V-Flyer

Hi guys,

I'm travelling from MAN to MCO in October and hoping for a 747 refurb, however, i've read some poor reviews regarding the new seat plan in the bubble linking PE with Y passengers...

Has anyone flown on a new 747 yet?
Did you fly in the bubble or lower deck?
What do you recommend?

See this trip report

And this one

OK, so they're not TR of the Orlando route but they do talk about the PE cabin in both the upper and lower deck

I went to Vegas on g-vast. 11th July . New Seat plan is great upstairs if you are in Y. Stay down stairs if you are in PE. Entertainment system is great

I must admit I'm really torn whether to go upper or lower deck, they both must have pros and cons.
I have never flown on a 747 before, so was initally really looking forward to travelling in PE on the upper deck. I've seen the reports that mention the fact that you don't get priority exit from the plane if you are upstairs on the new layout, I must admit I couldn't really give a hoot about that. As long as I get the service I've paid for, I'm sure I'll be happy.

There's only 30 odd economy seats in the bubble, how much of annoyance can that few make? I would think that for couples especially, the fact the the seats are 2x2 for PE would more that balance that out.
I have 3 months to decide, will read TRs with great interest

I've just posted on this in the other forum, but either cabin would win my vote, with a small preference for W upstairs.

The issue with Y passengers using the bathrooms wasn't at all a problem on my flight.

I've just posted on this in the other forum, but either cabin would win my vote, with a small preference for W upstairs.

The issue with Y passengers using the bathrooms wasn't at all a problem on my flight.

Cheers for your replies!

I'm with you Ian, i'm not that bothered about disembarking issues, i imagine you have to hang around for a while in the bubble on the old config anyway...i travel in 8 weeks so will need to decide before OLCI opens, but if i get the option on either plane i think i'll still go for the bubble !

I've just flown in the bubble in PE on the new layout and I didn't have a problem with it at all. If i'm honest I thought it was even better than the old layout due to the new seats and the new entertainment system. When the curtains were drawn it felt even moe private than the old layout. The Y passengers using the toilets at the front didn't cause any problems whatsoever.

As for leaving the plane well apart from upper class and the few Y passengers siting in the bubble we were off the plane before all Y passengers sat downstairs. Sure PE passengers downstairs were off before us but I didn't notice a huge difference really. You're still off before most people.

How are they allocating seats in the reduced PE bubble ? Were you able to do it at OLCI, were you part of Virgin Holidays, or special request, or just lucky/unlucky (depending on your pov).

I have booked PE seats through VH and 'bubble requested' is on my invoice. I suppose time will tell whether that means much at all or not. If they do give me bubble seats, would it show when I do the olci ?

Ian6969 wrote:I have booked PE seats through VH and 'bubble requested' is on my invoice. I suppose time will tell whether that means much at all or not. If they do give me bubble seats, would it show when I do the olci ?

Well every seat request is just that - a request

Yeah I appreciate that, just wondered whether it would show on the seat map when I do olci, didn't want to request sests, when they could gave potentially already be allocated where I wanted them

Ian6969 wrote:Yeah I appreciate that, just wondered whether it would show on the seat map when I do olci, didn't want to request sests, when they could gave potentially already be allocated where I wanted them

Once you've checked in it gives you the opportunity to change your seat and thus view the seat map

Once you've checked in it gives you the opportunity to change your seat and thus view the seat map

I'm terrible at making myself clear

I know that the seat map will become available once olci opens up for my flight, what I was curios about was that if VH does allocate me a bubble seat as per my request (I know there's no guarantee) will these seat allocations show up on the seat map when I do olci?
Or could I be none the wiser and potentially end up with worse seats by chosing ones that show up as available on the map?

Ian6969 wrote:

Once you've checked in it gives you the opportunity to change your seat and thus view the seat map

I'm terrible at making myself clear

I know that the seat map will become available once olci opens up for my flight, what I was curios about was that if VH does allocate me a bubble seat as per my request (I know there's no guarantee) will these seat allocations show up on the seat map when I do olci?
Or could I be none the wiser and potentially end up with worse seats by chosing ones that show up as available on the map?

Agreed.

Yes it should show up at OLCI unless VS IT department surpasses itself even by its dismally low standards.

the seat map doesnt always become available at OLCI, especially if its a very busy flight with lots of families/children onboard that need seating together.

We were with Virgin Holidays and I had put in a request for seats in the bubble. When I tried to do OLCI the seat map never came up and I was unable to select our seats. So we just waited and checked in at the airport. Both going out on the old config and flying back on the new layout we were given seats in the bubble even though we had to wait to check in at the airport. I do think it helps if you are with Virgin Holidays as I think they get preference.

I think you are right about VH getting preference. Makes sense to me.