New to Virgin and PE

Hello please be gentle with me but I am flying Virgin for the first time this August in PE no less.

I will be flying VS19 from LHR to SFO and then Flying back from LAX to LHR on VS08.

I just have a question about the food (after reading this site for many a day because of my thirst for knowing things I am pretty clued up on the seating). My question is what exactly is the order of food service. I know their is main meal but unlike the information provided for both economy and UC I don't see much information regarding the snacks or if there is a meal before landing so I was always on the assumption that you got one main meal. I am probably wrong but what is the usual order?

I am aware that PE is changing its food offering but would love to know about how the service is done.

Also anyone can give me advice regarding seats would be great. We have been pre assigned for the SFO flight 34D and E (747-400) and for LAX we have been assigned 36 D and E. I have read a lot of comments with regards to window seats but not much about these middle seats and wonder if they are as good a value as all Premium economy seats with regards to comfort.

Thanks for indulging me in this long post.

not sure about the meal order on the west coast flights, usually you get a main meal around 90 mins after take off, then a sandwich (whopee chees and onion.....) a similar time before landing. in August you will benefit from the new PE service so who knows.

as for seats, seatguru.com gives info as does the seat rating page in the toolbox section of this site.

if there is just 2 of you I would certainly try for a window and aisle -just a bit more private.without a doubt the best seats are 28AC then 28 HK but you will have to be at the airport early to snag them

..wonder if they are as good a value as all Premium economy seats with regards to comfort.

I think broadly in comfort terms they are much of a muchness, unless you can get bulkhead or exit row when a bit of extra legroom may be available. Otherwise the judgements are around things like proximity to "the facilities", whether you like looking out of the window and whether you mind one of you having a neighbour for 11 hours who you haven't been given the opportunity to interview...

Well someone has to sit in the middle seats!

On a 747 the middle set is 4 seats - D/E and F/G pairs will be ok as at least one of you will be on the aisle so you will only be disturbing each other when you need to get out of your seat. what you don't want is to be in E/F seats !

The seats themselves are all the same. The middle ones are the same leather and leg room etc etc

As to the service there will be a drinks run once cruising altitude has been reached, then the main meal will be served plus a top up drinks run.

There may well be another drinks run later but there is nothing to stop you going to the galley for drinks.

Ice cream will make an appearance at some point too.

On the way back if the departure time is after 7PM the drinks and main meal are served at the same time to allow people to get some sleep.

Have a look in the Trip Reports section in the tool box.

Thanks for the responses so far.

Just a quick note to let you know some further info:-

Our SFO flight is at 10:35am and the LAX flight is at 15:30ish.

The reason I asked about the seats in the middle is because as much as we would love AC or HK seats they are all booked up on both flights unfortunately. I don't know if this will change at the airport or not. Also at the moment on SFO flight there is no one else in our row but that might change.

In PE I always try and get a middle section isle seat.
On the 340 all the window seats have a big box of electronics under the seat so you cannot get your feet under.
Middle seat on 240 has same problem.
Isle seats do not have the box so plenty of leg room. PLUS, I always like to sleep on flights.
If you are isle seat/window side then the window guy will disturb you to get in and out.
If you are isle/centre they can always go the other way to get out.

Not tried PE on 747.

Not meaning to bump a dead thread? But looking for some more responses from people who may had any recent flights.

Well someone has to sit in the middle seats!

On a 747 the middle set is 4 seats - D/E and F/G pairs will be ok as at least one of you will be on the aisle so you will only be disturbing each other when you need to get out of your seat. what you don't want is to be in E/F seats !

The seats themselves are all the same. The middle ones are the same leather and leg room etc etc

As to the service there will be a drinks run once cruising altitude has been reached, then the main meal will be served plus a top up drinks run.

There may well be another drinks run later but there is nothing to stop you going to the galley for drinks.

Ice cream will make an appearance at some point too.

On the way back if the departure time is after 7PM the drinks and main meal are served at the same time to allow people to get some sleep.

Have a look in the Trip Reports section in the tool box.

Ice cream never made a apperance on our last flight to MCO,must have been a oversight