Virgin to charge £25 seat selection fee for Economy

I am still not clear where it says it only applies to economy. I know Neil says it so I do trust that, but call me old fashioned but I would like to see it in quill and velum.

See https://www.virgin-atlantic.com/gb/en/m ... nment.html: "If you're flying Upper Class or Premium Economy, have a fully flexible Economy ticket, or if you're a Flying Club Gold member, you can choose your seat free of charge any time from making your booking."

Thanks. Makes sense, seriously they cannot even get their "marketing" of this in sync as far as I am concerned. I am not entirely sure how hard it would have been to have that information here: http://virginatlantic.custhelp.com/app/ ... il/a_id/86 unless I am missing something.

It's a shame, I love the service/staff on VS but their IT and marketing really are poor.

See https://www.virgin-atlantic.com/gb/en/m ... nment.html

Actually that link makes it even more confusing for the general public.

Quotes taken from that link include

" We'll be rolling this out on a route by route basis. "

And

" From 1 April 2014, you’ll be able to pay to choose your seat up to 336 days before departure, starting with our London - Las Vegas route. "

If it's the same speed as the " roll out " of the new web site, it could be years before all routes are included :0 :0

David ): ):

I've read if you pay the 25 to select seats you can also select extra leg room seats and exit row seats will that be included or anouther charge on top of that.

If it's the same speed as the " roll out " of the new web site, it could be years before all routes are included :0 :0

David ): ):

Which could of course mean its a trial, just not that VS want to call it as such.

I've read if u pay the 25 to select seats u can also select extra leg room seats and exit row seats will that b included or anouther charge on top of that.

Can't see that being included as it will be cheaper than before. So it will be £25 + the costs for extra legroom and exit row seats.

Thanks. Makes sense, seriously they cannot even get their "marketing" of this in sync as far as I am concerned. I am not entirely sure how hard it would have been to have that information here: http://virginatlantic.custhelp.com/app/ ... il/a_id/86 unless I am missing something.

It's a shame, I love the service/staff on VS but their IT and marketing really are poor.

Oh, I quite agree -- for a scheduled launch like this, you'd really have thought they would have had ample time for some clear communications. They certainly win no prizes for a clear message here.

Apologies if I am missing this answer elsewhere but if you qualify for the seat without a charge is it only a request (as before) and less secure than those who pay? ?|

[Neil]

Apologies if I am missing this answer elsewhere but if you qualify for the seat without a charge is it only a request (as before) and less secure than those who pay? ?|

I don't think it really matters. Virgin are quite excepting of the fact that even if you pay, there is a chance your seat might get changed due to say an a/c change, which due to their small fleet is always going to be a possibility.

What the new system does, they say, is mean that there will be less pax actually requesting a seat in advance, so when the need to re-allocate does occur, they will be able to accommodate those with request in very similar positioned seats on the new a/c, thus meaning less overall unhappy pax.

Neil

I've just requested a seat for my LAX flight on March 17th, so the old T-90 system is still working today.

Whether that will still be the case tomorrow is another matter.

[Darren Wheeler]

I've just requested a seat for my LAX flight on March 17th, so the old T-90 system is still working today.

Whether that will still be the case tomorrow is another matter.

The change kicks in on the 18th so nothing has changed yet.

The change kicks in on the 18th so nothing has changed yet.

I wonder then whether my seat reservation for my flight on the 19th will disappear into the ether when the system changes. :#

I think I might be keeping an eye on manage my booking tomorrow, now not just for the search for SEQ1!

Also looks like some routes may end up being more expensive than others:

"The cost to assign a seat will be from £25 per person per flight (£50 per round trip) on Virgin Atlantic long haul flights. This is with the exception of our Tokyo route which will remain free of charge"

Might be similar to the exit row and extra leg room seat pricing levels for different destinations

[Neil]

I imagine it will be double for a LHR-SYD flight.

The only good item seems to be:

"If you're flying Upper Class or Premium Economy, have a fully flexible Economy ticket, or if you're a Flying Club Gold member, you can choose your seat free of charge any time from making your booking."

So, the 90 day nonsense seems to have disappeared under certain circumstances which is a bonus.

[Neil]

The only good item seems to be:

"If you're flying Upper Class or Premium Economy, have a fully flexible Economy ticket, or if you're a Flying Club Gold member, you can choose your seat free of charge any time from making your booking."

So, the 90 day nonsense seems to have disappeared under certain circumstances which is a bonus.

Yes, from the 1st June, any pax, regardless of if you are paying or entitled to select for free, will be able to select seats again as soon as the flights go on sale.

Hi all the vague statement from VS has put a cat amongst the pigeons.
my next flight is in PE on 07th June 2014.
I know there is supposedly no charge for PE seats but SF has added the following statement to this post


See https://www.virgin-atlantic.com/gb/en/m ... nment.html: "If you're flying Upper Class or Premium Economy, have a fully flexible Economy ticket, or if you're a Flying Club Gold member, you can choose your seat free of charge any time from making your booking."


Are my PE seat maps going to be open NOW for June 2014 or at T -90 days ?

My guess is T-90.

Everyone knows that Virgin is a structually loss making company, fighting for survival.

What I can't understand is why on Facebook they are trying to pull the wool over everyone's eyes about this being an enhancement to seat bookings?

Why not be a bit more straight and tell people the simple truth, that the charge is to raise additional revenue to help the airline's financial performance? I for one would respect their honesty rather more than the guff they're spouting at the moment.

Was it outside the marketing or IT office I saw some shoes with bullet holes in?
I don't agree with the philosophy of "premium" airlines making charges like this, and haven't booked BA for that reason. The Norwegian pay-for-extras package begins to look attractive!
Although we've recently only flown 6 PE VS flights I have made VS reservations for my family, each x 4 people. For next year I've decided to book them LGW-MCO with Aer Lingus, and saved £1,500.(total, 4 people). Wouldn't you? Seat selection f.o.c. The flight change in DUB is a bit of a pain, but at least you clear US immigration while you wait.
I await with interest how our forthcoming VS flight works out, I really don't want it to be our last, VS is still our preferred airline - but not at any price.

Booked my seats today for my flight on 17th March next year my return flight is PE so should be ok at T-90, but will wait and see what the Virgin IT gremlins bring could be an untimely bug - but am going to check my booking tomorrow also as have managed to get a seat in the bubble in economy for outbound so am pleased about this first time in the bubble since the refit, my last time was in PE in 2010.

Craig Keeger interviewed this morning on the BBC [primarily over airport expansion] but asked directly if this new charge was to increase revenue --- he does not interview well but admitted it was if your choice of seat was important to you, also stating that families would still be sat together at check-in.
Most interestingly is that the interviewer specifically mentioned the potential extra charge for a family of four --- there must be a lot of murmerings behind the scenes v(

stating that families would still be sat together at check-in.

He hasn't been reading Facebook then - lots of complaints that this doesn't happen consistently!

[Neil]

stating that families would still be sat together at check-in.

He hasn't been reading Facebook then - lots of complaints that this doesn't happen consistently!

But I *think* the new system *should* help that. Overall less people pre-allocating seats, means more open seats at OLCI and for busy flights allows the computer/airport teams greater control to ensure families are sat together.

Sorry to be REALLY dense, but I am confused.

We are flying to Grenada on April 14th in UC. I realise we won't have to pay to request our seats as usual, but will it be at T90, T30 or when? I can't access the seat plan today, so it's obviously not yet