Seat assignment worries

Hi all, first time Virgin flyer here, hoping some of you veterans can help me with my worries.

My wife and I are flying LHR - LAX on the 19th of June, followed (2 weeks later) by LAS to LGW.

I booked the flights through expedia.

When I looked at the seat assignments on Virgin's website last night, I found that on the LAS - LGW flight, my wife and I are not even sitting together! :0

We are both quite nervous fliers, and so sitting together is a necessity!

What are my options here? looking at the seat map on VA website, every seat is greyed out on the LAS/LGW, but I am led to believe that this may be because we did not book directly with VA?

If I do online check-in, will I be able to change the seats, or will I have to do that at the check-in desk?

I also notice that in Vegas you can check in at the Luxor or Venetian. Again, Will I be able to change my seat assignments here, or will I have to go to the airport?


I actually intend to try and pay for extra legroom seats, as I am 6ft 4. My above questions appy to this also, Can I buy the extra legroom at online checkin? Can I buy extra legroom at these off-airport checkin desks?

Sorry to rant, but as you can probably see, the seating has stressed me out a bit!

[Neil]

Hi and welcome to V-Flyer.

First thing I would say is not to panic. The thing to remember is that only 60% of seats are available for pre-allocation, the remaining 40% become available at OLCI stage. Even if you can't change your seats then, there are certain seats, bulkheads and exit rows which can only be allocated at the airport. There is a charge for exit row seats however.

Extra leg room and exit row seats can only be purchased at the airport usually. Not had any experience of using a hotel check in, but it can't harm to ask.

Hope you manage to get your seats sorted and you enjoy flight. It would be great if you can keep us informed with how you get on and also post a trip report after your flight.

Thanks for your prompt response Neil.

So if I do OLCI, am I still able to go to the check in desk at the airport to try for the extra legroom, or is it the case that because I have checked on online, that's it, my seats are set.

[Neil]

Thanks for your prompt response Neil.

So if I do OLCI, am I still able to go to the check in desk at the airport to try for the extra legroom, or is it the case that because I have checked on online, that's it, my seats are set.

Yes, even if you do OLCI, you can still change your seats at the airport, and pay for exit rows/extra leg room seats, if they are available of course.

Doing OLCI, will just give you a back up and give you some seats together.

Excellent, Thanks Neil!

Yes nothing to stop you doing OLCI to get the best seats you can that are available then AND then asking at check-in for extra leg room - its sort of belt and braces and we regularly advise that strategy on here.

There is also nothing to stop you using 'manage your bookings' on the VS site on a regular basis between now and before you fly to see if anything else has opened up and if so nab those seats.

Booking your ticket through Expedia is not why you have been seperated - it was just the luck of the draw in terms of what was available at the time. As Neil said only 60% are available for pre-allocation.

But have a good flight and please do a trip report for us and welcome to the site !

[honey lamb]

Definitely check a couple of hours before OLCI opens as often seats get released before then. I was able to change my seats 2 hours before OLCI on my recent flight to South Africa and for the return seats were released five hours beforehand

All of this advice is very helpful - thanks guys!

The automated system I suppose DID do what I had asked it to... My wife got a window and I got an aisle.... just on different rows on opposite sides! lol!

jh7183 - I totally empathise with you wanting a seat with adequate leg-room for your height. My husband is the same height as you and just cannot fit in economy seats. Even the PE seats are inadequate as soon as the person in front reclines their seat. At the moment we have 80 H&K booked for our flights which suit us fine, in fact we booked the flight on Friday simply because those seats were available. I know it's not a guarantee that we will actually get those seats but at least we are in with a chance. I will keep my fingers tightly crossed that you get some seats which will be OK for you.

Katie

All of this advice is very helpful - thanks guys!

The automated system I suppose DID do what I had asked it to... My wife got a window and I got an aisle.... just on different rows on opposite sides! lol!

lol Hope she didn't think you had planned that !