Seat Allocation with 'DIY Check-in'

When you do DIY check-in 24 hours in advance are ALL seats that have not been allocated then available (exits and bulkheads as well??). I was told by a Virgin agent that 40% of seats are reserved for check-in allocation on the day and cannot be pre-assigned. Are these seats freed-up for DIY check-in as well as in person check-in?
Cheers.

I was also wondering about this issue. I am flying this Saturday LGW to ANU and thought I might check on-line Friday even though I will be there Friday afternoon for twilight check-in.

As an additional point - if I did on-line check in on Friday would I also be able to go to bag drop off the same day? I know this isn't necessary but wondered none the less.

As a final point does anyone know the aircraft scheduled for my flight - it makes it all the more interesting wondering what aircraft it could be as usually this is more of a foregone conclusion having done caribbean routes many times.

Jilly

Jilly,
If your going to be in Gatwick anyway twilight check in is the best option.

you should be able to do the bag drop any time after you've checked in

I've not heard about a 40% hold of seats - I know bulkheads are held for real check ins

I'd go with the twilight option though as they have access to exit seats etc which arent always available online..

Jonathon

Think I will check on line to see what's available and depending on what is I may check in on line - least then I'll have a definitive answer to Flyer's original question.

I worked as a travel agent until a couple of years ago and was also told by Virgin at that time of the 40% hold on flight seats until check in - not sure how true this is now.

Unfortunately exit seats are not an option for me as I have limited mobility although no longer need wheelchair assistance as I did for my last two flights this year. Travelling PE I am quite happy with the seat set up - I actually prefer to have the TV on the seat in front instead of out of the armrest - I might be in the minority here

My main reason for on line check in would be to see the seat configuration with all the changes of aircraft happening - at the moment VA are showing old style LGW but obviously anything can happen until the last minute. Would be nice to have some sort of idea before then though.

Jilly

Jilly,
If you have limited mobility of any kind I'd still give Special assistance a call on 0870 380 2004 as they can pre book bulkheads etc in advance if you have good cause

It cant hurt to try..

Jonathon

Decided to take your advice and contact special assistance. I have done this by e-mail as I have a contact that I have used many times in the past.

Thought it may be advisable to let them know of my limitations because more than likely we will be on the upper deck.

Jilly

Well if your flying PE and your limitation prevents you from using the stairs and your on a pre UCS 744 you would normaly be put in rows 11 or 12..

if they offer this take it..:D

Talk about fast! I have already had a reply from special assistance and the relevant details have been added to my booking and notes on their system.

This is what I call excellent service.

Jilly

Did they comment as to where you'll be sat?

In short Jonathon - no.

Yesterday I exchanged e-mails re my limited mobility and was told if I couldn't make the stairs 'fairly swiftly' then to let them know although notes had been made on my booking.

When my partner came home last night he said I better inform them that this was not the case. I did this morning and have now had another response saying that there is no premium seating downstairs and that if I could ascend and descend 'safely' this was ok otherwise let them know again.

I am now left wondering what to do. Safety is not an issue for myself but I am very slow. Maybe it could be a safety issue for other passengers and this is what they are more concerned about.

I certainly would not want to be downgraded to economy and on this basis wouldn't have booked although won't stop me now - might be best just to keep my mouth shut in case the worst scenario happens.

Any thoughts anyone - either way I won't let anything spoil my week in the sun!

Jilly

Jilly,
I am a wheelchair user so cannot use the stairs myself..

Advise virgin that you wont be able to descend 'fairly swiftly'
They wont downgrade you..I've flown from gatwick in PE many times and to date have never been put down the back!!

You'll be very happy with the result:D;)

Unfortunately I had a call from Virgin this morning and have been told that I have to either pay for UC or travel economy. I have to call and let them know.

As you can imagine I am very upset and have a diffcult decision to make and don't feel like travelling at all.

Everyone please be aware that this can happen.

Jilly

I would see what the Disability Discrimination Act says.
Have a word with your local Citizens Advice Beureau.
I am VERY surprised at the response from virgin, knowing that they have done better for other limited mobility people. I cannot belive that there is no PE downstairs, as I was under the impression that due to mobility problems and the DDA that seats were avialable on the lower deck.

Wow - I've never known Virgin do this!!

I would point out to them that not offering you the ticket you paid for based on your mobility seems discriminatory and that you've traveled with VS before with the same issues without problem.

on many LGW routes the second half of UC known as Zone B is set aside for limited mobility PE pax. However on Carribean routes they seem to operate both zones as UC.

I once flew to Barbados and was upgraded to UC because of this.

I would certainly email someone else at virgin with your concerns and as alan says maybe pop into a CAB etc for advise also you might want to check out this site

Given the short notice I'd also check travel insurance etc in case you need to make alternate arrangements with other carrier

Thanks for your replies guys. As you can imagine today has not been one of the greatest.

I rang Flying Club and they said that there was only one seat left in upper class and anyway I couldn't use miles to upgrade. Thought it was worth a try.

I then decided to give special assistance another call to see if I could change to BGI instead as we can't travel on any other dates. No availability there either - which I was surprised about.

I pushed the point and asked what constitutes safety and a swift descent of the stairs, asking how slow is too slow. The lady obviously took advice from someone else and came back and said that if I could put one foot infront of the other without stopping on every step then I could go upstairs. I said I could!

With regards to discrimation I agree with you both but didn't want to antagonise anybody before travel or worst still no travel at all. This is something I will look into on my return, at the moment I'm just glad to still be travelling and want to concentrate on just enjoying some sunshine. However, because of this I will seriously consider cancelling my future bookings and I did make them aware of this.

I'm forever an optimist and still intend to have a good time whatever the outcome - maybe I'm not forceful enough.

Jilly

[Nottingham Nick]

Jilly

IMHO what has happened to you is wrong on many levels - at least morally, if not legally.

I wouldn't be concerned about kicking up any sort of fuss, if you have paid for a service you should be enititled to receive AT least that level of service.

VS are always very concerned with negative publicity and tabloid headlines of 'passenger downgraded because of disablilty' would NOT go down well.

Just my two cents worth.

Nick

Thanks for your concern Nick it is much appreciated and I totally agree with your opinions.

I was considering speaking to customer services but due to the very loose interpretation on mobility issues to the upper deck I am concerned that if someone else gets involved the decision may change back again. If there are definitely no seats to be had other than economy then travelling is not an option for me.

Bearing this in mind I thought it may be best to travel, see what actually happens and take up the point on my return - I wouldn't want anyone else to be in the situation I found myself today.

Thanks once again
Jilly

Just another point, Candyman witha disabled daughter found that Virgin changed the plane to accommodate their disabled daughter who could not sit in the new UCS, I think that you should shout loud about the fact they should provide access to PE seats for all passengers, if not for you, but for other passengers in the same position.
You could talk to youir local Country Council Trading standards as nowhere in the publicity or when you booked did it say you had to be ablebodied to sit in PE.

Yes they do. From the VS website:

On selected flights, Premium Economy and Upper Class are situated in the Upper Deck. Passengers with restricted mobility would be advised to contact reservations before continuing.

This is on the 'Select Flights' Page

The Disability Discrimination Act does not apply to every situation and in the case of air transport is overridden by Safety legislation. For example, there have been publicised cases of disabled passengers being (legally) refused passage because they were unaccompanied.

Also, remember that legally,, no matter what you have paid for your ticket, you are only paying to be transported - at the airlines convenience - to your destination. I emphasise that this is the legal position, not what passenger pressure, competitive pressure and publicity would achieve.

But again, it is the lack of consistancy at Virgin.
We have this case of "either pay more for an UC seat or get back to economy" against change of aircraft to accommodate a disabled person and Zone "B" seats for poor mobility people who I am aware have been accommodated downstairs.
As mentioned above, they only say contact us if you have poor mobility, not no PE seating available for the disabled or poor mobility.

If they had a consistant position it would make it easier on themselves and on the passengers.
As far as I am aware, we are now only talking about two aircraft? (Unchanged 747-400's out of LGW?) and this will change over the coming months.

The Disability Discrimination Act does not apply to every situation and in the case of air transport is overridden by Safety legislation. For example, there have been publicised cases of disabled passengers being (legally) refused passage because they were unaccompanied.

Also, remember that legally,, no matter what you have paid for your ticket, you are only paying to be transported - at the airlines convenience - to your destination. I emphasise that this is the legal position, not what passenger pressure, competitive pressure and publicity would achieve.

Pat

I booked with VH over the telephone and at no time was informed of this ruling - but no doubt it's in the small print somewhere. I am aware that every large company will always have a legal get out clause.

At the moment because of all the changes of aircraft there could be PE seats downstairs, rows 11 and 12 available or indeed plenty of seats spare if a LHR aircraft does this route. I am sure if I look at flight availability tomorrow things may be clearer. Indeed looking at the ANU flight leaving tomorrow it looks like a LGW refit is scheduled this route - that only changed today as I have been checking since Monday. Perhaps someone may know what is planned for Saturday but if not I will find out tomorrow - bearing in mind last minute changes.

However, I do have a problem with Virgin's interpretations of the ruling - it really did depend on who I spoke to as to whether I was allowed upstairs and it became a farcical situation yesterday. As Nick said in his reply - morally I wasn't treated well.

Jill

Jilly,
I have vast experience of PE from LGW
I have never been told I must downgrade and have been given seats in Zone B where no PE exists downstais.

My only thought is that they couldnt upgrade you (if only one seat remains) so they were trying to make you downgrade - as most people wouldn't pay for 2 UC seats.

I understand you not wanting to rock the boat so near to departure but agree with others that VS need to be consistant.

Of course this is a bit of a moot point as currently the only a/c without PE downstairs is LGW 744's and these are being converted as part of the UCS rollout and will offer a few rows of PE in what was Zone B.