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We booked our flights through charter travel but the ticket number does not allow us to access the Virgin 'manage your flight' area. I've been told the problem is that Charter travel booked our tickets as a block so I'm unable to access the site. Although Virgin have booked our seats over the phone, we can't check-in over the phone.
Has anybody else been in this situation and solved it?
Thanks for your help.
Ian
I sure if you phoned either Virgin or Charter this can be solved as all you need is a reference number[msnsmile2]
We had this problem with Charter and Virgin. We could not pick seats or check in online. In the end we just arrived (slightly late) at Gatwick and changed our seats there. We were lucky this time and got exit seats with lots of legroom.
There must be a way round this, but we did not find it.
I found that once I received my eticket I could then get into the mange your flight section. Haven't tried to check in on line yet as this can only be done 24hrs prior to departure, but have been in and checked seat and meal allocation. I originally sorted out the seats by ringing virgin.
I use Charter Travel and have never had a problem. I received my e:tickets several weeks ago for flights in June and although the 6 digit reference you need to access the "Manage Your Flights Section" was not on there, I just phoned Charter who obtained it for me. I have prebooked seats for outward and return flights. If you don't want to use the 0870 national rate number for Charter Travel use 01635 872861.
I also had this problem with BA flights which I booked online with expedia to go to Dubai last year. Couldn't access the 'manage my booking' part at all.
We have used Charter about 5 times in the last 18 months and on 2 occasions this happened and despite speaking to a Virgin advisor they could not help and just suggested checking in 'Twilight'. But that is not possible for everyone and so you cannot take advantage of picking your seats or do the 'online check in'.They said its because the travel agent books you as a group with lots of other passengers.
We had this problem at Easter and I emailed both Charter and Virgin to complain and asked Charter if we can always be given our own ref.number for our own booking and not be blocked booked. I have not heard from Charter yet - they are the main problem. If those of you also email to the proprietor (Sandra) with the complaint it may help.
Don't let this spoil your holiday!
Arrive at the airport early and you will have no problem getting checked in and most probably in the seats you want!.
Twi-light check in is also a great option.
[msnsmile2]
If you can manage Twilight check in definitely do it - its open until 9pm. They always hold back several seats and you can still get those you wanted. Also the exit seats are left until check in. We were allocated those once so were very pleased.
Thanks for everyones help. I contacted Virgin twice and both said nothing could be done. I'm waiting for Charter Travels reply. I agree with Debra that unless Charter Travel realise this is a problem, they won't change their system.
We looked into Twilight check-in but you have to take everyone to the airport so with 2 kids we didn't want an extra journey. We've decided to check in 3 hrs early and enjoy some extra duty free shopping!
Ian
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by IanW
Thanks for everyones help. I contacted Virgin twice and both said nothing could be done. I'm waiting for Charter Travels reply. I agree with Debra that unless Charter Travel realise this is a problem, they won't change their system.
We looked into Twilight check-in but you have to take everyone to the airport so with 2 kids we didn't want an extra journey. We've decided to check in 3 hrs early and enjoy some extra duty free shopping!
Ian
[/quote]
Ian
We have booked thru Charter and when i emailed them for the Virgin Ref number i got no reply, in the end i emailed Virgin Atlantic direct and they came back to me within 24 hours with my booking reference and i then went on the VA website and did all the pre-booking seats stuff.
To be honest, and i know i am gonna upset people when i say this, but, i think Charter Travel's service leaves a lot to be desired. I would think twice about booking with them again. I dont even think that they are any cheaper than booking direct with VA. Sorry to those people that think Charter Travel are.....good.[msnscared]
I have been using Charter travel for the past 10 years or so, we travel to Florida about twice a year. and so far have never had a problem with phoning airline to pre book our seats, I actually phone the airline direct and book our seats about a week after I receive my confirmation with receipt for deposit paid from Charter travel. Having said that we fly with United Airlines. As I understand it that if you get a quote from Charter travel then get a quote elswhere cheaper, and if it is same Airline same time flight they will try to match it.
I received this reply from Dawn at Charter Travel
Ian
We are sending an email around to try and explain how this works and in brief, we have many ways of booking Virgin seats from block allocation and from our own groups, and direct from system, each type of booking has different limitations as far as manageability of the booking, these are restrictions given by Virgin.
When seats are booked direct from systems then the seating is not a
problem and you can manage your booking online and checkin online. Although I will point out I recently booked from system and had full intentions of booking in on line using the ticket numbers and then turing up later at the airport(I have young children). When it came to 24 hours before there were no online chekcin facilities possible on the orlando flights. When we arrived at the airport we were spread all over the plane even after having spoken to Virgin the night before and having seats booked together. So it can happen
to anyone and does happen, I do completely understand the frustration, being split up all over the plane was not pleasant.
At the moment the group allocations which is only a small part of the amount of Virgin seats we book you cannot checkin or book seat numbers on line,there has been talk of reviewing this by Virgin, with all bookings you can however speak over the phone with the reservations department at Virgin on 08705 747 747, and they can request your seats, but checkin will have to be done on the day not online.
The group/allocation booking is generally only ever used when system
availability is not available at the lowest prices, system booking is always our first option, if we have group/allocation seats given to us to sell at cheaper rates it has a huge effect on the cost than that which is available from the system, and in many cases we have availability and system does not, (for example certain dates dec 2005 and easter 2006 there are no cheaper seats left on system, we have seats) there is of course the down side to the checkin/seat on line faciltiy.
I realise this is very frustrating and difficult to understand because of the many ways we book seats but perhaps it would be the most important thing at the point of booking we will tell clients that they cannot manage the booking on line or checkin on line if that is the case (this is not the case with many of the Virgin seats we book). This was a new facility which does have errors and limitations and many of our clients do not even attempt to use it.
We do automatically request seating together for all our groups but it is only a request, and is stressed very strongly by Virgin as a request. Many carriers are moving away from any client being able to pre request seating until checkin because of the frustrations it causes.
we use charter travel about 3 times a year I find if no one is available for me to speak to them, they always phone back as soon as possable, we have never had a problem and neither has any of my guests when booking with them . As for pre booking seats also no problem if you wait until you have your confirmation then call Virgin direct seat assignment is no problem as for saying Virgin and charter work out the same price then I have never found that to be true,Virgin being much more expensive. the only problem is with Virgin themselves as Manchester is treated as the poor relation getting cast off planes when Gatwick have got new ones and no Twilight checkin
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by maisie
we use charter travel about 3 times a year I find if no one is available for me to speak to them, they always phone back as soon as possable, we have never had a problem and neither has any of my guests when booking with them . As for pre booking seats also no problem if you wait until you have your confirmation then call Virgin direct seat assignment is no problem as for saying Virgin and charter work out the same price then I have never found that to be true,Virgin being much more expensive. the only problem is with Virgin themselves as Manchester is treated as the poor relation getting cast off planes when Gatwick have got new ones and no Twilight checkin
[/quote]
Not any more maisie Gatwick aircraft now rotate up to Manchester so we have the same as Gatwick no twilight check-in though[msnsad]
we didnt use charter this year they werent the cheapest last year and this year i just got a message left when i had already given them my expected flght plans all i wanted was the best price.as for price matching. give me yoiur best price straight off - especially if i am a repeat customer!
its like anything you cant please everyone all the time etc. but i cant see the point of paying more for the same seat. i tell everyone to ring round and do your home work . i dont keep using a favourite - carte blanche. i will try them the following visit but if they cant compete then so be it.
this year again we used someone off teletext, but play them all off against each other. whether we get them or not we have been told our seat numbers already? pays your money makes your choice