Seat allocation price for return flights

Hello, I reserved a seat on a flight from LHR - JFK and it cost me £25, I logged in today to reserve my return flight seat (return is in 15 days time) from Newark - LHR expecting to pay £25 again but there were no prices on the seats and it let me choose my seat for free. In the summary before I pressed confirm it showed that I'd paid £25 for the outward seat allocation and £0 for return.

Does that mean that the £25 fee covers both ways or is the seat allocation charge only valid on some flights? I'm confused - but not complaining!

[Neil]

Are you flying back in either PE or UC as seat selection is free in those cabins.

Or are you Gold?

I'm bog standard economy class (T?) - bought my ticket mostly with airmiles. My husband has just logged on and allocated his seat for free too!

Hmm, I didn't think you could manage a reward booking over the website?
If memory serves there's no fee to pay if you are in the economy Y and B fare classes, the most flexible economy fares. Bit stumped here!

[Neil]

When did you book the flights?
How far away are your flights?

If you booked before 12th Nov last year you get to choose for free at 60 days out and if you are Red FC member you get to choose for free 72 hours before and if you are Silver it's 14 days before for free.

Hmm, I didn't think you could manage a reward booking over the website?
!

Nope, you can at least I always have!

Well I booked in October 2014 but on all the info I saw on the Virgin website I had to pay for my seat unless it was 24 hours to go. For my outward flight next Fri I paid £25 ( which I did at time of booking) as there were very few seats of 2 available and then my return flight (where I got the free seat allocation) is just under 2 weeks away which tallies up with what Neil's saying I guess. I didn't realise it was free within 60 days...Virgin Atlantic don't make it very clear! All good though, I paid less than I expected to! Thanks for the help!