Cheap airline seating

eskbanker

I don't believe that either Virgin or BA are breaching any regulations here, having arranged the requisite rerouting and refunded what couldn't be transferred over, but you could try pleading for a goodwill gesture (from either) if you play the honeymoon card?

jimi_man

I’d be inclined to try Virgin and explain that since they changed the booking, could they cover the difference in seat choice cost (£52). 

zagfles

eskbanker said:

I don't believe that either Virgin or BA are breaching any regulations here, having arranged the requisite rerouting and refunded what couldn't be transferred over, but you could try pleading for a goodwill gesture (from either) if you play the honeymoon card?

Indeed - always play that card. You might even get an upgrade (unlikely) or at least some freebies (we got a bottle of champagne), that was on BA but many years ago!

zagfles

jimi_man said:

I’d be inclined to try Virgin and explain that since they changed the booking, could they cover the difference in seat choice cost (£52). 

More like £200+. PP said the refund was around £100 and it's now going to cost £76 pp per leg, ie over £300. And said it was triple the cost which confirms. 

Westin

tom2812 said:

Hi, I had a booking for LHR > NAS booked for 25th February 2025, returning 6th March. Unfortunately, Virgin Atlantic cancelled the route (the day before I'm due to fly!) and I've been transferred to BA. Virgin couldn't move the seat selection over so they've refunded my seat selection (around £100). I've gone on to the BA website to try and book some seats and they want £76 per person per way! I'm astounded that, through no fault of my own, I've been moved from Virgin to BA, then have to pay triple the cost for seat selection. I understand that it's free 24 hours in advance, but since it's our honeymoon I'd rather ensure that we have decent seats... do you know if there's anything I can do since it's a cancelled ticket?

Unfortunately not.  Virgin can not transfer your seat assignments over to BA. They have done the correct thing in refunding you. If you wish to have seat assignments on the new BA flights then the new cost is down to you to pay.

silvercar

BA generally try and put people on the same booking together. 

zagfles

silvercar said:

BA generally try and put people on the same booking together. 

As do virtually every airline, I think Ryanair is the only exception!

JennyDavis

silvercar said:

BA generally try and put people on the same booking together. 

Confirm that. Not like Ryanair and Wizzair. We also had good experience with the avianca. 
Also possible to find some pretty good offers. I discovered it for myself just recently.

mjm72

Had an issue with TUI where we did not pre book seats and they allocated a seat for my 10 year old at the back of the plane and one parent atvthe front the other half way.  Such a battle to get TUI to follow what they state on line and in webchat.  In the end the staff on the plane helped sort but made us feel we were in the wrong.  Customer services didn’t get it either.  Had to send them screen shots of all the wording.  Advised you might be better off prebooking.  

Westin

mjm72 said:

Had an issue with TUI where we did not pre book seats and they allocated a seat for my 10 year old at the back of the plane and one parent atvthe front the other half way.  Such a battle to get TUI to follow what they state on line and in webchat.  In the end the staff on the plane helped sort but made us feel we were in the wrong.  Customer services didn’t get it either.  Had to send them screen shots of all the wording.  Advised you might be better off prebooking.  

Was it just one parent and the 10 year old travelling, or others in the party?