Are reserved seat reliable now?

Now that Virgin have changed their systems for reserving seats am I more likely to get the actual seats I reserve?

I have flown with Virgin 4 times and reserved seats on each occasion but so far have never ended up in the seats I chose. Twice they have moved one of us (we are a family of 4) and twice they have moved us completely away from the chosen seats. They have always kept us together so no major issues but last time ex MCO they had to move other people around to seat us together.

We have always been in Economy before but we are in PE this time so maybe that will help.

I've reserved 17 A-C and 18 A-C for a flight in July. We want window seats so I hope we are left alone this time!

[Neil]

The whole system is changing to try and make it so (if you believe the VS spin on it, that is). The changes however really only affect economy where pax will now other be able to pay to select their seats at the time of booking, or select for free at OLCI stage.

If you are travelling PE, there are no real changes and the likelihood of seat changes are reduced. However, there still is no guarantee and the operations team at the airport still can change seats if required.

Neil

I've had two US trips and two little red and never had a seat change.
If they are shifting people on board, then I doubt the reservation system will alter that.
I do wonder though if in future you pay £25 and get moved will you get a refund.
Dick D

[Neil]

I've had two US trips and two little red and never had a seat change.
If they are shifting people on board, then I doubt the reservation system will alter that.
I do wonder though if in future you pay £25 and get moved will you get a refund.
Dick D

I imagine if they *need* to move pax they will prioritise those that haven't prepaid and target those who selected at OLCI.

If there is an operational reason (broken seats) etc, and the whole party can't be seated together than I imagine they will refund, if pressed to do so.

To be honest in 2 years of lots of VS flights - I've never been moved from my allocated seat - except for the occasional op-ups.

I have however seen colleagues on same flights who hadn't booked seats being offered money to go next day, or downgrade.

Based on this observation - they already seem to prioritize people who have pre-booked seating....

I am firmly touching wood as I type this. We are flying back JFK/LHR this evening, our 14th transatlantic flight with VS. Never had a seat change, always had our chosen seats. All flights have been either PE or UC so maybe it's more common in Y.
Like I said, touching wood, do hope I haven't woken up the change seats fairy!

OK. Looks like we might have just been unlucky in the past. Hopefully PE is less likely to be changed anyway, simply because there are fewer passengers to accommodate.

I have never had a seat change, but do remember they aren't reservations but requests.
I have however had a plane change which involved not just a seat but a whole airline.....from VS UC to BA CW.

Does the new seat request system start from 1st June or 25th June? Website says 25th, my booking confirmation says 1st.

It's 25th of June, unless of course your T60 date is before then.

Thanks Marshy

When we flew back from Vegas a couple of years ago in PE I checked in online and at the airport the agent moved us to the front by the toilet . It was awful couldn't get any rest and people queuing for the loos by our seat, all night the continual opening and closing of the door and smell.

No amount of complaining and arguing would she change our seats just said take it or leave it and we had booked that trip through VH.