A neophyte's question about Viking Air Plus - will flight choices increase between now and next summer?

[IDLnyc]

In response to Dr Koob’s question.  I made the original booking myself,  and transferred it to my usual travel agency. I get benefits from booking with that travel agency, but rapid, personalized services are not among them.  But that’s ok because I’m one of those people for whom planning is as much fun as the trip.  
 

That being said, you have a point that my agent may have encountered this situation many times before.  I’ll ask.
 

 

[gilmore177]

21 hours ago, broker1217 said:

Gilmore---are you actually ticketed, or does it say 'ticket pending' on the airline website. Until you are actually ticketed with a 13 digit ticket #---you have a virtual ticket. And Viking will not necessarily notify you if they change your airline or routing, plus the airlines may change times or flight numbers.

I strongly encourage anyone booking via Viking Air to sign up for the booked airlines status program. Then, access your itinerary and sign up for automatic notifications for any changes.

In my case, Viking changed my airline carrier and schedule with no notification. Since my original routing had not changed--I was not notified by AA of any change.

So additionally, you need to check MVJ on a regular basis for changes.

 

Hi When I last checked I think it was ticketed as I have my seat numbers as well. But will keep checking. thanks 

[gilmore177]

20 hours ago, CCWineLover said:

 

Yet another person who was able to book Premium Economy (yes, the good, different seats usually) way ahead of time.  Like TayanaLorna, we never knew you could "book" PE when you booked the cruise.  We always thought that had to be priced later.  This is a revelation.  Still suspicious, as my TA who is good, had told us you book the cruise, include VAP, note the Economy price (sometimes "free") and then when you are ready to to the actual flight picking with VAP, you ask for the EP (or Business Class) price and decide then whether to do it.

It would seem to me that your experience shows you might be able to do this at cruise booking time rather than later.   We do know that many of the contracts, however, don't allow for booking PE or Biz with Viking Air Plus - period.  Particularly those out of San Juan.   So perhaps it is a contract thing out of Newark/JFK that has allowed you to fortunately be able to do this!

Hi  I had to pay extra for the premium economy and did it later. I did not do it at final payment.

[CCWineLover]

Just now, gilmore177 said:

Hi  I had to pay extra for the premium economy and did it later. I did not do it at final payment.

You chose to do it this way?  or you were forced to do it this way?   What city to what city?

(We've had to do it this way - upgrade after ticketing/final payment and told no other choice.  That again may have had to do specifically with the itinerary, flight cities, airlines, contracts in place, seats available, and time of year).

[gilmore177]

13 minutes ago, CCWineLover said:

You chose to do it this way?  or you were forced to do it this way?   What city to what city?

(We've had to do it this way - upgrade after ticketing/final payment and told no other choice.  That again may have had to do specifically with the itinerary, flight cities, airlines, contracts in place, seats available, and time of year).

We are going to France and we chose to upgrade our flights.  I wanted to pick my own , get ticketed and know my seat. I did not use a TA and booked through viking myself.  He did discuss the contracted flights etc and there were not as many choices out of Newark so chose to go to NY. The Viking person who I booked with told me to call viking air plus and say I wanted to know my flights now and didnt want to wait till 60 days before. Not sure if this helps.

[Baron Barracuda]

Surprised about your issues with flight availability from EWR.  Booked flights this week on VAP for next July from EWR to AMS and home from BUD.  Got the UAL flights I wanted no problem.  Inquired about PE and he gave me a price but ended up passing.  Seat selections locked in.

Edited October 28, 2021 by Baron Barracuda

[CCWineLover]

4 minutes ago, Baron Barracuda said:

Surprised about your issues with flight availability from EWR.  Booked flights this week on VAP for next July from EWR to AMS and home from BUD.  Got the UAL flights I wanted no problem.  Inquired about PE and he gave me a price but ended up passing.  Seat selections locked in.

How are seat selections locked in?   I thought that until VAP tickets the flights with the airlines (now running about 60 days ahead of time), any seats "reserved" can be changed by the airline at any time.  Am I missing something?   (FYI - we go in Oct on the AMS-BUD GE Cruise - flying out of SFO and were thinking of United).

[gilmore177]

13 minutes ago, CCWineLover said:

How are seat selections locked in?   I thought that until VAP tickets the flights with the airlines (now running about 60 days ahead of time), any seats "reserved" can be changed by the airline at any time.  Am I missing something?   (FYI - we go in Oct on the AMS-BUD GE Cruise - flying out of SFO and were thinking of United).

Hi  I believe they ticketed me . And the problem with Newark was the number of airlines was more limited. I didnt want air france as there premium economy was rated low.  

[CCWineLover]

35 minutes ago, gilmore177 said:

Hi  I believe they ticketed me . And the problem with Newark was the number of airlines was more limited. I didnt want air france as there premium economy was rated low.  

 

OK.  I have NEVER been "lucky enough" to have gotten actually ticketed by VAP that far in advance.  I get the reservation, I get seats selected, but it all could change.  And I can't get changes or upgraded until it is ticketed.  I guess I will have to tell VAP and my TA that others have gotten ticketed this far in advance and just be a pest about it!

[FlyerTalker]

1 hour ago, gilmore177 said:

Hi When I last checked I think it was ticketed as I have my seat numbers as well. But will keep checking. thanks 

 

Having "seat numbers" does NOT mean that you are ticketed.

 

Until you have your 13-digit e-ticket number, you are NOT ticketed.

 

Seat numbers don't prove ticketing.

Locator does not prove ticketing.

Access on the airline website does not prove ticketing.

[FlyerTalker]

48 minutes ago, CCWineLover said:

How are seat selections locked in?   I thought that until VAP tickets the flights with the airlines (now running about 60 days ahead of time), any seats "reserved" can be changed by the airline at any time.  Am I missing something? 

 

Assigned seating can be changed by the airline at ANY time, whether ticketed or not.  The only time when it won't be changed is when the cabin door is closed and the aircraft is pushing back.

 

Now, will they be changed?  Unlikely in the big picture.  But don't ever be assuming that you are "locked in" with a specific seat.  Unlike a play or a baseball game, you are not buying a specific seat on an aircraft - you are buying a ticket to fly on that aircraft in a particular cabin.  The seat assignments are always subject to change and you are not guaranteed any particular seating.  Further, even if you have paid for special seating, you may be downgraded due to operational considerations.

[vslparis]

There is no reason not to select seat assignments when you are working with Air Plus , even if it is not going to be ticketed  right away. I do it all the time and I would say that the number of times the original seat is changed is rare and done by the airline, not Viking. 

All the airlines have a caveat that says that they reserve the right to

re-accomodate  passengers . That is a fancy way of saying that they can and will change your seat assignment if necessary. Generally it is done to accommodate family traveling together, VIP passengers , and most frequently when there is a change of aircraft type with different seating arrangements. 

As @FlyerTalker mentions , this doesn’t happen all that much but you should be proactive and check you reservation multiple times on the

airline ‘s website.  Even when there is a schedule change , you should always check and make sure your seats are there .

[Roger88]

I see no reason picking up the seat during purchase. When you arrive at the gate you can always choose the place you want. Especially nowdays when there arent many people travelling - you will also manage to find the place you want

[FlyerTalker]

17 minutes ago, Roger88 said:

I see no reason picking up the seat during purchase. When you arrive at the gate you can always choose the place you want. Especially nowdays when there arent many people travelling - you will also manage to find the place you want

 

Not sure what routes you are taking.  From the DoT, the July 2021 load factor for all carriers was 84.3%. 

 

But if you think that's "aren't many people travelling".....

 

https://transtats.bts.gov/traffic/

Edited October 28, 2021 by FlyerTalker

[Roger88]

31 minutes ago, FlyerTalker said:

 

Not sure what routes you are taking.  From the DoT, the July 2021 load factor for all carriers was 84.3%. 

 

But if you think that's "aren't many people travelling".....

 

https://transtats.bts.gov/traffic/

I fly to Milan in December, and when I was buying my ticket online, I was offered an option to choose a place. You won't believe me but it seemed like I will be the only one flying lol No places were picked

[FlyerTalker]

1 hour ago, Roger88 said:

I fly to Milan in December, and when I was buying my ticket online, I was offered an option to choose a place. You won't believe me but it seemed like I will be the only one flying lol No places were picked

 

Seat maps are notoriously inaccurate for the purpose of determining that load on a particular flight. 

 

From another thread: