PE from LGW: recent experience of OLCI

Now that we are into the period where advance seat reservations in PE out of LGW arent possible, I am interested in experiences of OLCI and seat availability.

I would hope and expect that at T-24 there would be 100% availability in the cabin, and that bagging a decent pair upstairs (assuming the old config, not the new mess) is very easy. Or is there a spanner in the works that means this isnt the case (eg half of upstairs still pre-reserved by the VH brigade :0 ?

Anyone gone through this process yet?

Cheers

Not been through it but as there don't seem to be any howls of protest on the VS FB page (or on here) about not being able to get the seats people prefer I'd surmise that there are plenty of seats available for selection.

My recent experience wasn't exactly as I would have wanted.

See my trip report for LGW/MCO on 31st March...

In short......seat map not available until around 6 weeks prior to flight. Only seats in row 82 available. At OLCI, no additional availability for reservations. Got stuck in row 82. No change possible at check in.

So, it didn't work out well for me.

I would have thought that if say a family have booked a Virgin Holidays trip, then they would surely be pre-allocated seats even if they could not personally pre-reserve them. Otherwise, how would they manage to keep families seated together?

OLCI PE VS86 LAS-MAN T-24 12th April, Virgin had put 3 of us in row 82 managed to change to Row 72 C,H,K but only 6 seats left upstairs at T-24 as i posted previous. Also i was SEQ 6,7,8.

Previous experience not that good....did OLCI the moment it opened only to find no seats upstairs...how can that be!?!

Actually checked on flight and no - there was not groups / family's together.

My feeling is you are pre-assigned seats and that is what you get.

Recently flew from LGW to LAS in PE. Seat map opened up 1hr before OLCI. I was allocated a seat in row 82 but no other seats available. When OLCI opened, the seat map closed again. I checked in but could not change my seat.

I was travelling to LGW the day before anyway so I went and did twilight check-in. Managed to get moved to an exit row seat upstairs . Not sure if you usually have to pay for these, but I didn't.

On the return I was not so successful. Seat map did not open before OLCI. Tried to check in online and it said to go to the airport and check in there. Arrived at LAS 3.5hrs before flight and was told that there were no seats upstairs as everyone had already checked in online. I was in row 82.

Mark.

My experience was also really bad - almost enough to put me off flying with Virgin again until all of these computer issues are resolved.

Flew to LAS on 6th April. Tried the seat map everyday for two weeks prior and nothing. It finally appeared a few hours prior to on-line check-in opening and we had been allocated a pair of seats downstairs in the middle (not ideal). There were no other seats available and this was also the case at on-line check-in (I was the third person to check-in). All seats had been pre-allocated. Staff at the airport had no access to the map to move people around and there were some more people complaining in front of me.

On the way back from LAX, we were unable to check-in online as our reference number was not recognised. As we were at the airport very early we were the first in line and were allocated 18A&C together but those behind us were not so lucky and ended up split over the small Premium cabin which was completely full.

Yes artvandelay a similar experience to myself...we flew to Vegas the day before you.

Seems to confirm my suspicions....seats are allocated somehow and check in first or not, that's what you have got!

Next time we book, will want to know before we pay that we an select our seats as we always have in the past. We always book 300 odd days ahead and therefore normally have free choice.

Does this inability to select seats apply to UC as well?

Does this inability to select seats apply to UC as well?

I believe so.

Ok, thanks.

[honey lamb]

Does this inability to select seats apply to UC as well?

Up to October 31 it is only PE from/to LGW that is affected. From Nov 1 it is all cabins that are affected while the IT system is upgraded

Flying LGW-MCO of flight 15 tomorrow so like others I have been unable to access the seat map for seat requests at all to date. This morning at about 3 hours before OLCI the map appeared and I found that we had be allocated 73H-K in the bubble. Great However as there a number of unallocated seats in the bubble I tried to select our preferred seats either 74A-C or 79A-C. Unable to change to these or any others as they 'were unavailable' v( Anyway happy to be in the bubble. Did notice the last couple of days Cosmic Girl a LHR 747 was being used so had half expected to be in the downstairs PE section but also to try V-Port, something I have not experienced to date. Oh well maybe next time

Does this inability to select seats apply to UC as well?

Up to October 31 it is only PE from/to LGW that is affected. From Nov 1 it is all cabins that are affected while the IT system is upgraded

Thanks for that. Any idea how long the IT update is likely to be - our flight is June 2013.

nobody who seat-selects wants row 82 so VA just dump people in it automatically - knowing someone not quick enough will get stuck there?

[honey lamb]

Does this inability to select seats apply to UC as well?

Up to October 31 it is only PE from/to LGW that is affected. From Nov 1 it is all cabins that are affected while the IT system is upgraded

Thanks for that. Any idea how long the IT update is likely to be - our flight is June 2013.

Sorry, no. The VS bods are very vague on this :w

I'll just hope they're finished in time for me to request some seats nearer the flight.

Thanks for your help

flying mco-lgw saturday. same thing -no choice yet

flying mco-lgw saturday. same thing -no choice yet

Flying MCO MAN Wednesday VS74. Seat map now up in MMB and 79a and c bagged.

flying mco-lgw saturday. same thing -no choice yet

Flying MCO MAN Wednesday VS74. Seat map now up in MMB and 79a and c bagged.

nice one y)

OLCI completed and 79a and c bagged,for VS74 Wednesday May 2

But no chance to review the seat map - system says "all seats now allocated".

PS Seq 1 and 2 bagged.

[Neil]

It would appear the system is allocating seats.

I noticed this morning that the seat map for our flight on Sat was available, with all the seats showing as available, however it wouldn't actually allow you to select/save any, just kept saying 'selected seats not available'

At exactly 14:06, so now 48 hours before our flight, I logged on, and we had been allocated seats 76H/K (still happy to be in the bubble) with all other seats apart from 2 singles in the bubble allocated and row 82 downstairs. I cannot imagine every single pax clicked on within less than a 5 minute period and selected seats.

I'm happy as we got bubble seats, but think it is a bit wrong of VS to say you will be able to 'select' seats at OLCI stage, when the reality is very different.

It would appear the system is allocating seats.

......I'm happy as we got bubble seats, but think it is a bit wrong of VS to say you will be able to 'select' seats at OLCI stage, when the reality is very different.

Neil I had a bit of a grumble about OLCI back in March after I had tried to get just two of the supposedly 40% of held back seats. In the end it didn't matter in our case as the seats VS allocated were fine on the new airbus. However I have noticed quite alot of folk airing their displeasure of the OLCI system, especially when they've been given row 82 in PE.

I believe OLCI has become a lottery, some good and bad results but there certainly seems very little opportunity to select one's own choice of seat these days. Recently we flew BA and had used their advanced seat booking system. It was so relaxing knowing that we were virtually certain to get the seats we had pre-booked and paid the suppliment for, in advance. I know that's not everyone is happy with this arrangement but on the whole it works. At the end of the day I feel we pay an absolute fortune for air travel and the last thing folk want is not knowing where they will 'be put' during the endless hours of travel.

BA are certainly no better. We flew to Orlando last year and reserved seats for our family of 4 months in advance. Went through check-in OK then just before boarding we were called to the desk and told that our seats had been re-allocated to somebody else (presumably a late standby) and that we were now split up all over the plane. My wife is a nervous flyer at the best of times so to be sat on her own was a nightmare. Complained fiercely to BA, in writing also, but they just gave a stock response that they have the right to change seating as and when they wish. Wonderful customer service, and the reason I will never fly BA again.