VA: Can anyone make sense of this?

[2Tiggies]

I emailed VA a couple of days ago with 3 questions. Now allow me to excuse myself on the grounds of being late this morning, leaving for work with no breakfast/coffee and having a ridiculously busy day which has left me with a headache

I have a response in from VA, but I can't seem to connect the terms of the reply to my questions. I get the API question which has been addressed but the others Before I email them back I wondered if some level headed, mentally alert DISers would look at this for me.

I asked them:

1. At what stage during the 24 hours prior to departure are pre-selected seats released back into the system? In other words, how long do passengers who have selected seats have to confirm them when doing OLCI?
2. Can I do OLCI without access to a printer (which would be for the return leg of the journey) or do I have to possess a printed version of the boarding card/confrimation of OLCI?
3. Which options do I select on the API if I am a UK citizen going on a holiday?

VA said:

Thank you for your email and apologies for the delayed response.

The confirmation of seats while online check in option is available for all flights departing from London Heathrow. Hence you shall be unable to use this option since your flight will not be departing from London Heathrow. Further, you can collect your boarding cards at the checkin desk on the day of departure.

If you're arriving into the US and staying at one address for the duration of your stay, the 'stay in US' option should be used. Passengers who will be touring the US should use the 'fly drive' option.

I hope I am able to address your concern. Should you have any other queries, please feel free to contact us. Thank you for contacting Flying Club.

I grant you all permission to laugh at/with me about this, but I just can't get brain cranked up right now ....
ETA: I am flying from Glasgow, since that appears to make a difference.

 

[wilma-bride]

It appears that you cannot use OLCI for flights departing from Glasgow at the moment (see link below)

https://www.virgin-atlantic.com/en/...in/index.jsp?criteria=DepartTime&showAll=true

That is probably why they have responded as they have (although reading the email you have posted, I suspect it was possibly written by someone who does not have English as a first language)

 

[2Tiggies]

Is this supposed to be temporary? I didn't even know you couldn't do it for Glasgow flights. So is there any point in having the preselected seats? I guess that means a really really early check in ... AFTER my coffee though!

Thank you for clearing that up.

 

[Netty]

Can I do OLCI without access to a printer (which would be for the return leg of the journey) or do I have to possess a printed version of the boarding card/confrimation of OLCI?

yes you can do OLCI without a print out
we did this last september, - did OLCI but had no access to a printer!
no probs as they have it on their computer system

 

[wilma-bride]

Is this supposed to be temporary? I didn't even know you couldn't do it for Glasgow flights. So is there any point in having the preselected seats? I guess that means a really really early check in ... AFTER my coffee though!

Thank you for clearing that up.

I assume it is temporary (the wording certainly seems to suggest that) but no idea how long it's been in place or how long it will last. Yes, unfortunately, it will mean an early start for you

Can I do OLCI without access to a printer (which would be for the return leg of the journey) or do I have to possess a printed version of the boarding card/confrimation of OLCI?

yes you can do OLCI without a print out
we did this last september, - did OLCI but had no access to a printer!
no probs as they have it on their computer system

You're right Netty but it doesn't matter now anyway since it appears that OLCI is not available for VA flights departing from Glasgow at the moment

 

[2Tiggies]

I assume it is temporary (the wording certainly seems to suggest that) but no idea how long it's been in place or how long it will last. Yes, unfortunately, it will mean an early start for you ;

Never mind. I am always super early anyway - too excited to sit around in the hotel.

You're right Netty but it doesn't matter now anyway since it appears that OLCI is not available for VA flights departing from Glasgow at the moment

Am I right to assume then that it can't be done from the US for flights returning to Glasgow, while GLA is excluded from OLCI services?

 

[iluvtot]

Can I do OLCI without access to a printer (which would be for the return leg of the journey) or do I have to possess a printed version of the boarding card/confrimation of OLCI?

yes you can do OLCI without a print out
we did this last september, - did OLCI but had no access to a printer!
no probs as they have it on their computer system

Hiya,

I know VA is reliable, but last year when we arrived at the airport, (having checked in online the night before), US Airways didn't have us on their records!! It was only that I had printed out our boarding passes (and had our original confirmation email) that I had proof!
Tigs, last year we went to reception and asked then to do OLCI for us. It was no problem, and the CM printed out our boarding cards for us
Not that I am now completely paranoid, (well maybe a little), but I prefer to call it being prepared!!

Jules x

 

[2Tiggies]

Thanks Jules. I remember your US Airline story!

It is all about being prepared. I am just a little confused as to why the Manage My Flights sections offers online check in .... Anyway, I might just act stupid and email them back and ask for further clarification. As a customer, I can be a lot of work, but if businesses get it right for me, I do some great PR for them!

 

[Twilight Terror]

I know VA is reliable, but last year when we arrived at the airport, (having checked in online the night before), US Airways didn't have us on their records!! It was only that I had printed out our boarding passes (and had our original confirmation email) that I had proof!

That sucks. We have never had a problem like that with VA. In fact, we've checked in, going out and going back about 5 times, without the aid of a printer, and have never had any issues. I always used to just write down the seat and row numbers and any kind of reference number that appeared on the page.

Thankfully, VA have added a further option to the OLCI procedure, where if you do not have access to a printer at the time, you can have a copy sent to your email address for printing at a later date. This is what we always do now, so if there was ever a problem, I could just get my email up on my phone and show it to the people at check-in.

 

[iluvtot]

That sucks. We have never had a problem like that with VA. In fact, we've checked in, going out and going back about 5 times, without the aid of a printer, and have never had any issues. I always used to just write down the seat and row numbers and any kind of reference number that appeared on the page.

Thankfully, VA have added a further option to the OLCI procedure, where if you do not have access to a printer at the time, you can have a copy sent to your email address for printing at a later date. This is what we always do now, so if there was ever a problem, I could just get my email up on my phone and show it to the people at check-in.

We've never had a problem with VA, but last year was the first time we tried indirect, and guess what? We're doing it again this year!!
Only because the flight prices are so crazy Wish me luck!!

Jules x

 

[iluvtot]

Thanks Jules. I remember your US Airline story!

It is all about being prepared. I am just a little confused as to why the Manage My Flights sections offers online check in .... Anyway, I might just act stupid and email them back and ask for further clarification. As a customer, I can be a lot of work, but if businesses get it right for me, I do some great PR for them!

Sorry Tigs, I don't mean to keep repeating myself!
I would get back to them, at least then hopefully you will get clarification, or at least some sense!

Jules x

 

[2Tiggies]

Thanks everyone. I will email them back and ask. I had promised someone here (on another thread) that I would post the reply but no point doing that when it isn't completely clear.

It seems that VA had made a few minor changes to the Manage My Flights section of their website. What is on there now and which may answer someoen else's questions (a few have been posted about this issue) is this;

Select a seat for the highlighted passenger by clicking available seats on the map below, or type an available seat number into the box next to the passenger name. Finish by clicking 'submit'. Please note some seats are held for assignment at check in.

To honour this request, Online Check In needs to be completed no later than 13 hours before your flight departs. Whilst we will always try our best to meet your requirements, please note that seat numbers are never guaranteed and are subject to operational changes.

 

[cherjp]

Never mind. I am always super early anyway - too excited to sit around in the hotel.

Hey 2Tiggies are you staying the night before in Glasgow?

 

[Netty]

You're right Netty but it doesn't matter now anyway since it appears that OLCI is not available for VA flights departing from Glasgow at the moment

no I meant for the return journey!!

 

[2Tiggies]

Never mind. I am always super early anyway - too excited to sit around in the hotel.

Hey 2Tiggies are you staying the night before in Glasgow?

Yes, booked a room for myself and DD and one for my parents at the Premier Inn. Got them for £29 per night each. Are you also flying out on the 2nd? (I see you live in Ayrshire )

 

[cherjp]

Yip staying at the holiday inn express, and yip from ayrshire , where are you from?

 

[meldud]

Thanks everyone. I will email them back and ask. I had promised someone here (on another thread) that I would post the reply but no point doing that when it isn't completely clear.

It seems that VA had made a few minor changes to the Manage My Flights section of their website. What is on there now and which may answer someoen else's questions (a few have been posted about this issue) is this;

Thats alright as I have been reading this one. But it appears the question has been answered here with the 13 hours deadline??

 

[2Tiggies]

Yip staying at the holiday inn express, and yip from ayrshire , where are you from?

So are you also flying out same day as me?

In Lanarkshire. Not too far. My parents are taking DD to Ayr for 2 days at the end of the month and it's all she can talk about.

Thats alright as I have been reading this one. But it appears the question has been answered here with the 13 hours deadline??

It would seem so, but I still want to clarify. That information was taken straight out of the booking section of the website, but I wanted to double check before I gave you incorrect information as the VA service advisor seems to be indicating that you can only do OLCI for London departures at this time. I have sent a reply asking for more clarification. Maybe someone else will answer and I will have two versions of the truth

 

[VailaTigger]

We flew with VA to MCO from GLA in April this year. OLCI was not available, I think it's because Virgin don't have a permanent presence at GLA, it's only for peak periods.

There was a LARGE queue for check in when we got there, but it was the first flight they'd run that year, and the check in personnel were having problems with having to learn a different system to what they were used to very quickly! 400 passengers to check in for the 1st flight of the season is what I call a steep learning curve!

But they managed fine, just took a little time, and the pre-booked seats we did online WERE honoured, without even asking.

So if you're flying VA from GLA, then don't fret over OLCI. We arrived at 11am, 3 hours before our flight as requested.

 

[2Tiggies]

So if you're flying VA from GLA, then don't fret over OLCI. We arrived at 11am, 3 hours before our flight as requested.

Thanks. I see that obviously there is little point doing OLCI, but I want to know then what happens with our pre selected seats? Do they just let you pick them for the fun of it and it's a free for all when you get to check in?