Skycot question

A question on behalf of a work colleague...

He's booked a LHR-HKG return, going out in Y & back in PE. He's travelling with his Wife & an under 1 year old child so will need a skycot on the flights. He's just called VS (got the Indian Call Centre) to try and pre-book seats with a skycot. He was told they are only available when OLCI opens - is this correct? If it makes any difference, he's only FC Red.

I am sure someone knowledgable / with experience of this will be able to help.

Thanks
James

[Darren Wheeler]

I would suggest they call back again and speak to someone different

The VS Website says they have to be requested before you fly. I don't think OLCI gives enough time.

[Neil]

As cots are located at bulkheads, then it won't be possible for them to be allocated at OLCI stage anyway.

Agree with Darren, give them a call back and hopefully they will get to speak to someone with a bit more knowledge.

If you are still having problems call the special services line as this is something they are happy to deal with.
They will need to request the bassinet and then once it is approved they can then allocate the seats around it to the people accompanying the infant. You will probably get the one next to it and then one the other side of the aisle so that they can keep the space infront of the other sky cot available for another baby.

VS have just abolished the rules on age for sky cots, it is now purely on baby's height and weight at time of travel. Good job your friends are on HKG the A340-600 is the most generous on this and the maximums are 11kg weight and 76cm length (height!)
If at the time of travel the airport or crew feel the baby is not within these limits then VS will refuse. It does need to all be as soon as possible and they will have to provide all the details above.
Ed

Further to this I'll add my understanding based on past experience - although this may have now changed

A request for a Skycot is just that - a request. Somewhere else on VA it talks about reserving but certainly this did not use to be the case. If there are more requests than there are positions then you may find yourself without one - as happened to us on one occassion. They do not (or at least did not use to) book the skycot position and the surrounding seats when you book.

As I said above this is how it used to be so maybe it has now changed for the better.

FM

Having needeed to use a skycot twice previously I would suggest calling again to request a skycot for both legs of flight and then get to the airport to check in as early as possible! On both occasions I reminded check in staff that a skycot had been requested - yes I know that having a baby with the check in passengers should be enough to prompt them to the possibility but I always like to state the obvious!!!

Got skycots both ways and some very nice seats in row 21 of Y on 747 LGW/MCO!

Good luck!
Jane

Thanks for the quick replies - I've advised my colleague to give the normal call centre number another try and hope for someone who knows what they are doing. (All they could say earlier is "there are lots of skycot seats available"... ExpertFlyer seems to think otherwise for the return flight!) Failing that he'll give Special Assistance a try.

James