Virgin Atlantic - no seat requests for LGW PE passengers

[Laurafoster]

It has been changed - ALL LGW PE passenegers have LOST their requests. You'll now need to complete OLCI 24-hours before and keep your fingers crossed that you can secure the seats you want.

I sent and email to customer services and called them and got a different answer.

I was advised that they were changing a lot of the aircraft flying out of Gatwick and at this particular time until the new planes/configurations are confirmed no one is able to make seat requests on the affected flights. She said this was also affecting some of the Manchester flights too. I said i had heard that this was only affecting PE customers and she said this was not aware if this was true or not.

She advised that the system should be fully loaded and we should be able to rebook our seats again sometime in June.

My email response was very similar and simply said there was a change in aircraft and the maps and seat booking should be available again at a later date.

This makes much more sense to me than them all of a sudden telling PE passengers they cannot prebook but economy people can?!

I will check again at the end of june and see what happens. Aslong as we are all sat together i dont mind.

 

[Constant]

Obviously no different for me either but I also can't see what plane I am on either. I was going out 747 VS49 and moved with flight time change to A330 VS28 coming back. Is it possible the seat map will return when they sort out their schedule... hoping any way...

Feeling pretty annoyed right now I know it shouldn't really matter but it is being handled very badly.

 

[wickesy]

This is being discussed over on the V-Flyer forum but nobody there has been able to get a straight answer either. I'm not particularly bothered - all the seats on the plane are going to Orlando - more curious as to why this only affects PE passengers.

 

[Goofyish]

My flight in September is my first time in PE and I'm really looking forward to sitting in the 'bubble'.

If the reason is a possible plane change then why not just put an explanation on your booking page rather than some obscure cryptic massage that just causes confusion and upset for customers!

Bad egg Virgin!

 

[alibeau]

If the reason is a possible plane change then why not just put an explanation on your booking page rather than some obscure cryptic massage that just causes confusion and upset for customers!

Absolutely, couldn't agree more

Ali

 

[Monorail UK]

Having been told yesterday that there would be an announcement on Virgin Atlantic's website today, have checked many times and there is no news. Have logged into my booking and the outbound pre-booked seats have reappeared but still no return journey view or change seats option. There is an option to click explaining why but none of the information matches anything said by Virgin in the last few days.

 

[Monorail UK]

My flight in September is my first time in PE and I'm really looking forward to sitting in the 'bubble'.

If the reason is a possible plane change then why not just put an explanation on your booking page rather than some obscure cryptic massage that just causes confusion and upset for customers!

Bad egg Virgin!

I was told yesterday that the planes remain the same, going out on the A330 and returning on the B747. The only reason there is the message that there is a change in flight times is to acknowledge the change in policy on pre-booking seats.

 

[Red-Snapper]

The only reason there is the message that there is a change in flight times is to acknowledge the change in policy on pre-booking seats.

but no explanation of why there is a "change in policy" or why it only affects PE passengers.

For me there is a big difference in product being upstairs in the bubble to downstairs in the 2 rows of seats so this is not a minor change having possibly now lost the assigned seats we had and being put in the OLCI lottery.

 

[epcot.girl]

For me there is a big difference in product being upstairs in the bubble to downstairs in the 2 rows of seats so this is not a minor change having possibly now lost the assigned seats we had and being put in the OLCI lottery.

But you're not guaranteed them anyway.

 

[Red-Snapper]

But you're not guaranteed them anyway.

Yes - I am well aware of that but in the many years of flying with VA we have never lost the pre-assigned seats we have had. I know it happens - but obviously not very often.

 

[mellowyellowuk]

I Can't even get onto the virgin atlantic website, it wont let me logon i keep getting this message
We're sorry, we cannot retrieve your booking due to a change in the scheduled flight times. Please confirm this change with your travel agent or tour operator. Once confirmed please return to this website and try again.
I'm booked with virgin holidays but when i log on there it all looks normal.
I'm working tomorrow and saterday and will not be able to ring then will monday.

 

[Lisa x]

Yes - I am well aware of that but in the many years of flying with VA we have never lost the pre-assigned seats we have had. I know it happens - but obviously not very often.

Same - while we know that they are not guaranteed, we have never lost our seats that we have pre-booked, ever! And we have never done OLCI either, we just arrive at the airport to check in and they confirm the seats that we have pre-booked!

I also know that I cannot guarantee that this will be the case every time but Iv been happy up to now!

 

[marlouwrig]

My brother was forwarded this e-mail forwarded from a friend - not sure exactly where the info came from though originally:

Whilst redesigning a new seat layout for the refurbishment of the LGW 747s, a system failure has resulted in passengers being unseated in the Premium Economy cabin if they were travelling from June 2011. Work is underway to rebuild the seat maps and it is hoped that this will be completed by the middle of June.

What does it mean for passenger travelling in Premium Economy (on the LGW based 747) between Jun 2011 and Apr 2012?

It means passengers will be unable to select or re-select their seats until the seat maps have been rebuilt. Once the seats maps have been rebuilt passengers will be able to select their seats via 'Manage Your Flights' or at Online Check In.

Anyone travelling before this piece of work has been completed will have to reassign their seats at Online Check In or at the airport.

What does it mean for passenger travelling in Premium Economy (on the LGW based 747) between 01 Apr 2012 - 01 Sep 2012?

Unfortunately, we will be unable to provide advanced seat assignment on these flights between 01 Apr 12 and 01 Sep 12 because we are refurbishing the aircraft to include amongst other things a new layout in Premium Economy. During this period passengers will be able to select seats at Online Check In or at the airport.

 

[Red-Snapper]

Its a VA email - confirming its technical "mistake" rather than a change in policy.

Obviously also makes it clear the refurb of the LGW 747's is imminent - which could result in the loss of seats in the bubble for PE anyway.......

 

[FloFlo71]

Just checked my booking, glad I did as they had bumped me from my seats, relatives still had theirs row in front but ours have been taken off us. Thankfully still 6 seats together and now near the exit so better for immigration, although I will miss being on row 48 where we try to get every Virgin flight.

Coming home we are in PE on the new A330 but into Manchester, no problem there, still have our seats and could change if I wanted, can't see how Gatwick is any different.

We had row 48 (on 747) both ways last holiday and had them reserved for Aug but have been bumped from them. Have selected row 26 out and row 27 back as these were available for us 3 to sit together. Hope we aren't moved again.

 

[loobzuk]

going to get DH to check our booking - wasn't aware this was going on - thank you for the info. We fly in August so I guess it will be a case of checking every day until the seat maps are back up.

 

[loobzuk]

DH checked our seats last night and the outbound ones are still there but it's on the 330. We weren't able to bag seats in the bubble on the 747 coming home but have the request on our original booking. As long as I get there I'll probably just sit where I can!

 

[Constant]

Looks like the seat map is back up again now! Just rebooked into what looks like an empty plane

 

[kazdav]

We fly in August from LGW, our seats haven't changed.

 

[Red-Snapper]

Yes teh seatmaps are back up.

Just re- selected for end July/back in Aug.

Got upstairs both ways (which werent available before) so this fault has been good for us....but presumably someone, somewhere wont be happy.

Not brilliantly handled by VA really.