Could someone answer this seating assignment question for me
Mar 19, 2015, 8:14 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 5
Could someone answer this seating assignment question for me
Hello I hope this is a good place to ask this. Just googled virgin America forum and this place popped up. I’ve never flown before (medical, personal reasons) but I have to go see a relative. I bought my tickets but when I went to select my seating all the seats where grayed out except the seats that cost money. I assumed a seat is covered with the price of the ticket. Does this mean I have to pay for the seats? This is probably a very stupid question and I apology. I thank anyone who answers this. 
Mar 20, 2015, 3:42 pm
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 10,904
I don't understand. On VX, seat selection is free except for MCE, which has a $30 selection charge until it opens up.
I assume that you bought a Main Cabin ticket. Was every seat other than Main Cabin Express taken?
If you don't care where you sit you can just forget about it, and you will get a seat on check-in. It will probably be a crappy middle seat, though.
I assume that you bought a Main Cabin ticket. Was every seat other than Main Cabin Express taken?
If you don't care where you sit you can just forget about it, and you will get a seat on check-in. It will probably be a crappy middle seat, though.
Aug 23, 2017, 3:22 pm
#5
Moderator: Alaska Mileage Plan
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 12,316
Normal if the flight is very full. Check back at T-12 and -6 hours, when upgrades are processed.
Last edited by dayone; Aug 23, 2017 at 8:18 pm Reason: Punctuation.
Aug 23, 2017, 7:40 pm
#6
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 674
Seat selection unavailable.
Ticket is currently on sales for the flight via Alaska for $461 one way (EWR to LAX)
Edit: T-7 and 2 seats opened up together, the only two selectable on the plane
Last edited by jamesinclair; Aug 23, 2017 at 11:47 pm
Aug 28, 2017, 5:31 pm
#8
Join Date: Sep 2001
Programs: Alaska Tanzanite 100K
Posts: 3,858
try logging in to the website (manage my booking) using the operating carrier. on Alaskaair, booking Virgin, most of the seat map does not appear. However, if you take the Virgin confirmation # to virginamerica.com you should be able to see everything open for selection/purchase.
Aug 31, 2017, 12:00 am
#9
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Los Angeles
Programs: AS, AA, BA, SQ
Posts: 164
Alternatively you can select no seats and have them assigned at the gate which has better chances of getting seated together than selecting two middle seats 18 rows apart.
Sep 13, 2017, 9:34 pm
#10
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: United Silver
Posts: 129
I'm flying VX for the first time in a few weeks, DCA-SFO, and am looking forward to it.
I don't mind paying extra to select a seat ahead of time, especially a good seat. When I went to select a seat, I noticed that not very many are available for purchase. Do certain seats not open up until later, or does this mean most of the seats are already spoken for?
If Main Cabin Select doesn't have any seats for purchase, does that mean it is already fully booked?
I'll bne traveling with my wife - if we just decide to let them assign us a seat on the day of travel, will we almost certainly be in separate rows in middle seats?
Thanks for your help!
I don't mind paying extra to select a seat ahead of time, especially a good seat. When I went to select a seat, I noticed that not very many are available for purchase. Do certain seats not open up until later, or does this mean most of the seats are already spoken for?
If Main Cabin Select doesn't have any seats for purchase, does that mean it is already fully booked?
I'll bne traveling with my wife - if we just decide to let them assign us a seat on the day of travel, will we almost certainly be in separate rows in middle seats?
Thanks for your help!
Sep 14, 2017, 12:10 am
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: PDX
Programs: AS 75K, BW Plat, Marriott Gold, IHG Plat, Hilton Gold
Posts: 10,724
I'm flying VX for the first time in a few weeks, DCA-SFO, and am looking forward to it.
I don't mind paying extra to select a seat ahead of time, especially a good seat. When I went to select a seat, I noticed that not very many are available for purchase. Do certain seats not open up until later, or does this mean most of the seats are already spoken for?
If Main Cabin Select doesn't have any seats for purchase, does that mean it is already fully booked?
I'll bne traveling with my wife - if we just decide to let them assign us a seat on the day of travel, will we almost certainly be in separate rows in middle seats?
Thanks for your help!
I don't mind paying extra to select a seat ahead of time, especially a good seat. When I went to select a seat, I noticed that not very many are available for purchase. Do certain seats not open up until later, or does this mean most of the seats are already spoken for?
If Main Cabin Select doesn't have any seats for purchase, does that mean it is already fully booked?
I'll bne traveling with my wife - if we just decide to let them assign us a seat on the day of travel, will we almost certainly be in separate rows in middle seats?
Thanks for your help!
Sep 15, 2017, 12:22 pm
#12
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Los Angeles
Programs: AS, AA, BA, SQ
Posts: 164
If there are not two seats available at check in you can decline seat assignment and have them assigned at the gate where you will most likely be seated together. If you select two separate seats the gate agent will not have you on the list for seat assignments and you will probably get what you picked. As far as I know auto upgrades only clear if there are 2 adjacent seats. If you are travelling solo the auto upgrade could put you in a middle though.
Oct 2, 2017, 11:53 pm
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Danville, CA, USA;
Programs: UA 1MM, WN CP, Marriott LT Plat, Hilton Gold, IC Plat
Posts: 15,720
Just experienced the same situation as OP. Just purchased 4 seats for a Dec. 30 flight and every single aisle & window seat from Row 4 to Row 15 has a $30-35 fee. Note that all the seats from Row 16-26 are blocked so I gather if there were free seats at one time they are now fully allocated.
At least on UA I get an E+ seat when I pay a "premium seat fee." This feels more like Spirit/Norwegian where you get nickle&dimed for everything.
Good advice, and this would probably be my strategy if I was traveling alone. But does not work for families with young children - I don't want to be one of those people pleading with GAs or other passengers to switch seats.
I guess I should view this as a "family tax" similar to UA's "elite tax" to upgrade from BE fares.
At least on UA I get an E+ seat when I pay a "premium seat fee." This feels more like Spirit/Norwegian where you get nickle&dimed for everything.
I guess I should view this as a "family tax" similar to UA's "elite tax" to upgrade from BE fares.