Cheap airline seating

BambiD

We are going on an 11 hour BA flight. Unfortunately on our last long haul I had someone sitting next to me who also took up a lot of my seating space which meant a very uncomfortable flight, he was embarrassed but could not move over and I was very uncomfortable and felt very awkward. To avoid this, I have been on-line and booked a row with just 2 seats which has cost £64 per person each way. I am not leaving it to chance as a friend who works for BA has confirmed the flight is full. I cannot believe I have had to pay this price to have some comfort. Disgraceful BA.

baza52

DIN wrote: »

Thank you Richard. I am well aware the exit window should be disposed of, leaving the exit clear for passengers to escape. My question is where should I put it? Even the girl in the YouTube video holds it while looking around, it doesn't show what she eventually does with it. Even so, she doesn't have passengers packed in all around her. Those close around me are not likely to helpfully take it from me as there will be a panicing press of people all around just wanting out. Lay it on the floor? So passengers can trip over it and possibly fall? I worked as cabin crew some years ago but I remember we had adequate space by the exit windows to park the thing quickly.

you post it through the hole where the window used to be

baza52

Gook wrote: »

Why do we have to pay to sit together?
When I go to a restaurant with my wife they dont say "oh if you want to sit at the same table it will be extra". It is automatic
You should be be able to select seats together at time of booking for free.Yes if your the last ones to select then that is tough.
As regards weight distribution me and my wife probably weigh less together than some that get on on their own.
Why do they specify 5kgs hand luggage and weigh it if they think its more, but a guy 50kgs heavier than me can get on without excess baggage charges

All airlines are robbing us blind over this.

So they split up families and I have to sit next to someone else's crying and wailing child.
When can I select a seat that they guarantee is not next to either an obese, noisy, drunk or smelly person. Now that would be worth a little extra.

VA will alow you to pay a premium for an empty seat next to you.

baza52

whether your going on a plane, to the cinema or on a bus or train you cant gaurantee that your party will all be able to sit together. If paying extra allows this to happen i dont see a problem with it.

ambambino23

I think Virgin have recently changed their economy flights.

From my understanding if you were to book a flight now going economy with cabin luggage you would get to select your seats for free, HOWEVER if you booked flights say in January for May this year with cabin luggage you would have to pay at least £30pp each way.

Brats64

ambambino23 wrote: »

I think Virgin have recently changed their economy flights.

From my understanding if you were to book a flight now going economy with cabin luggage you would get to select your seats for free, HOWEVER if you booked flights say in January for May this year with cabin luggage you would have to pay at least £30pp each way.

If this is the case,then it’s an absolute disgrace.
Why should early bookers be penalised?
So I booked in December for 3 to travel to New York in May,if I want to pick seats each way it will cost me £180...but if someone books today for the same flight they can get preference over their seating choice for free...not having that.

ambambino23

Brats64 wrote: »

If this is the case,then it’s an absolute disgrace.
Why should early bookers be penalised?
So I booked in December for 3 to travel to New York in May,if I want to pick seats each way it will cost me £180...but if someone books today for the same flight they can get preference over their seating choice for free...not having that.

I know, I am absolutely livid about this. For our party to pay for our seats together on both legs of our journey it will cost £420 altogether. I feel like now we have to pay to sit together because new bookings on that flight will have the free option to book and therefore will so the chances of us getting seats together in the last 72-24 hours have diminished.

I have logged into their chat function on their website and have already complained about this and been fobbed off as the T&C from when we booked remain in place without exception.

iltisman

Booking early is always bad for me especially if there is a connecting flight.
The flight times always seem to change to my disadvantage and if I pay for a specific seat the aircraft type is changed and the seat is in a different place. My last Virgin flight changed timings twice and my seat requests were ignored. I requested a flight which was closer to the one I selected originally and they wanted £160 to do that.

Brats64

ambambino23 wrote: »

I know, I am absolutely livid about this. For our party to pay for our seats together on both legs of our journey it will cost £420 altogether. I feel like now we have to pay to sit together because new bookings on that flight will have the free option to book and therefore will so the chances of us getting seats together in the last 72-24 hours have diminished.

I have logged into their chat function on their website and have already complained about this and been fobbed off as the T&C from when we booked remain in place without exception.

I have just spoke on the phone first to customer services,then escalations...they are not bothered about the changes.
Basically there are now 3 levels of budget class To chose from.
Their claim is it will cost more now for the “classic” option which includes picking of seats at no extra charge.

I said,but prices change every day,so to say that somebody booking the same flight as I did in December will pay more is rubbish...they may well pay less,but get the seating included.
She understood my point,but said I accepted their t&c when booking,and they were still in place.

What everyone who booked with Virgin economy pre 17th March booked is basically the equivalent of the economy classic package..but the economy classic now includes seat choice.:mad:

I said would it not have been a gesture of goodwill to allow those who booked before 18th March to pick their seats for free as it’s the same “package”....she said no-one had asked that before and she would make a note of it.

As you say,we are losing out both ways as everyone who makes a booking now on the standard budget option will get their seat confirmed straight away...leaving those who have already booked to either pay up also,or risk separate seating.

Also their cheapest option of economy light has cabin baggage only.
Who goes transatlantic with only hand luggage ?

richardw

Brats64 wrote: »

...Who goes transatlantic with only hand luggage ?

I can do 3 nights anywhere with just hand luggage.
If it’s the US I go in my old clothes, buy new for the return and give the old to the thrift store.