V-Flyer

Returning to NYC from LHR last night we checked in 3 hours early, only to have our requested seats ignored, be split up and my girlfriend dumped in the worst UC seat: 2K, (A340-642) right by the toilets. She arrived + checked in 10 mins before me, I got my original seat, unaware of her being switched.

Was unable to do OLCI, as we came in from an internet free rural Spanish holiday, but know all about the "seat bookings are just requests and may be altered due to operational requirements" line. But still...

I looked at who got her seat and they were alone, not part of a family or group, so no logic there. Maybe staff? But really - split a couple up and put one of them in the least desirable seat in UC? She was quite dismal at the procession of toilet line people right beside her, for a much anticipated UC journey.

Bad kudos to VS for such behaviour. !

Sorry this happned but if you don't do OLCI by T-13 for ex LHR flights then all previous requests are off.

Were you both on the same PNR?

The website does state that for ex-LHR flights, OLCI must be completed atleast 13 hours before depature to retain pre-assigned seats. I expect at T-13 hours, the seats were free for others to choose.

Info on VS website: https://www.virgin-atlantic.com/en/gb/m ... /index.jsp

I presume you were traveling on the same booking (i.e. No ambiguity that you could have been 2 solo travelers)?

Bit of a tricky one - I'm with you in terms of the nasty taste in the mouth that this would have left, and the bad PR that it could generate for VS (your post being a case in point). So you'd like to think that if it had to be done, that there would be an exceptionally good 'operational reason' for it.

But as you've pointed out - and others on here frequently do, nothing is guaranteed.

Did you query this at all or was it literally not until you were on board that you found out the grim truth? I would definitely ask the question at least to see if they can come up with a good reason or if they just hide behind their Ts and Cs.

Still, in an attempt to find the positives in any situation, I'm sure you saw the opportunity to earn a few brownie points through swapping your seat with your girlfriend...

ratechaser wrote:Still, in an attempt to find the positives in any situation, I'm sure you saw the opportunity to earn a few brownie points through swapping your seat with your girlfriend...

The bookings were separate, as she was joining me on a paid-by-someone-else trip. That might explain their willingness to move her willy-nilly. She not a FF, so wouldn't have known to refuse 2F, like a regular UC traveler would. I thought arriving 3+ hours ahead was enough to hold our non OLCI seats, but: No.

Brownie Points? I swapped to beside her next the toilets, ouch, so yes I did what had to be done. but remain p***d at VS for spoiling our trip.

Even if you are on separate PNRs your bookings can still be linked so that you are viewed as travelling together. Much as I'm not a fan of 2K (due to it's latrine proximity), IMHO it's certainly not the worst seat in the cabin.
Personally I would rather be in 2K than say 17 A and K, which are near the toilets but worse still near the bar, or 1D with the opening and closing of the curtain incessantly by the crew to drive you mad.
Did you speak to the concierge in the CH to see if you could be re-seated together elsewhere?
DL

I must be very odd - have had 2K quite a lit of times and really like it (the WCs don't bother me at all....).

Boo

On the last few occasions I have travelled with family on separate bookings (even though linked at my request) on one occasion we were separated but the concierge in the CH sorted it out. Equally, I have been asked to swap seats and so long as it isn't a zeleb pitching a hissy fit I have been willing to do so

true 17A/K aren't desirable either, nor 1D. Putting all those on my "no, thank you" list too! We did end up sitting together with me in 3K, by the loo's also!

Mustn't claim it was a "spoiled trip", that's unfair, but it did take the polish off our final indulgence of the UC experience, to soften the cruelties of going home from hols.

How does one link two separate bookings to indicate people travelling together?

narikin wrote:
How does one link two separate bookings to indicate people travelling together?

You call up and request it. End of!

I've previously had linked booking with the family linking 6 family members over 3 booking references. The random seat selector computer still managed to screw our seats up when apparently a plane change occured but had same config. Although we were given a £150 voucher for all the issues that led up to us finally sitting together on the flight.

I really like 2K.

And I really like 1D - about the most private UCS on the plane IMHO... So all a matter of preference I guess

Another thumbs up for 2K... at least on a day flight. Extra storage space any very private.

Yes the extra storage is nice, total agreement there, but the line of folks for the loo is not. The considerate pax go to the pointy end to wait, the inconsiderate think its ok to line up at the foot of your pod and take a good gander.

I guess I've always been on flights with considerate folks (at least in the lav-etiquette department). A night flight in 3K though could be a pain come tooth-brush time.

I know it has been said many times on here, there really is no good place for a couple in upper on a 340, being sat next to each other leads to a crick in the neck for one of you. I'm hoping for doublebeds with the new UCS

I've never seen a queue for the forward loo on the 346 next to 2K, in fact one of the reasons I like 4K and 5K is that there is minimal traffic in the aisle. Its always seemed to me than most people from 8k and G go walk backwards to the loos near the bar. Think you were either unlucky or had your sensitivities raised (understandably I would add) by the unwelcome move.

Regards
R3dV

I love 2K, already requested it for trip next May

Vegascrazy wrote:I love 2K, already requested it for trip next May

I was in 2K once when Joan Collins boarded - gave me a nasty look from 4K, guess I'd bounced her LOL!