Redeeming Red Virgin Select vouchers

Hi
Hoping someone can give me some advice on this. My wife and I were (un)fortunate enought to VO'd on a MIA-LHR flight and were given a red Virgin Select voucher each. Whenever we have tried to use them, we have not been able to find availability in C class on the flights we want to take. Currently looking to go to Jamaica in mid-August and can find space on flights LGW-MBJ on 14th and 17th August, but apparently no return flights are available until 18th September!

I note RichardMannion's note on the use of Virgin Select vouchers in this post. Whenever I speak to an agent they tell me there is no space. How can I get then to check if the allocation of up to four select vouchers per flight has been utilised? Is there a policy that select vouchers can be accepted on all flights even if Revenue Management haven't release any N class seats?

Any advice/guidance appreciated!

Robert

Edited by Neil, to tidy link

[Pete]

Mr Mannion is definitely the expert on Select Vouchers... we await his sage advice on this one.

[Nottingham Nick]

I have never been (un)fortunate to be VO'd - despite several attempts. ):

If I was in possession of said vouchers, I think my tactics to get seats would be the same as I use for reward seats - especially to popular holiday destinations during school holidays. I would be booking at the the return - 330 day mark. ie as soon as the seats become available.

Nick

I agree with Nick - I see the problem is that you're looking to book in five months but at peak season for holiday flights. Many of these will be booked up either directly or through Virgin Holidays.

Looking further out, for the next set of holidays or beyond might be more fruitful.

I had a bunch of Red Select vouchers a few years back, in the end I converted mine into miles, and used the rest of the family ones when I was away on a business trip to bring them out to see me.

However, this was before they were of school age, so out of the peak timings.

Perhaps you can still convert them to miles, and then you are free to use them beyond the year validity.

[RichardMannion]

I'd call back and ask to speak to Flying Club Support - they should be able to assist with the request. I can't check now, but would look for N class availability in the buckets (even if its not for sale). If the flight is buys, and only has the higher fare classes for sale L,B and Y then its unlikely that they can be redeemed on those particular dates.

This is what I get for seat availability at http://www.itn.net


Flight: 66 MBJ-LGW August 21
Cabin class: J9 D7 R6 Z0 S5 Y9 B9 L9 M0 Q0 X0 N0 O0 0 0

Flight: 70 KIN-LHR August 23
Cabin class: J9 D9 R9 Z7 S9 Y9 B9 L9 M0 Q0 X0 N0 O0 0 0

Flight: 66 MBJ-LGW August 24
Cabin class: J7 D7 R6 Z0 S9 Y9 B9 L9 M0 Q0 X0 N0 O0 0 0

Flight: 70 KIN-LHR August 26
Cabin class: J9 D9 R9 Z2 S9 Y9 B9 L7 M0 Q0 X0 N0 O0 0 0

Flight: 66 MBJ-LGW August 28
Cabin class: J9 D7 R6 Z0 S9 Y9 B8 L0 M0 Q0 X0 N0 O0 0 0

Would Revenue Management give up the seats if they were told it was specifically for the redemtion on a select voucher?

[RichardMannion]

Looking at those fare buckets, I'd say no. Either the flights are already busy, or RevMan are expecting no problems in selling those seats. I think you'd need to look for an alternative set of dates or a different route.

Just got off the phone from speaking to a booking supervisor. He says that they are no longer able to call revenue management to ask for seats to be freed up. Also wouldn't check how many select vouchers had already been allocated on the flights I was interested in, so the description against Class N & X may need to be updated to reflect current working practices.