How do you get a decent seat on Virgin Atlantic?
Dec 21, 2017, 8:09 am
#16
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: DL PM; IHG PlatAmb; Hilton Dia; Marriott Plat; Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 7,308
This is the most recent related thread I can find, but having some difficulty and curious if others have had similar.
I am a GM on Delta. Booked on a DL-marketed, VS-operated flight (ATL-MAN). Per Delta's website:
Delta.com doesn't allow you to select flights. On Virgin's website, I can't make any complimentary seat selection. I did a chat with a VS rep and they assisted Delta's website is wrong, and only Diamonds and Platinums get free seat selection.
Sent an email to Delta, but curious if others have had the same experience
I am a GM on Delta. Booked on a DL-marketed, VS-operated flight (ATL-MAN). Per Delta's website:
If you are a SkyMiles® Diamond or Platinum Medallion®, you can select seats for all your party (so long as you are in the same booking) up to 336 days before departures free of charge, you may select an Extra Legroom or Exit Row Seat for yourself free of charge and standard seats for the rest of your party.
If you are a SkyMiles Gold Medallion® you can select seats up to 336 days before departure free of charge for yourself only (no companion waiver and not including Extra Legroom and Exit Row Seats). Please visit delta.com to make seat selections or changes.
If you are a SkyMiles Gold Medallion® you can select seats up to 336 days before departure free of charge for yourself only (no companion waiver and not including Extra Legroom and Exit Row Seats). Please visit delta.com to make seat selections or changes.
Sent an email to Delta, but curious if others have had the same experience
Dec 21, 2017, 12:59 pm
#17
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: MSP
Programs: DL MM (thanks PMNW!), DL PM, UA PLT, just about every darn hotel program-generally GOLD type level
Posts: 783
The easiest way to select seats on VS is to call Delta and ask for the VS confirmation number then go to VS website. Yes, there have been times when the flights have shown on DL site and I could select seats but there have been times when I couldn’t.
NB: Make sure to note how your name appears on the reservation. In my case I had to add my middle initial to the end of my first name to match the information transmitted to VS
NB: Make sure to note how your name appears on the reservation. In my case I had to add my middle initial to the end of my first name to match the information transmitted to VS
Dec 21, 2017, 7:21 pm
#18
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: MSP
Programs: Delta PM, 1MM
Posts: 3,781
After having no problems as a PM selecting PE seats on previous VS flights over the past 3 years, last August I ran into a snag with a PE ticket on a MAN-BOS flight. I was able to access my reservation on the VS website using either my DL or my VS confirmation number but I could not select a seat. When I called VS the agent said it was because my reservation was for the DL codeshare flight and they could not access the seating chart for that. This still makes NO sense to me, since it was a VS operated flight. I tried HUAC a couple of times with the same results. Delta also could not give me a seat assignment since it was a VS operated flight.
About three days before the flight I was able to get a mileage upgrade to UC and could then select a seat. In the process of upgrading, my DL codeshare flight number changed to the VS flight number.
About three days before the flight I was able to get a mileage upgrade to UC and could then select a seat. In the process of upgrading, my DL codeshare flight number changed to the VS flight number.
Aug 20, 2018, 4:56 pm
#19
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: ATL
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After having no problems as a PM selecting PE seats on previous VS flights over the past 3 years, last August I ran into a snag with a PE ticket on a MAN-BOS flight. I was able to access my reservation on the VS website using either my DL or my VS confirmation number but I could not select a seat. When I called VS the agent said it was because my reservation was for the DL codeshare flight and they could not access the seating chart for that. This still makes NO sense to me, since it was a VS operated flight. I tried HUAC a couple of times with the same results. Delta also could not give me a seat assignment since it was a VS operated flight.
About three days before the flight I was able to get a mileage upgrade to UC and could then select a seat. In the process of upgrading, my DL codeshare flight number changed to the VS flight number.
About three days before the flight I was able to get a mileage upgrade to UC and could then select a seat. In the process of upgrading, my DL codeshare flight number changed to the VS flight number.
I've taken four other DL-marketed, DL-ticketed, VS-operated flights in the past 3 months. All booked in PE (one I later upgraded to UC, but that part is irrelevant for this question). Did not have any issues selecting seats for any of them - though it's inconsistent. For one set, I was able to select seats via DL.com and have them stick. For another, I had to use my 006 ticket # to log in to the VS website and could select there and they stuck.
Just made another booking today, again 006, DL-marketed, VS-operated. DL.com shows me a seatmap with everything blocked out. VS.com shows me a seatmap with open seats, but when I choose/submit anything, it gives me an error.
Anyone else experiencing something similar?
Aug 20, 2018, 6:44 pm
#20
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: DL PM; IHG PlatAmb; Hilton Dia; Marriott Plat; Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 7,308
I got Delta to select a seat for me back in December, and it stuck.... until today, three days before my flight, when I got moved to the back of the plane in the center section. Sigh.
Aug 21, 2018, 3:38 am
#21
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Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: LHR
Programs: DL DM 2MM, BA Bronze, Various Hotels
Posts: 10,187
This is the most recent related thread I can find, but having some difficulty and curious if others have had similar.
I am a GM on Delta. Booked on a DL-marketed, VS-operated flight (ATL-MAN). Per Delta's website:
Delta.com doesn't allow you to select flights. On Virgin's website, I can't make any complimentary seat selection. I did a chat with a VS rep and they assisted Delta's website is wrong, and only Diamonds and Platinums get free seat selection.
Sent an email to Delta, but curious if others have had the same experience
I am a GM on Delta. Booked on a DL-marketed, VS-operated flight (ATL-MAN). Per Delta's website:
Delta.com doesn't allow you to select flights. On Virgin's website, I can't make any complimentary seat selection. I did a chat with a VS rep and they assisted Delta's website is wrong, and only Diamonds and Platinums get free seat selection.
Sent an email to Delta, but curious if others have had the same experience
Aug 21, 2018, 3:40 am
#22
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: LHR
Programs: DL DM 2MM, BA Bronze, Various Hotels
Posts: 10,187
Nudging this thread to see if others are having this similar experience.
I've taken four other DL-marketed, DL-ticketed, VS-operated flights in the past 3 months. All booked in PE (one I later upgraded to UC, but that part is irrelevant for this question). Did not have any issues selecting seats for any of them - though it's inconsistent. For one set, I was able to select seats via DL.com and have them stick. For another, I had to use my 006 ticket # to log in to the VS website and could select there and they stuck.
Just made another booking today, again 006, DL-marketed, VS-operated. DL.com shows me a seatmap with everything blocked out. VS.com shows me a seatmap with open seats, but when I choose/submit anything, it gives me an error.
Anyone else experiencing something similar?
I've taken four other DL-marketed, DL-ticketed, VS-operated flights in the past 3 months. All booked in PE (one I later upgraded to UC, but that part is irrelevant for this question). Did not have any issues selecting seats for any of them - though it's inconsistent. For one set, I was able to select seats via DL.com and have them stick. For another, I had to use my 006 ticket # to log in to the VS website and could select there and they stuck.
Just made another booking today, again 006, DL-marketed, VS-operated. DL.com shows me a seatmap with everything blocked out. VS.com shows me a seatmap with open seats, but when I choose/submit anything, it gives me an error.
Anyone else experiencing something similar?
Aug 21, 2018, 4:53 am
#23
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: DL PM; IHG PlatAmb; Hilton Dia; Marriott Plat; Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 7,308
Aug 21, 2018, 5:35 am
#24
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On DL-booked Economy or PE flights (VS-operated), birthday does not always carry over and I've had issues with seat selection. If I cannot select via the VS website, I just call and I've had them assign me seats in Economy (usually extra leg room seats) or PE. It's an annoying glitch for sure!
Aug 21, 2018, 6:29 am
#25
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Location: LHR
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I am well aware of the changes. That said, do not book Economy Light/Classic tickets, but when I inquired, VS said (as a DM) I'm eligible for seat selection...I've not booked either class in recent bookings as I didn't want to tempt fate and the PE price was acceptable.
Aug 21, 2018, 6:30 am
#26
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Location: LHR
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Yeah, it started in the early spring I think - I always look at pricing on the DL or VS websites - go with whatever is cheaper. While I do not get a VS agent sooner when I call, they've always seen my status and assisted accordingly.
Aug 21, 2018, 8:13 am
#27
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To follow up, I just got off the phone with VS and while the agent was very nice, understood what I wanted to do, and agreed that it should be possible, his computer was not allowing him to move me out of my auto-assigned seat. He want to a "Team Leader" and they were still having problems, so he took my phone number with a promise to escalate/fix and then call back.
Not sure what the root issue is, but also would really prefer to not be in a window seat for an 8 hr flight.
Aug 22, 2018, 12:27 pm
#28
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I do the same, just have never found VS.com to be cheaper for the particular flights/dates I've been booking.
To follow up, I just got off the phone with VS and while the agent was very nice, understood what I wanted to do, and agreed that it should be possible, his computer was not allowing him to move me out of my auto-assigned seat. He want to a "Team Leader" and they were still having problems, so he took my phone number with a promise to escalate/fix and then call back.
Not sure what the root issue is, but also would really prefer to not be in a window seat for an 8 hr flight.
To follow up, I just got off the phone with VS and while the agent was very nice, understood what I wanted to do, and agreed that it should be possible, his computer was not allowing him to move me out of my auto-assigned seat. He want to a "Team Leader" and they were still having problems, so he took my phone number with a promise to escalate/fix and then call back.
Not sure what the root issue is, but also would really prefer to not be in a window seat for an 8 hr flight.
Trying VS twitter. Wonderful crossover technology they've got for this JV.
Update #2 - VS Twitter fixed this in about 10 minutes. Slowest part was me responding to them with my flight info. Hooray!
Last edited by gooselee; Aug 22, 2018 at 3:21 pm
Aug 23, 2018, 1:31 am
#29
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: LHR
Programs: DL DM 2MM, BA Bronze, Various Hotels
Posts: 10,187
Update - Have not gotten a call/email back but my PNR is now showing no seats assigned at all.
Trying VS twitter. Wonderful crossover technology they've got for this JV.
Update #2 - VS Twitter fixed this in about 10 minutes. Slowest part was me responding to them with my flight info. Hooray!
Trying VS twitter. Wonderful crossover technology they've got for this JV.
Update #2 - VS Twitter fixed this in about 10 minutes. Slowest part was me responding to them with my flight info. Hooray!
Glad the twitter team sorted it out!
Aug 23, 2018, 11:33 am
#30
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: ATL
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Posts: 10,745
Maybe next time I need to call their UK number instead of the US line.
