Finding the best seat on seatguru

Hello

My name is Sandi and I just joined! This site has been very helpful in getting me excited for our first UC trip on VS. We were going to fly BA using AA miles, but decided to book a 2 for 1 ticket with Amex.

We are flying SFO-LHR in August for my companions 50th birthday. They gave us seat 15A/K on our outbound flight #20 and LHR-SFO we have seats 2A/2K on flight #19.

I can't really tell from seat guru as there are 4 plane possibilities for the 747-400 and each seat is different. We would like to be together at least on the return. I tried to look by flight number, but it didn't work.

Also one of the diagrams mentions a massage table? I haven't heard about massages on the plane. How bad is it to be near the bar or galley? In reading some of the posts it sounds like I can moved at any time.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Best
Sandi

[buns]

Hi Sandi and welcome to V-Flyer

I will answer your last point first and say that no longer do Virgin provide In Flight Beauty Treatments :# :#

This means that the space in the "A" Zone on the 747 has been removed and due to this, a great number of V-Flyers rate those seats (12 - 19) as being the best.

V-Flyer has its own extensive seat ratings section Here and this again points to the A zone being favourite. It is far enough away from the bar and gives the feeling of space.

Lastly, my preferred seating is side by side rather that across the Cabin (for example 14 & 15 A)

Enjoy exploring V-Flyer

buns

[honey lamb]

Hi Sandi and welcome to V-Flyer.

I've just looked at the maps in seatguru and NONE of them show the correct configuration for your plane. Look in the Seat Maps and Ratings tab in The Toolbox at the top of the page. The Aircraft config you want is Boeing 747 Config 4 (LHR). That will give you the exact configuration and layout of the cabin.

Rather than having A/K seats you might be better off having them next to each other as buns suggests. Really in the A zone (where 15A/K are situated) the only good seats in A/K are 12A/K where your toes nearly touch each others when on the ottoman

For the return journey you may wish to reconsider 2A/K. While being in the bubble upstairs is nice (and very quiet for a night flight) you will see that the latter half of the cabin has economy seating which means that although you are supposed to have priority disembarkation, the reality is that you have to wait until they have left and if your flight lands just after another wide body flight, it does have implications for crowds in the Immigration hall.

To get an idea of what to expect look at the Trip Report Index in the Toolbox and there will be reports on both of your flights in Upper Class (including some of mine )

Finally, enjoy your trip and all the UK has to offer

You're right honey lamb, seatguru can no longer be trusted. I discussed this with an av insider about 18months ago and he said they basically didn't give a crap since being bought by expedia. Sad really.

VS could help seatguru by sending them updated seat maps. I think other airlines do. Same with seatexpert.

If I was anything to do with the VS web / marketing team I'd me making sure that sites like that did have up to date info.

Thanks so much! This is VERY helpful. Yes, I agree changing 2 A/K is a good idea.

I will check out all your reports!

I have been reading how even though you have a seat assignment it's not guaranteed. Is that common?

My last VS flight was in 1991 in the last row of the smoking section!

Seatguru has been past its sell by date for years now.

VS could help seatguru by sending them updated seat maps. I think other airlines do. Same with seatexpert.

If I was anything to do with the VS web / marketing team I'd me making sure that sites like that did have up to date info.

But that's just it, I suspect they have. I, for instance, have submitted an updated seatmap to them, or commented, around 8 times and every time it's ignored.

[honey lamb]

I have been reading how even though you have a seat assignment it's not guaranteed. Is that common?

A lot of the complaints about seat selection at the moment is with regard to the fleet out of Gatwick Airport which is currently undergoing a major refurb in the PE cabin and so seat selection has been suspended. In addition there are slight variations in the economy cabins config which will be eliminated once the refurb is finished. These flights go to holiday destinations such as the Carribean, Orlando and Las Vegas and so at times changes have to be made to allow families to sit together.

Over the years I have never had my seat selection changed in Upper Class although the reality is that you are never guaranteed a particular seat until the door is closed. The only exception was one that we spotted at check-in when we were given 16 and 17 instead of 15 and 16 but that was because 15 was inoperative. In fact there was an aircraft switch at the last minute and we went back to our original seats post take off. My advice to you is do on-line check-in as soon as possible when it opens at T-24. The VS website suggests you do it no later than 13 hours before the flight to ensure you get it as they then release seats back to the common pool but I've not heard of that happening in UC.

[Pete]

But then why use Seat Guru when V-Flyer has much nicer to-scale maps and real-time user ratings?

But then why use Seat Guru when V-Flyer has much nicer to-scale maps and real-time user ratings?

"like"

But then why use Seat Guru when V-Flyer has much nicer to-scale maps and real-time user ratings?

some of us do fly on other airlines Pete!

Again, thank you all so much. Buns I was able to change both legs to 14A/15A. Honey Lamb, thank you for the heads up on the upper deck.

I can't wait to write my first trip report.