Extra Leg Room

Hi

We're flying to JFK next week - unfortunately this time it's Economy [n]! We're going out on VS3 and back on VS46.

My son is coming with us and he's 6'7'! When I made the booking I mentioned it to the guy on the phone and he said he'd make a note on the booking to try and get him some extra legroom at check-in.
Not being an expert on these things - what are the chances of him getting more room? Will it make any difference if we check-in early -and if so - how early?!
Do the check-in staff read through the notes before check-in opens to see any such requests?

Thanks in anticipation of your replies!

[Darren Wheeler]

Welcome aboard V-Flyer [y]

Best bet is to get to check-in early as possible to try and get an emergency exit seat. As they can only be allocated at check-in to those who are physically able to open the door etc. you need to be there early.

[Neil]

As Darren says, the only seats that will offer significant extra room will be the exit rows, which can only be allocated at check in. There is, however, a charge normally for these, I believe it is £50 for the shorter East Coast flights, to be paid at the ticket desk once you have been allocated them.

Neil

[preiffer]

The ONLY (repeat, ONLY) way of ensuring extra legroom is to buy a Premium Economy seat in advance.

In my experience, 'notes in the record' are typically ignored/not acted on, so DON'T be surprised if you end up in a bog standard seat. Try for the exit row/bulkhead thing, by getting there early, BUT don't bank on it.

Again, the ONLY way of getting extra legroom on VS is to purchase a Premium Economy seat. (and even *then*, things can change due to aircraft... [:w])

Sorry to sound so pessimistic, but I'd go into it assuming you'll be sat in a standard seat - anything else happens at checkin/boarding, you did well [y]

Special treatment for being tall? Pfffft!

[mitchja]

Welcome to V-Flyer [y]

Your other option are bulk-head rows. These are the very front economy rows but they are often reserved for families traveling with babies as this is where the sky-cots are located.

There's no extra charge for these seats but as I say they are often reserved. You can sometimes get these seats by asking the VS gate agents about 1 hour before your flight is due to depart, as by then check-in has closed and all pax are checked-in by then so any remaining un-allocated seats in these rows can often be given to anyone else.

You can always ask for one of these rows at check-in but it's unlikely they will release them until everyone else is checked-in.

These rows actually offer more leg-room than PE seats do (excluding the PE bulk-head row)

Regards

Sarcasm mode off this time:

If you don't have any luck at checkin, then when seated on the aicraft, I;d have a word with one of the cabin crew. dependent on loads, once the aircraft doors are shut, you are reasonably free to move around the aircraft for a better seat. Have a word with the cabin crew, and they may be able to ensure there is a seat for your son if it's available.

Hi

Thanks everyone for the info - you're a knowledgeable bunch! I knew you'd have some advice!

When hubby and I flew to NY in 2007 we flew PE and the leg room was great - especially as I'm only 5'2' (don't know where my 6'7' son came from!!) - but this trip is a little extra, so Economy it is!
We'll get to check-in as early as we can and see what we can do. If not - we'll throw ourselves at the mercy of the cabin crew as they try and shoe-horn him into his seat!

He's actually booked into seat 61K on the 340-600 out and 63K on the 747 back. Any chance that these seats may offer a little more room? On the seat ratings the 63K is meant to be quite good.(I appreciate that these aren't guaranteed though!)

63K should be good, I'd go with 61G (if he is slim) on the way out for the extra legroom he gets under seat 60G.

Just a suggestion...

S.

On a full flight a £50 charge (each way) is highly likely if not inevitible. However, IMHO, £50 to secure an extra 4 feet of legroom for an exit row seat on an A340-600is money well spent.[y]

I would suggest, when you bag drop or check in, ask how full the flight is likely to be, then ask for an exit row, at this stage they may well say that this will cost £50.

Be careful with bulkhead seats because you could have a tot who is lurvely but distresed by flying with parents who couldn't give a fig.[V]

You may, if you do not already own a pair, consider investing in a pair of noise-cancelling headphones. I purchased mine a few years ago, money well spent.[:)]
R-P