First Time UC With Nervous Flyer

My wife and I will be flying to Barbados later in the year and have treated ourselves to Upper Class for the first time. What we are not sure about is whether to have seats on opposite sides of the aisle or behind each other on the same side as my wife is a little nervous on take off and landing. As this is our first time we want to make the most of it so any help you can give would be very much appreciated (along with any other tips of course[;)]

Side by side is probably best for eye contact, it's a small cabin on the LGW route so you might want to be right at the front to be closer to each other, but it does feel a little more cramped since you're in the nose of the plane.

Have fun, I'm flying to Barbados in April and am tempted to use my miles for another UC upgrade...

The Lounge at LGW isn't as good as the Heathrow one, but still very nice, and beautiful compared to the rest of the airport. Nice menu, good staff, all that gubbins!

[Nottingham Nick]

Welcome to V-Flyer denem

As mediamonkey says, have a great flight.

The best suites for couples has been discussed a few times.

Have a look at these threads for some other good opinions:

Link.

Link.

Link.

Link.

Some are a bit old, but others are more recent.

Nick

Thanks for the responses. I just need VH to tel VH our booking details now so I can try to pick the seats.

We are really looking forward to the holiday and experiencing the lounge for the first time. After we go again later this year we should have enough mailes for an UC reward fight so might go using a flight from heathrow so we can try the lounge their too

Originally posted by denem
Thanks for the responses. I just need VH to tel VH our booking details now so I can try to pick the seats.

I hope you get the seats you want - as a formerly nervous flyer one thing I always appreciated about being in the front was that you're a way away from the engines and a lot of the mechanics. All the wheezing and thumping used to get me edgy, but you hear a lot less of it at the front so likewise I hope your wife finds it much less nerve-wracking.

I think the only thing to note about being right in the front on the 747 is that the nose wheel bay is right underneath the floor in that cabin.

This means that you do get to hear all the whirring and thumping of the nose wheels on taxi, takeoff and landing.

Mike

Originally posted by denem
(along with any other tips of course[;)]

Two or three glasses of champagne before take off[;)]

I'll admit to being a bit of a nervous flier myself, especially like your wife during take off and landing and also in turbulence (yes First Officer, I know it's normal, but I still get a bit concerned). You are probably sitting in the best place. There is less feeling of movement at the front and as slinky said, you don't see the machinery out of the window. It feels a bit weird at first sitting off-centre when you accelerate or brake, but you get used to it. And think. You get to land on the ground after everyone else!

Have a great flight.

Phil

I admit to being a big scaredy-pants, especially during turbulence. And I find that the only place to fly for us nervous types is Upper Class. As mentioned elsewhere, you have a (generally) quieter time from the mechanics, and as long as you're aware that the wheels will be coming down and expecting them, then that doesn't bother me at all (if you Dont hear it, well...! )[:0]

I find being in a more relaxed part of the plane, with a seat that you can slink down in quite a way even during landing and take-off helps, as it's a different environment than the one you are used to getting scared in.

Plus of course there's that bar-full of Dutch courage when it gets too much! [y]

Seriously, there is no better way to fly for the less-than-confident passenger. Have a great time.

Downside of course is that like me, you'll now be unable to fly any other way [:(]

[ChuckC]

Welcome to V-Flyer and thanks for your membership.

You've already heard from some of our leading experts. The only thing I'd add is that the flying experience can be incredibly exciting and interesting. Allow yourself some deep breaths so that you can relax and enjoy the Virgin Atlantic experience. As a former nervous flyer, this prescription worked for me. And remember, if it wasn't safe the captain wouldn't be aboard!

Regards,
Chuck-