Which UCS seats to choose with limited options

Hi

I'm sure people have asked similar questions before but my quick search hasn't given me any results (probably something to do with my search terms). Anyway....

In a few months, I shall be travelling with the young Clouds (now 6 and 2) in Upper, both ways on a 747, but one way LHR config and the other LGW. I think my preference would have been to be as close as possible to the front (ideally 6 A and K) with one child beside me in 7 A or K, ie I think it would be best to be able to see what the 2 year old is up to during take off and landing. The problem is that there isn't much choice left. On the outbound, the ticket agent chose 4 A and K and 5 A. These could be fine, but are there any problems with being upstairs (is it out of sight, out of mind?). We could have 7 A and K and 8 K on that flight. Is that a better bet?

The return on the LGW config gives us 10 A and 11 A and K. It looks like my sight line to Baby Cloud will be obscured by the bar? Is this fear well founded? The other options are either 9,10 and 11 A (ie all in a line) or 8K, 9A and 10A. I'm just not sure how well I'll be able to keep an eye and it will be Baby Cloud's first time on his own seat. At least when he was on my lap, I knew exactly what he was doing!

Sorry about the long ramble, but if anyone has any insights to share, I'd be glad to receive them.

Many thanks

EC

[honey lamb]

10 and 11 A/K will be obscured from each other by the bar on the LGW flight. I'd go for one of the other options.

Thanks for the advice, Honey Lamb. I'd best try and change the seats, so that mother's beady eye can be employed to full effect.

Hope all is well.

EC

Isn't it VS policy to sit young children with their family. Therefore I think that even if you can't change beforehand they will rejig at checkin (arrive earlyish)

Perhaps one of the more experienced v-flyers could confirm

[HighFlyer]

Yup, when you check in, they will do all they can to ensure that you are sat together if you are travelling with children, moving pre-allocated passengers if necessary. If you check in late, i have seen people being asked to move on board to accomodate families.

I cannot imagine that anyone would be silly enough to seat a Mother and two children either side of the bar!

EC - When you get to check-in, just point at your little Clouds and request the seats you want, explaining your need to keep an eye on both of them at all times. I am sure you'll get the seats you need.

Thanks,
Sarah

Thanks for the reassurance. I don't like to inconvenience other passengers who have set their heart on particular seats. On the other hand, I guess they'd rather not become surrogate parents to the little Clouds. Baby Cloud in particular with all his tubes and medical paraphanalia would scare the whatsits out of them. It does me!