V-Flyer

Hello

First time user but have enjoyed reading the posts.

I am flying from Heathrow to New York tomorrow with Boeing 747-400 (Seating configuration 4) on Virgin VS045.

I currently have seat 61A which is the window seat at the back where there's only one person next to you.

But I notice that upstairs 80K is available (currently with no-one in 80J) - it's the back row by the window (economy).

Dilemma!!! What do I do?!

Cheers
wesalli

It is completely up to you.

On a personal note, I would always rather stay downstairs as I find upstairs too claustrophobic in economy.

On the flip side, the VS45 is famous for arriving in JFK when the immigration queues are huge and you will be one of the first off the aircraft sitting upstairs.

It will come down to personal choice but let's try and help. A subject is currently been debated on v-flyer around the benefits and negatives around having UC and Economy on the upper deck "in the bubble" - Tinks is right about the queues on arrival at JFK, they always tend to be huge around the time the VS45 arrives because several flights arrive at the same time.

Personal opinion, move upstairs, you will off sooner and will be ahead most on the plane for the immigration process.

Enjoy and let us know how you get along.

Jon

Having recently flown the vs045 I would suggest upstairs so you get off faster!

Plus how often do you get to fly upstairs in economy!

Luke

Should have said 80K is the back row - not sure if the seat will recline - and the toilet is behind it...

By coincidence, I have actually flown in seat 80K on a 747 with Config 4!

I would highly recommend this seat over the one downstairs. It was probably my favourite flight with VA (only ever flown Economy with them), for the following reasons.

- Due to the curvature of the bubble and you being sat by the window, on your right there will be at least a foot of space between yourself and the window. It just feels like you have more room to yourself. There's also a little ledge under the window that you can put your personal stuff on rather than continually having to visit the overhead lockers.

- As 80K is on the back row, it felt to me as if the seat reclined more that usual (probably an illusion, but I was convinced). Also, for some reason, I'm always too "ashamed" or "nice" to push my seat all the way back if I know that there's someone behind me... so you obviously won't have this problem.

- In the bubble you just feel more "looked after" seeing as there's a smaller passenger to attendant ratio.

- You get off the plane much quicker.

Hope this helps!

and you might (will) get noise and light from the stairs and the bar area beneath. But saying that only the pax in the bubble will be able to use the loo behind so not as busy as being in the main cabin.

Best get your skates on and choose as someone else might snap 80K up !

Bubble or the back of the bus?

Bubble for me.

I flew SAA years and years ago when the whole of the bubble was economy and ghastly as it sounds with the numbers there, it wasn't too bad and certainly better than in the middle of a large cabin

So pleased to have found this thread!

Have a similar dilemma on the same flight ... I don't like to feel penned in, so can anyone tell me just how tight it feels in upstairs economy? I would usually take an aisle seat.There is a choice of seats up there at the moment.

Thanks

Poppybee

No brainer for me, whenever I head to the USA it's always my plan to sit as near to the exit door as possible because it can literally save you hours in immigration lines.