Virgin seats

[Joolz]

I am feeling very anxious about flying on 10th Dec now!! I get anxious about flying anyway... but having just spoken to someone at virgin - I DONT FEEL REASSURED.

I wanted to reserve seats ... 4 of us travelling together- So I looked on the website - there are none left together!!! on the return journey none at all!! on the outward journey 3 together and 1 separate..

I spoke to someone who at the beginning of the conversation reassured me that families would not be split up... I checked that acouple of tyimes and he said it was now civil avaition law that this would not happen (Aware of chris's posting on a different thread I was wary!! )

I asked how long the law had been in place and he said many years!! Then I told them that we were split up on a previous flight with virgin!!!

He quickly back tracked and said that he had just checked the wording of the document and that we might get split up one adult with one child-

He told me not to bother booking any seats online and that I would be ok if I arrived 3 hours before the flight....
re online booking I was told that I could book seats 48 or 24 hours before the flight online and this would include the 60% of seats that are being held back for families! ....(??? I thought it was 40%)

I apparently do not need to re-confirm my booking!

He said that he couldnt say wether the flight was over booked - but they usually are!

Funny that how can I be definite about seats when Its over booked?

I feel nervous about flying...cant say Im looking forward to sitting on my own or with one of the kids ...
What do you think I should do??
Should I take the three and 1 while they are still available on out ward journey ? or wait till we get there? do online check in or just turn up?
[V][V][V][V]

[Katys Grandad]

It seems clear that there isn't any method that can be fully relied on. Why don't Virgin realise how important it is to people to be sat together on such a long flight? I don't fly with them anymore because I was always left with the feeling that they didn't really care about what people wanted.

Good luck with whatever you choose to do.

[Joolz]

Thanks Katys grandad-
I think youve hit the nail on the head-
If it was an hours journey It wouldnt be so bad .....
We got better service from BA but Virgin offered the best prices and only seats in that price range at the time of booking....which meant we could go as opposed to staying here! However I will think twice about doing it again!! You never know they could surprise us!!!

[athurstance]

No need to panic - just turn up early. They will give you seats together then even if means moving someone who thinks they've reserved seats in advance. Reserving in advance doesn't guarantee you anything with Virgin - especially at peak times. If anything it gives you a false sense of security.
Turn up real early before they open the check in desk - they have a queuing area you can wait in. They do keep quite a few seats which are not reservable in advance anyway. This has never failed for us even when travelling Xmas and Easter.

[SunLover]

In fairness, I think this proceedure is pretty standard amongst most airlines, and in truth, the only way to actually guarantee seats together is to be there in person when check in opens, as this is the point when you will receive your boarding cards.

I'm sure if you get there early enough, there won't be a problem.

[Joolz]

It says three hours before flights ..... should i get there long before that???

[LiesaAnna]

these are our thoughts, we are going for twillight check in tonight!! and am hoping that after all my emails/phonecalls and 2 letters to the main man! hoping might get bulkhead seats!!!!!!
but am not going to get myself in a state over this like i did some weeks ago!
i said to Richard Branson that they make the rules up as they go along, and depending how the virgin customers service operators are feeling on the day!!!!!!!!!!!!
thats what seats you get!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[LiesaAnna]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Joolz
It says three hours before flights ..... should i get there long before that???
[/quote]

we try and get there about 4 hours or so, sounds silly i know, this time we are told we dont have to be there until 50 mins before boarding!!!!! yeh dont think so!!!!

[Joolz]

ThanKs everyone!

Liesa I just read some of your previous thread... I hope that you get what you want...

I'll aim for 4 hours then .... bllimey well have to get up early!!
[:O]

[athurstance]

From what I remember the check in opens about 7.30am. They let you in the queue from about 7am. If you are there by 7am you will be pretty near the front of the queue - we were usually first waiting to be let into the queueing area - a bit sad I know but when you're travelling with small children I would rather be there a bit early than worry. We've never done twilight checkin but it is worthwhile if you are very stressed about this.