Need a bulk seat with VA.

[angel659]

Hi

I have had a recent car accident, which has left me whiplash and back strain. I have problems sitting in an upright position. I have phoned VA but the flight is busy so they can help me at the moment. I will have to see what is available at check in.

This is silly. Any ideas on how I can do this. I am worried about having someone lean thier chair back and having little room for posture as well as getting out my seat. I want a bulk head seat.

Any advice

 

[angel659]

Well been passed around pillar to post, but finally got some good news.

I spoke to a lovely lady who said that she has put a note on my booking and is going to call Gatwick to get them to assign me a bulk seat. I have to check in at P.E to get preboarding as well. She said she cant guarentee me that they can do this, but she will certainly try. I have to fax them a fitness to fly letter from the doctor. Fingers crossed I get a bulk seat.

 

[CustardTart]

Fingers crossed for you, Michelle...

 

[AliceGardner]

Hi

I am very sorry to hear that - sounds awful

Are you sure that you will be ok to fly? If the worst comes to the worst - i.e. you don't get a bulkhead seat, will you be ok?

The ideal option - and it really depends on what you budget is and who else is in your party - would be to upgrade your seat either to PE or UC. I don't know who is travelling with you, but if it is a partner and children (or just a partner) then it may well be worth just upgrading you (for some comfort and less pain) and leaving your partner to look after the kids. It depends on how you booked and whether there is availability to upgrade etc...

Your second best option is to check-in online and try to grab a bulkhead seat as soon as online check-in opens. If you can't get a bulkhead seat then, then get to the airport as early as physically possible...

You wll probably need to be flexible and sit seperately from your party - i.e. it may be possible to get a bulkhead or an emergency exit seat, but it may be difficult to get all of your party sat together or even near to you.

Also with a bulkhead seat - especially on the Orlando route - there is a good chance that you could be sitting right next to a baby or squirming toddler. You need to think if that will cause you problems (i.e. being in close proximity to a small child may cause it's own hazards if you have a bad neck/back...).

If they can't accomodate you in a suitable economy seat, then you could ask whether you could pay to upgrade to a PE/UC seat at the airport. You may get a good deal, you may not (am sure that I saw someone post that their friend got a £99 upgrade to PE recently going to San Francisco... BUT that is an EXCEPTIONALLY good deal...). Again, you may need to be flexible and sit apart from the rest of your party. However, PE is very popular on the Orlando route... so avilability to upgrade may be a problem.

Very good luck and let us know how you get on.

Best Wishes,
Alice

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

If they give Alice an emergency exit seat, they are breaking CAA rules.
AFAIK You have to be 100% fit to sit in these rows.
I know that there are reports of people not exactly matching that sitting in exit rows, but they are breaking the rules. You need to be able to remove the window in the event oif a crash landing.

From VA web site:-
"Q Can I select an exit row seat?
A Exit row seats are held for assignment at airport check in only, as passengers wishing to sit in these seats must be physically capable of carrying out the associated responsibilities. We must be able to see a passenger’s physical condition before assigning them an exit row seat. On most routes, these seats can be purchased for a fee on arrival at the airport."

 

[Vicki1971]

Good luck with the seating arrangement - I hope the flight goes well for you. Good luck.

I didn't realise that you had to be of a certain fitness level for the exit seats - makes sense thinking about it. However, on my return flight this year the seats had people in them who didn't look fit enough, in fact two had oxygen equipment etc. I don't think they could have fitted in a normal row.

 

[AliceGardner]

Might not explain why I once saw an old bloke with his leg in plaster and a walking stick in an exit row seat flying back from orlando one year then...

Depends what the OP's exact problems are (she might still be able to operate an Emergency Exit door).

Is the OP also called Alice?

Alice

If they give Alice an emergency exit seat, they are breaking CAA rules.
AFAIK You have to be 100% fit to sit in these rows.
I know that there are reports of people not exactly matching that sitting in exit rows, but they are breaking the rules. You need to be able to remove the window in the event oif a crash landing.

From VA web site:-
"Q Can I select an exit row seat?
A Exit row seats are held for assignment at airport check in only, as passengers wishing to sit in these seats must be physically capable of carrying out the associated responsibilities. We must be able to see a passenger’s physical condition before assigning them an exit row seat. On most routes, these seats can be purchased for a fee on arrival at the airport."

 

[JohnnySharp2]

Might not explain why I once saw an old bloke with his leg in plaster and a walking stick in an exit row seat flying back from orlando one year then...

Depends what the OP's exact problems are (she might still be able to operate an Emergency Exit door).

Is the OP also called Alice?

Alice

No - she is called Michelle.

 

[AliceGardner]

No - she is called Michelle.

Shame, from what Obi said I thought I had a twin out there...

Alice

 

[CoralCayTownhome]

Hi Michelle,

My husband had a similar problem a few years ago as he was still having physio treatment following a car accident. I would suggest getting a letter from your GP or Physio explaining that you cannot sit for long periods of time etc and would really need a seat with extra legroom. Then contact VA Special Assistance and see what they can do for you. We got the seats just behind the downstairs PE so good extra legroom - at that time you could also check in at the Special Assistance desk which saved a lot of queueing

Now the saga of our flight didn't end there - as we had these good seats the TV screens are situated at the side under the arm rest. Well DH was trying to put down DS's (then 3) for take-off when the steward came and gave a hand (at least that was what it was supposed to be) except he slammed down the screen with DH's finger caught in the middle I have never seen DH go so white - so I knew it hurt! All I could think of, forgetting the blood pouring out of DH's finger, was thank heavens it was his and not DS's as it would have taken the top of his finger off! Moral of the story - if you get these seats keep your fingers out of the way if a steward comes near

Tracey

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

No - she is called Michelle.

DUH!!!!
The Force is weak today

 

[Lizzy Lemon]

at that time you could also check in at the Special Assistance desk which saved a lot of queueing
You can still check in at the Special Assistance desk, we have been told to do so as our son is SN and they have said we can pre board but I'm not sure if that's best or not, sitting on an aeroplane longer than necessary compared to waiting somewhere else!

 

[angel659]

Hi

Thanks for your advice.

Apart from my injuries I am in good health. It would make sense having more leg room so I can stretch my legs rather than sitting upright for 9 hours. The problem is the pain is radiating down my left arm. It sounds as though I might of torn a muscle in my arm as well. Trying to get up from a small area will hurt my arm. I have been told to check in online 24 hours to see if a bulk head seat has been assigned. If not go to P.E or special assistance I think they will try and sort it out. What worries me is that they wont look at bookings comments.

Fingers crossed x

 

[AliceGardner]

Hi Angel

One thing to thing about is that MOST bulkhead seats don't actually have any more legroom and can be WORSE for "stretching your legs out"... I know this sounds odd, but with bulkhead seats you tend to have more knee room (and nobody reclining infront of you), but less "foot room"... This is because if you are in a non-bulkhead seat, you can normally stretch your feet out under the seat infront (providing you haven't stuffed too many bags down there). In a bulkhead seat you just can't do that - the wall is normally solid down to the floor.

So there pros and cons to a bulkhead seat... I personally would avoid them and I normally advise others to avoid them unless they need a skycot for a baby... Obviously it may be better for you to have a bulkhead, but beware of the pitfalls too...

Sounds like an emergency exit row seat wouldn't be a good idea - because if you have am injured/weak arm, you probably wouldn't be able to operate it. That doesn't mean that Virgin wont give you an exit row seat (because several of us have seen them being given to people who clearly shouldn't be in them...).

DEFINITELY avoid ANY seats with reduced recline (see v-flyer.com for seat maps).

You best bet will probably be to grab the best seat you can with OLCI, then collect your boarding pass for Special Assistance and try to get a good upgrade deal to PE at the airport... sounds as though you could really benefit from the extra legroom, recline and space.

Whatever you do, try to keep mobile (i.e. not set in one position for too long). Walk around, stretch a little and do the exercises that the physio has given you.

Really hope that all goes well for you.

Alice

Hi

Thanks for your advice.

Apart from my injuries I am in good health. It would make sense having more leg room so I can stretch my legs rather than sitting upright for 9 hours. The problem is the pain is radiating down my left arm. It sounds as though I might of torn a muscle in my arm as well. Trying to get up from a small area will hurt my arm. I have been told to check in online 24 hours to see if a bulk head seat has been assigned. If not go to P.E or special assistance I think they will try and sort it out. What worries me is that they wont look at bookings comments.

Fingers crossed x

 

[BRobson]

Fingers crossed for you Michelle Take plenty of rest before your trip and hopefully things will heal quicker

 

[Cinderella2006]

Hi Angel

One thing to thing about is that MOST bulkhead seats don't actually have any more legroom and can be WORSE for "stretching your legs out"... I know this sounds odd, but with bulkhead seats you tend to have more knee room (and nobody reclining infront of you), but less "foot room"... This is because if you are in a non-bulkhead seat, you can normally stretch your feet out under the seat infront (providing you haven't stuffed too many bags down there). In a bulkhead seat you just can't do that - the wall is normally solid down to the floor.

So there pros and cons to a bulkhead seat... I personally would avoid them and I normally advise others to avoid them unless they need a skycot for a baby... Obviously it may be better for you to have a bulkhead, but beware of the pitfalls too...

Sounds like an emergency exit row seat wouldn't be a good idea - because if you have am injured/weak arm, you probably wouldn't be able to operate it. That doesn't mean that Virgin wont give you an exit row seat (because several of us have seen them being given to people who clearly shouldn't be in them...).

DEFINITELY avoid ANY seats with reduced recline (see v-flyer.com for seat maps).

You best bet will probably be to grab the best seat you can with OLCI, then collect your boarding pass for Special Assistance and try to get a good upgrade deal to PE at the airport... sounds as though you could really benefit from the extra legroom, recline and space.

Whatever you do, try to keep mobile (i.e. not set in one position for too long). Walk around, stretch a little and do the exercises that the physio has given you.

Really hope that all goes well for you.

Alice

I completely agree with what has been said here. I came back a few days ago and was assigned bulk head seats as i am four months pregnant; i was far from impressed!

I did not say anything, after all they were only trying to help me but needless to say i would not reccomend them to anyone who was hoping to stretch their legs out.

Yes, there is no one in front who will recline back but you have little room to stretch your legs which was important to me due to the increased risk of DVT.
Exit seats are great but as OB said you need to be fit and healthy to accomodate these seats, unfortunately being pregnant was a big no no.

 

[Twilight Terror]

If not go to P.E or special assistance I think they will try and sort it out. What worries me is that they wont look at bookings comments.

Fear not, they ALWAYS read the screen! My mum has a blood condition and we always specifically request the seats at the back of the plane, since there is more room to walk around for her and less worry of disturbing other people (especially on the way home when everyone is trying to sleep).

We called ahead last year and got these notes added to our booking reference, as well as getting a doctor's note. When we got to check-in we were stood there for a good five minutes while the lady read every little detail that was on the screen about our seating requirements. And at this point we'd already checked in online, we were just doing bag drop!! Same happened again on the way home from Orlando - lady stood there intently for minutes reading the screen and making sure we got what we needed.

We didn't have any issues with it. Obviously we have had to do the same again this year, but we don't anticipate any issues with getting the seats we need. It seems as long as they know in advance that there will be issues, they will try their best to accommodate. This year, a message has been sent to both the Gatwick check-in desk and the one in Orlando about my mum!

So yeah, fear not, they will read your notes!