Virgin Premium Economy with kids - questions

[Booknut]

Hi

Next year we're thinking of splurging (well splurging for us anyway!) and flying back premium economy using our Virgin airmiles. But i'm not sure of what the seat configuration is and also can a child lie down across two seats or are the arms set on them? Do the seats recline enough that a child could sort of lie down?

Would love to hear from those of you who have travelled virgin premium economy with kids. It will be DH, myself and our daughter who will be 5.

TIA

 

[UKDEB]

It depends which route/aircraft you'll be on. The Gatwick and Manchester routes operate both Airbus 300s and Boeing 747s and the latter are due to be refitted with different seats this year. At the moment there are some PE seats in the bubble and more downstairs, but that's likely to change. When and where will you be flying from?

ETA: Regardless, the seats do recline sufficiently to allow a 5 year old to sleep comfortably.

 

[Elise79]

We fly PE with DD and she seems to get comfortable enough to sleep (she is 3) however the armrests do not lift.

The recline is decent enough and with the foot rest raised it is quite good

 

[loobzuk]

we flew PE last year, outward we were in a 330 and coming back we were in the bubble of the 747. My 2 (7 and 10) slept fine on the way back, I think the quieter surroundings helped. Outward on the 330 I slept like a baby too! From what I can recall the arms on the 330 do not lift up.

Just one word of warning - we treated ourselves as a 'one off' last year and next year we're going PE again.....!!!

 

[Booknut]

Thanks everyone...there is always that risk, once you enjoy all that space you can't go back

Deb: We're going in August 2013 for my 40th. We've never flown Virgin before, just BA and not PE. We'll be flying out of Gatwick.

My main concern really is Matilda and whether she can sleep ok with us next to her. She's normally ok but with her autism sometimes the littlest thing can become an issue and am a bit worried about the armrests not moving. But if we can get some pictures of the seats beforehand and prepare her she should be ok.

Are any seats in PE configured 3 in a row or are they all 2 in a row?

 

[UKDEB]

As things stand, the A330-300 is normally used for the earlier flights out and back (i.e. the VS27 and 28). They have a 2-3-2 configuration in PE. The later flights (VS15 and 16) are normally Boeing 747s which have a 2-2 configuration in the bubble and a 2-4-2 downstairs. By the time you fly, though, the 747s will have been refitted with completely different seats and the configuration is still a matter of speculation/conjecture. I think it's too far out for you to have any idea what aircraft/configurations will be likely. It'll be much easier to make an educated guess nearer the time.

 

[Booknut]

Thank you, I will revert back to you nearer the time as you seem to know more than i've been able to google!

As long as I can get a photo of the inside and some idea of the seats I can write up a little story for Matilda so she'll be aware of what's going on. We did this when she flied to Portugal last year and it was a very easy flight and trip through customs but she won't remember so we'll have to do it again.

Thank goodness for Tesco and the new airmiles programme