First time with Virgin - Advice

Hi everyone!

I am Nic and new to the forum.

We are flying premium economy from Glasgow to Orlando in Sept 2019. I have never travelled before with virgin so excited and nervous I guess.

Our group is four people and we have booked the bubble seats 20A&C and 21A&C .

Just want to know what other peoples experiences have been with Virgin and the bubble?

Also sorry haha but has anyone organised the airport assist via Virgin before?

Thanks for reading my ramble!

Welcome Nic! I'm sure someone will be along soon to give you some specific advice about your route, cabin, seats and Virgin assist.

I just wanted to say hello, and to hope that your virgin Virgin is a great one! As many on here will tell you, much of the overall experience (good or bad) comes down to the crew. Cabin crew on all airlines can be variable, but my recent experience with Virgin (i.e. the last few flights this year in over 20 years of flying with them) makes me think think things are in a good place on that front at the moment (others might disagree!), so I'll keep my fingers crossed for you and your group!

Hi Nic. Welcome. I'm flying LGW-MCO next Wednesday!

I have flown in the bubble in PE several times and if not in Upper it's my favourite place on a 747 and my preferred airline for going to America. There are very handy bins by the side of the seat to keep things in to make up for some small bins overhead, lots of room and it's quiet even with some economy seats behind.

By Assist do you mean airport assistance for a disabled person? If not - don't read the next paragraph!

If yes then I am very wobbly on my feet and walk with a stick and always advise Virgin I need assistance to the gate as I can't walk long distances. You usually have to ask again at the airport though. At LGW it's always good but never done at GLA and at MCO you will be put in a wheelchair and wheeled very quickly through immigration and taken to where you want to go (in our case we always spend the first night at the airport hotel and drive off the following morning). Be careful though that whoever needs it can make it up the stairs on board. They've always been okay with me as I can get up there okay, but they can say no if they think it's an issue.

PE in the Bubble is great (although not as great as it was pre refurb ). We prefer 24A&C as people queuing for the loo tend to congregate in the aisle by rows 20 and 21. Mind you, the aisle is quite wide so you may not see this as a problem.

We always reserve the seats in the bubble whenever flying PE and have never had a bad experience. Recently had Tinker Belle to MBJ and the bins to the side are non existent On this aircraft!

Just enjoy the experience flying with the Queen of the skies.

Assistance and the Upper Deck.
I'm just wondering how much assistance you need at the airport and whether that will affect your choice of seating.

Some Virgin Atlantic flights have an upper deck on the Boeing 747-400 aircraft; however, those who have difficulty walking up and down stairs quickly cannot be seated in the upper deck.

That's from an article on disabled travelling on 'Cheap Flights'

If you don't actually need assistance I'd think twice before taking it or you may find your seat changed.

Dick D

Hi everyone!

I am Nic and new to the forum.

We are flying premium economy from Glasgow to Orlando in Sept 2019. I have never travelled before with virgin so excited and nervous I guess.

Our group is four people and we have booked the bubble seats 20A&C and 21A&C .

Just want to know what other peoples experiences have been with Virgin and the bubble?

Also sorry haha but has anyone organised the airport assist via Virgin before?

Thanks for reading my ramble!

Hi, flew this route and these exact seats 3 weeks ago (halfway through a trip report). In short the area around the seats was filthy (sorry!) on both the way there and back. Fold out TV in 20C was both very very stiff at one hinge and barely held on at the other so it would flap around. This was annoying but superficial for me. Crew were fantastic and service great, plenty of booze forthcoming! Overall, enjoyed the flight and experience.

Seats are very comfortable although overhead bins in row 20 are very small as cabin slopes in. Cabin crew will deliver a portable footrest to row 20 after takeoff.

Make sure you are up and ready at MCO as you can end up behind the entire upper deck (including economy) and PE and Upper downstairs for immigration. We were up quickly and down the stairs 3rd or 4th as the aisle is very wide you can pass other PAX who are still getting their gear together.

Enjoy Orlando!