Have Seat Requests After November 1st Become Available ??

Flying in 68 days, and have just chosen my seats for both outbound and return.

Outbound is Airbus 330-300 (2 Cabin), return is a 747-400 (Seating Config 1)

Thanks VFlyer peeps.

I got all excited for a moment !!

Alas, my seat map isn't opening in but am flying PE so that probably explains that ! Will keep an eye out just in case anything changes !

Thanks for the heads up though

I got all excited for a moment !!

Alas, my seat map isn't opening in but am flying PE so that probably explains that ! Will keep an eye out just in case anything changes !

Thanks for the heads up though

On the link posted earlier in this feed Virgin have stated that anyone flying after 5/1/13 (i think it was) in PE can pre-book their seat from 08/10/2012 anyone flying prior to 5/1/13 in PE will be able to select their seats at check in.

[buns]

I do hope that VS are picking up on the reaction here on V Flyer and just how much passengers value the ability to request seats in advance

buns

Yes,just grabbed our seats in PE on 330 for November 11th from MAN TO MCO. About time too! DEC 15 back on 747 is not available as expected.

Seat selection available for PE aircraft A330 ( 2cabin ) MAN to LAS 20th Dec 12 return 6th Jan 13 LAS to MAN A330 ( 2cabin )

Just been able to request my 747 UC seats in Dec, which is more than 90 days, so maybe it's a bit flexible?

Just selected UC seats on vs200 and vs201 in December '12 and January '13.

I'm not flying till next May and travelling in PE both ways and I still can't see seat map. Maybe 2013 seat maps for PE are not available as yet ?|

[Neil]

I'm not flying till next May and travelling in PE both ways and I still can't see seat map. Maybe 2013 seat maps for PE are not available as yet ?|

As they have said it is 90 days before your flight.

Thanks for the info Stevieboy, just managed to book my seats out on the 23rd nov and returning 7th Dec.
Not able to book the economy seats in the bubble though.

Doing LHR/DXB in PE in Jan, 1st time used VA about 8 years, was listed as 747 now saying 340/600, have booked 19A/C but seat gura states some loss leg room etc due to equipment box, any confirmation or other be very much appreciated.As others, inbound not possible book yet. Also gone mad and booked CH @ LHR so quite looking forward to it all.

Just selected UC seats on vs200 and vs201 in December '12 and January '13.

But no joy for me (UC on the VS200) in Jan 13 ?|
Oh well, some hope at least of it opening up 90 days beforehand .

DL

I do hope that VS are picking up on the reaction here on V Flyer and just how much passengers value the ability to request seats in advance

Be careful what you wish for -- a move to a paid reservations system would be one way to exploit precisely that strong desire to pick a seat.... ):

I do hope that VS are picking up on the reaction here on V Flyer and just how much passengers value the ability to request seats in advance

Be careful what you wish for -- a move to a paid reservations system would be one way to exploit precisely that strong desire to pick a seat.... ):

There are no plans to charge for seating now or in the future, from what I've heard. (this could of course change)

That's good to hear, StillRedHot
So what is the systems upgrade all about? Someone said VS is switching to Sabre?

That's good to hear, StillRedHot
So what is the systems upgrade all about? Someone said VS is switching to Sabre?

Not sure about that one!..

The seating system upgrade is taking longer than expected and basically to avoid a mass revolt from passengers the decision was taken to open it up (all be it only 90 days in advance), as a happy medium. Anyone travelling in Premium Economy on a LGW 747 won't be able to assign seats until OLCI due to the refurb.

Thanks for posting this topic, I had all but stopped checking if I could select my seats for flights in November.
I have just logged into my FC account and selected seats for the wife and I 6A+K LGW-LAS and 12A+K LAX-LHR, first time right in the nose.
And no charge too.
The wife will be pleased (she thinks we're in PE).

That's good to hear, StillRedHot
So what is the systems upgrade all about? Someone said VS is switching to Sabre?

Yet another IT failure ... as reported. Now VS outsources a large part of its IT to CSC, who are usually a reputable firm ... I wonder if this is one project they are handling. So by saying 90 days I take it as an admission that this project is running at least three months late ... which is quite something for a ten month project (if it started when the announcement was first made). Hopefully that's costing CSC and not VS.

We booked our October trip on VS073 back in January and were able to select our seats in UC at the time of booking. Can't change them now though (not that we'd want to!) so I assume that either the flight's full or the system's locked up since then. Wonder if our selections will still be there come OLCI...

Premium Economy seat reservations unavailable from 1 April 2012 until 5 January 2013

We are busy refurbishing all the aircraft that fly out of Gatwick, Manchester and Glasgow; designing new seats and state of the art in-flight entertainment to make your flight more comfortable and more fun than ever before. The Premium Economy cabin on the lower deck will be larger but more exclusive and all the seat numbers are changing.

The upgrades to our fleet are almost completed and therefore you will be able to select your Premium Economy seats via Manage my flights or your travel agent from 8 October 2012 if your flight is after 5 January 2013. If you flight is before 5 January 2013 your seats will be assigned at check in.

They are obviously playing it safe and giving at least 5 weeks for each refit now, I think the first three were done in something like 6 weeks, 6 weeks, then 5 weeks for the last one and the current refit will be 3 weeks tomorrow, with no sign yet of a completion date.

Premium Economy seat reservations unavailable from 1 April 2012 until 5 January 2013

We are busy refurbishing all the aircraft that fly out of Gatwick, Manchester and Glasgow; designing new seats and state of the art in-flight entertainment to make your flight more comfortable and more fun than ever before. The Premium Economy cabin on the lower deck will be larger but more exclusive and all the seat numbers are changing.

The upgrades to our fleet are almost completed and therefore you will be able to select your Premium Economy seats via Manage my flights or your travel agent from 8 October 2012 if your flight is after 5 January 2013. If you flight is before 5 January 2013 your seats will be assigned at check in.

They are obviously playing it safe and giving at least 5 weeks for each refit now, I think the first three were done in something like 6 weeks, 6 weeks, then 5 weeks for the last one and the current refit will be 3 weeks tomorrow, with no sign yet of a completion date.

Or they have to wait until VTOP is out of service

Or they have to wait until VTOP is out of service

VTOP was brought in to replace each aircraft as it is being refitted from my understanding and will leave the service once the programme has been completed

[Neil]

We booked our October trip on VS073 back in January and were able to select our seats in UC at the time of booking. Can't change them now though (not that we'd want to!) so I assume that either the flight's full or the system's locked up since then. Wonder if our selections will still be there come OLCI...

That is because the restriction was only for flights after the 1st November (unless you were flying PE), and as October is before November, you wouldn't have been affected

Yet another IT failure ... as reported. Now VS outsources a large part of its IT to CSC, who are usually a reputable firm ... I wonder if this is one project they are handling. So by saying 90 days I take it as an admission that this project is running at least three months late ... which is quite something for a ten month project (if it started when the announcement was first made). Hopefully that's costing CSC and not VS.

Indeed! I am still a bit baffled as to what this project is trying to achieve. We are assured that charging for seating is not in the offing -- so what is it taking 12 months to do?