New to forum and Virgin - questions

Hi
I am very excited to be flying with Virgin to Cancun in August.
I have premium economy seats and have checked the website and am even more excited to see that the aircraft is a 747 and that a lot of the PE seats are upstairs. However, I am unable to pre book seats - don't know why and Customer Service at Virgin didn't know why.
I am planning to do twilight check in at Gatwick so I wondered whether anyone could suggest which seats I should ask for?
I also wondered how I can tell which layout of the 747 we will be on?
Any other hints and tips gratefully received.
Rachel.

[honey lamb]

Hi and welcome to V-Flyer

At the moment the reason you cannot request seats on flights leaving Gatwick because the planes that service those routes (all 747s) are undergoing a refit which will alter the layout of the PE cabin. One plane has already been refitted and is just back in service and another one is undergoing its refit but there are five more to be re-fitted after that. Because it is not known until 24 hours beforehand which plane will service which route Virgin Atlantic decided to disable the seat map to avoid confusion and potential disappointment when passengers lost their chosen seats (which are never guaranteed in any case)

You best bet is to check the seat map when OLCI opens 24 hours before the flight. Although you are planning to do Twilight check-in we would recommend you do OLCI as soon as you can. You need not print your boarding pass and you can still use Twilight check-in

Thank you so much for your quick reply.

Any recommendations which seats I should choose on OLCI?

Thank you so much for your quick reply.

Any recommendations which seats I should choose on OLCI?

Old Configuration - probably most likely

PE in the bubble is excellent but we prefer 75 a and c at the back.

PE downstairs is not so favoured.

seat map

http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/en/gb/al ... /index.jsp

New Configuration - probably not so likely

No trip reports, but my feeling is that the new enlarged PE downstairs may be better then PE in the bubble. The bubble will now be shared with economy; so the PE section will be smaller.

let me stress = this is my opinion I have no experience of the refitted aircraft yet.

seat map

http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/en/gb/al ... sp?type=16

Welcome to V-Flyer y)

Thank you, that's so helpful.

What is the bubble?

[Neil]

Thank you, that's so helpful.

What is the bubble?

The bubble is the nickname for the upper deck on the 747 a/c

Bubble= Upstairs on the 747, I think?

Thanks all

Thanks all

Where are you staying? I'll be going to Cancun on 7 July ( gloat ) and will do a full TR.

We're staying at the new GBP Sian Kaan, Riveria Maya
I've just been reading some TR's so I will take my notebook and pen with me so I can write one when I get back!
My husband already despairs at my Trip Advisor reports and now I have found this website, it's kept me going for hours already!

We're staying at the new GBP Sian Kaan, Riveria Maya
I've just been reading some TR's so I will take my notebook and pen with me so I can write one when I get back!
My husband already despairs at my Trip Advisor reports and now I have found this website, it's kept me going for hours already!

Welcome and keep on posting