are down to 11 months from the rtn date, so on Monday I should be able to pre book seats. Hope this answers your question.

 

[Red-Snapper]

I always pre book the seats and I think about 60% of the time dont get them.

Not sure why I pre book now come to think of it as we are always at Gatwick early.

 

[Hilary]

We're a family of four and I always request the seats in twos near the rear of the plane when I pre-book. We have never actually been given them - we're always switched to a central row of four.

However, when I went with just my mum, we did have the pre-allocated two seats as requested

No scientific formula here, just an observation, and I wonder whether it's the size of our party which is the 'problem'. It will be interesting to see whether the on-line request system makes any difference.

BTW I did witness something at check-in in Orlando once which goes a long way to explaining why pre-allocated seats aren't always the ones you get - Two women in front of us were checking in and asked whether they could have two of the seats in the rows of two near the rear. The check-in girl explained that these had all been pre-requested. The women stood their ground and asked repeatedly if someone else could be moved so that they could have those seats. Eventually, after not too much fuss, the check-in girl gave in and moved someone from those seats and the two women got what they wanted.

 

[mandymouse]

I was able to pre-book my seats when the 11 month date of my return flight had passed, up until then my booking reference wasn't recognised by Virgin Atlantic. I booked my holiday by phone direct with Virgin Holidays.

mandymouse

 

[Bekki]

I phoned Virgin and got it sorted, they said my booking ref had a technical error . Its a good job as I went on the site and looked at the available seating for the 16th April and there is not a great deal of Window seats left. Fingers crossed I get what's been reserved!

 

[Bexx]

That's good news Bekki - glad you got it sorted. Maybe this new online check-in will help us get the seats we booked - I'll be interested to find out more about it.

 

[Selina]

We had the same problem. We booked our holiday flying out on 28th May but on-oline wouldn't recognise the booking reference - phoned them and they said we would have to wait till about the 15th August to do it. On Wednesday I went on-line and hey presto!! it accepted the booking reference and we booked our seats.......just keep trying. I think it just takes a couple of days to register.

 

[lisland]

I have just managed to pre book our seats on-line. We too are flying on 28th May from Manchester. I booked through Virgin holidays. I had a bit of trouble booking on line. When I telephoned Virgin they had to 'release' our booking to Virgin atlantic. Anyway it worked. we are a party of 8 so hope we are all together. My DS and DD are 10 amd 8 and have never flown before, so are VERY excited. and as for me
Helen