Interesting re: seat assignment and TAs

[Decker]

http://www.travelmarketreport.com/artic ... r-Feedback

So Y and B fares can preassign seats if booked via a Traavel Agent for no fee...

[buns]

As the song goes - "There may be trouble ahead......... "

It does appear that this is going to make things worse

buns

[Neil]

Well, Y class bookings were always going to be allowed to allocated FOC, interesting about B fares, nothing mentioned on the VS website about that!

Does this mean we would get better service by booking through an Agent than going direct to VA or am I missing something? Seems VA listen to agents but not their customers.

Is it April 1st already ? That is really taking the mick out of a lot of customers, me included, that have already booked direct with Virgin.

I noted the virgin site changing wording subtly. Corporate flyers won't pay for reservations. Thus wonder if this is extension of this.

Being that this is priced in dollars, could this not be for the US market only and wouldn't have any bearing on anyone booking in the UK ? ?|

David

[mitchja]

No, it applies to UK TA's as well, having received a trade email the other day from VS it states the same:

To clarify, here’s how it all works:

Agents can use GDSs to pre assign seats as:*

Upper Class bookings: booking classes J,C,D, I, Z
Premium Economy bookings: booking classes W, H, S, K
Y & B class Economy bookings

As I've said before 'curiouser and curiouser'!!

I did 'live chat'on the VS site last week regarding this situation and my upcoming flight and even the girl on the other end admitted that its all causing a hell of a lot of confusion to PAX and Operatives ?|

[Neil]

Maybe VS will extend it to Y & B for all pax, not just Y like it is now.

Bs are very flexible and expensive so it makes sense, except that you'd expect them to offer it to customers booking direct too.

I have been on live chat and asked about this according to them it is not true??

[Decker]

not true === left hand/right hand

I have been on live chat. Wife almost caught me.