Twice in recent weeks, having booked well in advance and selected seat 1C, I have got to the airport, to discover I had been bumped off to seat 2D. The most recent was yesterday.
This might sound to some like the ultimate example of a trivial first world problem, but to me it is important for one reason in particular. I tend to be claustrophobic, which is the main, if not only, reason that I choose to travel J class in the first place. Being near the door of the plane and not having any passengers in front of me makes it sugnificantly easier for me to deal with this. Of only trivial importance is the fact that 2D and 2F usually end up with whatver it is on the lunch menu that no-one else wants.
I raised this matter with the cabin manager, who was very sympathetic and agreed that this was not acceptable. It appeared that the decision had been taken by the "seating agent." Obviously it was too late to reverse the decision at that stage.
I do understand that there can be valid reasons for moving someone from a pre assigned seat, though I had assumed that this would be based on need rather than mere preference. For example, there could be a disabled person travelling with a carer, where they clearly need to sit together, or a passenger with a broken leg who needs the extra legroom.
I don't consider that a married couple who didn't bother to make a selection at the time of booking and then announce at check in that they would like to sit together is a valid reason. At the very least, I should have been asked. Otherwise, what on earth is the point of advance seat selection in the first place? This has never happened to me on any other airline. I would also like to think that Virgin could show more respect to their platinum caustomers.
I'm wondering if anybody else has had this happen to them.
This might sound to some like the ultimate example of a trivial first world problem, but to me it is important for one reason in particular. I tend to be claustrophobic, which is the main, if not only, reason that I choose to travel J class in the first place. Being near the door of the plane and not having any passengers in front of me makes it sugnificantly easier for me to deal with this. Of only trivial importance is the fact that 2D and 2F usually end up with whatver it is on the lunch menu that no-one else wants.
I raised this matter with the cabin manager, who was very sympathetic and agreed that this was not acceptable. It appeared that the decision had been taken by the "seating agent." Obviously it was too late to reverse the decision at that stage.
I do understand that there can be valid reasons for moving someone from a pre assigned seat, though I had assumed that this would be based on need rather than mere preference. For example, there could be a disabled person travelling with a carer, where they clearly need to sit together, or a passenger with a broken leg who needs the extra legroom.
I don't consider that a married couple who didn't bother to make a selection at the time of booking and then announce at check in that they would like to sit together is a valid reason. At the very least, I should have been asked. Otherwise, what on earth is the point of advance seat selection in the first place? This has never happened to me on any other airline. I would also like to think that Virgin could show more respect to their platinum caustomers.
I'm wondering if anybody else has had this happen to them.
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