pre-allocated seats/24 hr check-in

Hi, this might sound complicated: I have pre-selected seats for a Virgin flight from the 60% available just now on-line. They are near the rear of the plane but we would much rather sit in the middle section. My question is does anyone know that if when you go online to do 24hr check-in you have the option to choose some of the new 40% of seats which have become available for check-in or are you automatically assigned the seats which you have pre-selected. If this is the case then would I be better removing my pre-selected seats and waiting to see what becomes available. If better seats don%26#39;t become available then I guess we might end up worse off, ie: split up etc. The other option is we could do Twilight check-in the day before - maybe more chance of better seats when speaking face to face with check-in staff? I hope this makes some sort of sense. Thx

pre-allocated seats/24 hr check-in

In most airlines you have the option to choose the different seats at the time of online check in (24 hour in advance). It should give you an option while you check in -- it is a great opportunity because they release many of the ';premium'; seats that they were holding to sell at higher rates and other reasons. I flew with Virgin last year going from LAX to Heathrow and I think I was able to change my seats upon check-in... Could be wrong though...

Keep your seats for now, and as soon as your 24 hour mark hits, check in yourself and see what the options are. In some cases they keep the premium seats longer... so I%26#39;d check every other hour before you get to the airport to see if new seats have opened up.

Hope this helps!

pre-allocated seats/24 hr check-in

GeorgeFife

We pre-booked seats with Virgin to Orlando last year (2 x 2%26#39;s at the rear so we had 2 window seats for our 2 kids, and more space for bags between seat and side of plane). HOWEVER, when we used the 24-hour check-in, our seats were automatically reallocated to 4 in the middle of the 747 - not what we wanted at all. I was assured when phoning Virgin that we would still get our 2 x 2%26#39;s. When we checked in that was not the case - and they were unable to give us our original seating request.

I was pretty unhappy - prefer to sit at the back of the 747s - near the facilities, drinks and food trollies reach you first (therefore you are not left with the meals no-one else wants),and as mentioned above, there is more space around the seats and don%26#39;t feel so hemmed in. (Only downside is you are at the back of a very long queue at immigration when you arrive!)

My husband had a word with the staff at the gate, and just prior to boarding they were able to jiggle some seats around and we got our original allocation.

Have not had experience of twilight check-in with Virgin so can%26#39;t comment. We are flying out with Monarch on Sunday - feeling a little nervous since have heard seat pitch is grim - beginning to wish we had booked with Virgin again!

Nicky

I am hoping that I can change my seats when I do the online check-in aswell as the seats they tried to give me are rubbish

Yes you can.

I%26#39;ve chosen my seats on-line before on the Virgin website, only to change my mind again when we got to check-in. As long as they have the seats available for you to swap with, the check-in agents don%26#39;t mind if you change your mind. In fact they ask you if you%26#39;re happy with the seats you chose yourself and give you the option of whether or not you%26#39;d like to swap. Well, they have with me anyway.

Just get there in plenty of time to ensure some good seats for yourself.

Reserved seats are not guaranteed. We reserved ours (6 seats in all) only to have them changed when we checked in on the day. Wasn%26#39;t very happy as we%26#39;d reserved the seats at least 10-11 months ahead of time. There is nothing stopping you changing your seating reservations on a daily basis on line, if the seats are available.

The flight we are on in September looks full - I hope its not - I would prefer not to have someone sitting next to me that I don%26#39;t know!

Hi George

Yes you can amend your seats online. Just go into virginatlantic.com and go into update booking , you then put in your holiday ref %26amp; names etc then into amend booking then you go up to your names and put in new seat numbers. It should allow you to do this or you can take a chance the night before.

Regards Rachael