Row 18 or 19?/OLCI or CI?

[Neil]

Morning

Just a couple of quick opinion based questions if you would be so kind to answer pls:

1) Booked on VS045 in PE an currently in 19D&F (i think) was originally wanting to move to row 18 in one the 2's coz i thought it was an exit row, i now understand its a bulkhead so, which would be better as I've heard/read that the bulkheads aint to good (cant stretch out feet etc)?

2) If I've got my seats reserved, ie row 19, should i need to worry about doing OLCI or should I be ok to just check in at the PE desk when i get to Heathrow and get my reserved seats? but... if i wanted to get row 18 how early would i need to be at the airport to get it, unless i can get them with OLCI??

This is my 1st time PE and Im just slightly confused, but excited too!!:D

Thanks in advance
Neil

[HighFlyer]

Hi Neil

1) Booked on VS045 in PE an currently in 19D&F (i think) was originally wanting to move to row 18 in one the 2's coz i thought it was an exit row, i now understand its a bulkhead so, which would be better as I've heard/read that the bulkheads aint to good (cant stretch out feet etc)?

Id go for 18 if you can, but yes it is an exit row, so while you will get a lot more room you cannot pre-book it. Row 19 IIRC does not have a window, so if a view is important to you, you may want to move back to row 20 (my personal choice).

2) If I've got my seats reserved, ie row 19, should i need to worry about doing OLCI or should I be ok to just check in at the PE desk when i get to Heathrow and get my reserved seats? but... if i wanted to get row 18 how early would i need to be at the airport to get it, unless i can get them with OLCI??

If you want to nag the exit row i would check in as early as possible, otherwise just arrive at the airport as per usual. You will likely get the seats you reserved, but it is never guaranteed.

If you want an exit row, AFAIK you will still need to do this in person at the airport as the check-in agent will need to see that you are able to assist in an emergency. You can always OLCI and then go to the airport and see if you can switch to an exit row though. To grab the exit row you may need to get to check-in very early though, so its up to you how important it is weighed against how long you will be at the airport for, you could arrive to find the are gone [:(]

Im sure you will have a fab flight in PE regardless of which row you are in though.

Thanks,
Sarah

VS045 uses both 346's and 744's. Do you know which it is (The pictogramme on VS's site where you book your seats should tell you). However, as you are talking rows 18/19 and blukheads I will work on the assumption you mean a 346 and you are in PE, as 18 and 19 are UC suites on the 744 (and thus bulkheads doesn't seem relevant). My personal preference is for 18. However some have commented that you cannot stretch your legs out fully, and this is certainly true. There is still loads of space though, and the fact that you don't have someone reclining in front of you out weighs the lack of stretch IMHO.

There should be no requirement to use OLCI to keep your choice of 19 (if that is what you go for) and there is little advantage in that the PE queues at LHR are not too bad. However, you may want to use it nevertheless for peace of mind (you can still go to the PE checkin if the bag drop area is busy). If you want to bag rows 18 it is impossible to tell you how long before you should arrive - how long is a piece of string. Obviously the earlier the better. I am not sure if you can check in to bulkhead seats on line - perhaps someone else can confirm on this.

[HighFlyer]

VS045 leaves at either 9.30am or 14.00pm, depending on when you are departing. Check-in opens at 7am, so if you are on the 1400 flight, its not unheard of for people to have arrived at 7-8am or some other ungodly hour and bagged the exit rows [:(]

Thanks,
Sarah

...its not unheard of for people to have arrived at 7-8am or some other ungodly hour and bagged the exit rows

Er...that will be me then!

Jon

[HighFlyer]

Er...that will be me then!

Jon - please tell me that this was for a flight that at least departed during daylight hours?

[Neil]

Hi - sorry i was not more clear on my OP, im on the 9:30am flight and its on the A346. We are staying at a hotel on heathrow the night before and will be catching the hopper bus at 5:15am from the hotel (the earliest it starts) so shoudl be in airport for say 5:45 latest (im hoping)so do you guys reckon this will be earlier enough to get row 18, im not majorly bothered just would have prefered a 2, rather than been 2 out of a 3

Neil

[HighFlyer]

Neil,

If you are happy to get to the airport that early then i would say you are in with a good chance. You might want to check when check-in opens, i thought it was 7am (quick call to FC will tell you) as i wouldnt want you waiting around T3 for hours, waiting for check-in to open.

Sadly there are only two exit rows and one bulkhead row in PE on the A346 so it really is slim pickings. If you do not get 18, any of the other rows will be fine. You could go for row 21 as well, which while having a toilet behind may make it seem less attractive, you at least have nobody behind you?

Let us know how you get on

Thanks,
Sarah

Jon - please tell me that this was for a flight that at least departed during daylight hours?

Sarah - Well if I crooked my neck a little whilst looking out the aircraft window I could just see the sun dipping below the horizon...[:w]....does that count?

18 is a bulkhead not exit.

I don't like that row as there's no where to store your stuff other than the over head locker and i like having everything under the seat in front of me.

I'd check in on line - your seats are NOT guarenteed and if you are some of the last to check into W at the airport you will find that you have no held seats.

You can still check in on line then ask for a seat change when you drop your bags off.

[Neil]

Thanks lipstick - i thought 18 was a bulkhead too.

one question abt OLCI, do i have print something off to take to the airport as i dont have a printer at home so wouldn't be able to do so, or will i just need a reference number or something?

Nope - you don't need to bring the confirmation to the airport despite what it says. What we're looking for at the airport is your e-ticket/paper ticket and your passport.

Just tell the agent you checked in on line, that's all they will need to know.