V-Flyer

Hi

Were booked to fly out of MAN to Orlando in January 2009 in PE. We have requested our seats upstairs in PE for Outbound and Return. At the moment they are still showing as allocated to us.

I have a (somewhat minor) dilemma. I am tempted to try out OLCI 24 hours before the flight to make sure that we still get the seats we want. My dilemma is we are taking my parents for their first ever transatlantic flight and have been going on about how fab Virgin PE is and how you get the red carpet at check in (sad I know but I do love it - especially when there are massive queues everywhere else) and Ive probably overplayed the whole 'you feel special at the airport' bit but I wanrt to make it as fab as possible for them.

What would be ideal (but Im not sure if this is possible) is to try and get the best of both worlds - do the OLCI at home the day before, but go to the PE check in on the morning of the flight to get the boardng cards / drop off luggage etc.

Is this possible?

Any advice more than welcome!

Thanks

Of course- as mostly they try to encourage online check-in, and then have a dedicated bag drop for PE anyway. Enjoy!

Of course - that's pretty much what I'm doing tomorrow - OLCIed today, will use regular check in tomorrow

Have done precisely this on many occasions. Go for it, let your parents witness that 'special' feeling, and have a wonderful time in Orlando. One thing, don't print off the boarding cards when you check in - they are naff [V]

Excellent - Thanks for your replies, I'll be cheeky and do both then!! Just one more question - Ill have to do the OLCI from work the day before the flight - do I need to take everyones passports with me (even if I fill in the Virgin US detail thingy prior to this) and is there any other info Ill need?

Thanks very much [:D]

If you've already completed all your API details you don't need passports, just the booking reference number

Add my vote to the 'do both' camp. You can then make a call on the day as to whether to use PE check in or simply bag drop.

You'll still need you passports about your persons to show at the gate...

Paul

I do exactly what you are describing when travelling from MAN. OLCI at T-minus 24hrs to confirm your seat selection then use the UC check-in desk at the airport (I am in UC). I can't say that I noticed a dedicated bag drop line for PE - think there were 2 check-in desks for PE and one for Upper, so you'll only have a short wait.

James

This is interesting...I am a newbie to PE and I have never used OLCI....when I use it , I can confirm our seats , but do i have to print out boarding passes or do I get those at check in?
We are going to LGW the day before , but do not trust the check in staff not to move us (happened last time with disastrous effect)so will OLCi before leaving home. Therefore can I do bag drop at the twilight service and can they give us boarding passes there?
They also put priority labels on our cases don't they?

If you use OLCI you can print your boarding cards off but not many do, and I wouldn't advise to do it, just get a 'usual' one when you check in at the airport.

Flying PE your bags are marked as priority. Sometimes they put PE tags on them but it is all done by the barcode on the baggage tags as that tells them what bins to put them in to. It normally works but it is a bit suspect on onbound flights back to the UK.

Neil

You dont have to print your boarding pass at home, you can still always collect a 'proper' one from check-in. Twilight check-in is the same as any other, you will get your boarding passes and you also need to have your passports with you.

Thanks,
Sarah

If you've already completed all your API details you don't need passports, just the booking reference number

You'd think so wouldn't you? Last two flights my API has disappeared when I've used OLCI, I'd take all numbers and expiry dates...