Online check in - no seat choice?

After checking in this morning, approx 5 mins after check in opened for a flight tomorrow.

Can anyone tell me what I am doing wrong?

This is the first time I am flying with Virgin, and I am annoyed and frustrated by this - being presented with only 2 possible seat choices in PE. I am actually now regretting not booking with BA, as I have another flight booked with Virgin next week where I also cannot reserve a seat and will presumably get the same problem.

This flight is from Gatwick, where (it is claimed) it is currently not possible to reserve seats in advance prior to check in. Its not possible when managing the booking, and there are extensive explanations as to why on the Virgin website.

Is it always this bad with Virgin?

[honey lamb]

Hi and welcome to V-Flyer. The reason why you are unable to select PE seats on the VS website is because the planes are undergoing a refit and currently there is only one of them back while another one is being refitted. Since planes are not assigned to particular flights it means that while this is going on, if seats were selected they could be changed according to the plane operating the flight. To avoid this VS suspended all seat requests on the LGW routes.

It did say that choices would be available when OLCI opened but anecdotal evidence on this site says that seats have merely be assigned without the option to change. Which seats have you been given? Regular flyers on the LGW routes will be able to tell you how good they are.

Unfortunately it is only the LGW/MAN/GLA routes in PE which are affected

This flight is from Gatwick, where (it is claimed) it is currently not possible to reserve seats in advance prior to check in. Its not possible when managing the booking, and there are extensive explanations as to why on the Virgin website.

Is it always this bad with Virgin?

Welcome

It is not a claim it is the truth and as you say there are extensive explanations on the website as to why you cannot request a seat when flying from LGW in PE.

You are in the same boat as all passengers in PE on your flight.

I can understand this - but it should really be a good thing as there would be an excellent seat choice at check in. Its just... there are no seat choices. Just makes no sense to assign all the seats at random, before people actually check in.

I have 78H, which appears to be on the upper deck - which will make things interesting at least.

[Neil]

I can understand this - but it should really be a good thing as there would be an excellent seat choice at check in. Its just... there are no seat choices. Just makes no sense to assign all the seats at random, before people actually check in.

I have 78H, which appears to be on the upper deck - which will make things interesting at least.

78H is a great PE seat, and the upper deck certainly is the place to be on the older/current layout (not the brand new layout) so I think you will be very happy with that seat choice.

no its not always bad and 78H is a good seat

I sat in 78A on Ruby Tuesday this week . it was a great seat and a super flight experience

As an update, it was even more frustrating on the way back - it wouldn't let any of us check in! Just a generic sorry, we can't check you in - please arrive at airport in good time v(

This just completely defeats the whole point of checking in online as far as i'm concerned. Not a good advert for Virgin.

On the upside, I tried again on the day of the flight and ended up being assigned the exit row on the upper deck!! Very pleased with that 8D - was unable to change the seat of course as there were no other seats available (not that i'd want to anyway). People I was travelling with were still unable to check in, however.