Virgin Online Checkin

[flowrida]

We thought we might use the online checkin facility with Virgin when we fly next week - can anyone tell us

(1) how easy is it?
(2) when you get to the airport and drop cases off is there a separate desk just for luggage drop off?
(3) do you print your own boarding cards?

Many thanks in advance.

Flowrida

 

[VSL]

(1) VERY easy
(2) Well, I was staying overnight at Gatwick as well, and dropped my cases off at Twilight Check-in
(3) No

 

[Jennie4647]

Hi,

I hope you don't mind flowrida but we are also interested in this question. We booked with VA direct and have e tickets, planning on doing on line check in as well. We have no baggage tags, do we fill these out at the airport?

Jen

 

[dee slack]

OK cheeky question - if you do on-line check-in, I assume that there's NO chance of a freebie upgrade? What about twilight check-in? I know it's highly unlikely that we'd get a free upgrade (from economy to PE) but what would give us the best chance? (we're having a vow renewal at Disney's wedding pavilion and plan to wear the wedding ears to the airport to increase our chances!!)

 

[UKDEB]

Is it available again now? Despite Virgin's requests to use online check-in following last Thursday's problems, it seems that it hasn't actually been available.

Assuming that it is, we used it in April for both our outbound and inbound flights. To be honest, check-in didn't seem to be any quicker, but then we are Flying Club Silver members and normally fly PE, so check-in is usually pretty painless.

There are separate lines at both LGW and at MCO for online check-in. We were flying Economy this time and we did get upgraded to PE on the homebound flight. It was just sheer chance, though. We arrived fairly late having checked in online. The people checking in next to us (who, obviously, had also arrived late) hadn't done so, nor had they pre-booked seats from what I can gather. They were kicking up a real fuss because they couldn't be seated together. They ended up with our seats in Economy and we got upgraded to PE.

 

[UKDEB]

We have no baggage tags, do we fill these out at the airport?

I can't remember the last time we filled in baggage tags. They put the computer coded labels on at check-in, which is really all you need.

 

[VSL]

OK cheeky question - if you do on-line check-in, I assume that there's NO chance of a freebie upgrade? What about twilight check-in? I know it's highly unlikely that we'd get a free upgrade (from economy to PE) but what would give us the best chance? (we're having a vow renewal at Disney's wedding pavilion and plan to wear the wedding ears to the airport to increase our chances!!)

I don't really know. If they do the upgrades at check-in, then there may be less chance if you do Twilight, and even less of you do online.

Either way, like resort upgrades, if you really want an upgrade I would advise just booking it to avoid disappointment.

Either way, from what I understand a lot of the upgrades can be pretty random (regardless of dress and such). And I think FF's are the first to get them.

 

[dee slack]

And I think FF's are the first to get them.

I don't really expect we'd get free upgrades, but daren't spend any more money on upgrades for hotels or flights as the VR is costing a pretty penny (well, Cindy's carriage and : M&M are actually!) but we do have FF and FVC cards so finger's crossed! Just thought it might be worth asking if anyone has any tips for them

 

[Jennie4647]

I can't remember the last time we filled in baggage tags. They put the computer coded labels on at check-in, which is really all you need.

Thanks Debbie.

Jen
x

 

[gismo1554]

I don't really expect we'd get free upgrades, but daren't spend any more money on upgrades for hotels or flights as the VR is costing a pretty penny (well, Cindy's carriage and : M&M are actually!) but we do have FF and FVC cards so finger's crossed! Just thought it might be worth asking if anyone has any tips for them

Yeah failty sure that upgrades are only issued on the day of travell and don't happen that often anymore due to manafest having to be correct. It may occur but highly unlikely these days.

 

[UKDEB]

Upgrades happen all the time, but for operational reasons, not because they like the cut of your jib . Having said that, once an airline knows it needs to make an upgrade, a whole host of considerations comes into play. If they know beforehand that they'll need to move passengers, being a Flying Club Gold member (Virgin) won't do you any harm. Our friends were upgraded once because they were a party of 3 and that happened to be the magic number.

We've been upgraded several times although only once from Economy to PE (for the reason stated earlier). The guy checking us in looked us up and down several times, defintiely noticed the Flying Club Silver tags on our cases, and had a detailed conversation with someone on the phone before upgrading us.

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

Upgrades are decided before check in so you can be upgraded on line.
But and it is a big but, there is a pecking order

V50's first
Gold Card holders
Then people on full flexible full fare tickets
Silver card holders
then on certain flights, highest card holders of partner airline doing a code share
then red card holders
then normal pax on econ restricted tickets.
If the plane is not full, forget it no airline will upgrade at their cost if they don't have to
If there are any upgrades to make room for overbooking of Econ, then the above applies
Its all down to the type of people on board and the pressure on seats.

 

[UKDEB]

Upgrades are decided before check in

Sometimes, but not always, as our experience evidences.

 

[traceycooper]

How do they know if you are a red card holder?
I've joined the FC but still not sure how it works!!!