Picking a seat on Virgin
 

Have a flight from the other side of the pond to US on Virgin for which we don't have seats. We have a party of four - mom, dad, hobbit 1, hobbit 2. Both halflings are less than 12, which is Virgin's cut off for treating them as adults. This means Virgin must, by its own rules, seat them adjacent to mom and dad.

Adjacent means: next to, directly across the aisle from, or directly in front/behind.

We can pre-purchase seats, but that's a bit of a waste for all four of us. My question is, if we pick seats for the (by age, not attitude) adults, could we limit Virgin's options sufficiently? For example - the plane is a 2-4-2 layout, if momma and I get windows in consecutive rows, is virgin near certain to put the halflings next to us?

Insights on Virgin's dealings with families appreciated.

I don't know that anybody here can answer what version will actually do. There seem to of been so many problems generally about seat selection, families being separated at Cetera in the news lately but I wouldn't count on anything working 100%.

Pressed send before I finished my thought. Well virgin promises to see your child next to one of you, if the flight fills up it may involve having to rearrange at the gate, gate agents having to deal with it which is one of their least favorite things, so While they guarantee that no child will sit by themselves next to a stranger, and practice they may not care until they're faced with the fact they have to reseat some people to accommodate your children.

I had similar thoughts/ problems last June when I booked 5 adults and 3 kids under the age of 12 on BA. They promise the same thing about seating kids with an adult. The seating was the same configuration. My situation was more complicated by the larger number, but it worked out. Sorry I have no experience with Virgin, but I think your plan is the best option and what I'd do. I'd also get to the airport early just in case you have a problem and need to work magic at check- in.

The party could be split up as only 2 seats out of the 4 are booked, so dad might end up with one child and mom with the other.

<<The party could be split up as only 2 seats out of the 4 are booked, so dad might end up with one child and mom with the other.>>

Actually, O one-eyed one, the technique would be to book seats only for mom and dad in consecutive rows so that would keep the family as a whole close. Usually one kid likes me and the other doesn't at a given time and then they switch - a technique that prevents me from rewriting the will in anything but pencil. We just want to ensure each kid has a parent with him or her.

I'm not familiar with booking seats on Virgin. I know that on BA,if traveling as a family and with children, you can book several days earlier than the usual 24 hour preflight. If that's true of Virgin, then you certainly increase your chances of getting seats together. I think you'll be okay proceeding as you plan. If not have kids prepared for an awarding winning performance of distress over not being able to sit with proper parent. Flight attendents hate dealing with crying,unhappy children. Makes them look bad.;)

<<the technique would be to book seats only for mom and dad in consecutive rows so that would keep the family as a whole close>> That is what you will likely get, if you prebook seats in consecutive rows. And if someone is prebooked next to your prebooked seats, they might have to be moved to accommodate you and your kid next to you.

<<O one-eyed one>> No idea what you are on about, один is odin, meaning the number one in Russian, pronounced adin.

<< If not have kids prepared for an awarding winning performance of distress over not being able to sit with proper parent. >>

This won't take much work ...

><<O one-eyed one>> No idea what you are on about, один is odin, meaning the number one in Russian, pronounced adin.

They were usingOdin as a reference to the Old Norse god, sometimes depicted as having only one eye.

NoFlyZone: I tried that explanation, got a snarky response from the One Eyed One . . . and both were deleted.

Ha! I shall watch with interest, (and with two eyes). May miss, though, as am headed to Europe on Saturday...

Is there some reason you don't like aisle seats? Because then you could both book aisle seats in the center section and presumably the 2 kids would be in the middle of both of you.

Christina, it's usually best not having siblings sitting next to each other especially on a long flight.

Yes it's always good to seperate kids ! One on o e with a parent is ideal.