V-Flyer

Hi everyone longtime lurker first time poster here!!
ive flown virgin twice into mco both in economy and this year we have bit the bullet and gone pe outbound and inbound.
i have a couple of questions these may have been answered a thousand times ,sorry , i did try and search though!!
first question is are the toilets bigger than in economy??
second question i have prebooked seats 79 a+c as these looked good on the seat ratings and for the inbound night flight i booked 80 h+k
but i have since read 80 h+k dont recline as far back as the others because of the galley wall is this true? and i have heard that passengers gather round this are for drinks and can be noisy.
also do 79 a+c have recline restrictions because of the stairs??

any help will be gratefully received guys.

thanks peter

Welcome to the light Peter - Much better than lurking in the dark. The toilets in PE are not larger than in Y. In fact ISTBC but I don't think they are any bigger in UC either. So putting blare spin on it - the toilets in PE are the same size as in upper

I am not familiar with the MCO 744's so will leave someone more expert than me to answer. Quite a few of the more experienced members are at a social event this weekend, so if you don't get an immediate response please do not worry.

Peter
Good morning. Sailor 99 is right about the toilets. You have picked the best seats in the upper deck section of the plane. I would choose exactly the same. Dont worry about recline the diference is negligable. The best thing is nobody is behind you. The other benefit which nobody seems to mention is the width of the aisle, it must be double the width of economy which means even when the trolleys are out you can still walk up and down.

Hi Peter

You might find this link useful http://www.v-flyer.com/features.asp

Scroll down to seat ratings and check it out.

Cheers

Trevor

thanks guys very quick and informative!!
i did change to ob and ib to 79 a+c but might change back to 80 h+k for the nightflight as then there will be no-one beside us either.
one more question sorry!! when people in front recline does it encroach on your space a lot or do you not really notice. i know in economy when someone reclines you sure notice!!

thanks peter

Peter
Keep to your original seats. If you have only ever flown economy you will think you have died and gone to heaven. Row 80 is the best, purely as there is no one beside you.

Peter
To answer your last question dont worry about the people in front reclining as you will be in the recline position immediately after take of until landing without feeling consious of upsetting anyone behind. The best seat is 80k as you have a storage area on the floor to the right of you which also acts as a side table. Enjoy, you wont want to get off the plane.

Hi pete,
upstairs in the jumbo is super its like being in your own private jet with 20 poeple dont worry about the seats to much they a all good we always take our kids with us so we always go for 79 ac for them and us in front dont forget you get on first and take your seat and get your chams,you get off first more food choice kids get a nice sleep on the way home its great we will never go back i am saving up my miles at the moment for uc next year[|)].
no mouse for us this year its Barbados in PE [y]hurrrrrraaaa [8D]

have a great time (i put some photo links on last year, use the search at the top of the page for PE seats and a post with my name )

regards

Dave

Agree - upstairs is so, so so, much better than the PE bit downstairs - but I've thrown in my twopence worth about that in a previous thread! I admit to smiling when I read the question about the loos - as I'd wondered just the same thing myself!!! But no, they are no different, there's no extra room for a jacuzzi or even a bidet in there, and you'll certainly be glad you didn't bring your cat along!

Enjoy though - we made the mistake of 'biting the bullet' as well once, just to try it out. Once you've tried, it'll be tough going to the back again.....[^]

I have to agree with the above. Any seat on the upper deck in PE is great... It REALLY is like having your own small plane! And, the super wide isle helps the feeling of space and luxury!

Avoid PE downstairs at all costs... I always feel a bit cheated when I end up down there... Yes, you have the extra seat space etc, but 4 seats next to each other! And, when the carts are out, you can get past!

Maybe Virgin should change the PE product downstairs... Remove 1 of the 4 in a row seats. That would make it on a par with upstairs for passing by carts etc.

Originally posted by Danno


Maybe Virgin should change the PE product downstairs... Remove 1 of the 4 in a row seats. That would make it on a par with upstairs for passing by carts etc.

Nice thought. Unfortunately while they are generally getting bums on all the seats I think it is rather unlikely.

hi guys i have picked my seats upstairs in the bubble 79 a+c outbound and 80h+k inbound.
but what are the chances of being put downstairs?
you know if aircraft change or cancelled flight.
i remeber last year a lot of vs27s were cancelled and people moved to the later flight.
would people who were allready booked on the late flight take priority over pre booked seats?

Peter - Your seat assignment is never guaranteed until you are actually sitting in it. Even then I have been moved on one occassion, although that was somewhat exceptional. VS will, I am sure do their best to accomodate your pre-choice. You can improve your chances still further by using on-line checking - Just go to the VS site 24 hours before you fly or do a search for the term OLCI on this site. Either way, most of the time people get their prepicked choice of seats.

hi sailor99 i willbe useing twilight check in as we have to fly from the isle of man and stay the night at the hilton gatwick.
so instead of online check in i would rather get rid of cases.
we should be there for when twilight opens so i should be ok?

Originally posted by peter
so i should be ok?

Yes, I suspect you will be (but no guarantees remember!)

Remember to do a Trip Report for us when you get back, and enjoy your tip.

is it possible to do both do online checkin before i leave home then arrive at gatwick and give my luggage to twilight check in ??

Yes, but probably not necessary!

Originally posted by sailor99

Originally posted by Danno


Maybe Virgin should change the PE product downstairs... Remove 1 of the 4 in a row seats. That would make it on a par with upstairs for passing by carts etc.

Nice thought. Unfortunately while they are generally getting bums on all the seats I think it is rather unlikely.

I know that! Its a shame they have 2 tiers of product/personal space under the same name!! Makes it some what ov a gamble when you choose it!

Originally posted by danno Avoid PE downstairs at all costs... I always feel a bit cheated when I end up down there... Yes, you have the extra seat space etc, but 4 seats next to each other! And, when the carts are out, you can get past!

Maybe Virgin should change the PE product downstairs... Remove 1 of the 4 in a row seats. That would make it on a par with upstairs for passing by carts etc.

So agree with your feelings of being cheated when plonked downstairs. Last time that happened we really felt like not bothering with Virgin anymore. The ambience just isn't there. Bums on seats, yes I can see the argument, but passengers paying more have every reason to feel disgruntled when in that situation.

OK, soapbox going away now....

{Edited Sailor99 : Tidied up quote}

79 a & C win every time - especially 79 c - there is an extra table to your right that no-one else in PE has!! Personally if you sit there on the way out then I think you will want them on the way back too. All the Window PE seats have a storage locker/ table area to the left or rigt side but only 79C has this extra table!!

I would sugest you do OLCI and then check in where the queue is shortest - either PE or Bag drop!!

You will also be one of the first to disembark from the plane too - which is great for US Immigration!!

Make sure yoru bags get tagged PE when you check in then that way they will be iff the plane first after the UC bags - saves waiting at the carrousel!!

Have fun - and file that TR!!

Generally speaking all the loos are the same size, my girlfriend was quite amused when she saw this question and it leaves a lot to her imagination why you want to know ?? PLEASE DONT ANSWER.

On the A340s the toilet just befoe the doors in the middle Left Hand side are larger but that does not help you on A LGW B744.

The seats you have chosen are fine, though I Would like to point out to everyone who for mostly genuine reasons have slated Premium Economy on the main deck, that the Cabin baggage stowage is normal overhead lockers as opposed to the upper deck which is considerably smaller. they were originally designed before the Luggage companys invented Cabin Suitcases on wheels.

But there is always the cupboard for stowage at the top of the stairs if you need. though getting items mid-flight can be difficult with other bags in front, so only place the bag once you have items required for the flight.