PE Seats LHR-SYD

I have tried to search for the answer to this one but am having so many problems with this site at the moment, so I hope no-one minds me asking.

1. We're flying LHR-SYD in PE in Dec this year, coming back in Jan next year. Will we definitely get the newer purple PE seats?
2. How long is the stopover in Hong Kong as I'm finding conflicting answers.
3. Do you get to keep your seat for both legs as I've seen a trip report somewhere that suggested that once you get back on in Hong Kong you get a different seat?
4. Does the front row of PE on this route have extra leg room?

Thank you.

[Neil]

Yes, you will get the new purple PE seats. Row 18 is a bulkead and the official leg room is more, but you have a wall in front of you so you can't stretch your legs under a seat in front. I am nrly 6ft and find it perfect for resting my legs on, but each to their own. This row can only be allocated at airport check in though.

Not sure on the other 2 questions, but I am sure another member will be able to answer at some point.

[mitchja]

The stop-over in HKG is usually about 90 mins.

From reading some of the TRs it does look as though you keep the same seats.

Looking at the schedule the stop is an hour and a half - arrival at 17:50 from LHR and departure to SYD at 19:20. You will have to leave the plane and take everything with you as it is cleaned during the stop over.

Thank you very much for the answers. I am absolutely dreading the flight all that way in PE but we got a great deal with miles + money seats and now my son is 12 he counts as an adult & the UC fares are just painful to Australia at that time of year!

Having just got back yesterday from Australia on the VS201 I don't think that you need dread the journey in PE.......
I did the outbound VS200 LHR-SYD trip in UC and whilst the ability to lie flat and get some sleep in the UCS was welcome the return trip was undertaken in PE and the seats were very comfortable.
The PE seat reclines a fair way and there is also a fold-down footrest to aid comfort.
The stop-over in HKI as others have said is about 90 minutes, and since the plane is cleaned, stocked up and re-crewed at this point passengers have to take all their belongings off the plane...
It is worth noting here that passengers transiting onto Sydney (or onto London in the case of VS201) are given VS 'catch me if you can' stickers at this point and also have to go through security screening again.....
Going out to Sydney we had to change suites for the HKI-SYD leg but coming back we had the same seats in PE from SYD-LHR, so I guess its down to the load of the flight on whether you have to move?
One last thing, though doubt if it applies if you're enquiring about extra-legroom seats near the front bulk-head, but don't under any circumstances allow yourself to be put in the rearmost row of middle seats in PE! :0
They are right opposite the toilet doors and I felt really sorry for the pax sitting there for 9 hrs from SYD-HKI and 13hrs from HKI-LHR having to sit there and have people constantly in/out and the toilet flushing for the duration of their trip!
They have to be the worst seats ever available on a plane.....