Virgin Atlantic Flying Club - Strange experience getting assigned seats with agent!

I booked two separate UC awards via One Pass a months ago, one for me and one for my husband. I called VS today to get seats.

The agent, who was extremely nice, gently explained that he can't assign a seat to someone under a different record. I understand... But even after confirming many of the details, he still was firm that he would need to speak directly with the passenger. He asked for my companion's phone number.

Not wanting to bother my husband, I gave him my own cell phone. He put me on hold, then called. I answered the call and told the agent that I was my spouse. The agent asked permission to access his record.

We ended that call and went back to the first.

It was all kind of strange!

Strictly speaking you have broken the UK's Data Protection Act by pretending to be your spouse and accessing details of his seperate flight.

There is no automatic right for one person to access data (no matter how inocuous) relating to another under this UK Act. This even applies to spouses.

Strictly speaking you have broken the UK's Data Protection Act by pretending to be your spouse and accessing details of his seperate flight.

There is no automatic right for one person to access data (no matter how inocuous) relating to another under this UK Act. This even applies to spouses.

Truth is, I wasn't accessing details. I had his flight, record locator, etc. I just didn't have access to the website where I could have chosen seats.

But I get what you are saying. I suppose if we were on the same PNR, it would not have been an issue!

Indeed on the same PNR no issue at all.

But it does not matter that you had all the details relating to his flight as he had not given VS express permission for you to access his flight details (and doing a seat request would count as 'accessing')and that is where the breach of the DPA takes place.