V-Flyer

I have just redeemed 100,000 of my bmi miles for outbound upper and return PE. Now on my booking, there is no mention of a seat number, and the book reference does not work with the Virgin system. So my question is, can you choose your seat on reward flights or is this only allocated at the airport

Yes you can request seats on a reward booking.

It is possible that depending on on your route and date of travel that the 60% pre request limit has been reached so you won't be able to select a seat until OLCI opens.

But more likely is that the VS system had not fully updated itself and may be waiting for the credit card charge for the VS fuel surcharge etc to clear

Yes you can. I have done exactly this for July.
Ensure you are using the correct VS reference and not the reference BMI gave you. You have to ask then specifically for he VS reference, telling them you want it for seat reservations. Both references are six letters/numbers.

Indeed - it's a complication with the bmi system.

When you're speaking to "Dave" in India at bmi's call centre, make sure they give you the VS "PNR" (use those letters). You don't want the reservation ID / bmi reference, you want the Virgin Atlantic Reference/PNR.

Once you have that, you can control everything on VS' website, directly.

Oh, PS... If they can't give you the VS PNR, they're doing their normal stunt of NOT TICKETING your reward seat (they do this a lot to save themselves cash). DEMAND they ticket your reward there and then - and don't take any B.S. they can ticket within hours (but that means the money goes from bmi's account to VS' - hence the want to delay it). Once ticketed, all will be fine

I did exactly as instructed, and called them to ask for the PNR number, however that doesn't work in virgins system either. Could it take a few days before it registers with virgins system?

http://www.checkmytrip.com
Enter the BMI PNR and click on pdf, you will find the VS PNR in that document. You should be able to find you flight with this (I've done it before).

If you can't go to the lufthansa site, find manage my booking. Enter the BMI PNR and you will be able to select a seat there.

If you're getting a PNR that doesn't work on Virgin's website - it's one of two things:

a) a lying bmi.
b) a screw-up on VS' website lookup.

If an e-ticket has been issued, there's no question the PNR will be live right there and then. You can call up VS and ask if they can see it on their "proper" system. If they can't, then revert to a) above...

If you dont get any joy online, I would call VS.
They should be able to give you the VS PNR and the actual eticket numbers.
When I booked mine, they were available almost immediately on the VS site.
Good luck.

Thank's for the advice everyone, I can now access the booking through Virgin.