Seat reservations removed without warning.

Thanks everyone. Lots to think about.

Forgot to mention that we are flying from Manchester. Also we were planning to do DTDCI anyway as we are stopping just round the corner.

Do I need to actually reserve the seats during OLCI or do I need to go and reserve the seats first and then do the OLCI?

Can you do OLCI with an iPhone? Is there an App for that?

Melon - don't know where you're staying near MCO, but I've been able to have the consierge desk at my hotel do OLCI for me at least 3 times during visits - you just need your booking ref plus names, DOBs etc, you don't have to log in to FC necessarily, although it's easier because it completes some of the fields for you.

(The Disney/Universal hotels have been more than happy to do this...).

As others have said, failing this, make sure you get to the airport with plenty of time to spare, that'll give the check-in agent a better chance of helping you.

Good luck...

[honey lamb]

Thanks everyone. Lots to think about.

Forgot to mention that we are flying from Manchester. Also we were planning to do DTDCI anyway as we are stopping just round the corner.

Do I need to actually reserve the seats during OLCI or do I need to go and reserve the seats first and then do the OLCI?

Can you do OLCI with an iPhone? Is there an App for that?

You don't reserve seats, you merely request them as they can be changed at any stage right up to take off. Having said that do select your seats right now but bear in mind that if you cannot see the seat map, it means that 60% of seats will have been selected already and the remaining 40% will not be released until OLCI

Yes, there is an iPhone App for Virgin Atlantic and you can do OLCI on it

Finally, I'm not sure what you mean by DTDCI. If it's DTCI, it is not available at Manchester - only, LHR, LGW and Johannesburg

Finally, I'm not sure what you mean by DTDCI. If it's DTCI, it is not available at Manchester - only, LHR, LGW and Johannesburg

Down Town Disney Check In .
DL

[honey lamb]

Finally, I'm not sure what you mean by DTDCI. If it's DTCI, it is not available at Manchester - only, LHR, LGW and Johannesburg

Down Town Disney Check In .
DL

Silly me.

Do I need to actually reserve the seats during OLCI or do I need to go and reserve the seats first and then do the OLCI?

You don't reserve seats, you merely request them as they can be changed at any stage right up to take off.

As the Web site says: "Once you've selected your seat, as long as you check in no later than 2 hours before your flight (or 13 hours from Heathrow) then that seat will be yours."

Albeit that operational issues can still lead to change.

So you do sort of 'reserve' on OLCI, but you 'request' in advance of that.

What is tiresome is people showing no tolerance of others. Instead of jumping on people, dry your eyes, and just go to another thread.

[Decker]

Usual mod warning about not playing the player....

In 2009 I had three flights booked to the USA for business reasons. Since I’m self employed through my own company I’d booked economy as I couldn’t stretch to the – albeit tax deductible – high cost of PE or UC.

I'm intrigued; when you say "tax deductible - high cost of PE or UC", what part of the fare are you claiming as tax deductible (other than the normal expenses-incurred in the process of carrying out business)?

I'm in a similar boat (or is it plane?)but have always thought there were NO tax-deductible elements with flights....? PM me if you like.

Thanks!

I think some of the replies on this thread have been very harsh to the OP.

We're a friendly bunch but that shouldn't be only towards those we perceive are asking the right questions.

I hope that the TissieSaffie's folks holiday/flight enjoyment isn't unduly affected. I don't think your post is tiresome, and am just sorry it took me about a week to reply.

With regards to the seat reservations being a request, not a confirmation, Virgin do go out of their way to highlight this perk. I actually don't care if it's not a legal obligation, if I reserve a seat and it gets changed I'll be pissed off.

Virgin service includes many things that they are not legally obliged to do: but I don't recall those changes to Upper Class for example being met with a resigned
'Oh well all they have to do is get us from A to B'.
No, we were all very unhappy at it. And vocal. Except me as I'd no frame of reference. |:)

Virgin continue to overpromise and under deliver. We shouldn't be annoyed or impatient when people post about their disappointment.

I think some of the replies on this thread have been very harsh to the OP.

We're a friendly bunch but that shouldn't be only towards those we perceive are asking the right questions.

I hope that the TissieSaffie's folks holiday/flight enjoyment isn't unduly affected. I don't think your post is tiresome, and am just sorry it took me about a week to reply.

Well said, sir; clearly, we have a gentleman in our presence. Don't you think it's rather telling, and perhaps a little sad, that the OP hasn't returned to their own thread...?

Most people seem very emotional about seat requests, but is this just more about falling standards at Virgin Atlantic

[Neil]

Most people seem very emotional about seat requests, but is this just more about falling standards at Virgin Atlantic

There hasn't been a change in the way VS handle seat requests, so not sure what it has to do with supposed falling standards at VS. The policy hasn't changed and the removal of pre-requested seats hasn't suddenly increased.

As this thread clearly proves, some people feel VS make the policy very clear, others think they could word and highlight it better.

The policy hasn't changed and the removal of pre-requested seats hasn't suddenly increased.

Yes it has, the policy changed regarding row 25 on the A330 and as a result large numbers of us lost our requested seats, and because our flight are busy were unable to reselect alternatives. Poor customer service IMHO because there was no good reason to unseat us.

I have just had an aircraft change from config 4 to config 1 as an upperclass passenger on a J class ticket, I think Virgin could have telephoned me or e-mailed me and informed me of the change,that would have been good customer service

I have just had an aircraft change from config 4 to config 1 as an upperclass passenger on a J class ticket, I think Virgin could have telephoned me or e-mailed me and informed me of the change,that would have been good customer service

I assume the customer service budget is not as big as it was in the early 90s

The policy hasn't changed and the removal of pre-requested seats hasn't suddenly increased.

Yes it has, the policy changed regarding row 25 on the A330 and as a result large numbers of us lost our requested seats, and because our flight are busy were unable to reselect alternatives. Poor customer service IMHO because there was no good reason to unseat us.

I'll second that Alec. I too had requested row 25 seats for our upcoming MCO trip only to find when checking my booking that we had been ejected and relocated to row 21. v(

Does that mean standards are falling because of less money coming into customer services

Is there an echo in here?

Yes an important echo from most people at falling standards

At the risk of getting groans from the high and mighty who apparently find us all so tiresome, I have just found out (by viewing my seats online)that the 747 on my upcoming flight to MCO in November has been changed to configuration 4. I had booked seats 6a & k but due to this they had now sat me in the bubble and my wife downstairs. They did send me an email with my booking reference telling me of a schedule change which turned out to be the return flight arriving at 8.50am instead of 8.40am. and confirm that I had received it, Why then could they have not just added that there was a configuration change on our outgoing flight and to check our seating requirements, it is not rocket science and I do not expect VA to run around trying to guess who would now like to sit where, I can do that perfectly well online. As it is I have managed to acquire (fingers crossed) 12A & K but I do feel strongly that those employees who do not deal directly with the customer care very little about the paying public. Those who do are superb.

Not sure if the link has been posted before but VS have released an update regarding the recent changes to customer requested seating. Have a look.
http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/en/gb/pa ... /index.jsp

At the risk of getting groans from the high and mighty who apparently find us all so tiresome, I have just found out (by viewing my seats online)that the 747 on my upcoming flight to MCO in November has been changed to configuration 4. I had booked seats 6a & k but due to this they had now sat me in the bubble and my wife downstairs. They did send me an email with my booking reference telling me of a schedule change which turned out to be the return flight arriving at 8.50am instead of 8.40am. and confirm that I had received it, Why then could they have not just added that there was a configuration change on our outgoing flight and to check our seating requirements, it is not rocket science and I do not expect VA to run around trying to guess who would now like to sit where, I can do that perfectly well online. As it is I have managed to acquire (fingers crossed) 12A & K but I do feel strongly that those employees who do not deal directly with the customer care very little about the paying public. Those who do are superb.

This makes me wonder then, is the notification email software capable of telling the difference between a schedule change and a configuration change? Maybe that's why lots of people haven't been told ...

As for the falling standards, I think it's more likely that what we're observing here is the first large scale rejigging of fleets in a long time. The A330s arriving, the 747 refits, LHR 747s helping out the others on a regular basis. If this is true then expect it to continue for a while.

an explanation was posted on Facebook a month ago re seating requests, and was said that as seats are on a request basis, passengers are not informed of changes

The policy hasn't changed and the removal of pre-requested seats hasn't suddenly increased.

Yes it has, the policy changed regarding row 25 on the A330 and as a result large numbers of us lost our requested seats, and because our flight are busy were unable to reselect alternatives. Poor customer service IMHO because there was no good reason to unseat us.

It's a pain in the ar*e and a major disappointment but I I don't see how anything's changed. Over the years - from the time when seat requests could only be made by phone - there have been a good few times when we've been shifted. At least nowadays you can see changes on line and there's some chance of rectifying it around OLCI.