Help me decide RE: Upgrade

[TCO]

Ok so me and my wife are going out in September and had plans to upgrade to Premium Economy.

We have our seats assinged on the Virgin Atlantic website and we managed to get some of the ones at the back in blocks of 2.

Now I don't know whether to upgrade or not. Things I'm trying to take into account are:

- the allocated seats seem pretty decent but they aren't guaranteed

- It is cheaper to upgrade at the airport but will there still be seats available on the day

- we only really want to be in PE if we're in the bubble I don't think it would be worth it downstairs.

Anyone have any opinions one way or another? Has anyone sat in the seats in blocks of 2 at the back?

 

[Neoshoegal]

We've had the 2 seats at the back a few times. We were allocated these seats as I'm a nervous flyer and Virgin special assistance said these would make the journey nicer for me, which it did. So beware that these seats may be given to people who need some special assistance and you might loose them. Those 2 seats at the very back do feel better than sitting in a row of 3. Also, the window seat has extra legroom round the side (something with the curviture of the plane and placement of the seats), so that seat actually has to some extend more legroom than most PE seats.

Also, don't count on upgrading at check-in. It really isn't always cheaper, actually, most of the time it's cheaper to book in advance. Plus there may not be any upgrades available.

If you really want to be in the bubble, maybe phone up Virgin and simply ask if there are any seats available there and how much the difference would be.

 

[TCO]

If I was to upgrade and select seats in the bubble are we likely to get them on the day?

There are more PE seats upstairs than down and surely its better for people with special assistance needs to not have to go up the stairs.

We were lucky last time we upgraded on the day on got row 75 (I think) in PE, shedloads of legroom but I know they can't be booked in advance.

 

[wickesy]

If I was to upgrade and select seats in the bubble are we likely to get them on the day?

As the seating configuration upstairs is 2-2 and there are only two of you I think it's highly unlikely you would get moved from the seats you select. Dad and I always choose 80H & K going out and coming back and we have never been moved.

 

[TCO]

That's what I thought, there would be little need to move us from there.

Can we check there are still seats available in the bubble before we book?

I imagine there will be as we fly out on the 21st September (V075) which is midweek

 

[2Tiggies]

To be honest, given that you are not flying in peak time, if it were me I would risk it for upgrade at check-in. It is always cheaper and we always do this.

We managed on the Easter weekend at check-in from Mancester. We checked in really early as we had slept at the Raddison Airport hotel so it was a doddle getting to the airport In fact, after I had done the payment I noticed they put a board/sign up advertising the PE upgrades at £150 per person one way. Much cheaper than the pre-booked price (around half I think).

Unfortunately coming back there were no PE seats. This time we checked in late as M Express was running late and may have had something to do with it. So we did extra legroom on the return for $50 each. To be honest, aside from the slight difference in the seat width and absence of the legrest, food was as good and we had about the same space as PE - perhaps only slightly less.

I've never flown downstairs PE, but as a previous poster said, only 2 in a row in the bubble. Is downstairs different?

 

[wickesy]

I've never flown downstairs PE, but as a previous poster said, only 2 in a row in the bubble. Is downstairs different?

Downstairs is 2-3-2.

 

[Elise79]

Downstairs is 2-3-2.

Downstairs is 2 rows of 2-4-2

Seatmaps are on V-Flyer

 

[wickesy]

Downstairs is 2 rows of 2-4-2

Seatmaps are on V-Flyer

I knew that. I don't know where 3 came from as I looked at the maps on seatguru before my first post in this thread.

 

[mitchfishguard]

As the seating configuration upstairs is 2-2 and there are only two of you I think it's highly unlikely you would get moved from the seats you select. Dad and I always choose 80H & K going out and coming back and we have never been moved.

wickesy, leander and i have been in 75 twice, 74 twice and this time we are in 80 hk. why do you think im right in booking tem both ways? im excited about these seats. to the op., we always upgrade at booking. phone virgin and tell what youve told us, im sure theyll help.

 

[wickesy]

wickesy, leander and i have been in 75 twice, 74 twice and this time we are in 80 hk. why do you think im right in booking tem both ways?

Well, at the risk of starting a raging debate, I like to be able to recline without worrying about causing any problems to the person behind me. The other advantage is that as you are right at the back of the upstairs section you can often be off the plane right after the first class passengers have been allowed off and before the downstairs PE passengers are released. Of course that normally means we are stuck at the baggage carousel instead but even so...

Added to that is the fact that you are right beside where they lay out the drinks and fruit for passengers to help themselves to throughout the flight.

 

[2Tiggies]

Well, at the risk of starting a raging debate, I like to be able to recline without worrying about causing any problems to the person behind me.

Or without the person behind you kicking you repeatedly because you reclined before they wanted to do the same

 

[penlanspice]

We only did PE once and had the seats in the last row upstairs in the bubble, there was no-one in front of us and only saw people when we went to the toilet. It was as if we were on the plane by ourselves...

We have always reserved our flights in economy based on availability of the back rows of seats in pairs, we've flown many, many times with virgin and only had a problem a few times. Usually due to a plane change and they have re-assigned seats (luckily we've noticed and managed to persuade them to get us back into those seats.)
They have now started charging for some of those seats as they are extra leg room seats but it all depends on what plane they use on the day, so if they happened to use a plane that is fitted with the new extra space seats and you are in them they would move you so they can sell those seats at check-in.

 

[TCO]

Thanks guys I'm swaying towards upgrading at the earliest opportunity now.

Being in the bubble for me made the last flight more of a relaxing experience rather than a stressful one.