V-Flyer

Just thought I'd flag this up as it'll be of interest to most people.

I was on the phone to the Premier Team a week or so ago, and I was advised that the opening of seats for request 90 days before the outbound flight (for all flights on the reservation) is a permanent change.

The justification for this was that VS believe it's a fairer system.

Fairer? Hmmm - so they reward customers who invest their money with the airline early with no differentiation in their ability to request their preferred seats...

...instead creating the online equivalent to a SleazyJet Scrum at 89 days 23:59 out from a flight.


Riiiiiight.

I have a MCO-LGW trip in feb...the outbound opened up a little before 90 .00 and I managed to bag the bubble (PE) but only half the seats were available, so I guess they are still keeping half the reduced no for VH pax ?
the return leg is currently at 91d 19h so keeping a good eye on it as its on a 330 and i want the back row.

looks like the 90 day is in fact remaining, which as I tend to book flights pretty late works more in my favour.

How is an arbitrary deadline fairer, what an odd thing to say ... I'd say first come, first served is a fair as it can get ... I could argue that a J fare passenger booking a few days out should get a seat of choice based on the cost and that would also be fairer from some perspectives ... but 90 days is just odd. Then again, that's how VS seems to be at the moment.

It also works in favour of people who go away for longer trips.

For example, if I booked LHR-JFK on 1st Dec returning 7th Dec, I'd be able to request seats for both legs 90 days before 1st Dec.
However if I booked LHR-JFK on 30th Nov, also returning 7th Dec, I'd be able to request seats for the inbound leg 90 days before 30th Nov, 24 hours before the person flying LHR-JFK on 1st Dec. Therefore I would theoretically get a wider choice of seats on the return leg.

No, it isn't a permanent change.

preiffer wrote:...instead creating the online equivalent to a SleazyJet Scrum at 89 days 23:59 out from a flight.

And the aforementioned SleazyJet scrum that currently exists at T24 already is....... especially from certain travellers who need another SEQ1 for their collection :w

Isn't it more or less irrelevant given seat requests are subject to change anyway..

From the IT perspective too, it gives the VS computers, no doubt constructed in the land that time forgot, less to remember in case they ever have a senior moment and forget a load of seat requests people have made in the months prior to their flight ii)

barg wrote:No, it isn't a permanent change.

Ahh, an insider tip? |:)

clarkeysntfc wrote:It also works in favour of people who go away for longer trips.

For example, if I booked LHR-JFK on 1st Dec returning 7th Dec, I'd be able to request seats for both legs 90 days before 1st Dec.
However if I booked LHR-JFK on 30th Nov, also returning 7th Dec, I'd be able to request seats for the inbound leg 90 days before 30th Nov, 24 hours before the person flying LHR-JFK on 1st Dec. Therefore I would theoretically get a wider choice of seats on the return leg.

That wasn't the case for my trip in jan, both legs became available to book seats separately at 90 days before each flight date, it was not possible to book return seats at the 90 day from outbound flight mark.

joeyc wrote:

barg wrote:No, it isn't a permanent change.

Ahh, an insider tip? |:)

Sure hope so ):

barg wrote:No, it isn't a permanent change.

Any info to support that statement??

Least you can still prebook for free. With BA its either pay to do it in advance or when OLCI opens.

joeyc wrote:

preiffer wrote:...instead creating the online equivalent to a SleazyJet Scrum at 89 days 23:59 out from a flight.

And the aforementioned SleazyJet scrum that currently exists at T24 already is....... especially from certain travellers who need another SEQ1 for their collection :w

Always looking for the 1+2 for the wife and I y)

jwhite9185 wrote:Least you can still prebook for free. With BA its either pay to do it in advance or when OLCI opens.

I see no difference in "pre-booking" at T-24 or at 90 days. It is a scrum just at a different point in time surely? BA's system is much fairer (and I am really not a fan of BA) as you at least have a choice if you want to purchase in advance.

We are at 105 days to our trip to LAS from MAN, my friend is disabled but unable to book a seat until we get to the airport. This is my first time with VS and I am getting a bit worried about how this will work! Any ideas!

catcat24 wrote:We are at 105 days to our trip to LAS from MAN, my friend is disabled but unable to book a seat until we get to the airport. This is my first time with VS and I am getting a bit worried about how this will work! Any ideas!

Simples. Call Virgin special services.

slinky09 wrote:How is an arbitrary deadline fairer, what an odd thing to say ... I'd say first come, first served is a fair as it can get ... I could argue that a J fare passenger booking a few days out should get a seat of choice based on the cost and that would also be fairer from some perspectives ... but 90 days is just odd. Then again, that's how VS seems to be at the moment.

Slinky I take your point on ticket price, but its the people that pay in advance that provide the vital cash flow that is also used to generate further income through interest etc. Unfortunately VS seems to be loosing the plot and the things that made it the only choice for many people are disappearing.

The other thing is that the default position for some posters is to use BA almost as an excuse for VS failures. I have nine J class tickets to purchase next week and when taking into account onward connections from and to MIA the one world tickets save me over £500 person including paying BA for the privilege of choosing our seats.

I genuinely fear for the survival of VS and whilst the seating allocation may be a minor issue, the lack of true alliance and the ability to offer multi stop tickets is seriously hurting their future

Hey

As far as I am concerned it was switched off while VS worked on the new system. However, due to the amount of passenger feedback and upset over the fact seats weren't available after 2nd of November, they decided to switch it back on as a rolling 90 days.

I would imagine once the new system is in place the entire system will be available once again. (my guess)

But until further information has been provided - It's going to be complete guess work. Unfortunately I would put the OP's experience on the phone down to being misinformed.

Unless that agent has a definitive black and white remark from someone in the business or someone from the communications team then I would take it as incorrect info.

As it currently stands the only procedure is assignment within 90 days.

As far as I know the 90 day thing is a temporary measure whilst this whole new 'system upgrade' thing takes place.

I think the OP may have spoke to someone who doesn't read their updates properly and just presumes the 90 day system is now the way it is.

All the updates I've seen seem to suggest that once the upgrade of the system has finished, seating will open up again to -336days - things can change though I suppose!

Slinky I take your point on ticket price, but its the people that pay in advance that provide the vital cash flow that is also used to generate further income through interest etc. Unfortunately VS seems to be loosing the plot and the things that made it the only choice for many people are disappearing.

The other thing is that the default position for some posters is to use BA almost as an excuse for VS failures. I have nine J class tickets to purchase next week and when taking into account onward connections from and to MIA the one world tickets save me over £500 person including paying BA for the privilege of choosing our seats.

I genuinely fear for the survival of VS and whilst the seating allocation may be a minor issue, the lack of true alliance and the ability to offer multi stop tickets is seriously hurting their future[/quote]


Totally agree with you there, even I have gone over to the dark side for our next flight !

well no one is using it on my flight !!! 83 days to go and I am the only one with a seat reserved in PE upstairs or downstairs




cue..............only the lonely ....

flabound wrote:well no one is using it on my flight !!! 83 days to go and I am the only one with a seat reserved in PE upstairs or downstairs

Reading these forums you'd be forgiven for thinking every passenger on every flight sits by their computer, finger hovering over F5, waiting to pounce at T-90 days or 24 hours.

But your post confirms the reality - most passengers probably don't even select a seat, very few really care whether they're in 42A or 62E, and the 90 day rule only affects a small number of people (yes, me included) who want to bag a specific seat.

So all this talk of passengers deserting VS because of this is a bit of an over-reaction - the majority really don't care.

PaulS wrote: the one world tickets save me over £500 person

I would say this might have something to do with people using other carriers... when you are making savings like that, price would most def win over service.

gumshoe wrote:So all this talk of passengers deserting VS because of this is a bit of an over-reaction - the majority really don't care.

Agreed with that one, see above... ha.

even morte bizarre, today is 90d 20h and the seat map has opened up ! BUT even though every seat is open and I have clicked on every one a message 'this seat is not available you still have your original seat assigned' comes up.....thing is I have No original seat

yet another VS website 'glitch'

flabound wrote:even though every seat is open and I have clicked on every one a message 'this seat is not available you still have your original seat assigned' comes up.....thing is I have No original seat

Have you paid your reservation fee yet? ):

I have a reservation at 88 days with seats selected but the return flight doesn't allow me to select seats, weird system.