Virgin Seating Problem.

[mikey1]

Just a quick warning to anybody who has reserved seats using the Virgin Online facility. Don't pin your hopes on them honouring your seat reservation. Keep an eye on your booking info. Have just sent them the following email.
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Hi.

Months ago I reserved my family's seats using the online seat planner. After a long time spent searching seating review sites on the internet, I reserved 60 A,B and C, so that one of our party could recline conscience free. Our seats were changed without a problem. Today, I checked our booking details and noticed that our seats have been changed back to our designated seats, 29 A,B and C without any notification or consultation, and now very few seats are available to switch to.

I have just had a phone conversation with a VA Customer Relations Representative, who was very helpful and explained that the seats had been switched back because of a change in the type of aircraft. Please can you tell me " Which VA aircraft does not have seats 60 A, B and C ?"

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I know that this isn't the end of the world, but after spending months planning this family holiday meticulously, it a bit annoying. As far as I am aware, all the Transatlantic planes have these seats. We have had problems with VA before, so I'm starting to think that this is just the start of it all.
More lies!!!
Has anybody else had this problem?

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

I would always say to everyone keep checking your seat preference, its something I always do.
the reason is that if for operational reasons they do change the aircraft then all seating reservations are wiped, as the computer needs to start from a fresh position (I don't know or understand that)

If you are lucky you can get your seat preference if it has not been assigned, but as you have found out, you have lost out there.

What I would suggest is that you login 24 hours before the flight and change to a more suitable seat for your group.
The other 40% will be released.
I have to say, personally, the farther forward is better, as the back of the plane is more "bouncy" than forward (that is one of the reasons that Buisness/First is always at the front, that and its ahead of the engines)

 

[gilld]

I can imagine it feels annoying, but remember you are only requesting these seats, you are not actually reserving them, and so VA have the right to change them as they see fit.

Hope you get seats you are happy with eventually.

 

[mikey1]

Thanks for your replies.
The seat plan is the same as the original one, complete with original reserved seats. That's why I am confused.

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

Thanks for your replies.
The seat plan is the same as the original one, complete with original reserved seats. That's why I am confused.

When you say original one??
It could be that when it went back to zero it took the Virgin database for that flight and seat allocations?
I can't be exactly the same else those seats you changed to would be empty????

 

[mikey1]

I don't know when they changed our seats back. It could have been ages ago. I didn't think I would have to monitor it, just wrongly presumed they would be honoured.

 

[AliceGardner]

I don't know when they changed our seats back. It could have been ages ago. I didn't think I would have to monitor it, just wrongly presumed they would be honoured.

No, it is just a request and not a gaurantee... always worth requesting the seats that you want, but they could be changed for any one of a number of reasons...

If the ones you wanted (or similar) are still available, then try to select them again. Keep an eye on your seating allocations and DEFINITELY use online check-in (24 hours?) before departure. Even then, however, there is no complete gaurantee - things can change right up to last minute.

Good luck,
Alice

 

[mikey1]

Thankyou.
Nothing available for outbound at the moment, but row 48 is available on the way back. These have the exits behind them. I read that these only partially recline. Anybody know?

 

[angel659]

Just checked mine. My outgoing is fine, but the return flight now says that seats will be assigned on check in. So I dont know. I hope it works out better for me that way, because I want an isle seat and before there were none avail.

 

[AliceGardner]

Thankyou.
Nothing available for outbound at the moment, but row 48 is available on the way back. These have the exits behind them. I read that these only partially recline. Anybody know?

Looks like they have limited recline and possibly limited storage/footroom under the seat infront because of of equipment/AVOD box under the seat infront (http://www.seatguru.com/airlines/Vi.../Virgin_Atlantic_Airways_Boeing_747-400_1.php & http://seatexpert.com/_VS_Boeing_747_400_LGW_suites.html). I would avoid row 48...

Alice

 

[CustardTart]

Well, I've just tried to check mine and I can't even access the flippin' flights! This is sooo annoying as I've accessed them no problem before! Oh well - will have to give them a call *yawn*...

 

[crabbie1]

Thankyou.
Nothing available for outbound at the moment, but row 48 is available on the way back. These have the exits behind them. I read that these only partially recline. Anybody know?

we sat there on the way out on our trip in 2005.Not good seats.They are near the doors and it was raining so when we went to sit down all the seats were soaked.They gave us blankets to sit on.Also as mentioned they only recline about 2 inches,not that that bothered me as I never recline mine as I am considerate to people behind who may have long legs and don't want me lying on their lap I once had a larger lady in front who had her seat reclined all the way there.I am 5ft 10 and found this really uncomfortable.I don't mind for a few hours but not all the way.I kept my mouth shut though.Does anyone else feel bad about putting their seat back or is it just me being too polite?
Hence I am flying out PE this time!!!

 

[mikey1]

Excellent post. Just what I needed to know. As it's a night flight we shall leave those seats well alone and stay where we are.(Shall check 24hrs b4)
We really don't like to impose on others behind us but PE is a bit pricey for us. Credit cards are taking a bashing as it is with this one!!
Still, really looking forward to it all.

 

[AliceGardner]

Would not feel guilty about reclining seats in economy/PE (although I try to avoid both...) - you pay for a seat that reclines, so you can recline it if it helps you to feel more comfortable (especially on a night flight). To be honest I find that most economy seats feel like they are more upright than "bolt upright" when fully forward. In consideration, I do raise my seat uright during meals - to give the person behind more room.

I am not sure it is fair to object to the person infront reclining - whether they are average, "larger", tall or short. It isn't the passengers fault, it is airline's for not giving passengers enough personal space...

But, these are some of the main reasons that I try to fly Business Class where-ever possible on longer flights: you have plenty of personal space and you don't encroach on anyone else's in the process (I have quite a phobia about crowds)

Alice

we sat there on the way out on our trip in 2005.Not good seats.They are near the doors and it was raining so when we went to sit down all the seats were soaked.They gave us blankets to sit on.Also as mentioned they only recline about 2 inches,not that that bothered me as I never recline mine as I am considerate to people behind who may have long legs and don't want me lying on their lap I once had a larger lady in front who had her seat reclined all the way there.I am 5ft 10 and found this really uncomfortable.I don't mind for a few hours but not all the way.I kept my mouth shut though.Does anyone else feel bad about putting their seat back or is it just me being too polite?
Hence I am flying out PE this time!!!

 

[jen_uk]

Ive been on 8 Virgin flights and have always been given the seats I requested. It does clearly say tho that it is not guaranteed that you will get the seats you want so I don't really think its worth making a big deal out of it.

 

[Lisash]

I have always reserved our seats without problem until I flew to New York in April when our seats had been changed on both outbound and inbound from near the front to the very back of the plane right next to the toilets! I wasn't too pleased but apparently this is what happens if the plane isn't full as they have to even out the spread of passengers. As soon as we had taken off we were allowed to move and it actually worked in our favour as we ended up with a row each The people in PE were none too pleased though. I heard several of them complaining to cabin crew when they saw us all with a row each

 

[crabbie1]

Would not feel guilty about reclining seats in economy/PE (although I try to avoid both...) - you pay for a seat that reclines, so you can recline it if it helps you to feel more comfortable (especially on a night flight). To be honest I find that most economy seats feel like they are more upright than "bolt upright" when fully forward. In consideration, I do raise my seat uright during meals - to give the person behind more room.

I am not sure it is fair to object to the person infront reclining - whether they are average, "larger", tall or short. It isn't the passengers fault, it is airline's for not giving passengers enough personal space...

But, these are some of the main reasons that I try to fly Business Class where-ever possible on longer flights: you have plenty of personal space and you don't encroach on anyone else's in the process (I have quite a phobia about crowds)

Alice

Alice I agree that you do pay for the privaledge to recline and like I said I never say anything when people do do it.It is just very uncomfortable for people with long legs and maybe they do this to try and get more people to upgrade. I wouldn't let it ruin my holiday though,We tend to swap DD4 into the seat where someone is reclining(never had to deal with all 3 reclining togeather ).The one time I did do it I remember the man behind huffing and kneeing the seat on several occasions,so I politley asked him if he would like me to put my seat up!!!!Everyone has an opinion whether it be fair or un fair and I would never moan if someone did recline and I do feel airlines should take into consideration peoples height and size.We are not all a size 10 and 5ft 3.

 

[mikey1]

Thanks for that.

 

[AliceGardner]

Alice I agree that you do pay for the privaledge to recline and like I said I never say anything when people do do it.It is just very uncomfortable for people with long legs and maybe they do this to try and get more people to upgrade. I wouldn't let it ruin my holiday though,We tend to swap DD4 into the seat where someone is reclining(never had to deal with all 3 reclining togeather ).The one time I did do it I remember the man behind huffing and kneeing the seat on several occasions,so I politley asked him if he would like me to put my seat up!!!!Everyone has an opinion whether it be fair or un fair and I would never moan if someone did recline and I do feel airlines should take into consideration peoples height and size.

It is a real tricky situation...

I think that basically airfares haven't really gone up over the years (well when you compare with inflation and prices rises in everything else. But obviously costs of running the airlines/airplanes have. So to continue to deliever, airlines cram more and more seats in and penny pinch on other things too (reduce what they spend on catering and charge more for excess luggage etc).

I would guess that if economy airlfares had risen by a sensible amount in the past 20 years, then we would be paying PE seat prices for an economy seat. So the airlines could probably argue that passengers have to make sacrifices in comfort to continue to receive the artificially low prices (if that makes any sense)

We are not all a size 10 and 5ft 3.

Some of us are, but still find economy seats very uncomfortable for longer journeys

Sorry to go OT.

Alice

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

Airline seats are designed to recline to make it more comfortable for the passenger, and to relive backache. If all recline the space does or should not alter between passngers.
Wait until Ryanair start flying LongHaul with their no recline seats!!!

The FAA standard is a minimum of 28" pitch, that is true cattle class proportions.
American tried bigger seat pitch but people did not want to pay for extra room.

You just cannot have both, less seats in Economy or lower prices. YOU have to choose and the majority of people will choose cheaper tickets first.