OLCI not available - VS073 Sat 24th

Hi,

I previously posted a request for a load check on this flight tomorrow, Sat 24th, and was told that the flight looked pretty full (as such, the seat map hasn't been available since we booked in October '11).

Therefore, I was on the website ready to use OLCI for our PE check-in at bang on 13:10 today - only to get one stage into the process (I.e. including my wife as the additional passenger) to get a message saying 'unfortunately we are unable to check you into this flight at this time. Please go to the airport and check in at least two hours before, etc, etc'.

A couple of hours on, I have spoken with reservations who were friendly, but couldn't give me any reason why the check in wasn't working (other than to say it appears that all seats are currently locked out) - she also noted my preference for the bubble. The VA site is still throwing up the same message now.

We're planning to be at MAN around 3hrs before anyway, but anyone got any idea why this might be happening? It is a surprise trip for my wife (she finds out tonight!) for our 10th anniversary, so was keen to have everything sorted.

Cheers

Matt

Have you got an ESTA for your wife? That might stop you checking in.

[Neil]

I would keep trying OLCI - it has happened to me before, I've then gone back to it a few hours later and it has worked fine.

Another thing to try, rather than using the OLCI link from the main homepage, log in to your booking via the Manage My Booking section, and select "check in" from that screen, that has also worked for me before. Also try using your wife as the first person to check in and add you as the additional passenger.

Neil

Thanks both - will have a try of the above. We've both got 'new' ESTAs which were purchased a few days before booking the flight in October last year..


Cheers

Matt

Try again.

We're on the same flight and I've managed it ok.

Good luck!

Hey Matt,

When I worked at EWR as ground staff,
If the flight was extremely full or over booked, VS would block OLCI for the flight so it would give the ground staff at the departure airport greater flexibility at the airport for sitting families together and meeting other seating requests.
Sounds like this has happened for your flight as you mentioned it is heavily booked, and if the agent on the phone said the seat map was locked out.
If this is the case, I wouldn't worry because then everyone else will be in the same predicament as you. And everyone will have to wait until they get the airport.
And as it is you and your wife as a couple, there is a chance that you will get your seats in the bubble, if MAN is logical as I would imagine they would sit families downstairs in the fours.

Hope this helps, Have a night trip!

Cheers,
Dan

Again - thanks for the replies, appreciate it.

Fly - quick question, are you in PE? Just keen to understand if it's just us personally this affects, or a whole section such as Premium Economy..

I've tried the various combinations recommended by Neil above, and will keep it at!!

Thanks

Matt

They wouldn't check me in last time I tried to book VS09 to JFK. Some bumf from the people on the phone about 40% or something which was clearly wrong, since I was doing it 23:59 before the flight.

They pulled me aside for a body search as well going through, it appears the buzzer goes off not just for metal nowadays, its for people they want to check out. Perhaps its that. They did my bags from Vegas last year too, I found a TSA check thing inside the case which is why I never set the combination on the thing...

Matt - no, we're just in economy.

Sorry

Thanks Fly...

Looks like it could be limited to PE (or me / the wife personally!) then. We've flown into Orlando, Las Vegas and New York without issue over the past four years, so hopefully it's just down to Virgin load managing PE..

Find out in the morning I guess!

Matt

[honey lamb]

They pulled me aside for a body search as well going through, it appears the buzzer goes off not just for metal nowadays, its for people they want to check out. Perhaps its that.

Security is obliged to do a number of random searches every day as well as those triggered by metal. The machine is pre-set for it and can beep at any time