747 PE Seat Choice

Hi all,

I’ve finally booked our reward PE LGW to LAS flights and looking to select my seats. Currently all the window seats on both the upper and lower deck are taken and only seats in the center block are available. I’m not keen on the idea of sitting in the center (I’ve never done it), prefer the privacy of the two seats on the side. The bulk head on the upper deck are showing as available but after calling FC it appears you can only request these by arriving early at the airport. Given the time of the flight and the distance to the airport we are likely to only arrive two hours before the flight so this option seems unlikely.

I’ve always wanted to experience sitting in the bubble so I’m somewhat disappointed. I know this is probably silly but given the seat choices available I’m considering downgrading to ECO where there are at least lots of window seats available. What do people think? Please talk some sense into me!

I have done the flight twice in that cabin and each time we chose 19A and 19C
The biggest advantage is first off the plane and up to border control. We were there this February and we through checks in about 5 minutes.
Mrs D is not convinced the seats fully recline, but I am told they do and I couldn't notice any appreciable difference.
The A/C row is not disturbed by the toilet which is over the other side.
Dick D

[buns]

To add to what dicky has already said, the VS Flights between LGW and LAS can be very popular (read busy) on certain days of the week and do not forget that PE seats can be booked in advance, whereas Economy seats incur a charge, so it may not be as empty as would at first seem.

Whilst I can understand your disappointment at not being able to get into the bubble, the benefits of PE on a 12 hour flight should not be forgotten. If it were me, I would remain in PE and make the most of it -hoping that something goes in my favour at check in.

buns

Booked PE to LAS for next Monday 7 months ago and got the last two bookable seats in the bubble then. Booked through Virgin Holidays and got them to check availability upstairs before confirming the dates as we were flexible. Given the choice on this flight length I wouldn't give up a PE seat. The difference between me looking forward to the flight and just getting through it!

Now hoping that G-VROS will be taking us. Never been flown by her.... yet!

G-VROS.....

To add to this, for our trip to Vegas in October our return is PE (LAS - MAN) and we managed to grab a pair in the bubble. Now due to some complications I decided to try and change my seat options a few weeks after selecting 24A/C, however the website would not allow me to select any other seats, claiming I was trying to select outside of my cabin, even though I was not.

In the end I went on the Virgin Atlantic web chat service, and the operator took a look at my booking and went through the availability that was left, and they were able to offer us 20H/K at the front of the bubble, which they can still do so right now if we wanted to. So far I've decided to stick with 24A/C as we then don't have the guilt of fully reclining back into someone else, plus I prefer the TV's on the seat back as opposed to in the armrest. Might be worthwhile trying the online webchat as if the bulkhead seats are still available upstairs they may be able to bag them for you!

Thanks all for your words of wisdom. I’ll stick with the PE as I know on the day I’d be kicking myself in ECO. Think it was just a case of excitement for the bubble only to be disappointed. Hopefully something will work out.

Personally I would stay in PE, grab a couple of seats for the time being and check on a daily (or more frequently!) basis for any seats becoming available, as I have seen this in the past. Failing that I would call between 48 and 24 hours ahead of the flight an see if they can allocate the front row seats. These are held back for babies and medical cases until checkin opens (supposedly). Last time we flew PE there weren't any seats available for assignment when we booked
(which was late) and since I had booked over the phone the lady requested the front row seats for us and we got them.

Thanks all for your words of wisdom. I’ll stick with the PE as I know on the day I’d be kicking myself in ECO. Think it was just a case of excitement for the bubble only to be disappointed. Hopefully something will work out.

IMHO, PE upstairs lost a lot of its appeal when at least half of the seats were changed to the Y variety. Me and the present Mrs Treelo used to love the PE product on the top deck - last two seats by the fruit bowl were our favourite - but now PE in a 744 for us is 19A and C on the lower deck.