Virgin Trains - Seat Reservations and Luggage

[GatwickDepress]

Evening all.

I'm booking tickets for a family holiday in October from Hastings to Birmingham New Street. I've identified a cheap fare and suitable route (Three adults and three children with a Family and Friends Railcard for £30.90 each way) which I'm happy with, but my real concern is right there in the thread title: seat reservations and luggage.

I know Southern and Southeastern don't reserve seats, but does Virgin allocate seat reservations to purchasers of advance fares?
If so, is it possible to change what seats are reserved? I've found a table and a pair of airline seats near a luggage rack on the Pendelino seating plans which would be perfect for the family.

As for luggage, will the luggage area or luggage racks permit six bags? These are fairly small bags, not the massive luggage-on-wheels sort. Probably about one-and-a-half times bigger than the average rucksack.

Thanks in advance.

 

[bb21]

It is possible to change reserved seats, if you wish. Take it to any staffed ticket office or you can always give Virgin a ring. Some clerks will treat this as a change of journey plan and charge administration fees, others won't, so you might need to shop around.

The luggage area should be large enough by the sound of it.

 

[causton]

Don't forget you can sometimes choose additional options. For example some I see are 'end of carriage', 'near toilets' etc. Perhaps if there is one, and a facility is near a luggage rack, you could try it?

 

[GatwickDepress]

It is possible to change reserved seats, if you wish. Take it to any staffed ticket office or you can always give Virgin a ring. Some clerks will treat this as a change of journey plan and charge administration fees, others won't, so you might need to shop around.

The luggage area should be large enough by the sound of it.

Thank you very much. Seats on the return journey were fine (airline+table clustered around a luggage rack), seats on the way up are right near the on-board café. When you have a six-year old girl, it's probably not the best place to sit!

Is it any staffed ticket office or any Virgin-ran ticket office you take the tickets to?

Don't forget you can sometimes choose additional options. For example some I see are 'end of carriage', 'near toilets' etc. Perhaps if there is one, and a facility is near a luggage rack, you could try it?

That worked when I booked tickets on the return leg, but not the way out - always placed me near the café. Thank you for the suggestion.

 

[gordonthemoron]

is your outbound reservation in coach C or D? i.e. is the shop in the same carriage as you?

 

[GatwickDepress]

is your outbound reservation in coach C or D? i.e. is the shop in the same carriage as you?

Coach C, seat numbers: 01, 02, 03, 04, 09, and 10. I'm presuming it'll be a Pendolino to Birmingham, not a Voyager.

 

[gordonthemoron]

isn't that actually adjacent to the shop?

 

[GatwickDepress]

isn't that actually adjacent to the shop?

Exactly, when you have a six year old child, you don't want her near it. She's a bit demanding...

 

[bb21]

Is it any staffed ticket office or any Virgin-ran ticket office you take the tickets to?

Yes, you can take it to any ticket office, not just Virgin ones.

 

[maniacmartin]

You should be able to get this done at any station that can issue seat reservations (shown in the third column of this table) regardless of TOC. Some staff will be more willing than others.

 

[AlterEgo]

Your experience may vary at booking offices...

Best to call 0845 000 8000, customer relations. They'll do it with no fuss and always have done.

 

[GatwickDepress]

Ah, forgot to thank you...how rude of me.

My local booking office was fantastic and helped change the reservations with minimal fuss.

Thank you very much for your help everyone!