seats on plane

[bozzly]

Just wondered how many people actually book priority seating on the flights. (eg. make sure you sit together)
There is only 2 of us travelling 9 myself and 13 year old son ) so is it worth it, surely we wont be split up on the plane ?

 

[SammieG]

The Orlando flights are usually very full indeed. If you check in later than others you may well find you are sitting apart.

there is no way we would ever chance it.

 

[Goofyish]

If you sare flying with Virgin from Gatwick I can recommend booking the window seats at the rear of the plain (rows 61 to 65 I think?). Because the plane body narrows towards the back the seats are in a 2-4-2 aqrrangement. So if you choose the window seats you will get two seats together with no one else sitting next to you

 

[k-herm]

We booked (free, as part of an early-booking scheme) priority seats (or whatever Direct Holidays call it) for our flight in October.

However, I seem to remember reading here that it still does not guarantee you seats together. Is that correct? There are 5 of us, and obviously we'd hate to have one on his/her own.

 

[alisonbestford]

We never pay extra and haven't been split up to date.
Saying that, there's always a first time I guess! :-(
If you can get to the airport in plenty of time I, personally, wouldn't be too worried but, if you may be on the last leg, I'd probably pre-book.

 

[cazzie]

We haven't although we did consider it but it would have cost at least £300 more and it just seems a lot to pay... on saying that I am a real nervous flyer so I hope we can sit together.

 

[baronjudd]

Do you have you virgin E-ticket number yet?
If so, I believe that you should be able to go to the virgin atlantic website and click "manage flights". You enter your e-ticket number, name and flight date and it will show you a seat map with all the available seats. You should be able to pick them there and it won't cost you anything. I've always got the exact seats that I picked in the past. Just don't be late for check-in because the seat arrangements are not set in stone.

It's worth noting that Virgin hold back 40% of their seats until checkin time so they can make sure to shuffle people round and put families together.

There is absolutely no way that they would put a 13 y/o in a seat on his own without his mum/dad. As long as you are there the 3 hours before the flight (or twilight check-in) you have nothing to worry about

Enjoy your trip
Mark.

 

[gilld]

There is absolutely no way that they would put a 13 y/o in a seat on his own without his mum/dad. As long as you are there the 3 hours before the flight (or twilight check-in) you have nothing to worry about

Enjoy your trip
Mark.

I'm afraid we were all split when my son was 13 and we left check-in until late. It wasn't a problem, he enjoyed the attention he got from the crew and after all 13 is quite old enough to sit alone...it's not as though he'd be on a different aircraft...and you will be able to "visit" each other during the flight.

If you want to be sure of sitting together then you will have to check-in early. We've always got the seats we've reserved on-line or over the telephone, but lots of people say they haven't. Good luck.

 

[LindseyUK]

I have paid the extra (£17 each return with Britannia) for this on my trip coming up- only because we won't have any seat-back TVs etc. so intend to take some games and stuff to pass the time, therefore want to make sure we're together. Also the flight is quite early so don't want the stress of checking in mega mega early!

Saying that, I've never bothered on previous trips and we've never been separated yet!

 

[TJ747]

What you have to remember with this is that all of those who have pre-booked seating get allocated a day or two before departure. So no matter how early you get to the airport, if 95% of people have paid to pre-book, you get whatever is left if you haven't!

In some ways, and its sad to see, this appears to be another making scheme from the charter airlines.

Personally, on that length of flight I would always pre-book purely because you can't tell what you'll end up with if you don't!

 

[patdavies]

We booked (free, as part of an early-booking scheme) priority seats (or whatever Direct Holidays call it) for our flight in October.

However, I seem to remember reading here that it still does not guarantee you seats together. Is that correct? There are 5 of us, and obviously we'd hate to have one on his/her own.

CAA regulations, that all UK carriers (both scheduled and charter) must abide by, state that family groups must, where possible, be seated together. This is why NO seating is guaranteed until check-in. Priority seating etc, is simply expressing a preference

 

[maureen4200040]

Hi all

I'm taking my 12 year old neice with me in September. This time I have book both our seats together on the plane for twenty pounds.

On past trips I got to the airport at least 5 hours before, and made sure I was the first in the queue for check-in. Once there I always ask for seats together with the person I was travelling with, and had no problems getting them.

For our trip in September I did'nt want to chance it, so prebooked the seats we wanted online - and got confirmation of them in the post a few days later.

I know my neice would'nt be happy sitting next to a stranger on the plane.

 

[bozzly]

Maureen, what airline are you flying with ?
you were lucky if it only cost you £20 !
Myself and my son are travelling with Britannia and it has cost £54 (return) to sit together.
This consists of £17 each to sit together and another £10 each to choose our seats.
I know I didn't have to pay the extra £10 but my son wanted a window seat and this way we are guaranteed one.
Just by paying for 'seats together' we could have been seated anywhere on the plane,

 

[Stella_the_Staff]

Well, We've booked to go with United again as we couldn't fault them on anything (well other than their cream cheese & sausage bagel thingy for brekkie YUK). We have chosen our seats online and they don't charge anything extra at all other than alcoholic beverages. Some airlines charge for headphone sets, meals etc and this all adds up. Obviously they don't do flights direct to Orlando, ( flying indirectly can save you some money) and we feel more refreshed when we arrive (as 2nd flight only 2 hrs) and don't have to queue up with all the other tourists through immigration. United also fly from Heathrow which is a bonus to us as it is closer than Gatwick.

 

[laudan14]

K-hern

Do you know what sort of plane you fly on when you travel with direct holidays, can't find anyting in the brochure.

 

[maureen4200040]

Hi Bozzly,

I'm flying with Thomas Cook Airlines - the twenty pounds includes a new scheme called your seat your choice. You pick whatever seats you want on the Aircraft with preflight services, then make your payment over the phone or by cheque. Confirmation received in the post within a couple of days.

I've also booked two seats together next to the window. Every airline seems to have different prices for this service. But I do think 57.00 pounds is a lot -for just allocating two window seats together on a computer.

As I said in my previous post - I would normally go to the airport a good few hours eariler than my flight and request the seats I want. But as I'm travelling with my neice I wanted to make sure that everything was in order for this trip, so it means paying out for these window seats.


maureen42

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

Its nonsense that you have to pay extra to make a seat preference. this is some airlines making a quick buck out of you.
If you are flying with one of these airlines, just get to the check in early.