Virgin from Manchester - anxious questions

[edie w]

We are flying from Manchester with Virgin on 16 October and back a fortnight later. The flight is a scheduled one booked with Thomas Cook Signature. We're a party of 10 (includes children) and have been told we can't pre-book seat as our party is too big

Questions:

1. Does anyone have any experiences of trying to pre-book seats for a party this big? How early will we need to check in to get seats reasonably close together?

2. What is the food like, what is in the kids' meals and how much food and drink is included overall?

3. What are the chances of us actually getting the seat back TVs and games consoles?

4. Are they still doing the travel packs/kids packs, and what can we expect in them?

Our party is really looking forward to this flight as it's our first with Virgin, and I'm feeling all responsible!

Thanks

 

[JimP]

We flew from Manchester in August-

1. If it was Thomas Cook who told you this have you tried calling Virgin Atlantic directly, all they need is your surname and dates you don't need your ticket references- 0871 222 0050 for seat & meal requests

2. Barely edible as always. Kids meal are chicken aeroplanes, smiley potato faces and beans etc. Occassional drinks service.

3. Yes you will have seat back tvs and games

4. You still get the kids packs and the swim bag thingies but they were empty. They used to have lots of goodies in them ,colouring books/crayons etc, but no more

Anything else just ask.

 

[Sue F UK]

We flew with Virgin in July from Manchester. DD Rebecca did receive a kids pack with some colouring, a book and a couple of other things in - she was deeply impressed.

As Jim says, the kids meals were not edible so I would recommend taking some snacks for the children (just don't try to take opened snacks into the US, they are funny about things like that)

Just a note - the Vigin flight we flew in July was a third empty and we found that we had 7 seats between the 3 of us on the way out and 5 on the way back. You may find that this is the same in October.

Have a great holiday.

 

[peewakio]

Virgin only allocate a set amount of seats that are pre bookable and I think you will be too late to pre book them, for example we are flying Manchester - Orlando with Virgin on Sat 11th Oct and pre booked aur seats back in April or early June. However if you get to the check in early enough you will be able to sit together and if you get there really early you may be able to get yourselves bulkhead seats.

 

[edie w]

Thanks guys - very useful.

We're planning on getting to the check in desk before 7 for a 10.30 flight, but I'll try phoning the number. TC said they had spoken to Virgin and they wouldn't pre book for 10, but it's worth a go I think.

Might take a small cooler bag with drinks and snacks. Chicken aeroplanes sounds just the sort of things our kids will eat though!

This time in 4 weeks we'll just be landing!

 

[Sweeney Todd]

Edie,

To get good seats together you may wish to set your alarm clock a little earlier.
When I called Virgin Atlantic reservations recently I was told the check-in desk will probably open between 0600hrs and 0630hrs.

Sweeney

 

[edie w]

Thanks for the warning!!

 

[FEEBEE]

HI EDDIE,

I DO VIRGIN EVERY YEAR AND HAVE BOOKED AGAIN FOR FEB, SO AM OBVIOUSLY A FAN!

PHONE V ATLANTIC DIRECT AND I WOULD HAVE THOUGHT YOU CAN BOOK SEATS.

I ALWAYS GET THERE (MANCHESTER) AT 6.00 AM FOR THAT FLIGHT. AT THE FRONT OF THE Q, WE HAVE DONE LARGE PARTIES AND THEY HAVE ALWAYS ACCOMODATED US.

I FIND THE FOOD OK, I TAKE STUFF TO SNACK ON AND WE ALWAYS HAVE THE TRADITIONAL AIRPORT FRY UP SO THAT "SETS US UP FOR THE DAY" AS ME MAM USED TO SAY!!

ASK FOR MORE DRINKS!! THEY ARE MORE THAN HAPPY TO ACCOMODATE, THAT IS WHAT YOU ARE PAYING V PRICES FOR!!
(BAILEY'S ON THE RETURN SEEMS TO HELP WITH THE SLEEP!)

I TEND TO STICK TO WATER AND THEY BRING ME BIG BOTTLES, BUT MY DH MAKES A DENT IN THEIR WINE STOCK!

THE KIDS BACKPACKS ARE STILL THE SAME AS 5 YRS AGO BUT THE CONTENTS HAVE ADMITADLY DWINDLED! BUT THE SEAT BACKED TV'S AND XTRA STUFF I BRING ALONG, TOGETHER WITH THE OVERALL EXPERIANCE AND EXCITMENT KEEPS THEM GOING TILL TOUCH DOWN!

HOPE THIS HELPS.

I HAVE ONLY HAD POSITIVE EXPERIENCES SO FAR, I HOPE THIS CONTINUES, I KNOW WHAT YOU MEAN ABOUT THE PRESSURE WHEN YOU ARE THE "BOOKER" BUT I THINK V ARE A SAFE BET.

I HOPE SO AS I AM TAKING FAMILY OUT FOR THE HOL OF A LIFETIME IN FEB!! ALL ON MY RECOMENDATIONS!!
SORRY ABOUT MY GRAMMA AND SPELLING, I HAVE HAD TOO MANY BUDS - I NEED TO RESEARCH FOR FEB YOU SEE/