Exit row seats

Hi Guys,

I've had a quick look to see if this question has been asked before but can't find anything.

I'm on a quick trip in November from MAN-MCO (747), and have decided to go EC with the purchase of an exit row seat.

Does anyone know what the deal is at check-in, i.e is it a 'first come first serve' basis as to seat location, or is it a 'like it or lump it' situation?

I understand that you can't choose it at OLCI, but have had a few different versions from customer svcs, none of which matched!! ?|

Any help greatly appreciated! y)

[Nottingham Nick]

When we did LHR-MIA-LHR last month, we had an annoying OLCI experience on the inbound and outbound - we were allocated unsuitable exit row seats at OLCI. Our party was split up, with no option to change. n(

However, on both legs we were able to change the seats for one we were happy with at airport check in.

Why Virgin continue to believe that people on the same booking won't want to sit together still baffles me. From reading Facebook, I know a lot of people are annoyed by it, and I firmly believe the policy will cost the company a LOT of repeat business.

Nick

Last time I booked an exit row seat, I asked the agent for a specific seat (25B or C) and she said while she obviously couldn't guarantee anything, she'd make a note on the booking.

She was true to her word and I got what I asked for - so worth calling and asking. Failing that try asking at the airport when you arrive.

Never tried using OLCI in conjunction with exit rows - others will no doubt be able to advise on that front.

When we did LHR-MIA-LHR last month, we had an annoying OLCI experience on the inbound and outbound - we were allocated unsuitable exit row seats at OLCI. Our party was split up, with no option to change. n(

However, on both legs we were able to change the seats for one we were happy with at airport check in.

Why Virgin continue to believe that people on the same booking won't want to sit together still baffles me. From reading Facebook, I know a lot of people are annoyed by it, and I firmly believe the policy will cost the company a LOT of repeat business.

Nick

The drawback of buying exit row seats is you're automatically limiting yourself to 2 specific rows on the plane and only 12 seats (on the LHR fleet, slightly more on the LGW/MAN fleet), drastically reducing the options for those who want to sit together. Presumably OLCI can't put two exit row passengers together if, at the time, there are no available pairs of seats but of course once you get to the airport and human beings start getting involved, some juggling can be done and issues like these can be resolved.

So I wouldn't necessarily blame VS as their options for sitting you all together may well have been very limited if not non-existent until airport check-in opened. And, as you found, they will normally do all they can at the airport to sit groups together if it hasn't been possible online.

Ultimately though, if you've got lots of large groups wanting to sit together or lots of passengers demanding seat changes, someone will inevitably end up being disappointed as there are only so many seats on the plane and VS can't work miracles!

[Darren Wheeler]

Also, when you try to sit groups together, it's the single traveller who gets put in the remaining seats as a filler. There's a far bigger risk of annoying single travellers as they are more likely to be the business traveller on last minute, full fare tickets

[Nottingham Nick]

I don't agree with either of those arguments. Parties who book together want to sit together and if this isn't possible they should be told why.
We all know the booking system at VS is not fit for purpose, and has more long standing glitches than a few, but in this day and age the system should be able to service simple requests.
I fully accept that it isn't possible 100% of the time, but in 2012 there should be a pop up or other page, that explains to the passengers possible reasons they aren't sat together, possible work arounds and some alternatives.
At the moment, you do OLCI, your seats are set - end of story, until you get to check in.

Nick

Nick

The drawback of buying exit row seats is you're automatically limiting yourself to 2 specific rows on the plane and only 12 seats (on the LHR fleet, slightly more on the LGW/MAN fleet), drastically reducing the options for those who want to sit together. Presumably OLCI can't put two exit row passengers together if, at the time, there are no available pairs of seats but of course once you get to the airport and human beings start getting involved, some juggling can be done and issues like these can be resolved.

So I wouldn't necessarily blame VS as their options for sitting you all together may well have been very limited if not non-existent until airport check-in opened. And, as you found, they will normally do all they can at the airport to sit groups together if it hasn't been possible online.

Ultimately though, if you've got lots of large groups wanting to sit together or lots of passengers demanding seat changes, someone will inevitably end up being disappointed as there are only so many seats on the plane and VS can't work miracles!

by Darren Wheeler » 20 Oct 2012, 02:06

Also, when you try to sit groups together, it's the single traveller who gets put in the remaining seats as a filler. There's a far bigger risk of annoying single travellers as they are more likely to be the business traveller on last minute, full fare tickets

It's pretty poor that the VS system can manage the allocation of just 12 seats at the time of booking, after all these are at an additional charge. As the for the single traveller / business man, these people often are not FF with VS and it is the FF / early bookers that provide the cash flow that keeps airlines flying, not the few that take the last minute expensive tickéts

Thanks for the replies folks, it sounds as if it may well be first come etc at the airport then which suits me just fine!!

As I am travelling alone, I'm hoping that will work in my favour rather than against me but time will tell.

Gumshoe, I may well make that phone call, nothing to lose on that front. However, hopefully I won't be limiting myself to two rows as there's a decent chance of a refurb, and another 2 rows upstairs with it!