Virgin Atlantic - Seat Panic!!

[Samlovesthemouse]

Im having a mini panic!!!

I couldn't pre-book my seats with Virgin for the 9th Septemeber due to not having Thomas Cook not releasing our names to Virgin Atlantic until recently. I have argued for ages about them giving me my reference number so I can book my seats and do API and now I have finally got the number and there are no seats left together!!!!!!!

Is this right? We won’t be able to sit together…there are only 2 of us! Or will there be other seats available when we check in?

Also for info I fly on the 9th September.

Any advice/knowledge is very much appreciated!

 

[Netty]

Not all the seats have been released, the rest are released 24 hrs before your date of travel, dont worry you will get seats

 

[Brandis]

Are you sure that you automatically got seats together when they were booked?

 

[kizzy212]

hiya,

Try not to worry.... i travel monday morning with virgin and had similar problem... they only release 60% of the seat to online booking... then release another amount 24 hour before hand.. the rest of the seats are available at checkin for people without internet access...

I was told only large groups have difficulting sitting together, however they are always in close proximity.

 

[2Tiggies]

I have had this issue with Thomas Cook .... more than once They kept saying 'next month' until 2 weeks before we left and then said they didn't release the flight locators. Last year we checked in 5, yes FIVE hours before our flight. I think we were amongst a handful of people in Manchester airport at that hour so first to check in and no choice of seats. So we upgraded. Before that it wasn't so bad so it may have been due to flying out on Good Friday. I don't mean to burst your bubble but better to be prepared for any situation when you get there. On the upside, they will NOT separate kids from parents/guardians although your family may be split across an aisle or seated behind two behind two (I don't know how many of you there are).

I wish TC would get their act together. They were £200 cheaper for my trip this year - they often do have better deals - but convenience was worth more than £200 to me this year.

 

[kizzy212]

i booked direct with virgin holidays... i only just realised that they did this service, having only flew with them once before back in 2002.

we are travelling 2 adults 2 children... however have our best friends traveling as well (3 adults 1 teenager and 2 children...)

we would love to be close together.. i hope we are!!!: my partner wants to checkin in at airport, (think he is a bit unsure about online checkin)

what you all recommend??

 

[2Tiggies]

we would love to be close together.. i hope we are!!!: my partner wants to checkin in at airport, (think he is a bit unsure about online checkin)

what you all recommend??

If you are able to do online check in, this seriously ups the odds of you getting seats you want and keeping everyone together. At least that way if you do need to split up a bit, you get to choose who sits where instead of someone else doing it for you.

 

[Samlovesthemouse]

Thank you all so much for the re-assurance!

There are only 2 of us so Im thinking we probably have a good chance of being sat together. I have managed to get two seats together for the way back so just the way there to hope for! If need be I may try and upgrade us, it would be nice to go over with a little bit more luxury!

Thomas Cook have been so much hassle, I have had to go in about so much! It has taken me forever to get my API number...grrrr! At least I have it now!
TC were cheaper for me too by about £600. I booked at a different branch this year but I should have stuck with the one from last year they were really helpful.

Thanks again!

Only 14 days to go....super excited!

 

[2Tiggies]

2 people will have no problems being seated together. Check in early and have a wonderful time!

 

[Netty]

i booked direct with virgin holidays... i only just realised that they did this service, having only flew with them once before back in 2002.

we are travelling 2 adults 2 children... however have our best friends traveling as well (3 adults 1 teenager and 2 children...)

we would love to be close together.. i hope we are!!!: my partner wants to checkin in at airport, (think he is a bit unsure about online checkin)

what you all recommend??

you can go online now(virgin atlantic) and view where your seats are and move to where you want to sit if theres any available on there,

 

[kizzy212]

you can go online now(virgin atlantic) and view where your seats are and move to where you want to sit if theres any available on there,

hiya netty....

i have just logged in to my booking... and it says

WHERE'S MY SEAT..CURRENTLY UNAVAIBLE

WILL THIS BE AVAILABLE 24HR BEFORE HAND

 

[Netty]

probably changed the plane they were going to use, so configuration will be different, give them a ring see what they say

 

[Helen B]

I've never pre-booked my seats, as there is only 2 of us travelling together.

This year, I couldn't check in online (it wouldn't let me) so we had to check in at Manchester airport, where it was kiosk check in, and it still wouldn't let me, because "we didn't have any assigned seats," why Virgin couldn't do this for me when I rang up the day before I don't know. Anyway, the lady went away, and came back, said "I hope you're both fit and able, I've got you some extra leg room," and we were able to check in.

We then had to queue for Kiosk bag drop. We flew at 10:25, got to the airport at 7:30, and got through security at 9:15. Talking to others in the queue, we weren't the only ones who had problems doing the online check in, but the online bag drop queue was no longer than 5 minutes (not impressed.)

The good side of this story is, when we got on the plane we found we were assigned emergency exit seats, free of charge, they are normally an extra £50 each. By far the best seats I've ever been in in economy.

So don't panic about not getting seats together, we've never had a problem in 4 trips, and you never know you might get lucky and have extra leg room.

 

[Helen B]

hiya netty....

i have just logged in to my booking... and it says

WHERE'S MY SEAT..CURRENTLY UNAVAIBLE

WILL THIS BE AVAILABLE 24HR BEFORE HAND

Unless you have situation like we did, see my last post. It means the seats they released have already been assigned/chosen by other passengers. You should be able to pick your seats when the online check in opens, otherwise it's airport check in.

If you can check in online it is the way to go.

 

[Eliza32]

Hi Samlovesthemouse

Are you going from Manchester on 9th??? If so, we're on the same flight!!
We booked our seats ages ago, but then we've booked though Virgin, so we had a reference code right away.
Bet you've got free dining plan with TC though.....we haven't '*** we booked to early....long story, but still miffed about it!!
I'll be having a lime green Mickey on my bag, so if you see me, please say Hi!!!!

 

[2Tiggies]

I'll be having a lime green Mickey on my bag, so if you see me, please say Hi!!!!

That reminds me, I need to make a LGMH for my bag too. I am sure SOMEONE from Scotland is flying with me from GLA in October - there are only 2 flights from here direct to MCO with VA until Easter next year.

 

[Samlovesthemouse]

Hi Samlovesthemouse

Are you going from Manchester on 9th??? If so, we're on the same flight!!
We booked our seats ages ago, but then we've booked though Virgin, so we had a reference code right away.
Bet you've got free dining plan with TC though.....we haven't '*** we booked to early....long story, but still miffed about it!!
I'll be having a lime green Mickey on my bag, so if you see me, please say Hi!!!!

Hi

Im flying from Gatwick, when I read your post I thought the same thing. We fly at 13:00. Might see you over there!!

Yeah we have the dining plan but we had a lot of hassle getting it. We are staying at POR so I upgraded us to the DDP from QSDP.

Our holidays are so soon...yay

 

[j9000]

i booked direct with virgin holidays... i only just realised that they did this service, having only flew with them once before back in 2002.

we are travelling 2 adults 2 children... however have our best friends traveling as well (3 adults 1 teenager and 2 children...)

we would love to be close together.. i hope we are!!!: my partner wants to checkin in at airport, (think he is a bit unsure about online checkin)

what you all recommend??

booking seats and check in are 2 different things, you can log in and book your seats now out of the available ones. as for tips, away from toilets or doors, you will end up having people standing next to you chatting when you want to sleep