The very LAST VS Flight for us?

Well then VS are going to be ahead of the game - been told categorically by "Mario" at VS chat that the new system will be a seat BOOKING - if the aircraft type flies, you get the seat you booked.

I think Mario might be wrong as specifically recall confirmation from VS on FB that they could still move you! It is down to operational, safety or security reasons (even after boarding the aircraft) That you seat is never actually guaranteed

OLCI- Online checkin in.

Except when it is not.

So get ready, docs all good to go, screen refreshing - get into OLCI at the appointed time, then into entering names, booking number,


THEN

We are unable to check you in online at the moment - please check in at the airport....

Raging!

The last time we got that message they had aircraft difficulties and we had to do Twilight checkin. At LGW they checked us in (or started to) when I realised they had changed us from Upper to Ecomony. Not a word of explanation as the cases started to disappear down the conveyor - with me quickly attaching myself to them to stop the nightmare!

Eventually they bumped us off and we flew BA. But not before a lot of stress and worry.

It was my birthday and all of our plans were being scuppered before my eyes.

Now I'm thankful just to be on the right plane in the right cabin! The seat is a bonus.

That would be my ultimate horror and would not fly!

ISTBC but I seem to recall a small proportion of people on each flight can't do OLCI as they are selected at random for additional security checks at the airport.

So that may be the reason why OLCI works for some in a party but not for all.

And no airline will ever guarantee a seat, paid for or otherwise. BA certainly don't.

ISTBC but I seem to recall a small proportion of people on each flight can't do OLCI as they are selected at random for additional security checks at the airport.

So that may be the reason why OLCI works for some in a party but not for all.

And no airline will ever guarantee a seat, paid for or otherwise. BA certainly don't.

Just took olci as far as I could without confirming for myself, wife & 2 boys, missing out infant son (who has his own seat) - would have processed.

So unless they are looking at addition security on a 16 month old.....

Will advise in Trip Report what happens, particularly the status with the bubble and any occupants it may have....

Anecdotally: myself and a few other friends/colleagues have not been able to complete OLCI in the last week when flying ex UK to USA (various airports, various airlines; I happened to be flying DL, LHR-JFK).

It's entirely possible that we were all just unlucky, of course, but I wonder if this might be to do with the added security measures just brought into effect.

NYLON

Ah well there's your problem then.

You can't normally do OLCI for infants under 2.

A quick Google search reveals many other people who've experienced the same.

But it does have an option on olci for infants under 2 - pops up 3 boxes when you "add passenger" - adults, children 2-11, children under 2.

Then lets you enter booking number & name.

So....

I feel for you Daviec1. It takes what should be excitement to almost brain busting frustration.

Virgin IMO are in lurups with their booking/seating system. It's like musical chairs with everyone trying to get the same seats and complete luck if you manage to retain them by the time you have boarded.

Last year we had requested seats in the bubble, done OLCI and then got to the bag drop on day of departure to find we had been moved for "operational reasons" and were not even going to be sat together! To cut a long story short I had the supervisor at the desk for over half an hour and after a load of waffle she admitted that a larger party checked in earlier and they were all seated together. I stuck to my guns and got them unseated together and we had our original seats back in the bubble.

Have also not been able to do OLCI and had to go to the airport. You don't even get this with the budget airlines, once you pay for your seat and chose where you are going to sit you can almost guarantee you will not be moved. Not so with Virgin. They have now taken an enjoyable experience flying with them to playing a game of Russian Roulette!

If it were me I would go ahead and check in without infant. Then when u get to the airport check in the infant. This way you get your seats and as the infant will be sitting on a lap it should not make any difference.

I can't foresee this causing issues but maybe someone with more experience than myself may be able to share their thoughts.

But it does have an option on olci for infants under 2 - pops up 3 boxes when you "add passenger" - adults, children 2-11, children under 2.

Then lets you enter booking number & name.

So....

I think I may have figured it out.

Because you've got an infant they've moved you to an assigned bulkhead bassinet row (53) assuming he'll need a sky cot (which, presumably, he doesn't).

And if you look at these threads elsewhere you'll see others have had similar issues checking in with infants in bulkhead rows. There is, no doubt, a reason for it.

http://www.thedibb.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=180091 http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowTopic- ... orida.html

So yes, I bet there will be people upstairs. I suspect you've been moved because of Junior. They're actually trying to help because they assume parents will appreciate the extra space and the table provided in the bulkhead row.

We have not been moved to a bulkhead, and junior has his own seat.

And according to Mario, upstairs is still blocked off....

Strange that other carrier let you book a specific seat (even for cash or not) and if the aircraft type flies that route, that is where you sit.

Not always true. We had boarding cards in hand, at the gate just about to board with BA to Florida once and they called us to the desk and told us they were moving us. Split my wife, children and I up so we were not sat together. And angry doesn't begin to describe how we felt, believe me!

OK then, I give up.

Only trying to help as row 53 is a bulkhead row.

I doubt very much that there's a big conspiracy against you. There are known issues with infants and OLCI, presumably for a reason. And there are any number of valid reasons for moving people. But if it turns out there's a staff party in the bubble, do let us know.

OK then, I give up.

Only trying to help as row 53 is a bulkhead row.

I doubt very much that there's a big conspiracy against you. There are known issues with infants and OLCI, presumably for a reason. And there are any number of valid reasons for moving people. But if it turns out there's a staff party in the bubble, do let us know.

No probs, but we had been given ABC so not a bulkhead

Looking forward ONLY to finding out what is going on upstairs tomorrow - rest of it - just flippin get me there!

[Darren Wheeler]

If the upper deck has been closed off, passengers won't be allowed upstairs.

If the upper deck has been closed off, passengers won't be allowed upstairs.

Yep, but my contention is that come tomorrow there will be people upstairs.

Staff? maybe. Would be rather p'd off if that was the case.

Other pax -yep, but this would seriously p me off.

But tomorrow, we'll see....

Oooh... I await with bated breath!

Well, it's out of your control for now, so try not to let it ruin the pre-start of your holiday.

Who knows, maybe you'll be up there tomorrow!

I am with daviec1 as well, seat allocation is an important part of any trip I take. Just today I called Air Canada to arrange seat allocations for a flights to & from Vancouver next April, I was expecting to be told that I would have to call back closer to departure date but no, seats were allocated without fuss or delay, of course I wont know until next April if we end up with the seats requested.

oldboy

oldboy

If the upper deck has been closed off, passengers won't be allowed upstairs.

Yep, but my contention is that come tomorrow there will be people upstairs.

Staff? maybe. Would be rather p'd off if that was the case.

Other pax -yep, but this would seriously p me off.

But tomorrow, we'll see....

I would sooner have your issue of going on vacation tomorrow and worrying about a seat number than having to go back to work Monday.
Little things...........

I sympathise with this situation and I get that seats are important, (same thing happened to a few pax on my recent return from MCO) but find It hard to justify never flying with vs again. I know seats are an important part of the holiday but vs are doing what any other airline can/ does do.

I know how seat requests can change, I've been moved after doing OLCI! I only found out just before boarding! Yes it's annoying but as long as I get there safe with a glass of champagne in hand, I'm happy!
I hope you manage to sort it out in the morning...

I boarded my flight, drank my bubbly then got changed once only to find my seatbelt was tied up, when I asked what was wrong it turned out my suite had been deemed inoperable and could not be used. Full flight no more suites! Got bumped.
Still flying VA 10 years later.
Must say I am a bit miffed about not being able to pick my suite for next flight though, its been booked and paid for since January. Annoys me more that I could have chosen, then no sorry its going to be this date, then oops sorry its a new date bla bla we don't really give a hoot, than the suite itself. Sometimes its the perceived attitude of a company towards its customers that tarnishes the product which in itself is fine.