V-Flyer

On 3rd April I flew VS115 to Atlanta. The flight wasn't full and I always select the rearmost seat of economy. I prefer to not have anyone tapping their IFE behind me.

No sooner was I seated when a member of the cabin crew said to me "Sorry Sir, the inflight entertainment system isn't working at the rear of the aircraft. There are some seats further down the cabin where the IFE is working. Could you move to seat *** please."

Now I'm not stupid. I fly enough to know when I'm being spun a line, so I politely advised the member of cabin crew that I had paid for my seat and selected my seat, and didn't wish to move from my seat, regardless of IFE problems. The member of crew said nothing and walked away. Though they did succeed in moving 4 others.

Minutes later several members of crew started seat blocking all available rear seats with blankets. Sure enough, there was no problems with any of the IFE equipment and during the flight, the crew periodically used the blocked seats to sleep and/or use the IFE.

Firstly, I don't have a problem with anyone taking some much needed R&R. It can be a tough job and I realise the job of a cabin crew can be hard work.

However, why lie? As far as I'm concerned, I'm a fare paying passenger who has been allowed to pre select my seat in advance. Why offer this bonus to passengers, only to be turfed out of your seat? Doesn't the fare paying passenger come first?

Again I'm not hating on cabin crew and I don't blame them for blocking seats to rest. However this should not be at the expense of fare paying passengers.

Is there an official policy on seat blocking?

If I were you I'd email VS about this directly.

Express it terms of disappointment though.

With regard to crew rest which is mandated by the length of the flight, if there is no crew rest area (and some airlines do not have a designated crew rest area) then seats in certain areas of the aircraft are designated as crew seats. For example, on my recent Aer Lingus flights to SFO on an A330 which has no designated crew rest, seats 4HK were reserved for the pilot. I don't know where the cabin crew had their rest on that flight but on the return flight, which had a different configuration, there was a mini-economy cabin behind J which was used for crew rest.

All airlines, especially those whose length of flight makes crew rest mandatory, have contingency plans if the crew rest area is for some reason, inoperable. I believe that on VS, for some flights it is Zone A on a 747!!

VS115 on 3rd April looks like it was an A333. ISTBC but VS did not put crew rest on these aircraft?

If there is no crew rest, then as HL has said, normal seats are used.
Maybe UC/PE was full? Does seem odd that a set selection of seats weren't blocked off though.

Yes it was an A330. I'm currently sitting on the same aircraft type at Atlanta waiting to leave. However this time it's a full load so goodness knows where the crew will rest??

Crew are allowed to use empty pax seats for breaks but shouldn't be moving pax out of theirs seats in order to do so. If there are no spare seats and no crew rest area they don't get a break. Legally the flight needs to be over about 12 hours for a break to be mandatory and these aircraft should have a crew rest area.

When i returned from Atlanta (i think it was 104) on another 333, in the middle of the onesie fun, there was a member of cabin crew sitting in the galley sitting on his suitcase just eating quietly.

It was a bit of a sad sight to see, i admit, given how much crew does, but i did stay and chat with him for 15 minutes.

I would make a complaint.
Your a paying customer.
Flight Crew are there to do a job & they should have their own rest areas for longer flights. If there is not rest area available, then its deemed to be a short enough flight not to need one.

What would have happened if the flight was full?
They can't move people around just to make it a convenience to them.

Also, if there was an accident & your name would be allocated to a certain seat.
If all that was left was charred remains, then all they go by is the flight manifesto & your designated seat. your family would be burying someone else.

.... unless they was prepared to move you to another class

I suspect that Virgin's IT department forgot to implement the "block this seat for crew rest area button" for that seating plan. On United when it is blocked to stop seat shifters they give the seat a little placard that says something like "Crew seat only" but that is usually for the pilots.

Sure, VS screwed up with not putting crew rest on the aircraft, but crew do need to rest and so selecting the rearmost seats for some shut eye and especially if the flight wasn't full doesn't seem such a big deal, regardless of whether it's a favorite seat. In fact surely they are showing some consideration for their customers.. I mean, without disrespecting your likeness for the rear of the aircraft, it's not very common for anyone to enjoy sitting that far back, usually next to the bathroom, and who wants to see a crew member sprawled out mid aircraft? Hardly a good look for VS.

I've flown UC many times on that aircraft and there is a curtain installed at 1A for crew rest should the cabin have room to accommodate. I guess on that aircraft 1A is not so popular due to the closeness of the galley so kind of works out.

I've had that happen on USAir/American many times--if booking last minute and only seats are rear-most these are where the crew assemble etc, but any time I have been put back there and there are changes to load, they shift me forward, and nearly always so if there is a stop with the same plane going onwards. I'd rather not be in the back anyway as quite often it is very busy and very loud.