Virgin Atlantic / Holidays

[Tony Bush]

Just booked for October 2014.. When can I pre book seats on the flights ? I want to book either extra leg room or better still the exit row seats. Do I call Virgin Atlantic direct ? or go through Virgin Holidays ? How soon do they know which plane will be on our flight as it seems they use both the 747 and A330, the seat config is different and as there are 3 of us it could be awkward.

Tony

 

[Linda67]

I have a fly-drive booked with Virgin Holidays and I had to call Virgin Atlantic direct to book exit row and seat plus
You can pre-book your seats 90 days in advance

 

[Button]

We flew in march with VA and pre booked at time of booking extra legroom seats for the 3 of us at time was 747 so 3 together perfect. Then they changed flight and was on airbus. I was stressed thinking we would be split how awful - who gets the 3 year old. Turned out ok as we had 2 seats on side and 2 behind. They didn't sell the one next to DH so essentially we had 4 seats.

When you buy extra legroom you don't allocate your own seats that option isn't there when you select your meal type etc. The agent can place notes on record but in my honest opinion it's the luck of the draw. All agents we spoke with deferred us to check in desk. They said that was daft as out of their control.

 

[Elise79]

By next October all the MCO flights will be using the 747 as the A330s are off for a refit later this year to become 3 class and will be used on Caribbean routs instead.

You can ring VA to book and pay for extra legroom or exit row (everyone has to be over 16) once you get 330 days from your return flight. VA wont have them in their system before then and as you have booked through VH it may be another few days until they transfer the booking (used to go through on a Wednesday for some reason however I haven't used VH since 09 so this info may be out of date and they may transfer on the exact day now)

 

[queendisney]

How soon do they know which plane will be on our flight as it seems they use both the 747 and A330, the seat config is different and as there are 3 of us it could be awkward.

Tony

http://v-flyer.com/the-toolbox/which-aircraft

go into the above website and put your flight number in and it will tell you % wise which aircraft is used and the name of it ie hotlips. Obviously not the best guide as they can change it the same day as your flight (which they did with us last year!) but might give you a good indication. I love this website (a tad geeky I know) as it gives you all sorts of information.

 

[helenlv]

Be aware that the extra legroom seat locations on v-flyer are *wrong*, they haven't been updated since the 747 refurbs for some strange reason.

They are all now in a block from row 39 - 43 abc and hjk.

The seat maps are also now out of date - they don't show the economy seats in the upstairs bubble.

 

[Tony Bush]

Thanks Helen,

Are there any advantages to the economy seats in the bubble ? And do you know what the exit row numbers are ?

Tony

 

[helenlv]

You are among the first off the plane from the bubble economy seats, there are no extra legroom seats up there though unfortunately.
The vssource site has up to date maps

I prefer EL seats to exit row ones - the seats in exit rows are very narrow as the tray is in the armrest and your hand luggage is often rows away from you.
Exit rows are row 25 / 38 and 49

The EL seats are well worth the money, I'll book them again for our Oct 2014 trip flight home, I might book the bubble for the outbound flight as I've not been up there.

 

[Mummycat]

Be aware that the extra legroom seat locations on v-flyer are *wrong*, they haven't been updated since the 747 refurbs for some strange reason.
They are all now in a block from row 39 - 43 abc



Thanks for this I hadn't realised that the extra leg room seats were only the rows of 3- we have them booked for a few weeks time for a family of 4. Do you think they'll put the 4th person in the row directly behind or split up the family (2adults and 2 children age7&9)?
Thanks

 

[queendisney]

The seat maps are also now out of date - they don't show the economy seats in the upstairs bubble.

yes they do! You must be looking at the wrong seat maps!

 

[talbot3186]

This reminded me we want extra leg room for our hoilday in September next year I just phone up trevel city direct to ask and we got phone up Virgin 11 months before date you fly to book the extra leg room seats.