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Flying Virgin on CO codeshare to UK - tips?

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Flying Virgin on CO codeshare to UK - tips?

 
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Old Feb 17, 2002 | 2:37 pm
  #1  
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Flying Virgin on CO codeshare to UK - tips?

Can anyone advise:

- best coach seats on Virgin?
- how is the inflight service?
- any chance of getting operational upgrade?
- any other tips?

Thanks.
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Old Feb 17, 2002 | 2:53 pm
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The title of your thread perpetuates a common misconception. Virgin does not CODESHARE with Continental. They have a hardblock arrangement. CO actually owns a limited number of seats on certain VS flights, and if you're in one of those seats, then you get OP miles. If you're not in one of those seats - no miles. You cannot use OP miles to upgrade on VS flights.
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Old Feb 17, 2002 | 4:01 pm
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My understanding is that you can indeed upgrade on VS flights with CO miles. In fact I'm 100% positive about this.
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Old Feb 17, 2002 | 5:24 pm
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Done it twice. But the catch is you can only upgrade into UC seats that CO purchases.
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Old Feb 17, 2002 | 5:31 pm
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<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by MEBenson:
The title of your thread perpetuates a common misconception. Virgin does not CODESHARE with Continental. They have a hardblock arrangement. CO actually owns a limited number of seats on certain VS flights, and if you're in one of those seats, then you get OP miles. If you're not in one of those seats - no miles. You cannot use OP miles to upgrade on VS flights.</font>
I quote from continental.com:
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">
Continental OnePass members can earn miles and redeem rewards on all codeshare flights operated by Virgin Atlantic.
</font>
But yes, you are correct that CO purchases a set amount of tickets on Virgin, and only on certain routes (e.g., not London-LAS). They purchase and resell both economy and upper class tickets (not premium economy, and no upper class from Orlando), and I imagine it's CO's decision whether they want to sell them for hard cash or for miles/upgrades.

Also, your seating options will be limited, since CO only has access to certain seats, and they're probably not the best ones. (Although the gate agent could probably switch assigments if there's space).
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Old Feb 17, 2002 | 5:31 pm
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You're right - - you can upgrade using miles, but only if you're in a CO-owned seat. (in other words, if CO got the money for your ticket).
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Old Feb 17, 2002 | 5:47 pm
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<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by MEBenson:
You're right - - you can upgrade using miles, but only if you're in a CO-owned seat. (in other words, if CO got the money for your ticket).</font>
Yes, and you could only upgrade into the UC seats that CO purchased. If those (say, 5) seats were sold, and Virgin hadn't sold any, you'd still be SOL.

Basically, until you actually get to the airport and check-in, you might as well be flying on CO. Virgin probably wouldn't even have any record of your reservation.
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Old Feb 17, 2002 | 6:11 pm
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<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by ijgordon:
Basically, until you actually get to the airport and check-in, you might as well be flying on CO. Virgin probably wouldn't even have any record of your reservation.</font>
VS and CO's computers merge 24 hours before the time of departure, but on two occasions they have recognized my CO itinerary 72 hours out.
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Old Feb 19, 2002 | 10:05 am
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Right, and after they merge, you can get out of the two aisles in UC reserved to CO (at least on SFO/4420/4421) which are rows 9 and 10, which I think are kind of bad rows because they are close to the bar so unless you want to stay up all night...

I recommend row 1 or 2, front tip of the lower deck, which are Virgin rows but you can get them at the airport, or if Virgin is in a good mood, over the phone post-merger.
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Old Feb 19, 2002 | 11:49 am
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Do the CO-on-VS-metal flights operate into/out of LHR? Doesn't this sort of circumvent Bermuda II or does that limitation apply to own-metal flights?
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Old Feb 19, 2002 | 12:01 pm
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CO codeshares on VS metal go to LHR. Evidently, the agreement that allows only BA, VS, AA and UA to operate btw the U.S. and LHR does not prohibit VS from selling seats on its planes to CO.
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Old Feb 25, 2002 | 4:09 pm
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Nobody answered my original questions, especially what is the best COACH seating?

Anybody?
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Old Feb 25, 2002 | 4:54 pm
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elitefreak: isn't it funny how that works. i have posted topics on flyertalk and, before i know it, my original question gets lost behind a clutter of irrelevancies (i.e., tough to get elite seats to Las Vegas turned into a debate on whether someone should use miles to go to Las Vegas notwithstanding the flexibility one garners from using miles (i.e., changing dates, times, etc.))

hahahaha

i'm sorry, can't help you with your Topic title. i just wanted to lend support.
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Old Feb 25, 2002 | 4:55 pm
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maybe you would have better luck in the Virgin forum??
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Old Feb 25, 2002 | 5:49 pm
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Virgin's Y seats are really really cramped. I would try for the exit. Prob. is that I don't think CO offers exit seats on the code-shares.

CO does buy 10 Upper Class seats from VS. Problem with getting the upgrades is that you must call every day within the 30 day block. CO will not and can not waitlist you, no matter what they tell you over the phone.
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