747 - Bubble - Anyone had a empty seat next to them?

[vickitoria10]

We had 3 on row 79 and then the middle and the aisle row 78. No one took the window seat so we had 6 seats between 5, gave us a bit of extra room. This happened both ways too. This was may 2015.

[PPM]

Originally Posted by Bobbins

I wanted to gamble on booking aisle and window seats and leaving the middle seat empty in the side row of three but DW won't hear of it in case someone gets it and insists on sitting between us - which seems pretty unlikely to me.

Years ago I was on a flight on my own in an aisle seat in the centre four and "executive" looking woman was in the aisle seat at the other end with the middle two seats empty. As we got close to take off I commented it'd be nice if the seats stayed empty and she said "oh they will, I had them blocked out." Sure enough they stayed empty.

See more...

Id be surprised if VA would let you book like that. If plane is busy they would move you anyhow, quoting " operational needs" as excuse.

[ianc]

I flew out on VS16 on the Friday before Irma. There were only 105 passengers on the flight - I've never seen a plane so empty. There were just 7 in the bubble economy. I was in 80K, which I had reserved. No-one in H or J, so I had the row to myself. Similarly there was one person in 79A, who had that row to himself.
Great service from the crew - came round and chatted to everyone. Got treated more like PE - drinks in glasses and coffee was brought in a china mug! I have no idea if the other seats had been booked, and then cancelled - I don't bother to check such things. You are only entitled to the seat you paid for, and must assume all others might be taken. It is then a pleasant surprise if you are lucky and find there are a few spare seats.
Lots of single travellers like me. Also, Orlando is a major business destination - lots of large companies there and the the hotels host business conventions/conferences, plus there is a major convention centre on I-Drive (big as a theme park). It is naive to think that everyone on board is a family group on holiday - maybe on Thomson or Thomas Cook, but VA/BA are regular scheduled airlines.

[sky13]

Depends on how full the flight is! If the flight is full then every single seat will get taken up.

I travel solo (in fact flying solo tomorrow!) and almost always book a centre aisle seat if available - but if not, then I'll take any seat available!

[Bobbins]

Originally Posted by sky13

I travel solo (in fact flying solo tomorrow!) and almost always book a centre aisle seat if available...

See more...

I hope that's a common preference! We've booked extra legroom seats and took the aisle and centre in an outside row of three, leaving the window seat empty.

I looked last night and we're the only couple to have done that - all the other extra legroom seats have the aisle seat empty. I'm wondering if I should move us - right now if a single traveller wants a window seat our row is their only option!

[oxygen_thief]

My wife had a row of 3 to herself in the bubble on the flight back last time. We were a group of 6 so we spread out a little.

[Guest]

Yes we did last year on Dibbers row! Was fantastic!

[Guest]

Originally Posted by Bobbins

I wanted to gamble on booking aisle and window seats and leaving the middle seat empty in the side row of three but DW won't hear of it in case someone gets it and insists on sitting between us - which seems pretty unlikely to me.

Years ago I was on a flight on my own in an aisle seat in the centre four and "executive" looking woman was in the aisle seat at the other end with the middle two seats empty. As we got close to take off I commented it'd be nice if the seats stayed empty and she said "oh they will, I had them blocked out." Sure enough they stayed empty.

See more...

The splitting up to try to get a spare seat and then being lumbered with someone in between you is very common. Also common is the fact that they often will refuse to move - you had your chance to sit together and you blew it.

Every time I travel in ECO with virgin (which isn't often as except for Florida I am flying virgin for work and sitting in the big seats) I will go to the club house at LHR or LGW and work with the staff there to find a good seat and get them to block out the ones next to me if there is space, it's very common

[Guest]

Originally Posted by Bobbins

I wanted to gamble on booking aisle and window seats and leaving the middle seat empty in the side row of three but DW won't hear of it in case someone gets it and insists on sitting between us - which seems pretty unlikely to me.

See more...

Not as unlikely as you may think ( your DW is right ) , and that particular 'idea' has been the subject of much heated discussion on the Dibb only recently.

[stan_the_man]

We booked the aisle and centre seat once hoping that the window would stay free. When we boarded it turned out that we had the son from a family who were on the other side of the plane 4 rows in front. I guess they didn't mind being that separate. Thankfully he was polite and hardly ever got up to go to the loo!