Virgin Pre-Seating Question - Help.

[mmtdevlin]

Hello, our 11 month window to pre-book our seats for 10/05/05 opens on Monday. I had originally planned to book 62AC & 63AC however after discussion with DH (who reminded me there would be more turbulence at the back - I am a nervous flyer). He said to try and book a set of DEFG's (the four seats together in the middle) nearer the top of the plane. So:

1. What is the first row of DEFG's you can book in Economy?

Hubby is also 6ft 1" and wants longer leg room (ha!) From the plan of the 747-400 I copied from Virginflyer.com there is an ideal row of four at 29DEFG which is just after a galley I think?

2. Can you book from row 29 or does Economy start at 40DEFG. Another reason he wants a first row of middle seats is that no-one can recline their seat in front of him.

3. Does anyone have any experience of a first row of middle seats?

Thanks in advance,
Martina

 

[Goofyish]

This is what it says on the Virgin website about prebooking seats:

Extra legroom (bulkhead 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.

Exit row seats are held for assignment at airport check in only, as passengers wishing to sit in these seats must be physically capable of carrying out the associated responsibilities. We must be able to see a passenger’s physical condition before assigning them an exit row seat. On most routes, these seats can be purchased for a nominal fee on arrival at the airport.

Not sure what the first row is in economy - can you check on the Virgin site where you can book you seats on line?

We have always sat at the rear of the plane and haven't noticed any increase in turbulance. We have also seats in row 62 & 63 (where there are only 2 seats next to the window). These are great seats as you get some extra space between the seat and the window

 

[mmtdevlin]

mmmmh thanks for your reply Goofyish, perhaps I should just pre-book 62&63AC and ask about bulkhead upon twilight check-in as DH has crucial ligament injuries to both knees which play up on long flights. He might be eligable for bulkhead - I don't know.

Cheers,
martina

 

[Hilary]

I think it's only the seats towards the rear of the plane which are pre-bookable. I can't find any links to 'prove' this, but I'm sure I've read it somewhere Only a certain percentage of the flight is pre-bookeable and it seems likely that they'd keep all the 'free' seats together.

I think your last idea is the best solution - try to book 62 and 63, but ask at check-in about any extra leg-room available for your DH. However, if you do this, you may be asked if you're prepared for your party to be split as it's only your DH who technically 'needs' the extra space.

Also, be prepared to find that you've been re-assigned to seats other than those you think you've booked - I've only once actually ended up in the rows of two (62 etc.), even though I book them every time!

Good luck!

 

[Red-Snapper]

I agree Hilary.

i always pre-book the seats but almost always get assigned different ones at check-in

Funny thing is I have never thought to ask why

 

[allie5]

I think you can book row 29 backwards, as we have been assigned row 36 A, B, C, D and E for outbound December trip. We are doing Twilight Check In and will try for one front bulkhead, as my baby son is extremely active and I could use the space for him to play in.On the return I have booked two rows of the two seats at the back (rows 62 and 63) with one adjacent aisle seat.

The Virgin girl I spoke to said they allocate 60% of seating before the day of departure and release the rest the day before. We have always been lucky and got our pre booked seats, though that could be because we tend to use twilight check in.

 

[Miffy2003]

Oh my, Allie!

I was hoping we might bump into each other on the flight but I think we are in the row behind you!!! I will have to make sure we are all on our best behaviour now ...


Karen

 

[allie5]

hehehehehe....oh, my, you might want to cancel that Illuminations cruise after 9 hours in close proximity with my little boy. He doesnt do "sitting down quietly" very well . Maybe I will book him and hubby two seats very far away from us..... . Funnily enough he was as good as gold last year on the flight. Not sure how he is going to be this time. A bulkhead seat would be nice as he can play in front of the seats in that nice big gap. Not sure I have much chance of getting it though.

At least the girls might keep each other entertained!!

 

[mmtdevlin]

update: rang virgin on the pre-seating number, the lady who answered told me she had no record of anyone by our name on the flight! (sigh) and proceeded to explain that Virgin Holidays more than likely hadn't assigned us a booking number yet until the 11month period before the departure date had passed. So I can't book our seats for our outbound flight until after the 11 month window for the return flight has passed! I can't even check at the moment if the seats I wanted have been "taken".

I had booked with Virgin Travelstore who were going through Virgin Holidays.

martina

 

[Miffy2003]

Originally posted by allie5
hehehehehe....oh, my, you might want to cancel that Illuminations cruise after 9 hours in close proximity with my little boy. He doesnt do "sitting down quietly" very well . Maybe I will book him and hubby two seats very far away from us..... . Funnily enough he was as good as gold last year on the flight. Not sure how he is going to be this time. A bulkhead seat would be nice as he can play in front of the seats in that nice big gap. Not sure I have much chance of getting it though.

At least the girls might keep each other entertained!!

Well, as long as he doesn't recline his seat when we are having our meal we won't mind (You understand that if he does this, we will have to report back on the boards about the attitude of parents today and how the youth of today's moral turpitude is is on the verge of breaking down society!!! )

Martina - won't be long now and you can book your seats too! Just think you will still be a step ahead of most of the rest of your flight who may still think they can only book 6 months before

Karen

 

[mandymouse]

Hi Martina

Have you manged to pre-book your seats yet? Like you I was waiting for the 11 month date for my outward flight (11th May 2005) and when I rang up they didn't have our booking either. My 11 month homebound flight (28th May) has just passed and finally today my booking came up on the internet so that I could pre-book my seats both ways. They also had a choice of meals, but you couldn't pre-order kids meals.

mandymouse

 

[mmtdevlin]

Mandymouse, hi, yes I did - thank god! Managed to do it last week and was pleased that mine also came up on the virgin atlantic website. We booked 62AC and 63AC for both outward and return journeys, and will ask about extra legroom upon check-in. Looks as if we are going to just miss each other as we are flying out the day before you.

Now the only thing to worry about is the closure of virgintravelstore whom we have booked through!

Thanks for thinking of me!

Martina

p.s. I'm sure I pre-booked two kids' meals with the virgin atlantic operator. Phone again just to check.

Originally posted by mandymouse
Hi Martina

Have you manged to pre-book your seats yet? Like you I was waiting for the 11 month date for my outward flight (11th May 2005) and when I rang up they didn't have our booking either. My 11 month homebound flight (28th May) has just passed and finally today my booking came up on the internet so that I could pre-book my seats both ways. They also had a choice of meals, but you couldn't pre-order kids meals.

mandymouse

 

[Kal El]

Try emailing about meal options. I have found them to be very helpful and have managed to order a low carb meal for myself on both parts of my holiday