V-Flyer

Hi all, just logged onto Virgin to prebook seats to Orlando. I know they`re not guaranteed but, what do you guys think of seats 61 A&C and 62 A&C, they`re 2x2 seats. Going out we`re on flight VS073 747, return VS076 A330. There are 4 of us 2 adults and 13 year old twins. We would have liked window seats, do these seats have a window? There seems a bigger gap between the side of the plane and the actual seat. Are the toilets being right at the back a pain in the proverbial. Nowhere else other than middle 4 had 2x2 seats, lots of 3`s but this would mean 1 of us had to sit by a stranger. Good or bad let us know please.

They are very good seats. On the 744, there is a small gap between the seat and the window but you will still be able to see outside no problem.

The toilets should not be too much of an issue and there are a couple of rows of seats between you and the actual toilets.

Some people will say that you will be off the aircraft last and therefore be at the back of the immigration queue but I think the benefit of not having a stranger sat next to you for 9 hours is much more preferential.

I found this photo in my collection which shows you the gap between the seats and the windows at the back of a 744.

We thought the same thing re sitting by a stranger. We`ve only ever travelled to Europe before, and it`s been 3-3 seats, meaning hubby sat across the aisle. Not too far away, but I thought it nicer to be on a 9 hour flight, the other thing I thought with having 2x2 was if there was someone kicking hell out of your seat we can at least shuffle about. Do many people get "bumped" off these preferred seats,(can`t really call them pre-booked, as that would mean there has been some sort of payment made, and seats guaranteed) we intend to get to Manchester early enough to be at the front of the queue, or would it be best to do OLCI.

Thanks for the photo Tinkerbelle, hubby, daughter and myself are all 5'4" tall, son is heading around 5'8" already so maybe he'll be able to side-saddle to give him an extra bit of leg room.

Do OLCI.

These are our preferred seats when going economy - at least on the return journey. They do feel more spacious for some reason. We reluctantly give them a miss when flying outbound so we can minimise the queue time at immigration, but this may actually not be a big issue. Do OLCI and you should be fine.

62 is slighly better as you get the gap in front to stretch your legs out

If flying on a 747 I would take very opportunity to take the 2 seats near the back. It is much better for a couple travelling rather than having a stranger sitting next door. This is one reason I much prefer to fly on the A340 than the 747.

I was in one of these 2 seats on a LHR747 to JFK once and the gap is wide enough for a kid to walk down and is also great to put bags down the gap. The toilets were never an issues.

It`s only after reading about your flights on the forums that we decided to take the back seats. Looking on the "book your seats now", these(and the H/K seats opposite were the only block of 4 left with a window seat. All other 4 blocks were the middle ones, we wouldn`t have disliked middle seats but will be over the moon with being able to look through the window. Hopefully we`ll be able to view other planes flying by. Your comments are just highlighting what we thought, we`ll be in Orlando for 3 weeks so if it takes a little longer getting through customs it`s not much of an issue. We`ve been told to expect big queues while we`re there anyway as it will be Easter. We`ll just try to get fastpass tickets for rides and go back later on - well thats the idea.

The 2s at the back of a 744 are our preferred seats when travelling in Y. The benefit of having a family member (or even your wife ) next to you far outweighs the extra time spent at immigration. OLCI at the 24 hr mark should snag these seats for you. Go for it - you won't be disappointed - and enjoy your first transatlantic experience y)

Thanks all, hey Treelo I "am" "the wife!" come on girls! Sitting by a family member or even "the husband" especially if he snores after taking the anti-sickness flight meds :$

Well, after being over the moon to get 61/62 A&C, went on today to find the VS076 has seats 63/64 A&C available, as this is the A330 and with regular travellers saying about the tapping on the headrest from people behind with their IFE, we`ve decided to swap over, so we now have the back seats and the 2 in front, well at least no-one will be kicking us in the back through the flight, was it a good move, bearing in mind this is the A330 and it will be a night flight.

tiggerlees wrote:Well, after being over the moon to get 61/62 A&C, went on today to find the VS076 has seats 63/64 A&C available, as this is the A330 and with regular travellers saying about the tapping on the headrest from people behind with their IFE, we`ve decided to swap over, so we now have the back seats and the 2 in front, well at least no-one will be kicking us in the back through the flight, was it a good move, bearing in mind this is the A330 and it will be a night flight.

You will be seated right next to the galley which is situated in the tail of the Airbus aircraft so you could find you might get disturbed by people queuing for the toilets which will be right behind you as well as light and noise from the galley.

Thanks Tinkerbelle, on a night flight back to UK(seats 63/64 are return from Orlando) what actually happens? Do the Cabin Staff switch off lights and hope for a peaceful flight, or is everything treated the same as a day time flight? We were hoping that the majority of people would try to get some rest. I`ve tried to find out best seats to get on A330 but seat guru didn`t offer much up, very good for the 744. I`ve just logged back in and the original 61/62 seats are still available. Do you know if the 64 seats recline at all. Parents had similar seats on a European flight and they have said that the seats didn`t recline as loos were behind them. Still have time to change the seats while they`re still available though.

All seats do recline at VS so there are no issues there.

On a night flight after the main meal service and duty free, the lights will be dimmed to allow people to sleep. The lights are switched on again for the breakfast service.

Quick reply Tinkerbelle - thanks again. Mom has just arrived back from Cyprus - only 4+ hour flight, but she was split up from Dad on the plane, and the seat behind was occupied by a mom holding a 5/6 month old on her lap for the entire flight, continually kicking his legs out and into Mom`s chair. Mom isn`t the sort of person to complain at all, but had had enough after 2 hours, she politely asked if she could stop her little boy kicking her seat, and was hit by a barrage of abuse and language. This mom then proceeded to play row row the boat and bashing Moms seat for the remainder of the journey. This is the only reason we went for the back two rows, we know our own kids are well behaved, but can`t guarantee anyone elses little angels are. Will have to talk to hubby now to make a decision.

Not been on the A330 but on the A340 I wouldn't take the very last row. But I would take 3/4 rows from the back. Yes the last row is nice with no one behind you but the galley and toilets are too close for comfort. You will feel the early morning toilet rush before landing.

As a general rule, on any flight, I will sit as far forward and near to the door that is used for boarding/disembarking as possible.

My main reason for this is:
a) you're going to be in the first few off the aircraft.
b) provided you don't dawdle you'll be first to immigration, which is a massive time saver in the US.
c) often you'll be sitting over the wings. This means you're sitting at the aircrafts centre of gravity, so when you have turbulence it'll be less pronounced than if you're at either the very front or back.
d) the further back you go, the noiser the cabin is due to engine noise.

Hope this helps |:)

Eek, looks like we`re on the move for the flight back home. Thanks for your help guys and gals.

Moved again! Only return flight altered this will be the A330, have now chosen seats 59/60 A&C, according to the seating plan on Virgin the seats actually drop back in to the sides of the plane here. We were thinking of coming back putting you head down and thought the window being closer may be that extra space to lean against.