Virgin Extra Leg Room (exit seats) Child/adult question

[snookhams]

I know the you have to be an 'Ault' to sit in an exit seat but do virgin mean 16+ or can a 12 (almost 13 year old) travelling on an Adult ticket - because for the purposes of buying the ticket he is an Adult! - sit there just for take off and landing? We are flying PE and have prebooked the 2 rows directly behind the exit row in the hope that when we check in (Twilight) we can move 1 row forward. But our youngest son is very nervous at take off and landing, DH and I would love to sit together- never managed to sit next to each other on a flight to Orlando, always had one of the kids between, but now they are older we thought they could sit behind, but youngest has to hold my hand through take off and landing so would Virgin allow oldest to sit in Exit seat then - he is a very tall 12 year old about 5'10/5'11?

 

[AlanUK]

Hi

It's probably worth checking with Virgin directly but I found the following information at http://www.virginholidays.co.uk/worldwide/flights/index.shtml and it doesn't look very hopeful

A limited number of seats are available for advanced seating BUT you must ring less than 180 days before departure. You need to make your request direct to Virgin Atlantic on 0871 222 0050 (Mon-Fri). We'll do everything possible to meet your request, but no guarantee can be given. Bulkhead seats are reserved for those requiring a sky cot and for infants under 12 months. Seats in exit rows can only be allocated at check-in and then only to passengers over 16 who are physically fit.

Maybe as you are only looking to do take off and landing they might allocate your DH the seat at check in and the cabin crew might ignore the allocation once you are on the plane

Good luck!

 

[Hilary]

I think it's unlikely that you'd be able to do this, but I agree that it's worth asking once you're on the plane.

I understood the reason airlines limit allocation of these seats is to ensure that the passengers sitting in exit rows are physically capable and mature enough to assist in evacuating other passengers in the event of an emergency, if asked to do so. As take-off and landing are the times most likely for an emergency to arise, I think the cabin crew would probably insist that your DS doesn't sit in the exit row for take off, but would let him move once the seat-belt signs were off.