Couple flying upper class (VS016)

Flying Upper Class (1st time) from Orlando to Gatwick in September. Seat config looks to be 2 across and 14 seats only, flight is VS016 if that helps??

Can you talk as such sitting across from each other or is it generally better to get seats next to each other as in behind?

Any feedback anyone can give would be useful
I've looked at seat guides but they don't go into detail

Cheers!

[honey lamb]

Welcome to V-flyer.

The perceived wisdom is that apart from 6A/K which are at the very pointy end, it is better to be sitting next to each other, as in one on front of the other. If you sit across from each other then, as the aircraft widens out, you will be quite far from each other

Hiya thanks for the super quick reply, unfortunately the seats at the front are greyed out so guess they've either been taken or are not available...

Thanks for the tip

Welcome !

As Honey Lamb says 6A/K are the closest together, after that they widen out and you'll end up shouting to each other ! plus other people will be able to hear you too.

One of you can also sit on the others ottoman and chat too plus there is also the bar...

Good idea! never thought of joining each other, suppose we could eat our meals together or have a drink or something...

Bar sounds fab - can imagine its not super busy either if there are only 14 Upper Class passengers. Do they have a good selection of drinks (i.e wines, beers, etc)

Btw you a fab bunch
this is a great forum - appreciate your help

[honey lamb]

Hiya thanks for the super quick reply, unfortunately the seats at the front are greyed out so guess they've either been taken or are not available...

Thanks for the tip

They are greyed out because they only become available at OLCI - or more correctly - a few hours before OLCI. It usually is about 2 hours beforehand but on one occasion I found them released 5 hours beforehand.

I should add the caveat that on this occasion they may have been taken already. A recent glitch with the My Booking page had all the seats normally greyed out such as bulkheads like these, were suddenly available for pre-allocation and it might have happened for your flight.

That makes sense Honey Lamb - thanks

On OLCI I can obviously do this on my laptop via wifi but wouldn't have access to a printer, would I need to print anything off or could I just get a card at bag drop?

[honey lamb]

Good idea! never thought of joining each other, suppose we could eat our meals together or have a drink or something...

Bar sounds fab - can imagine its not super busy either if there are only 14 Upper Class passengers. Do they have a good selection of drinks (i.e wines, beers, etc)

Btw you a fab bunch
this is a great forum - appreciate your help

Yes, you certainly can have your meals together. The table is big enough for two settings and when I have travelled with family and/or friends we have always eaten like this.

To find out what is on the menu and the wines available keep your eye on this website as the menu will be posted as a stickie. It currently is the Spring menu but is due to change at the beginning of June and then again at the beginning of September.

The bar on board the LGW/MAN configured plane is small with, I think, 2 or 3 seats. There is a good selection of beers and spirits on board - but alas no Tanqueray 10 gin.

[honey lamb]

That makes sense Honey Lamb - thanks

On OLCI I can obviously do this on my laptop via wifi but wouldn't have access to a printer, would I need to print anything off or could I just get a card at bag drop?

No, you don't need a printer. I always do OLCI but never print off my boarding pass. Just go to the UC check-in and you'll be fine

Cheers will do
Have a good evening

Thanks for all your help

That makes sense Honey Lamb - thanks

On OLCI I can obviously do this on my laptop via wifi but wouldn't have access to a printer, would I need to print anything off or could I just get a card at bag drop?

It dosent matter not having a printer - they will give you a proper printed purple boarding pass at the UC check-in desk.

Thanks for the tip [/quote]
They are greyed out because they only become available at OLCI - or more correctly - a few hours before OLCI. It usually is about 2 hours beforehand but on one occasion I found them released 5 hours beforehand.

I should add the caveat that on this occasion they may have been taken already. A recent glitch with the My Booking page had all the seats normally greyed out such as bulkheads like these, were suddenly available for pre-allocation and it might have happened for your flight.[/quote]

Well, I don't know. We selected seats 6a/6k 11 months before the flight, so it may be they have been requested already. This was on a MAN 747 which is normally the same config as the LGW planes.

I would agree that in 6a/6k you can converse with relative ease - I found that I did have to use the convenience button on more than one occasion. ):

Will keep my eyes on the site then - thanks!
'convienience button' ??

They are greyed out because they only become available at OLCI - or more correctly - a few hours before OLCI. It usually is about 2 hours beforehand but on one occasion I found them released 5 hours beforehand.

I should add the caveat that on this occasion they may have been taken already. A recent glitch with the My Booking page had all the seats normally greyed out such as bulkheads like these, were suddenly available for pre-allocation and it might have happened for your flight.

Do you know why these seats normally greyed out until OLCI? It seems odd because it's not like VA charge UC passengers more for them.

That said, I have just booked a flight to Las Vegas in July and, having logged in to check my seat assignment, I appear to be in 6A at the front of the plane with all seats showing available.

[honey lamb]

Up until recently bulkhead rows as well as exit rows were greyed out and only allocated at check-in. For exit rows this is necessary as the staff need to see that people in that seat are able to manage the doors in case of an emergency. Bulkheads were kept back because some of these are bassinet positions but very recently these are showing on the seat maps.

If you are in 6A, it's a nice seat. I've sat in its K equivalent on a few occasions on the LHR planes and thoroughly enjoyed it. It has been touted as ideal for couples since A and K are very close but I have sat in one as a lone traveller and still found it suitably private.

A word to the wise - in seats 6 and 7 in the LGW planes (rows 12 and 14 in the LHR ones) there are no overhead bins. Do not, I repeat NOT, even try to open the panelling above the seat. It is a source of amusement for those in the know and is watched with baited breath for the pantomime to start. Just place your bag in one of the other bins as you approach your seat and all will be well (until the person sitting in the seat underneath starts complaining that someone is using "their" bin, but the crew will put them right!)

Enjoy your flight and a TR will be most appreciated