BigDavyG

OK, I'm 6'3" too and always hint at the upgrade thing when I check in but have never been successful.
Any tips for making it to the promised land of 1st class. Do you usually travel smartly dressed ??? (I'm always in jeans)
Do you really try it on with the check-in staff ?? (I usually make subtle hints but nothing else)

As I'm flying home with American in 2 weeks i'd appreciate a few pointers from a master

ladygwennie

I lost it with Virgin Atlantic about 3 years ago. The first and only time i flew them. I was flying to JFK outta heathrow and all seemed fairly good, noticed that the entertainment system was far superior than BA's and thought this could be good, the food was so so and leg room nothing to write home about, but i figured might well have been worth the price, until we are circling the NY area. The captain comes over the loud speaker and tells us theres a large storm and we can't land, so we are circling. OK not a huge deal, maybe an hr later, he comes back on and tells us we will be landing in Newark instead of JFK, ok at this point im getting a lil annoyed but not getting angry yet. Then 5 mins later he gets on and tells us that there is not enough fuel to get to newark, so we are flying to boston to refuel, at that point practically the whole plane started to give the typical wtfs. So we land in boston, and we are already 3 hrs past our scheduled arrival. So we are all asking the flight attendants if the people on the ground were going to be notified of what was going on. They said if we wrote out a name, number and message they would contact them all. So we did, and it relieved me a little, as i had my bf and his family waiting there for me (first time i was gonna meet his parents). So after a very long wait at logan airport, stuck on the plane, we finally take off and get to jfk. Arriving now 8 hrs late and having to get through a ridiculously long immigration line. Well i got in, and it turned out that VA never contacted anyone waiting for the flight to come in, in fact they told them all we were in newark, was only because my now father in law is a cop, that he managed to get the information that we were sent to boston. Was probably the worst flight ever, not only because of what happened, but the misinformation that was given throughout. Since i have only ever flied BA and AA, for domestic american flights i have to say jet blue is the best, i wish they were in the midwest now and that they will decide to do international flights.

paul_TX

Here's a useful site http://www.v-flyer.com/ . There's an area where you can click on the seat map to see travelers comments about that particular seat. You really should pre-book your seats.....on ANY airline.

The OP might want to post some comments in the forum on the v-flyer site too. I know that Virgin employees sometimes monitor this forum and reply/comment.

Personally, I wish Virgin would start flying to DFW. I have enough FF miles for 6 roundtrips

Guelder Rose

I remember when the exit seats were free ... I was told you could only get one at check in so to arrive early. On one flight I was the first person to check in and yet all the exit seats were taken!! There was no explanation as to how all the exit seats had been taken when I was the first one to check in, so I figured that they must be giving them out to their friends.

When they started charging for them, it didn't matter what time I checked in, I always got an exit seat, so I was more than happy to pay. The only thing I did find odd was that it cost considerably more for an exit seat UK to US, than vice versa. Of course, the only downside to an exit seat was that they all seem to be situated right next to the toilets, so you end up having people queueing beside you for the entire flight ... hearing the toilet being flushed and sometimes being subjected to unpleasant aromas for an eleven hour flight!

My husband is 6' 3" and he was always given an exit seat FOC without asking! Also, if you happen to be a police officer that guarantees you an upgrade to first class as long as all the seats are not already taken.

scrubbedexpat099

I always try for the front row with the bulkhead.

Often they give those seats to those with babies, but if they do ask you to move they will often move you up friont if they have a seat.

Russ&Jayne

From what I've read, they never allocate exit seats to people unless there are special circumstances like height etc. They like to keep them free (if the flight isn't full) so the exit is always clear in an emergency.

I still don't understand why people don't book their seats in advance? It saves a whole lot of hassle and means you can check in any time without worry. Having said that, I've racked up enough miles and always travel on upgrades now so have forgotten what it's like to travel with you plebs

ladylisa

My favourite airline by far is BA, I have never had any problems with them in air. My only complaint is the check in process at Heathrow, far too chaotic. The worst flight I've ever had by far was Air Lingus. I would not wish to fly with them again, once we had our meal the Air Stewards went into their area and never came out. I had to go up to them and ask for a drink! You would think I had asked for the crown jewells by their reaction.

Englishmum

All you need to do is go to http://www.ba.com and go to the 'manage my booking' section. For economy class passengers you can check in in online within 12 hours of your flight departing,,,,then all you need to do when you get to Heathrow, Newark or wherever they allow you to do so is to go to the "Fast Bag Drop" area to deposit any suitcases you are checking in. Much faster than standing in a queue...especially at T4 when the flights are going all over the planet. First and Business Class passengers can check-in online 24 hours ahead.

Actually my husband was recently in a taxi in central London on his way to Paddington for the Heathrow Express. He was running late (as usual) and phoned me in New Jersey and asked me to go to the PC and check him in online otherwise he wouldn't have made his flight! Lucky for him that I was at home. He made the flight by the skin of his teeth....but his checked in bag didn't and they had to courier it to our house the next day LOL!



[/QUOTE]
The worst flight I've ever had by far was Air Lingus. I would not wish to fly with them again, once we had our meal the Air Stewards went into their area and never came out. I had to go up to them and ask for a drink! You would think I had asked for the crown jewells by their reaction.[/QUOTE]

Yeah.. that was exactly the same experience I had on the Virgin flight....pretty much the whole economy cabin crew just cleared off for a very long time - they were all a very young crew and couldn't care less. On the other hand, all the cabin crews on American/Continental Airlines seem to be getting on and almost ready for retirement and can be very grouchy and rude.

The nicest crews are on Asian airlines. Singapore Airlines will only employ female cabin staff weighing 47 kilos or less and very few are past their mid-30s except for a few very experienced attendants in First Class. The airline really plays on the image of the 'Singapore Girl'....

BigDavyG

Aer lingus are like easyjet long haul. Service is absolute pish - usually takes about an hour for them to collect the trays after the meal.

ladygwennie

BA is definitely one the better airlines, i find though that for checking in, it is bar far the best, due to the fact its in T4, as with aa or va T3 can be a nightmare depending on when you're flying, for an aa flight i got there 3 hrs early and it took me an over an hr and a half to get through check in, very frustrating, as i hadda go straight through security. Never flown Air Lingus, but i have heard nothing but bad stories about them, seems that all attendants should remember, that us passengers are customers (in economy or first class) and the customer is always right LOL (or nearly always lol)

Englishmum

My mum once flew into Newark with Aer Lingus (they stopped this route after 11th Sept) and raved about how they make a lovely cup of tea LOL!

My mum can be so embarrassing. She came out to visit us in Singapore (almost a 14 hour flight) and she loves her tea - the kettle is always on at her house. She knows that you only get a small cuppa on planes.....so she took a large mug from home on board with her....and yes, she managed to get it filled by the flight attendants!

BigDavyG

By the sounds of things you're pretty well travelled EM.
Any tips on how to get upgraded - I never seem to have too much success

scrubbedexpat099

Generally they work their way down the hierachy in their frequent flyer club.

ladygwennie

Also doesn't hurt to look the part!!

BigDavyG

Yeah, that's what i was wondering about. I always travel in jeans. No chance of me doning a whistle for an 8 hour flight on the off chance that i get upgraded.