A bit worried

[joolz1910]

I phoned Virgin Special Assistance quite a while ago and spoke to a lovely lady who allocated us some seats. She explained that she could not guarantee bulkhead seats.

I phoned back today (because I am a worrier) and spoke to someone else. All of my daughter's medical needs were noted by the first person and she had allocated us seats coming back, but not going out! He explained that the congiguration was 2/4/2 but there were no 2 seats together, so I had the choice of 4 in the middle and 1 behind, or 3 in the middle and 2 behind - which is what I opted for.

This worries me as DD could (potentially) be sitting in the middle of the plane. I don't think she will cope with that at all. He said that we could still get the bulkhead seats but we won't know that until we check in.

Not sure what to do.

 

[queendisney]

lordy what a pain..I can only think that maybe get there for opening of the twi-light check in, or for the on-line check in, which ever is sooner.

Hope you get it sorted..

 

[joolz1910]

lordy what a pain..I can only think that maybe get there for opening of the twi-light check in, or for the on-line check in, which ever is sooner.

Hope you get it sorted..

It's Manchester. The flight is 10.30 ish, so I suppose I should get to check-in for 7.30?

 

[disney_princess_85]

I think it will depend on the nature of your daughter's medical issues and whether there is someone else who they feel is more 'deserving' (for want of a better word) of the bulkhead seats. I think getting there as early as possible is the best thing you can do. Would a regular window seat be preferable to the middle section? They will probably be able to switch people around at check-in if you explain the situation. In the meantime, perhaps try to prepare your daughter for sitting in the middle, just in case.

 

[darthtatty]

It's Manchester. The flight is 10.30 ish, so I suppose I should get to check-in for 7.30?

yeah check in is 7.30am.
you should be able to choose any available seats then or check in online before and choose your seats.
weve managed to change our seats easily a few times at check in.

 

[joolz1910]

I think it will depend on the nature of your daughter's medical issues and whether there is someone else who they feel is more 'deserving' (for want of a better word) of the bulkhead seats. I think getting there as early as possible is the best thing you can do. Would a regular window seat be preferable to the middle section? They will probably be able to switch people around at check-in if you explain the situation. In the meantime, perhaps try to prepare your daughter for sitting in the middle, just in case.

Yes, I would much prefer for her to sit by the window. I will definitely try for that if the bulkhead seats are not available. I have said that I am willing for the family to split up if it helps us to secure bulkhead seats. The person at Special Assistance told me that the only other people who would take the seats ahead of us would be people with infants.

yeah check in is 7.30am.
you should be able to choose any available seats then or check in online before and choose your seats.
weve managed to change our seats easily a few times at check in.

I will definitely do online check-in to see if we can get better seats on the outbound journey. Fingers crossed.

 

[Laurafoster]

Yes, I would much prefer for her to sit by the window. I will definitely try for that if the bulkhead seats are not available. I have said that I am willing for the family to split up if it helps us to secure bulkhead seats. The person at Special Assistance told me that the only other people who would take the seats ahead of us would be people with infants.

I will definitely do online check-in to see if we can get better seats on the outbound journey. Fingers crossed.

Yes those seats will be given to people travelling with Infants if they have requested a skycot. We have done online check in a few times and have been able to move our sets no problem.

 

[Claire-Bear]

We had a call from Virgin the other day offering a promotion for Premium Economy, but also noting that on both our flight out and back, all fire exit and bulkhead seats were gone. I thought, as the chap who spoke to you said, that they were only allocated on the day you check-in, but this was 5 days before our flight. We were hoping to (pay the bit extra for) fire exit/bulkhead seats and didn't know these could be all booked before the check-in day. Seems you get a different story from different people! So may be worth checking a couple of weeks before about bulk head.

 

[Trevski220]

Exit and bulkhead seats can be booked at anytime, though they don't allocate which exit or bulkhead seat you will have until check in.

If you want one of these seats you need to ring as soon as possible to reserve them as they are becoming very popular

 

[joolz1910]

We had a call from Virgin the other day offering a promotion for Premium Economy, but also noting that on both our flight out and back, all fire exit and bulkhead seats were gone. I thought, as the chap who spoke to you said, that they were only allocated on the day you check-in, but this was 5 days before our flight. We were hoping to (pay the bit extra for) fire exit/bulkhead seats and didn't know these could be all booked before the check-in day. Seems you get a different story from different people! So may be worth checking a couple of weeks before about bulk head.

I will ring again and double-check.

Exit and bulkhead seats can be booked at anytime, though they don't allocate which exit or bulkhead seat you will have until check in.

If you want one of these seats you need to ring as soon as possible to reserve them as they are becoming very popular

I was told twice that bulkhead seats are not released until check-in.

 

[tinkerpea]

Im also having this issue!

Like you I have a child with medical conditions "Autism" and a motherthat has had knee surgery and so needs to be able to stretch her leg out (although my main concern is my son)

We called special assitance as soon as we booked our tickets back in march and was told the same as you,That we should be allocated them unless somebody else who needs them more has to have them I.E like a very young infant, Thing is when i went into the travel agent they all told me that due to my son having Autism we would definatly get the bulkhead!

No way can my son sit inthe middle of the plane its just not going to happen and I would panick the whole night before that we might not get window seats.
I spoke to a lady who booked our tickets she was wonderful and booked us seats for the way out and return so that we have 2,2,2 configuration and 3 window seats! (you cant book more then 1 window seat online for your party it has to be over ridden by the agent) At the moment we are towards the bk both ways and i know my son and he will want to be as close to the front as possible so i can get him off quickly!

With this in mind we have decided to do Twilight check in and get to the airport when that opens.I will be pretty upset if the Bulkhead seats have been sold as extra legroom as they are ment to be issued on the day ONLY and kept for the above purposes medical/infant.

I hope you get your seating issue sorted! I never once got the skycot for any of my children when travelling not even when i took 4 month old TWINS!! so as much as i feel for the parents who need the skycots I also feel for the person who has to be infront of my son!

 

[joolz1910]

Im also having this issue!

Like you I have a child with medical conditions "Autism" and a motherthat has had knee surgery and so needs to be able to stretch her leg out (although my main concern is my son)

We called special assitance as soon as we booked our tickets back in march and was told the same as you,That we should be allocated them unless somebody else who needs them more has to have them I.E like a very young infant, Thing is when i went into the travel agent they all told me that due to my son having Autism we would definatly get the bulkhead!

No way can my son sit inthe middle of the plane its just not going to happen and I would panick the whole night before that we might not get window seats.
I spoke to a lady who booked our tickets she was wonderful and booked us seats for the way out and return so that we have 2,2,2 configuration and 3 window seats! (you cant book more then 1 window seat online for your party it has to be over ridden by the agent) At the moment we are towards the bk both ways and i know my son and he will want to be as close to the front as possible so i can get him off quickly!

With this in mind we have decided to do Twilight check in and get to the airport when that opens.I will be pretty upset if the Bulkhead seats have been sold as extra legroom as they are ment to be issued on the day ONLY and kept for the above purposes medical/infant.

I hope you get your seating issue sorted! I never once got the skycot for any of my children when travelling not even when i took 4 month old TWINS!! so as much as i feel for the parents who need the skycots I also feel for the person who has to be infront of my son!

I really hope you get the seats you need too! I am annoyed that the Special Assistance lady didn't reserve our outbound seats when she said that she had! I honestly believe that my DD will get off the plane rather than sit in the middle. I feel so stressed by the prospect of this! I am going to take an NHS letter detailing her problems when we check-in. Her problems have made her miss out on so many things over the years, I really don't want her to miss out on this holiday.

By the way, Tinkerpea, you can ask to pre-board and get off first - we have requested this for my DD.

 

[ChipnDaleRule]

It's Manchester. The flight is 10.30 ish, so I suppose I should get to check-in for 7.30?

Our Manchester flight departed at 11am back in May and we arrived at 7am and check in was already open with no queues.

 

[joolz1910]

Our Manchester flight departed at 11am back in May and we arrived at 7am and check in was already open with no queues.

Right, so I might need to be there earlier then. Might get there for 6.30 or 7

 

[scojos]

im shocked tbf, as we have never been refused bulk head seats on any of our flights...
i also back up the comment about sky cots, we didnt get 1 either (but got BH so cant have it all i suppose...

call again, and again, and again, take names as eventually they ll get sick of you!! dont forget to check food choices too
explain that ur daughter could have a meltdown, which may be worse for other passengers than a screaming baby.... and if they want a seat/cot for baby that much then do what i did and pay for it

do u want me to call on ur behalf as i can be evil cow number 1 lmao!!

 

[kevin harrison]

Too much worrying going on, my son has multiple needs and all airlines have always supported us.

Ring VA and speak to the Special Assistance team, make sure they put you through, they tend to say they can help, when in reality they have nothing to do with SA.

Like another poster said, take down names - that concentrates minds I have found also.

Paperwork from consultant, GP etc is always good.

Get boarded first, as you know with Autism, as little stress as possible helps greatly.

Don't sweat it...

 

[joolz1910]

im shocked tbf, as we have never been refused bulk head seats on any of our flights...
i also back up the comment about sky cots, we didnt get 1 either (but got BH so cant have it all i suppose...

call again, and again, and again, take names as eventually they ll get sick of you!! dont forget to check food choices too
explain that ur daughter could have a meltdown, which may be worse for other passengers than a screaming baby.... and if they want a seat/cot for baby that much then do what i did and pay for it

do u want me to call on ur behalf as i can be evil cow number 1 lmao!!

I will keep calling.

Too much worrying going on, my son has multiple needs and all airlines have always supported us.

Ring VA and speak to the Special Assistance team, make sure they put you through, they tend to say they can help, when in reality they have nothing to do with SA.

Like another poster said, take down names - that concentrates minds I have found also.

Paperwork from consultant, GP etc is always good.

Get boarded first, as you know with Autism, as little stress as possible helps greatly.

Don't sweat it...

I will definitely phone again and ask for names. I have never flown longhaul with the kids and I'm prone to over-think things at the best of times lol.