This is the main V-Flyer Forum for general discussion of everything related to flying with Virgin-branded travel companies.
#962380 by mitchja
13 Sep 2023, 18:58
VS will start charging for advance seat assignment when flying Economy for all bookings made after September 19th.

Flying Club Gold members will still be offered complementary seating at any time between booking and flying.

Flying Club Silver members will be offered complementary seating assignment from 7 days before departure.

All other passengers will still be able to select complementary seats in Economy during online check-in.

This just applies to Economy and no other cabin.

From VS Trade:


VSbulletin - Advance Seat Assignment Changes effective 19 Sep 2023

We want all our customers to love their experience when they fly with us and recognise that many feel reassured by pre-assigning their favourite seat at the time of booking. To allow our customers to personalise their journeys the way they choose, we’re updating the ways in which we offer advanced seat selection in the economy cabin. This allows customers to secure extra legroom, their preferred window or aisle seat or simply provide the peace of mind that their travelling party will be sat together.

Our Gold Card holders will be able to select their seat free of charge at the time of booking, whilst Silver Card members can pre-select their seats up to seven days before they fly. For our other customers, they will have the option to pay to pre-select their seat on http://www.virginatlantic.com, or choose to select free of charge once check-in opens, 24 hours before departure.

Customers who booked before 19 September will still be offered free of charge seat assignments. Charges for preferred seats, extra legroom and exit rows still apply.

#962388 by VS075
14 Sep 2023, 21:01
buns wrote:Taken VS a fair bit of time to catch on the the remunerative ploy used by BA


Let's be honest, that's the way it goes these days. If one airline decides to add in a fee for something, others follow suit at some point. I suspected way back when the Light/Classic/Delight structures were brought in a few years ago it would only be a matter of time before it became the norm across all fare types in Y.

Does anybody know whether the amount to select a seat will differ depending on which part of the Y cabin you sit in as what the likes of easyJet already do?

CommanderB wrote:More reasons to not fly Economy then :D


Without wanting to give VS ideas, it wouldn't surprise me if those on the cheapest W or J fare buckets have to pay in the fullness of time as well.
#962389 by flyingfox
14 Sep 2023, 21:17
FAQ Update from VS Trade;

Frequently asked questions

What if a customer has already booked will they still be able to assign seats for free?
Yes, any customers with bookings that were made prior to 19 September will still be able to assign seats for free throughout their journey (excluding Economy Light).

Will customers have to pay for all seats in Economy?
All seats in Economy (Light, Classic, Delight) are free to select when online check in opens 24 hours before departure with the exception of preferred and exit row seats. If customers would like to select seats in advance of online check in opening, they can but they will need to pay the applicable fee.

Will Flying Club Gold members still be able to assign seats for free?
Virgin Atlantic Flying Club Gold & Delta Diamond & Platinum members will continue to be able to assign standard seats for free from the time their booking is created for their entire party. The member will also continue to receive free Preferred and Exit seats from the time their booking is made.

Will SKyTeam Elite Plus and SkyTeam Elite have to pay for seats?
Yes.

What about Flying Club Red members?
Flying Club Red members will continue to pay for seats prior to online check in opening.

What will happen to a family if they have a child aged under 12?
We always seat children under 12 years old next to, behind or across the aisle from a parent. A family can select and pay for seats at time of booking, alternatively we will allocate the child and parent a seat together just before online check in opens free of charge.

What about infants with a bassinet request?
Families can still pay for seats together from the time of booking. If there is a bassinet request in the booking then this will get reviewed just before online check in opens. If the passenger is allocated a bassinet they will be moved into that seat. If they have pre-paid for a different seat there is no refund for the original seat. If they haven’t paid for any seat they will be allocated the bassinet seat free of charge. If a bassinet is unavailable they will be allocated a standard seat free of charge.

What if there are no free seats left to select when online check in opens
If there are no free seats left to assign when online check in opens and customers don’t want to pay for a Preferred or Exit seat, the check in desk at the airport can allocate seats for them.
They can still access seats in ‘My Booking’ on virginatatlantic.com and select a seat.

What happens if we reschedule a flight and customers lose the seats they have paid for?
If we reschedule the customers flight, we will endeavour to reseat them in a similar seat. If we do this then the original amount they’ve paid for the seat is non refundable. However, if we move the customer into a seat that is not like for like then we will refund the original amount paid for the seat.

What happens if the customers seat they have paid for is broken and they are moved to another seat?
The customer can apply for a refund of the original seat cost.
Virgin Atlantic

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 100 guests

Itinerary Calendar