Pre Bookable Seats With VA

[EllieJ]

Hi ,
Just got back on Sunday from Orlando , and after checking in at Downtown Disney we were allocated super seats on rows 22 and 23.
I tried to book these for our next trip with VA , but they informed me rows 29 and above are only available for pre booking.
Does anyone know if these rows become available for on line check in , or are they reserved for check in on day of departure ?
Thanks
Sam

 

[orangetiggs]

They only release a certain amount of sets for pre booking and then more become available on the day or for online check in.

 

[littlelaura]

why were these seats so super? if they have xtra leg room, priority is meant to be given to those with infants on laps

 

[wideeyes]

They are in the section behind PE down stairs to the left from the rest of the economy cabin.

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

They are released if not taken up by the disabled 24 hours prior to flight departure time only.

 

[Neoshoegal]

why were these seats so super? if they have xtra leg room, priority is meant to be given to those with infants on laps

 

[AliceGardner]

why were these seats so super? if they have xtra leg room, priority is meant to be given to those with infants on laps

Hi

Where is this documented? I have never heard of it before...

Generally, within normal economy, there are only three types of seats:
- exit row seats (with extra leg room, but not for children or people travelling with children),
- bulkhead seats (a bit of extra knee room, often reserved for people needing skycots), and
- normal economy seats.

Row 21 is a bulkhead, the rest are just normal economy seats and have no extra leg room.

Alice

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

No, they are not held for infants on laps.
They are held for disabled passengers (along with the two rows of PE downstairs, as they don'y have to try and get the wheelchairs dow the cabin, the toilets are close and easy to get on/off the flight.
If they are not required, rows 21, 22 & 23 are released 24 hours before, along with the side rows near the stairs/galley 25-28.
Looking at tomorrows VS27 flight for instance, 21 of the seats were required before +24 and the rest went quickly aftr +24.
the reason people like them is that it feels like a small secluded cabin. the seat pitch is no different.

 

[littlelaura]

on VA website, it says that when you go to 'manage your booking' you will not be able to select/request extra leg room, as these are usually held for those with disabilities and those travelling with infants on laps.
quoted from FAQ's on VA website
Q Can I request an extra legroom seat?
A These seats are not pre-assignable prior to the date of departure. Priority is given to those passengers travelling with infants under 12 months or for those with special needs.

 

[AliceGardner]

on VA website, it says that when you go to 'manage your booking' you will not be able to select/request extra leg room, as these are usually held for those with disabilities and those travelling with infants on laps.
quoted from FAQ's on VA website
Q Can I request an extra legroom seat?
A These seats are not pre-assignable prior to the date of departure. Priority is given to those passengers travelling with infants under 12 months or for those with special needs.

I think that must be talking about bulkhead seats then... (and not the rows that the OP is talking about - except for Row 21 which is also bulkhead). So it isn't actually anything to do with "extra legroom", but the fact that the bulkhead is needed to afix the skycot to.

As someone said, on another thread, infants over 12 months aren't going to fit into a skycot anyway (many under 12 months wont fit into a skycot either). So priority for bulkhead seats is only given to "passengers with a lap infant who requires a skycot" (i.e. under 12 months old) and not just "passengers with a lap infant".

Neither passengers with infants, disabled people nor special needs people can be allocated exit row seats - since any of those things could prevent that person from operating the exit row seat in case of an emergency (which is a requirement of sitting there...).

Alice

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

I would disagree that bulkhead seats have extra legroom anyway. You have nowhere to stretch your legs.

 

[AliceGardner]

I would disagree that bulkhead seats have extra legroom anyway. You have nowhere to stretch your legs.

Completely agreed - maybe extra "knee room" and no-one reclining on you, but not extra leg/foot/stretch room at all. Personally I would completely avoid bulkhead seats (unless I needed one for a skycot).

Alice

 

[wayneg]

Completely agreed - maybe extra "knee room" and no-one reclining on you, but not extra leg/foot/stretch room at all. Personally I would completely avoid bulkhead seats (unless I needed one for a skycot).

Alice

Only time we have ever been with TCD was a last minute holiday, booked day before we flew. They told me only seats they had left were Bulkhead seats unfortunately. As if they were the worst seats. I could not believe the space we had, DS laid on floor in front of us and we still had enough room for our legs. Only thing was we could not see the TV from these seats but we sleep most of the way so that did not matter. Virgin don't have anywhere near the same space. TCD might not now, it is a few years ago.

 

[laluna]

We have had bulkheads with VA - row 21 - three together in the little cabin behind PE downstairs. They were great seats, IMO. Yes, you cant stretch your legs out but I think these seats are great for little ones: my daughter had room to sit on the floor and play and she was very happy. Happy daughter, happy mummy!

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

We have had bulkheads with VA - row 21 - three together in the little cabin behind PE downstairs. They were great seats, IMO. Yes, you cant stretch your legs out but I think these seats are great for little ones: my daughter had room to sit on the floor and play and she was very happy. Happy daughter, happy mummy!

Its something most people do not realise, but to let your child play on the floor is VERY dangerous.
You would not let your child play unseatbelted in a car and thats only going at 70MPH, and aircraft flying at 350 MPH hits a pocket of clear air, the planes dopes unexpectedly thousands of feet in seconds, the chilkd hits the cabin roof at a massive speed. there have been many cases of deaths due to this.
Rather like being in the Tower of terror without a seat harness doen up. Not a good idea.

 

[laluna]

Thanks for illustrating this. I realise that passengers are always advised to keep their seat belts loosely fastened for this very reason. Its like having a stroll around the cabin to stretch your legs or go to the loo - she only did it for short spells.

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

Thanks for illustrating this. I realise that passengers are always advised to keep their seat belts loosely fastened for this very reason. Its like having a stroll around the cabin to stretch your legs or go to the loo - she only did it for short spells.

It wasn't a go at you laluna,
I just think that there are many people out there who do not realise the environment they are in when flying, it feels like its a non moving safe place, but the fact is it can be dangerous.

 

[wayneg]

It wasn't a go at you laluna,
I just think that there are many people out there who do not realise the environment they are in when flying, it feels like its a non moving safe place, but the fact is it can be dangerous.

I have to admit when DS was smaller 8-10 years ago (and I was younger) I did not know the dangers. Now whenever we are sat we have our belts on. Last Virgin flight we took at Easter 3 kids were running about most the flight, Virgin staff smiling thru gritted teeth at them, I think they should have said something to the parents(maybe they did, I don't know).
Maybe airlines should run some warning videos, showing the dangers.

 

[laluna]

It wasn't a go at you laluna,
I just think that there are many people out there who do not realise the environment they are in when flying, it feels like its a non moving safe place, but the fact is it can be dangerous.

No offence at all!

 

[littlelaura]

what exactly is a bulkhead seat?