Booking Linking Question

[k3nnis]

Hi,

I've just made 2 separate bookings to ZQN.

The first one is for myself via AMEX Reserve free flight. (I'm Silver)
The second my wife booked and also included in her booking is an infant. (She is Red) - Booked on virginaustralia.com

All are SAVER fares.

I know I can make a seat selection 14 days prior with my status (but my status will expire before the 14 days prior to the flight). Do I lose this benefit in my case?
If not should I still select a seat or just leave it as my wife can't select? Obsiously we would like to be sitting together. The seat map is a 3 - 3 layout. So someone wil be next to us unless the seat is not taken. Do you recommend an ailse seat for us?

When we check-in at the airport, will they accomodate us in sitting together even on 2 separate booking references?

Can we actually link our 2 booking together? Not sure if this will actually help anything?

Sorry for the silly questions

Thanks,
K.

 

[jsd]

I've personally not been in this situation (whilst flying Virgin anyway) but I would assume/hope they would be able to do similar to what Qantas does and link the bookings together (note 'link' not 'merge', so they would still be two separate bookings), just give the guest contact centre a call and explain the situation and give them both the PNRs, you shouldn't have any issues, I'm sure they will be accommodating to you

As for the seat selection, any seat selections you put in prior to your status 'expiring' should be retained by the system, bear in mind that there is a one month(ish) grace period on status, so if your card expires on the 30th of September you would still be good until the 30th of October thereabouts . Personally I wouldn't bother selecting your own seat in a situation like this, as the check in staff would most likely need to move you anyway to seat you all together...

 

[oz_mark]

As for the seat selection, any seat selections you put in prior to your status 'expiring' should be retained by the system, bear in mind that there is a one month(ish) grace period on status, so if your card expires on the 31st of September you would still be good until the 31st of October thereabouts .

I hope there aren't too many cards expiring on the 31st of September :shock:

 

[jsd]

I hope there aren't too many cards expiring on the 31st of September :shock:

Awkward.... I need sleep but can't. Must. Study #ZombieModeOn

 

[k3nnis]

Thanks for your reply I think I may just leave the seat selection alone. With online checkin, can we select seat at T24? If yes I may do it then. Also what is the advantage of me in linking the 2 bookings together instead of just rocking up at the airport and checking in together albeit on a separate booking? Will it be the same effect?

I've personally not been in this situation (whilst flying Virgin anyway) but I would assume/hope they would be able to do similar to what Qantas does and link the bookings together (note 'link' not 'merge', so they would still be two separate bookings), just give the guest contact centre a call and explain the situation and give them both the PNRs, you shouldn't have any issues, I'm sure they will be accommodating to you

As for the seat selection, any seat selections you put in prior to your status 'expiring' should be retained by the system, bear in mind that there is a one month(ish) grace period on status, so if your card expires on the 30th of September you would still be good until the 30th of October thereabouts . Personally I wouldn't bother selecting your own seat in a situation like this, as the check in staff would most likely need to move you anyway to seat you all together...

 

[jsd]

Thanks for your reply I think I may just leave the seat selection alone. With online checkin, can we select seat at T24? If yes I may do it then. Also what is the advantage of me in linking the 2 bookings together instead of just rocking up at the airport and checking in together albeit on a separate booking? Will it be the same effect?

No problems, happy to try and be of assitance

As this is an international booking you won't be able to check in online at all, so thats pretty much the only barrier in that scenario.

If done properly (and not just as an info note to the check in agent) linking the bookings together 'should' tell the system that you are travelling together and will attempt to seat you together, though once again I'm speaking out of my experiences with Qantas here and not Virgin and I'm not 100% sure whether the system that they use is capable of performing said task without manual intervention...

In any case I'd still call them to do it regardless

 

[LiamR]

I'm about to experience this situation this afternoon, I booked a few weeks ago (MEL-BNE) and a friend is booking this afternoon (He's a red). The seat next to me is still available, so I'm hoping once he's booked this afternoon they can link the bookings, or at the least allocate him a seat next to me.

I'll report back, but has anybody else had a similar experience? When I tried doing this back in June last year, the staff were not able to allocate seats for the red member, as per restrictions.

 

[k3nnis]

Let us know how you go

I'm about to experience this situation this afternoon, I booked a few weeks ago (MEL-BNE) and a friend is booking this afternoon (He's a red). The seat next to me is still available, so I'm hoping once he's booked this afternoon they can link the bookings, or at the least allocate him a seat next to me.

I'll report back, but has anybody else had a similar experience? When I tried doing this back in June last year, the staff were not able to allocate seats for the red member, as per restrictions.

 

[k3nnis]

Thanks. I will call them tomorrow.

No problems, happy to try and be of assitance

As this is an international booking you won't be able to check in online at all, so thats pretty much the only barrier in that scenario.

If done properly (and not just as an info note to the check in agent) linking the bookings together 'should' tell the system that you are travelling together and will attempt to seat you together, though once again I'm speaking out of my experiences with Qantas here and not Virgin and I'm not 100% sure whether the system that they use is capable of performing said task without manual intervention...

In any case I'd still call them to do it regardless

 

[LiamR]

Had to ask the manager how to do it, but after a little bit of thinking the agent was able to allocate the person I'm travelling with in a seat next to me.

 

[k3nnis]

ok thx for letting us know. So they let you allocate your seat mate next to you in advance even though your friend is RED?