V-Flyer

Hi all,

I now understand that some of the Heathrow based 747's have the new 'Config 4' where there is both Upper Class and Economy in 'The Bubble'. However can you book/reserve economy seats upstairs? or are they like the extra leg room seats on the Gatwick 747's where you have to pay a bit more when you get to the airport for them?

I'm sure I saw recently someone post that you should avoid these seats due to lack of space. Don't forget the overhead compartments are small.

I think these seats are blocked until OLCI stage, but like McMaddog has said, a couple of CC members (and maybe even a TR) have said these seats are ones to avoid, the aisle seat especially as the aisle is very narrow and will result in a lot of bruised legs.

It sounds a good idea, but as many here foresaw, the reality is not. For economy passengers the CC strongly try to prevent you from taking any exercise in the plane, so there's 33 or so of you in a very small space, for UC passengers they lose many of the benefits of being in UC.

As Neil has said, many have advised that it's not the best place to be, unlike PE upstairs was!

Thanks for your info!

will bear this in mind!, I'll have a search for some trip report with it in now!

Yes, it's an odd space.

The window seat is too far away to lean on the wall, and the aisle seat is constantly knocked due to the very small aisle.

See my TR (13th June BOS-LHR)

How is this configuration affecting the upper class bar?

A friend was in the bubble economy seats from lgw to bgi earlier this year. He sat at the UC bar some of the time and was not once asked if he was an UC passenger!!

As I'm off to bgi in a couple of weeks and sitting in UC I'm a little concerned!

Especially on a night flight I can't see people policing this too much. Middle of the flight part of the CC will be resting, those upstairs rarely will venture downstairs to be able to check, it just doesn't seem like it will work very well.

As a passenger, I would hate to have to be the one to go downstairs and call out "I saw you seating in the Y seats upstairs", it's not my job, but obviously folks are going to be pretty bent out of shape if this happens.

Clearly the logistics of going back to the old PE upstairs config where just too complex, requiring refit of two areas instead of just one, but as everyone has pretty much said from the get go, this is not working.

MarkedMan wrote:
Clearly the logistics of going back to the old PE upstairs config where just too complex, requiring refit of two areas instead of just one, but as everyone has pretty much said from the get go, this is not working.

A crew member told me at was because the new PE seats had not been certified for upstairs usage.

Hi,

I travelled with the family in UC to BGi in late May on "Tinkerbelle" which was configured with UC in the first 5 rows of the bubble and Economy behind - I was concerned how this would all work buit it was fine.

The Economy passengers have their own toilet, so no need to visit the two at the front of the UC section and it was all policed well - I found the 5 rows of UC very private and a wonderful experience, this was down to the CC who were attentive throughout (see travel report submitted) - we visited the bar downstiars and because the FSM had not visited the bubble to introduce herself - we were sort of challenged if we were UC passengers through another crew member, other than that is was fine.

I would certainly recommened UC in the bubble where possible.

On the VS006 last Monday we were in seats 12A/K.
The downsatirs loos were busy so I took a walk upstairs. The front row of the economy seats has loads of legroom and if I ever had to travel economy I would choose these.

My point being there was a family upstairs in UC and I'm glad I wasn't one of the other passengers up there on a night flight. Lets just say it wouldn't have been very peaceful.

Next point, I wasn't challenged by anyone on the two occasions I used the upstairs facilities. Mind you the crew were pretty useless. I will get round to a trip report eventually.