Virgin Atlantic - Seat Map

[oceanscape]

I just went into the "manage your flights" section and saw the following message when I went to check our seats:

We're sorry. The seat map is not available at this time. Your seats will be assigned at check in.

I'm a nervous enough flyer as it is, and now it sounds like the seats I pre-requested when we booked the flights have been lost. Any ideas? Is there a chance I will still get those seats or are we out of luck? Why have they done this?

 

[carolfoy]

they could just be updating the system, your pre requested seats will still show in their history as a request, they are never guaranteed however.
almost half the seats on any plane are not available for pre booking so its highly unlikely your family will be split up by rows and rows apart. Just get to check in as early as you can, I'm sure Vs will do everything to help you if they understand you're a nervous flyer.

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

what are your flight numbers/dates?
I can check seat availabiliy (I hope! )

 

[AliceGardner]

No, it means that 60% of the seats in your Class of Service have already been allocated - therefore no further changes to seats on your flight will be allowed UNTIL check-in opens (i.e. online check-in opens at departure time - 24 hours). Therefore they do not display the seat map for your flight any more.

Somewhere on your "Manage Your Flights" it should still tell you what your assigned seats are. Does it?

Best thing to do is to use online check-in 24 hours before your flight to confirm your seats (although nothing is ever gauranteed, they are more "confirmed" after you ave checked-in online).

Alice

 

[oceanscape]

No, it means that 60% of the seats in your Class of Service have already been allocated - therefore no further changes to seats on your flight will be allowed UNTIL check-in opens (i.e. online check-in opens at departure time - 24 hours). Therefore they do not display the seat map for your flight any more.

Somewhere on your "Manage Your Flights" it should still tell you what your assigned seats are. Does it?

Best thing to do is to use online check-in 24 hours before your flight to confirm your seats (although nothing is ever gauranteed, they are more "confirmed" after you ave checked-in online).

Alice

Thank you, that is a huge relief. I thought it meant they were now not allowing seat requests on this flight.

As for your second question about whether it still tells me where my assigned seats are the answer is NO it doesn't. In addition, it is only our homebound flight which displays the message, the outbound flight still lets me go into the map and check our seats.

We will be using online check-in, but considering there are so few seats in PE on our routes I am still a little worried as I don't want us to be split up....

Obi Wan Kenobi - Outbound flight VS043 (July 23rd), Homebound flight VS024 (August 8th). Thanks.

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

Obi Wan Kenobi - Outbound flight VS043 (July 23rd), Homebound flight VS024 (August 8th). Thanks.

43 LGW-LAS Vegas?
24 LA to Heathrow?

If so they do fill up

VS43 on 23rd July 744 (747-400)
only 39 seats empty in Economy
only 3 seats in PE
but 12 seats available in UC

I would try for an airport upgrade with either miles or cash, as this is a full econ9omy and PE flight!

VS24 on 8th August A346 (A340-600)
only 20 seats in Economy free
only 4 seats in PE free
26 seats free in UC
(bigger UC cabin on this flight)

 

[oceanscape]

43 LGW-LAS Vegas?
24 LA to Heathrow?

If so they do fill up

VS43 on 23rd July 744 (747-400)
only 39 seats empty in Economy
only 3 seats in PE
but 12 seats available in UC

I would try for an airport upgrade with either miles or cash, as this is a full econ9omy and PE flight!

VS24 on 8th August A346 (A340-600)
only 20 seats in Economy free
only 4 seats in PE free
26 seats free in UC
(bigger UC cabin on this flight)

Thanks for the information; very interesting. Looks like the PE cabin is going to be completely packed out!

Where do you ask about upgrading? At the check-in desk? Do you know the typical cost? Thanks for all your help.

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

Thanks for the information; very interesting. Looks like the PE cabin is going to be completely packed out!

Where do you ask about upgrading? At the check-in desk? Do you know the typical cost? Thanks for all your help.

Do you have a Flying Club account?
I think its 20,000 miles to upgrade one way from PE to UC
I am not sure of the cash price, I thinkmit can change. I know of people who have gone from PE to UC for around £499 but they will be able to tell you at the ticket sales desk.

 

[AliceGardner]

As for your second question about whether it still tells me where my assigned seats are the answer is NO it doesn't. In addition, it is only our homebound flight which displays the message, the outbound flight still lets me go into the map and check our seats.

It is not uncommon for one of your sectors to fill up before the other - hence you can still select seats for your outbound flight.

Have just looked at my reservation for later this month on Virgin and have a question for you...

When you log into "Manage Your Booking", you have a number of headings and should look like this:

========================================

Journey Details for Booking Reference: XXXXXX
> Outbound: A to B
> Inbound: B to A

Passenger Details
> Mrs Alice Gardner
> Mr Gardner
> Miss Lucy Gardner

=========================================

When I click on My name, I get the following expansion:

=========================================

> Mrs Alice Gardner
Frequent Flyer Programme
Virgin Atlantic - Flying Club
Frequent Flyer Number
0123456789

Seat
A - B: 04K
B - A: 03K

Meal Selection
A - B: No
B - A: No

========================================

Do you get this (or something similar looking) for each passenger)? If so, do you not get the seat numbers?

Alice

 

[oceanscape]

Do you get this (or something similar looking) for each passenger)? If so, do you not get the seat numbers?

Yes, I do get the seat numbers.

Thanks for your help.

 

[AliceGardner]

Yes, I do get the seat numbers.

Thanks for your help.

Fantastic

Always a pleasure

Alice

 

[flowrida]

trouble is you cannot rely on what it says on their website. We've just returned from Orlando and on the way out according to the website we managed to get the last seat - in reality the plan was half empty!

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

trouble is you cannot rely on what it says on their website. We've just returned from Orlando and on the way out according to the website we managed to get the last seat - in reality the plan was half empty!

The Virgin web site blocks 40% AFAIR of the seats for check in on the day.

The figures I provided are from the Travel Industries seat availability charts and are actual bookings.

 

[oceanscape]

The Virgin web site blocks 40% AFAIR of the seats for check in on the day.

The figures I provided are from the Travel Industries seat availability charts and are actual bookings.

Obi - regarding your figures, you said that there were 3 PE seats remaining on VS043 on 23rd July. However, the VA website will still let me book 5 seats in PE for that flight....

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

Obi - regarding your figures, you said that there were 3 PE seats remaining on VS043 on 23rd July. However, the VA website will still let me book 5 seats in PE for that flight....

Well its showing three available seats, all others occupied (not any for being kept back either)
the seats available are
73K
82D
82F

All I can assume is that Virgin are overbooking on the assumption of no shows (or lucky Gold Crad being upgraded)

 

[oceanscape]

Well its showing three available seats, all others occupied (not any for being kept back either)
the seats available are
73K
82D
82F

All I can assume is that Virgin are overbooking on the assumption of no shows (or lucky Gold Crad being upgraded)

Well I won't complain if we are bumped to UC! I doubt it though because we are only silver FC members and we have children with us!

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

Well I won't complain if we are bumped to UC! I doubt it though because we are only silver FC members and we have children with us!

Leave the Wife/Hubby with the kids in PE