V-Flyer

Been travelling exclusively VS where they fly for over 25 years now. Been every colour of FC member up & down.

Had highs & lows (3 day delay coming back from Boston).

But today - this might be the very last straw.

Much has been written of the seat allocation system and the fact that VS are not exactly well known for getting IT systems right first time....

So at the appointed t-60, called up FC to get us allocated in the bubble for our GLA - MCO flight on Sat. No problem sir, all done.

Just tumbling around t'internet today and end up seeing that we have been unilaterally moved from 78 & 79 to 52 & 53. Call to FC to find out why - apparently upper deck is blocked for "operational reasons".

Hmmmm - so whilst we all know seat requests are just that, requests, why bother at all if it is just down to someone randomly punching buttons in the Ivory Tower.

Kids were looking forward to the bubble, TBH so was I.

Of course if I was being suspicious I MIGHT think that chucking peoples' seat requests all over the aircraft is an opener to "well pay for the request and we won't move you" - but THAT would never happen.

Loyalty only works if the reason for the loyalty remains....

Rant over (for now).....

I have to be honest here, why I understand that people like to select "their" seat I do find it hard that someone would ditch an airline that they have been loyal to for that long just down to seat selection, after all, whatever seat you sit in will get you to your vacation location.
We have all known that seat requests are just that, requests but people seem to take them as guarantees which they are not.
Would this situation be any different if you were flying BA / Thomson or another carrier?? Is this the first time you have not got the seats you have "requested" over the 25 years??
Also, you never know, you may get to the airport and they may have opened them all up. Or it may be something as simple as a possible aircraft change where there is no bubble..........
I don't mean to be a Debbie Downer on your rant. I just don't really get the whole seat thing. I am sure there are lots that do.

Aircraft is a 747 - confirmed. Could not have main deck config without it being same aircraft.

Yes, if I had been BA loyal etc this would do it for me.

And yes, it is the first time I have been bumped.

I paid extra to fly VS - alternatives are usually cheaper over the years - just for that wee bit extra - whether it is the UC experience, an extra bag in the hold in PE, even the goodie bags for the kids. All is something "extra".

But over the years, it seems that the things, almost the unquantifiable stuff, that made VS special is going, going, and now it appears, gone.

When I had had to fly alternatives, I have always grinned and bourne it, so to speak - used to be holiday started on arrival at the airport to check in - got a feeling that Sat will be a LONG slog - got a sneaking suspicion what the REAL reason for emptying the bubble is, but will not say on an open forum until confirmed on sat - all I will say is IMO there will be people sitting in the bubble, and they WON'T be any of the pax who pre-requested seats anywhere on the plane. It will not be empty.

It's annoying, yes, but it happens just like you have to accept sometimes they run out of certain meals or the IFE plays up. It's just one of those things.

No airline ever guarantees specific seats - even if you've paid to select them. They always reserve the right to change them. If you read the BA board on Flyertalk, you'll know it happens with them as well.

IIRC if a flight's relatively quiet VS will close the Y section of the bubble if it's not required. That frees up the CC to provide a better service to the PE/UC pax up there.

But there are other genuine reasons for shifting people - eg making sure the weight's evenly distributed on a quiet flight, or needing to seat large groups together.

When I looked yesterday, there were 5 available economy seats on the entire aircraft - now I have no diea on actual loads per class, but on the seat map, only showing 5 available seats would indicate a pretty full flight (and with schools up here off since the beginning of the month) the GLA-MCO route is always busy.

That doesn't necessarily mean there are only 5 seats left on the flight though. 40% of seats are held back for when check in opens and never available to preselect.

According to Flightstats, the VS71 this Saturday is wide open in economy and PE. Only UC looks busy.

All I'm saying is don't get angry while you don't know the reason for being moved. Chances are it's perfectly valid. Of course if, on the day, it turns out the bubble's full of off-duty crew off on their holidays, it's definitely worth firing off an "I was extremely disappointed" email.

daviec1 wrote:But over the years, it seems that the things, almost the unquantifiable stuff, that made VS special is going, going, and now it appears, gone.

I do agree with this but, I am not sure the others, at least where I fly to, are any better, in my experience they are more robotic, I personally like the slightly more laid back staffing of VS say to BA etc.

daviec1 wrote:When I had had to fly alternatives, I have always grinned and bourne it, so to speak - used to be holiday started on arrival at the airport to check in - got a feeling that Sat will be a LONG slog - got a sneaking suspicion what the REAL reason for emptying the bubble is, but will not say on an open forum until confirmed on sat - all I will say is IMO there will be people sitting in the bubble, and they WON'T be any of the pax who pre-requested seats anywhere on the plane. It will not be empty.

Well I look forward to Sat and seeing if your hunch is right, or wrong come to think of it.

Just wanted to say I sympathise with your feelings, daviec1.
I know it shouldn't matter, I know I will still get there, I know it is only a request - but I have my favourite seats. If I manage to successfully " request " them it is the icing on the cake for my holiday. Then if I find I have been moved at a later date I feel really let down. It isn't the end of the world but it just takes the edge of my enjoyment.

So I shall be keeping my fingers crossed for you that you do end up in the bubble. Good Luck.
hiljil

I sympathise too.
It's not just a journey, for me where I sit on the plane is important.
It's part of my holiday.

However, stuff happens and if you have built up tier points and miles I wouldn't abandon the VS ship on this alone.

Dick D

Tier points and miles are next to useless, as countless other threads have shown, if you want to fly on a route such as into MCO during any school holidays.

Will await my complete disappointment being assuaged on Sat....

Maybe...

Make sure you do OLCI as soon as it opens tomorrow if you can and it lets you. There's a chance - albeit slim - the bubble will open up along with the other blocked off seats.

I have friends (family of 6) who were so very excited to have requested bubble seats ex LGW to MCO for their flight a couple of weeks ago. Just as happened to Daviec1 they checked shortly before their flight and they had been reallocated downstairs. They were really upset as, like others have said here, seat preference is actually important to many - especially those for whom the holiday starts with the flight :-)

I tend to concur, I had flown a lot of VS flights nearly always getting seat 79k, meaning a quick disembarkation and being first to US immigration...something that was ,to me, a very important part of my journey.

on taking out a BA chase card I racked up a LOT of avios and wandered to the dark side. Now being able to travel CW and even in October grabbing an F, its swayed me away from VS . sad but the decision to mix the upper deck was the key factor

I see daviec1's point.

When I took my first ever VS flight, my first ever flight, was LGW to MCO and I require someone to be sat with me due to medical reasons and VS was aware of this however they had moved me away from the rest of the family that was travelling due to another family was looking to travel together they had upgraded only one of us to PE which was me.

I had to refuse as one it was my first ever flight not knowing what to expect but also what if something happened and I required assistance to administer medication, yes the aircraft isn't massive and it wouldn't take long but a short period of time can make the biggest difference in some cases.

However I stayed with the other 2 members of the family in a row of 3 on lower deck of 747 (pre refit config) and the other family member travelled in PE which was not what we wanted but VS wouldn't move.

However I have continued to fly VS and the seating thing is annoying I agree and I agree it is extremely disappointing part of the journey if something goes wrong but maybe a small chat to them at the airport maybe able to help but as gumshoe (I believe sorry I can't remember who mentioned it) mentioned do OLCI as it opens if possible and then you may be lucky to be able to get the bubble.

It took me 4 trips before I could get the bubble and I was disappointed but I enjoyed my trips and holidays to MCO as it's MCO after all the sunshine state and a great place to be.

I hope that your flight turns out good for you and although it may not be the bubble just enjoy the VS service as much as you can and remember the sunshine state isn't so far away :-D

daviec1 wrote:Tier points and miles are next to useless, as countless other threads have shown, if you want to fly on a route such as into MCO during any school holidays.

Will await my complete disappointment being assuaged on Sat....

Maybe...

I do agree about miles being pretty useless for school hols relative to BA (where by contrast I've booked numerous short haul reward flights, helped by the extra inventory they allocate for golds; and recently 4 CW upgrades in the easter hols to CUN), but I'm playing the long game on this, by the time I retire, I'll have millions of miles with virgin, gold for life, and years of cut price UC travel ahead. Let's just hope they don't go bust...

daviec1. I am with you on this 100% and I hope you feel a bit better having been given some positive & supportive comments on this forum. I personally think seat allocation does mean a great deal to alot of travellers, even those in UC or why the heck do we have post after post about "which is the best UC seats to sit in"

Personally it is more important to me that I sit next to my family and in a part of the aircraft I choose, rather than having a 'premium seat'. In other words, I'd rather go to an airline which offers me the chance to pay for a seat choice in advance at the time of booking and even if it means travelling in economy

I know obviously that even a 'paid for' seat can be moved but up to now, all my choices have always been honoured by BA & American Airlines.

I honestly hope you are lucky and get to travel in the bubble, it is still the best experience and I personally couldn't care less whether it holds me up arriving into the immigration hall.

When the LGW bubble was just PE, I used to get annoyed that Virgin Holidays had the front section for their passengers but then I realised that the front section is nearer the loo

Do feedback and say if you find out if the bubble was 'shut down' maybe because of lack of passengers or alternatively if a VS staff conference party needs to upstairs!!!

Good luck daviec1, I am firmly in your camp on this. I fly United as a 1K, which typically means over 100,000 BIS miles per annum, and (I hope this is not tempting fate as I sit in the very nice new lounge at LHR T2) I have never had a seat change for any reason other than upgrade (caveat: there was a period during the 777 refits that it did happen but there was a way to watch out for it and mitigate against it). I couldn't care less about the IFE, meals, but to choose a seat I want (and yes I know they are not guaranteed) and to be able to drink like a grown-up is all I want.

OLCI- Online checkin in.

Except when it is not.

So get ready, docs all good to go, screen refreshing - get into OLCI at the appointed time, then into entering names, booking number,


THEN

We are unable to check you in online at the moment - please check in at the airport....

Raging!

Daviec1. I have had that a couple times but don't get put off But try again and again to do the OLCI, for me it has worked on the 2nd attempt. Feel for you

olci now failed over a dozen times - online chat with VS rep says it might be down for all, yet when I try to olci on my own without adding the family, lets me go further, VS investigating - will advise....

Just been told - nothing else can be done OLCI MIGHT be open for others, but not for us. Don't want to check in myself, without family, then check them in at airport, as don't think wife would go for potentially me sitting elsewhere....

Utter shambles from Virgin.

this happened to me when my wife and I were travelling back from Cancun. I checked myself in and then my wife in separately worked fine and we got seated together.

Maybe we were lucky to get seated together doing it this way but after numerous attempts to check in together failed this worked for us.

Good job too, Like you I had requested bubble seats and were moved. VS has allocated us premium downstairs before refit but I was able to change this back to the bubble when checking in.

All hope isn't lost, its just VS IT System working as designed!

Relax and enjoy your trip, Have a good one!

Continuing online chat - just been confirmed to me that the new system if they ever get it right will as we all know, make seat requests a payable seat booking system, but still allow VS to move you for any "operation reason" i.e any reason at all.

Strange that other carrier let you book a specific seat (even for cash or not) and if the aircraft type flies that route, that is where you sit.

Unhappy camper.

And if I see folk sitting upstairs tomorrow....grrrr.....

The one and only time I was re-allocated from the bubble downstairs was in PE on what was a very empty flight (83 pax total on a 747). And as a consequence of the few passengers, the crew weren't attending upstairs and I presume the upstairs galley wasn't loaded either. Which would explain it fully.

In fact we asked, during the flight, if we might go up and spread out across the empty Econ seats to sleep, and they did allow us to do so; a crew member had to sit in the jump seat throughout.

daviec1 wrote:
Strange that other carrier let you book a specific seat (even for cash or not) and if the aircraft type flies that route, that is where you sit.

Not strictly true. Any airline can, and will, move you even on same aircraft type