Seat Booking on VS029

First post here

Off to Barbados on Friday with my wife and two kids.. travelling from Gatwick.

I think I'm right in saying that the VS029 should be a config 3 747.

We're in Economy and I'm hoping to book two sets of 2 seats at the back ie 61, 62, or 63.

My question is are these fully bookable online when the OLCI opens or do Virgin hold them back and charge extra at the airport like I think they do for some bulkhead seats?

Also is it the case that until 24 beforehand no traveller on this flight will have reserved any seats? ie when OLCI opens if you're quick enough you can pick any seat, or is there some reason why certain seats will mysteriously already be booked!

Finally anyone know what Virgin charge for PE upgrades these days. I'm assuming it will be too pricey for 4 of us, but thought I'd ask!

Many thanks in advance!

No-one wiling to help a newbie?

The AC on that route could be either one of the two LHR 747 s. Ideal seats for a family of four in standard class would be the middle in row 39/40 just behind the bulkhead.VA do often put families in those seats, look at the seating plans for that AC

welcome. always happy but guess people are busy and there have been a lot of new threads and yours might have got missed (nothing personal!)

When people buy tickets they are generally allocated a seat which they can then change using 'manage my bookings' (some exceptions like some travel agency bookings)

But once 60% of seats have been allocated it is no longer possible to request a seat but that changes at OLCI (but sometimes a couple of hours earlier) when most of the remaining 40% are released (exceptions are bulkhead and exit rows)

So I am assuming that at the moment the seat map is greyed out and you have no seat(s)?

In which case get in as close to OLCI and see what is available.

I'm afraid I dont know about the particular seats you are after and if they are the chargable extra leg room ones.

As to PE upgrades these may be offered now (check your 'manage my bookings') and at OLCI but even if not you can always ask at check-in.

enjoy your trip !

First post here
I think I'm right in saying that the VS029 should be a config 3 747.

All LHR 744's are config 4.

Hi there, we're in a similar position but flying to MCO on Friday. On the offchance, I rang the callcentre - now in Wales - fabulous but I would say that I'm Welsh myself - and helpfully they told me that extra legroom seats in economy are now bookable over the phone beforehand at cost of £30 each. 4 of us like you, but thought it was worth it so booked - told to CIOL as per normal. I guess these xtra lgrm seats will be showing unavailable for you if you haven't pre-booked them. Friday before half term busy though, all PE on the funrun was booked. Got PE on way back 4th March, bit pricey but we think worth it for nightflight back o'wise feel murderous 2 b honest. My advice to you, give the cust service a ring, u will b surprised at the improvements - I was, and my hubby calls me "Anne Robinson" LOL x

Not good news I'm afraid.
Flight is very heavily booked - J1 D1 R0 Z0 W0 S0 K0 Y0 B0 L0 M0 Q0 X0 N0 O0
Very few seats not already requested.
You could have requested seats as soon as you got your ticket reference.

Do OLCI when it opens and pick the best available but then get to check-in when it opens and you may get better.

Welcome to the site!

The AC on that route could be either one of the two LHR 747 s. Ideal seats for a family of four in standard class would be the middle in row 39/40 just behind the bulkhead.VA do often put families in those seats, look at the seating plans for that AC

Donkey - if the kids were little this would be right but if the OPs kids are more grown up they may not appreciate being stuck next to their (no doubt lively) mum and dad all that time.

[honey lamb]

No-one wiling to help a newbie?

Welcome to V-Flyer but please give people a chance to reply. Different people have different levels of expertise when it comes to individual flights.

I can't answer the question about the specific seats but 60% of seats excluding exit and bulkhead rows and extra legroom seats are available for selection prior to OLCI. To do this go into the My Booking page on the VS website and enter your PNR which is the 6 letter/number code on your ticket. If seats are available you can then select the ones you want bearing in mind that they could change and that you should really do OLCI when it opens to secure them. If you cannot see a seat map, it means that the 60% limit has been reached an the others will be released when OLCI opens.

Even if you have chosen seats and done OLCI, there is nothing to stop you asking if other seats are available at check-in

Just to let you know that G VHOT Tubular Belle 747 4Q8 flew your route on the 12-13-14th Feb,and G VBIG 747 4Q8 also does this route Check with CS what plane is doing your flight they should know with only to days to go.

[honey lamb]

Just to let you know that G VHOT Tubular Belle 747 4Q8 flew your route on the 12-13-14th Feb,and G VBIG 747 4Q8 also does this route Check with CS what plane is doing your flight they should know with only to days to go.

They won't release that information for security reasons.

Your best way of telling whether it is a LGW or a LHR configured aircraft it to look at the seat map if available. If the upper deck has a mixture of UC and economy seats then it is a LHR one.

the Status Updates page in the Toolbox will also tell either on the day or the day before. That is a direct feed from Virgin Atlantic so is the most accurate information - although it has been known for planes to go tech at the gate and another aircraft substituted

Not good news I'm afraid.
Flight is very heavily booked - J1 D1 R0 Z0 W0 S0 K0 Y0 B0 L0 M0 Q0 X0 N0 O0
Very few seats not already requested.
You could have requested seats as soon as you got your ticket reference.

Do OLCI when it opens and pick the best available but then get to check-in when it opens and you may get better.

Welcome to the site!

Many thanks for all the replies! Sorry if I was being impatient

I didn't realise I could have requested my seats from the very beginning I thought that you couldn't do that until OLCI (ie 24 hours before the flight)

Considering I booked direct with Virgin back in December I feel very annoyed with myself for somehow missing this.

I'm surprised they don't do a 'pick your seats' as part of the original online booking process.

Bill S, when you say 'very few seats not already requested', surely by definition 40% must be 'not requested' since they stop doing it after this 60% figure has been reached? Or am I still not understanding the process?

Hi there, we're in a similar position but flying to MCO on Friday. On the offchance, I rang the callcentre - now in Wales - fabulous but I would say that I'm Welsh myself - and helpfully they told me that extra legroom seats in economy are now bookable over the phone beforehand at cost of £30 each. 4 of us like you, but thought it was worth it so booked - told to CIOL as per normal. I guess these xtra lgrm seats will be showing unavailable for you if you haven't pre-booked them. Friday before half term busy though, all PE on the funrun was booked. Got PE on way back 4th March, bit pricey but we think worth it for nightflight back o'wise feel murderous 2 b honest. My advice to you, give the cust service a ring, u will b surprised at the improvements - I was, and my hubby calls me "Anne Robinson" LOL x

Thanks Andrea - you couldn't let me know the call centre number is could you? Seems to be a few numbers knocking around - I tried ringing on one number today and gave up after waiting for 10 minutes...

[honey lamb]

I'm surprised they don't do a 'pick your seats' as part of the original online booking process.

They can't because they have to hold back a certain number for different reasons such as disability access, bassinet positions and to enable families with children to sit together. The latter is why you should try OLCI as soon as it opens (a little tip - check out the My Booking page a couple of hours before then. Sometimes the seats are released then) and if you are not happy with what is available then get to the airport as early as you can

Well I'm pleased to say that I checked the online system at around 6.30am this morning (which is about 4 hours before the OLCI is due to open) and seat selection was available!

Even better my number one option seats 63a/c and 64 a/c were available!

So I'm very happy! Thanks for all the tips. The plane turned out to be a 747-400 config 1 for those who might be interested.

I will report back at the end of my trip to let you know how it went.

[honey lamb]

Well I'm pleased to say that I checked the online system at around 6.30am this morning (which is about 4 hours before the OLCI is due to open) and seat selection was available!

Even better my number one option seats 63a/c and 64 a/c were available!

So I'm very happy! Thanks for all the tips. The plane turned out to be a 747-400 config 1 for those who might be interested.

I will report back at the end of my trip to let you know how it went.

Result!! y) Glad we could be of assistance.

Now enjoy your trip

thanks. One final question once we've arrived at our destination, when can we book our seats for the return flight which is 11 days later?

[buns]

thanks. One final question once we've arrived at our destination, when can we book our seats for the return flight which is 11 days later?

Through "manage my booking" you can see if there is any availability. If however, the 60% has already gone (and very likely given it is half term) then the advice given for the outbound will be the same

buns