Seatmap is unavailable VS015 November 7th 2013

Hi I was hoping someone could help me without me having to call virgin to find out why the seat map was unavailable

I have flown with virgin to Orlando / Vegas / New York lots of times solo or with friends and the seat map was always there,but this time I'm going to Orlando and there are 7 of us with kids and I don't want to be split up.
I'm aware all upgrades have been completed so I can't understand why the map won't show up ?

Is this now normal or ?


Thank you

Yes. T-90 days is when it will appear.

[Neil]

Hi and Welcome.

As silverfox has said, the seat map is now only made available from 90 days from the date of your flight. This is a new system that Virgin introduced from the start of this year which is why you will be finding it different to your previous experiences.

Neil

On the booking page, where seatmap link should be, it states:

Seatmap is unavailable. View FAQs for further information.

This takes you here



The facility to request seats is now available from 90 days prior to departure

A selection of seats are now available to request in advance of travel; however, please note that these are only available within 90 days of the date of your departure. To request seats before flying, please go to Manage my Flights or contact your travel agent.

Please be aware that if the selection of seats available to request have been taken, your seats will be allocated to you at Check-in. However it's worth visiting Manage my flights online at regular intervals because people do cancel and seats do become available.

On-line check in opens 24 hours before your flight and gives you access to all available seats and will save you time at the airport.

Seat Plus online check in and seat assignment

Seat assignments for Seat Plus customers are made and confirmed during check in at the airport by an airport agent, which means online seat assignments and online check in are not available.

If you are travelling with infants, you will be unable to request seats online. You can however call one of our contact centres to request seats.

Thank you for the replies.

I did read the facts section but I flew in November and read nothing about this change.

Thanks again

Paul

This change was around in November as well. In fact it started early in 2012 when they were upgrading the LGW fleet. I forget the specifics of it now but it certainly raised a few eyebrows.

[Neil]

This change was around in November as well. In fact it started early in 2012 when they were upgrading the LGW fleet. I forget the specifics of it now but it certainly raised a few eyebrows.

It might still have been a temporary "while we are upgrading our computers" rule back it November, it become the new confirmed system from the 1st January 2013 which helped it coincide with the last of the LGW/MAN 747 refits.

I find it quite interesting (or 'bloody irritating', to put it another way) that VS have gone with the approach of opening up the seat map to all at T-90, with no nod to status like BA offer. Maybe their way of indicating they take a slightly more egalitarian approach. Or maybe an admission that their IT department couldn't cope with anything that complex.

Where's my money on that one I wonder

I find it quite interesting (or 'bloody irritating', to put it another way) that VS have gone with the approach of opening up the seat map to all at T-90, with no nod to status like BA offer. Maybe their way of indicating they take a slightly more egalitarian approach. Or maybe an admission that their IT department couldn't cope with anything that complex.

Where's my money on that one I wonder

Just stick the full stop after "anything".