Bad, Terrible experience on Virgin Atlantic

I have heard so many nice things about Virgin Atlantic, so I decided to give them a try What a mistake!!

After waiting for over an hour in the check in queue, the check in agent at LAX was very impatient and unfriendly. Without discussion, he simply put me in a middle seat and handed me my ticket. I enquired about what seat I had and he said a middle seat and there was nothing I could do about it. I asked if I could upgrade and was told to pay $120 to get a aisle seat and have more leg room. I was also informed there were no window seats to even upgrade to.

When I got to my seat, it was small and the arm could not up (I am not fat – I am 138 pounds and 5’6”). There was also no little foot rest. And it was literally right by the toilets. All three seats were not taken, so I decided I would move to the window after take off. But JUST prior to take off a man from row 41 came and sat down in my emergency row at the window – he did not pay $120 to upgrade and sat there the entire trip. I found that very unfair.

I also found it unfair that I had to pay $120 to get a “decent” seat, since the agent had lied to me and there was an aisle seat right behind me. But then the flight attendant made an announcement that other people could move around as NOT all seats were taken and someone immediately sat down behind me.

So for 10 hours I had a cramped, uncomfortable seat with no foot rest and the additional leg room I had paid for was taken up by people crowding in front of me waiting for the toilet and then I had to endure the smells that came with it. And, I was made to pay an additional $120 for this.

I complained to customer service and asked them to please do something to help me have a more comfortable return flight. They did not care and told me they are not contractually obligated to do anything about it.