Another seat allocatoon gripe

Sorry for adding to the great seat debate but I'm going to anyway.

The seat map for my trip to the US has just (literally) opened and I eagerly tried to request seats for the trip only to find that two rows at the back and at the front of the PE cabin cannot be allocated because they are 'unavailable'. Having had the same problem on my past 2 trips to MCO I rang FC and posed the query. The answer given this trip - previous replies have been different - is that those rows are held back so that 'families can be seated together when they arrive at the airport'.
So why not hold back 2 (or 4) rows in the middle of the cabin for airport checkin ?
When I posed that question to the agent, the reply was along the lines that there was nothing else he could say other than to get to the airport early to try for the back row.
Now I realise that this is a minor hiccup and that there are numerous posters who will consider this to be a petty gripe. However, it just seems odd that I have only encountered this on the past 3 MCO trips, and only in PE on a 333. ?|
Any thoughts anyone?

[Neil]

I understand the holding back of the front row, as this has the basinet position and also being the bulkhead it is much better suited for pax needing special assistance.

Maybe the same is the case for the back row on the A333. Having travelled with a special assistance pax who had a specific requirement to be as close as possible to a toilet those seats would have been perfect. By keeping these two rows held back, it allows them to seat any special assistance pax if required on a flight but also gives them the option if no special assistance pax to seat some families should they have not managed to do so at OLCI.

I guess in all honesty the agent probably doesn't know the real reason and therefore just gives the most blanket response. It would be better if VS made an official policy on it, but I guess that is just wishful thinking on our part.

Thanks for that Neil.
Yes I understand the front row (not rows) being held back for basinet-requiring pax.
Yes I understand a row (not rows) close to the WC being held back for special needs pax.
BUT is it not about time that VS were upfront with the reason(s).

Not sure how true this is, but was told a couple of years ago by an ex-stewardess on VS that they hold back the last row of PE for potential op-ups from economy. They said that the back row of PE was the one that got most complaints about noise from galley/toilets/economy, and that people who were upgraded FOC were less likely to complain.

Hi Treelo,
This reason has been clear for years.
Bulk head rows are not able to be booked normally until the flight closes for the reasons already explained by Neil.
Can't really understand why the VS agent did not explain this.

It's a gift when you have young kids (babies) as we always got this automatically for the bassinet. Bit of a pain now when I have to travel PE, want to get off quick and have some extra room now tho!!!
J

Hi Treelo,
This reason has been clear for years.
Bulk head rows are not able to be booked normally until the flight closes for the reasons already explained by Neil
J

Thanks for that, LovingGold. Having used a basinet with one of my grandchildren, I am aware of the VS policy in that area. However, as originally posted, that does not satisfactorily explain why 2 rows at the front and 2 at the back of the cabin have been blanked out. You will no doubt be aware that there are only basinet positions at the bulkhead row.

that does not satisfactorily explain why 2 rows at the front and 2 at the back of the cabin have been blanked out. You will no doubt be aware that there are only basinet positions at the bulkhead row.

Toilets and easy(ier) access to.
Bulkheads for bassinets and rear seats for toilets. Seems the most logical reasoning to me.

I was once told they had 'saved' the rear row for crew to rest in !!

I was once told they had 'saved' the rear row for crew to rest in !!

Far be it from me to support any conspiracy theory, but crew rest is a well documented issue of the 333s. That said, surely saving these seats (ie not selling them) would deny VS a great deal of revenue and I am not convinced that this would be sanctioned by the company.

[Neil]

I was once told they had 'saved' the rear row for crew to rest in !!

Far be it from me to support any conspiracy theory, but crew rest is a well documented issue of the 333s. That said, surely saving these seats (ie not selling them) would deny VS a great deal of revenue and I am not convinced that this would be sanctioned by the company.

I have never seen working crew in these seats, even when the cabin has been only half full

I have never seen working crew in these seats, even when the cabin has been only half full

Oh I have, Neil, on the VS76 in May 11, when the middle blocks of rows 25 and 26 were 'blanketed off' for crew rest. In fact I made mention of it in my TR at the time - and that cabin was only half full.

I have experienced the back row A330 PE being unavailable via MMB, BUT when OLCI came up (in fact the day before) they were available, and requestable. Which we did. And mighty fine seats they were as well!

And mighty fine seats they were as well!

Precisely the reason I tried to request them, stevebrass. y) They really are excellent seats (and nobody prodding away at the IFE either). ):

And mighty fine seats they were as well!

Precisely the reason I tried to request them, stevebrass. y) They really are excellent seats (and nobody prodding away at the IFE either). ):

I have them in my sights for our April 20th MAN - MCO jaunt ):

And mighty fine seats they were as well!

Precisely the reason I tried to request them, stevebrass. y) They really are excellent seats (and nobody prodding away at the IFE either). ):

I have them in my sights for our April 20th MAN - MCO jaunt ):

Are the back row seats some of the best on A333 PE then? we're on VS75 & VS76 in May, 2 adults + 1 child, so was considering middle row of 3, a few TR have mentioned prodding in back by pax behind using IFE, I was concerned about space as I presumed the last row didn't fully recline? there's afew TR mentioning that space is poor if pax infront fully reclines their seat.

[Neil]

Are the back row seats some of the best on A333 PE then? we're on VS75 & VS76 in May, 2 adults + 1 child, so was considering middle row of 3, a few TR have mentioned prodding in back by pax behind using IFE, I was concerned about space as I presumed the last row didn't fully recline? there's afew TR mentioning that space is poor if pax infront fully reclines their seat.

All seats fully recline so no issue there.

I wouldn't personally ever choose the back row of 3. The issue I have is that the toilet door opens right on to the G seat and I would personally find that very annoying. The last row on either the AC or HK pairs would be fine though.

If you want a middle three, I would personally go for 22 or 23.

Neil

In terms of blocking seats off, the bulkhead seats are always blocked, so do not be suprised.

The further rows that are blocked are something of a mystery, however, it is still early days, and these seats may yet be reservable. There are many potential reasons for seat blocks: downgrades, crew rest, broken recline/IFE functions, etc. But 99% of the time, all non bulkhead seats that have not been reserved are available at check in.

Are the back row seats some of the best on A333 PE then? we're on VS75 & VS76 in May, 2 adults + 1 child, so was considering middle row of 3, a few TR have mentioned prodding in back by pax behind using IFE, I was concerned about space as I presumed the last row didn't fully recline? there's afew TR mentioning that space is poor if pax infront fully reclines their seat.

All seats fully recline so no issue there.

I wouldn't personally ever choose the back row of 3. The issue I have is that the toilet door opens right on to the G seat and I would personally find that very annoying. The last row on either the AC or HK pairs would be fine though.

If you want a middle three, I would personally go for 22 or 23.

Neil

Totally agree Neil. I too would stay away from the back row of 3, particularly on a night flight - they are very close to one of the WCs.
Incidentally, despite being so on my outbound, the back rows in PE inbound on the lower deck are not blocked off. Go figure!

Just completed seat requests for both of our LGW-MCO holiday flights in May 2013. PE tickets. Only 6 seats available in the bubble section the whole left side blocked out. Downstairs the front two rows were also blocked out in the 2-4-2 layout. Seven of us travelling so managed to get 19-17AC and 16C on both legs. I'm not sure why two front rows not available, the bulkhead I understand but not the second row. I am assuming that the VH allocation is still being taken in the bubble section so might have a look a couple of hours before OLCI in case they are released (with 7 pax not much hope though)

The last rows on the 330 in premium are great.

The toilets are separated by the aircraft doors and bulkhead so ar good seats.

On the 600 I'd avoid the last rows because of the toilets especially 23DFG.


But 330 is fine.

I just reserved 22 D, F & G in PE for VS075 flight to MCO on A330, seemed best row from what people have said, unless you can get the front or back row in PE, but that's probably for the airport as you cannot reserve them incase people need them for special requirements.

Seat reserving opened this weekend and I'm surprised how much had been reserved in PE, only the middle block of 3 had seats left to reserve, all the Window/Aisle seats were greyed out, could that be because we are flying as a family of 3?