Virgin flights booked via Thomas Cook package holiday...Q's

We booked a holiday to Florida last Saturday and it is a Thomas Cook Signtaure holiday with flights with Virgin in July/ Aug 2013. The Travel Agent told us that she would pre-book seats for us as Virgin do not charge but I said I would prefer to do this (as I have more control over where we sit). I have since looked online and can see that for flights booked through VS you cannot pre-book seats - would this be the case for us?

Also as we have not booked a package through VH, can we get access to the v-room at Manchester airport?

Thanks

[Neil]

Hi and welcome.

You are correct, currently for any Virgin flights after the 1st November the ability to reserve seats in advance is not available. There is no information from Virgin as to when this will be active again. This is for all passengers regardless of who they have booked through.

You are also correct, that the V-Room at MAN is only for Virgin Holiday customers, so you won't be able to use that lounge. There are a couple of other lounges that anyone can book if you so desire.

I wouldn't be too miffed about not getting into the V'room at MAN, it's no clubhouse, poss get yourself a paid entry into Escape Lounge if you're after a lounge.

We booked a holiday to Florida last Saturday and it is a Thomas Cook Signtaure holiday with flights with Virgin in July/ Aug 2013. The Travel Agent told us that she would pre-book seats for us as Virgin do not charge but I said I would prefer to do this (as I have more control over where we sit). I have since looked online and can see that for flights booked through VS you cannot pre-book seats - would this be the case for us?

So hang on - the agent said "she would pre-book seats for us" v(
Really how can that be? as it is not possible to request seats after 1st November and also even if this were not the case, August seat maps would not be available yet anyway.

Shame you didn't take up her offer to see just how that is possible, as my understanding the Novemeber 1st rule applies to everyone.

I'd actually like to hear from any VH customer who has recently been promised they "can still make request seats, but keep it quiet" Allegedly this was told to my son by a friend when they booked with VH direct at the beginning of August :0

[Neil]

I'm guessing the agents making these statements aren't aware of the current restrictions. It makes no sense to allow VH pax (or any agent for that matter) to book seats, surely if anyone could book seats VS wold like it as a perk for their pax as an incentive to book direct with them which is how they make the most profit.

Thank you all for your help x

We did same this year booked a TC Signature trip to USA 12 months in advance
i managed to reserve good seats online for outbound leg about a week before departure, i had already reserved (seats not ideal but got our group of 3 together) i changed these as better seats came available, i knew i would not be able to check in online and print boarding cards before departure as en route to Gatwick.
But the return leg was a real surprise, the hotel we stayed in Long Beach has computers for free online check in and boarding card printing
i was on as soon as it opened 24 hours before flight and got a row of free economy seats in the bubble of the 747 to Heathrow. so you should have no worries as long as you have your virgin code