V-Flyer

Like i have said we are virgin Virgins this summer
we have a Thomas Cook booked multicentre US holiday starting at Gatwick, so how do i ensure the 3 of us are seated together in economy with a window seat all in one row, without adding extra cost to my holiday? we will be using the twilight checkin
can i reserve seats before i leave home online or phone?
obviously on return flight to LHR from LAX i will just be taking pot luck when checking in, but feel i can influence the outward leg at least

Hi, I have booked through Thomas Cook myself and had the same questions. I was able to get my flight locator reference from my local Thomas Cook. This number should also be on your tour operator invoice that got posted to you. It should be 6 characters long.....(mine is) not sure if it is the standard tho.

I am able to go to Virgin Atlantic website, use Manage my Booking and enter this code plus my first and last name and it brings up my flight details. you should be able to see the online check in status and seat selection from here (Might not be available before check in due to the LGW refits for your outbound flight depending on travel dates).

Hope this helps you somewhat, I am sure the more experienced members will be able to confirm / deny my comments ( I am new to this but I am starting to contribute more and more! I hail to the more experienced members and the knowledge we can all learn from these forums oo) )

thanks Ally will try that in few weeks time nearer departure date, we have flown A330Ss and A340s with BWIA and BMI in the past and i we like to get a row with a window seat, then aisle and then the one across the aisle

Yes find out what your PNR (6 figures locator number) is from Thomas Cook.

Then go on to Virgin Atlantic's website and request your seats through 'Manage My Booking'. You should be at least able to request your seats on your return leg to LHR.

On your out leg from LGW, definitely do online check-in 24hrs before your flight. You should be able to select your seats for the flight.

wont be online checking in
will be doing night before baggage drop at Gatwick
will try and sort seats before i do that
thanks

cockerhoop wrote:wont be online checking in

Is that because you just can't? If you at all can, I'd recommend it. Up until check in it isn't a seat "reservation", it's a seat request.

I always try on the way back too - many hotels will allow you to use the business centre for a short time to do OLCI.


Paul

but do i have to print boarding cards?

cockerhoop wrote:but do i have to print boarding cards?

Nope

No you don't have to print boarding passes - they can do that at the bag drop desks.

It is always possible that you can request your seats now in Economy - there is only a blanket restriction on PE.

think i will look for code tonight at home and request seats tomorrow and then check-in and drop baggage at gatwick night before we fly. we are travelling a long way to Gatwick the day before and wont have time for online checkin before we set off.
i guess if the system brings up the seat plan for the return LAX-LHR it will answer my question of whether its a 744 or A346 on the sunday we fly!!!!!

cockerhoop wrote: we are travelling a long way to Gatwick the day before and wont have time for online checkin before we set off

Generally OLCI opens approx 24 hrs (23 hrs 59mins ) prior to departure- if you can't do it before you leave home, can you do it en- route (most motorway service stations offer free wi -fi)?
DL

we are on holiday, laptop defo staying at home!
and wife and daughter only use Iphones for calls and facebook (and perhaps the map should my powers of direction let me down enroute to the hol inn express Crawley)
i remember th days when you got nice tickets from travel agenst about a week before departure!!!!!

cockerhoop wrote:i guess if the system brings up the seat plan for the return LAX-LHR it will answer my question of whether its a 744 or A346 on the sunday we fly!!!!!

It should do as it's only on the ex-LGW planes that the maps are restricted

Edited to add: I rather think that for the summer months the LAX flights are the A346 on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday and the 747 on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday |:)

thats disappointing i was really looking forward to getting on a 346

cockerhoop wrote:i remember th days when you got nice tickets from travel agenst about a week before departure!!!!!

Ah yes the multiple leaves of thin paper with lots of mysterious codes on in a wallet and possibly some luggage tags too !

In those days seat allocation was all done at the airport and you basically sat where you were told to!

tontybear wrote:

cockerhoop wrote:i remember th days when you got nice tickets from travel agenst about a week before departure!!!!!

Ah yes the multiple leaves of thin paper with lots of mysterious codes on in a wallet and possibly some luggage tags too !

In those days seat allocation was all done at the airport and you basically sat where you were told to!

We still got a nice booklet on our last ski holiday with Crystal. Had paper tickets, accommodation vouchers, local information, and even reinforced pull out luggage tags. Fairly impressed getting everything together in one place like that!

cockerhoop wrote:we are on holiday, laptop defo staying at home!
and wife and daughter only use Iphones for calls and facebook (and perhaps the map should my powers of direction let me down enroute to the hol inn express Crawley)
i remember th days when you got nice tickets from travel agenst about a week before departure!!!!!

Why not get the Virgin iPhone app and have the Mrs. or daughter to do OLCI en-route? Or you can do it if your not driving! |:)

Just my 2 cents worth.
Whichever you choose, have a great trip.
Paul

ok got the number of TC (only 1 though, thought i would have 2 as flight back is mirror of oyward one) tried the wedsite but nothing came up
is 8 weeks too early to have a look? for a travel agent booking?

If you dont check in online by 13 hours before the flight, seat requests can be changed or cancelled. For that reason alone I'd make sure I do it.

cockerhoop wrote:ok got the number of TC (only 1 though, thought i would have 2 as flight back is mirror of oyward one) tried the wedsite but nothing came up
is 8 weeks too early to have a look? for a travel agent booking?

What form does the locator take - should be AAA99A?

It will cover both legs of the trip.

Paul

i think it was letter number letterletter number leteer
its at home will check later

make sure you havent put a zero instead of a letter O, or vice versa

cockerhoop wrote:i think it was letter number letterletter number leteer
its at home will check later

If it's a mix of the two, and a total of six letters and numbers, then its probably right. I took the format from the reference that VH supplied me with.

ok thanks
but once i have it corect i will be able to get in at this early stage ie 2 months prior to departure

cockerhoop wrote:ok thanks
but once i have it corect i will be able to get in at this early stage ie 2 months prior to departure

I can't see any reason why not, as long as the flight has been ticketed. Granted if I use the travel agent approach to book a package I usually use VH, but I've never had problems making a seat request 6 to 9 months ahead of the flight. This year we're flying out late July, and I could get to the seat request page on the VS website the day I received the booking confirmation from VH in early February.