Pre-booking Premium Economy seats

[jna]

Having read the recent thread about which are the better Upper Class seats to reserve, I wondered if anybody with knowledge of the seating plans could offer some advice about where or where not to to sit in the PE cabin.

From looking at Virgin's web site seating plans the PE seats in the main cabin look to be in a busy area, and there are eight across the cabin, whereas upstairs there are only four across.

Thanks in advance

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

Its horses for courses really
Upstairs gives you the feel of a seperate aircraft, but as these are popular, downstairs does not get full, so has more "space"

The seats are also different downstairs as they were replaced when the planes were updated wheras the upstairs was already set up as PE

[Rain]

We chose row 80 at the back.

You can recline without the worry of invading the space of the person behind you.

Never tried the new seats downstairs but did wonder myself if they were more comfy.

[kevin harrison]

The back seats upstairs are great, you can recline no problem, and you are first to the stairs after landing.

[kevin harrison]

Its horses for courses really
Upstairs gives you the feel of a seperate aircraft, but as these are popular, downstairs does not get full, so has more "space"

The seats are also different downstairs as they were replaced when the planes were updated wheras the upstairs was already set up as PE

I've sat in the downstairs seats and they are comfy, but you are only seperated by a curtain from economy and we were disturbed constantly by people coming in for a look around. The cabin crew tried to stop it, but they can't be on hand all the time.

Upstairs is better and quieter for this reason.

[jna]

Thank you. Really helpful information for us. We have not paid for PE before and are keen to get upstairs seats. There are four of us including our two children (who will not know about this 'upgrade' until they are directed to their seats) and I like the idea of the last row, i.e. 79AC and 80HK.

Rain's comment about invading space brought back memories of an Air India flight when a stewardness actually supported the person behind me and I was told to put the seat back up! It didn't end there and my complaint to the senior steward resolved the issue, but having not to concern oneself with this matter is wonderful. I shall be on to the Virgin website on the first day I can reserve.

Another quick question. Is the layout of the Virgin Orlando 747s always with the Upper Class on the lower deck?

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

The LGW and Man UCS are all in the front downstairs Its only the LHR 747 where some UCS are upstairs

If you want to look at seat ratings I heartedly endorse the VC-Flyer web site and you can see people comments on each individual seat at

http://www.v-flyer.com/seats.asp

[jna]

Thanks again for the ifo. and particularly the link.

[homerdog]

79C also has a little 'table' at the side of it, which is really handy for your drinks and stuff, so you don't need to have the tray down :)

[jna]

A thank you to the responses I had to this thread, and I wonder if someone would help again.

I have never bothered to book seats in advance on previous flights, but wish to do for our next trip.

Virgin says advanced booking is available from 336 days before departure. Now this is my question, which may seem a bit daft, but does this arrangement mean that you can only book the outbound flight online 336 days before departure, and then, as in our case, have to wait another 21 days to book the return seats - or can you do both flights as soon as the outbound flight reaches 336 days?

Thanks.

[gilld]

I requested mine all together.

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

each segment i.e. each flight can only be pre booked 336 days in advance

[jna]

I kind of expected to hear what Obi has to say, so this is interesting.

Gilld, did you reserve your seats by telephone thus organising both flights at the same time, (rather than online when I can fully understand the time restriction), or perhaps both flights were within the 336 days limit?

[gilld]

I did it online but a few days after the date for the outbound flight...well before the date for the inbound one. It just asked me to select my seat for both...so I did!

[jna]

I did it online but a few days after the date for the outbound flight...well before the date for the inbound one. It just asked me to select my seat for both...so I did!

Well, I'm going to do the same and hope I am successful. Thanks again.

[gilld]

Well, I'm going to do the same and hope I am successful. Thanks again.
I did get the locator number from VH ...it wouldn't recognise my VH reference number. Hope we actually get to keep the seats we've requested...will see on Wednesday week! Good luck.