Getting a seat upstairs on PE

Hi

I have been booked for months to fly back to the UK (LAS-LGW VS044) however due to work changes I have had to move my flight forward by a week [:(]

I was originally booked on the upper deck of PE however now (with so little time to go) I could not reserve any seat due to 60% something or other.

I am now flying out this Sat instead of the following Sat and wondered what the chances of me getting a seat upstairs was even at online check in? Is there anything I can do improve my chances. I will try and get to the OLCI as soon as it opens but can you get a seat that someone has reserved?

I am gutted as I booked so far in advance originally and was happy to get a reserved seat upstairs on my first jounery PE with Virgin.

Many thanks for any advice.

AKS120

Hello Aks,

Keep checking your res online--changes happen all the time--and seats which were held will be released 48-24 hours prior to flight as well as at check-in (arrive early). FYI--I've been told by VS staff that seats are released at 9 pm US E.ST......so that's a good time to check, especially as exit rows are generally held open til 24 hours.. You don't say your route--worth checking the load on Expert Flyer? Also--remember if you're flying on a 744 config 4--there is no upstairs PE...

Good luck--upstairs is really a treat.

RR

whoops, brain lapse--just thought to check your post--assume it is flt 44 LAS? Looks very full at present but exit rows wide open....and pax changes always a possibility.

rr

Roadrunner - thanks for your quick reply. I assume the only way to exit seats is by going to the airport. I have never been very successful at getting them even when I am really really early! I will keep checking as you suggest.

Thanks AKS120

Actually you can sometimes grab them OLCI

best of luck--the bubble is so much more fun.

cheers,

RR

[Neil]

I very much doubt you will get an Exit Row at OLCI stage. Your only real bet is to get to the airport early (ideally for when check in opens). If the check in agent says they have already gone, get them to check again because quite often the Exit Rows need unblocking (by someone on the end of a telephone) and it doesn't always happen straight away, but a phone call usually gets it sorted. Then, fingers crossed, you will have one of the best PE seats on the a/c.

Neil

Originally posted by Neil
I very much doubt you will get an Exit Row at OLCI stage. Your only real bet is to get to the airport early (ideally for when check in opens).

Neil

Neil, as this is a Gatwick flight does this mean you would have to get to the airport at 12pm the day before because of twilight check-in?

-Steve

[Neil]

Originally posted by Stevieboy

Originally posted by Neil
I very much doubt you will get an Exit Row at OLCI stage. Your only real bet is to get to the airport early (ideally for when check in opens).

Neil

Neil, as this is a Gatwick flight does this mean you would have to get to the airport at 12pm the day before because of twilight check-in?

-Steve

I was assuming the OP was talking about their flight from LAS - LGW, so twilight would not be an issue. My suggestion was to get the LAS for the check in opening.

Originally posted by Neil

Originally posted by Stevieboy

Originally posted by Neil
I very much doubt you will get an Exit Row at OLCI stage. Your only real bet is to get to the airport early (ideally for when check in opens).

Neil

Neil, as this is a Gatwick flight does this mean you would have to get to the airport at 12pm the day before because of twilight check-in?

-Steve

I was assuming the OP was talking about their flight from LAS - LGW, so twilight would not be an issue. My suggestion was to get the LAS for the check in opening.

Oops, sorry misread the post [:I]

Getting there before check in opens should not be a problem and thanks for the tip - althoug how do I say to a checking agent you could try unblocking them when he/she says there are none left without looking like a cocky git and hacking them off???[:?][:w][|:)]

[Neil]

Just be polite and ask them to check if they maybe haven't been unblocked yet as you are first in the queue so it seems a bit strange for them to have been allocated already. Also, they should not hold them back for any pax (like they do with bulkheads for disabled/babies etc) as you have to be over 16 and in good health to have an exit row seat.

Hopefully it should all be ok.
Neil

On our flight back from MCO we were preallocated the exit row seats 75A and 75C... Perhaps the worst PE seats I have ever sat in...

[Neil]

Originally posted by oxmatt
On our flight back from MCO we were preallocated the exit row seats 75A and 75C... Perhaps the worst PE seats I have ever sat in...

Why do you say that Matt? Personally I love those seats, all the extra leg room is fantastic, especially for a night flight.

Originally posted by oxmatt
On our flight back from MCO we were preallocated the exit row seats 75A and 75C... Perhaps the worst PE seats I have ever sat in...

We just had those seats flying back from HAV and I would say they are amongst the best PE seats on the aircraft. Clearly you've not sat downstairs in rows 81/82!

The only reason they could be bad, and this applies especially on the MCO route, is if young children in the row behind constantly kick your seat. On an MCO flight, for that reason, I'd probably choose seats 74ACHK,79AC,80HK.

To the OP, at LAS there is no twilight checkin and exit rows are not usually available via OLCI, so getting to the airport early is a great way of getting those seats.

Thanks I will definately get to the airport ready for check in opening.

Can anyone confirm I am right in thinking it is 3 hours before the flight that the staff come out - might even pitch a tent [:D]

Cheers AKS120

The reason I don't like them is the total lack of storage space. For me the side lockers are one of the best bits about upstairs PE. I also got told off by the CC for not stowing my pillow and blanket for landing who then scowled at me for asking her to take it away as there wasn't anywhere to put it.

I also got dripped on quite a lot on take off and landing which the CC said was relatively common due to the exit door... A little disconcerting.

I like 79AC best. I find the legroom in PE quite fine anyway and the extra in 75 does not make up for the total lack of storage space. If they were to put some kind of locker in behind the seats in front (as there is a great big crew seat on the other side) then they would be much better.

Typical - been waiting for ages to get to the ONCI as it opened as when I tried to check in it says that they can't check anymore folk online and that I need to go to the airport to check in - [:?]

Planning to get there early but a bit annoyed that I can't get the extra 250 miles that they are pushing for OLCI - seems a bit of a con!
[V]

Hey ho not long to go now though!

Mention that--too often VS do shut down the check-in when bookings are tight and they shpuld give you the mileage for effort. Still--being first in line does give the advantage of opportunity for whatever options are available (which are sometimes an upgrade).

Your flight still shows 70 ac/hk as open as well as 75 and all of 81 PE.


best of luck,

rr

Thanks - to be honest I am going home for Christmas and there are far bigger problems in the world than me not getting upstairs!! I am now just really looking forward to the flight.

Regards

AKS120