To bubble or not to bubble, that is the question

Dearest Gurus

Mr Roxy-Popsy & I are scheduled to fly out PE to MCO next month aboard 747 config 1. I've currently reserved 24 H & K which is the last row of PE in the bubble, with emergency doors behind us before the block of Econ.

I've enjoyed the experience of PE in the bubble over many years , but am thinking would we be wiser to take 18 A & C downstairs, two rows in front of the exit so that we can make a quick getaway to immigration & hopefully avoid it being rammed

All advice gratefully received & thanks in advance.

R-P

Hi Mrs R-P

We sat in those seats on a flight to MCO last year and wished we hadn't, the bubble isn't what it was! n( We've flown PE with VS since 1997 in the bubble as it used to be, but would now always sit downstairs. Other v-flyers have said row 18 is good but you may not get your first choice of meal! We didn't in row 24 either v(

19 was ok, but choose near side away from toilet. No one behind you and full recline.
Also down stairs out first, bubble held back till front disembarked..

[Neil]

I personally wouldn't fly upstairs PE again now. I just find the whole private feel of the cabin has gone. I much prefer the downstairs cabin, I find it a nice size and it just feels overall a nicer place to enjoy the flight. Add in things like, it not being an exclusive cabin upstairs, the rubbish overhead lockers, slower leaving the a/c.

I would personally go for 19AC, these give you the extra advantage that you have no pax behind you, so nobody prodding their IFE, no need to feel guilty if you wanted to recline all flight.

The bubble is dead for me now. 19A/C when we travel.

Another vote for 19A/C

Are the new immigration machines installed at MCO yet? That will hopefully speed up the immigration process at least...

[Neil]

Are the new immigration machines installed at MCO yet? That will hopefully speed up the immigration process at least...

They are there but not in operation yet, shouldn't be too long until they.

Yep, 19AC is the 'new bubble'. Unless you can manage to swing 14AC which have great legroom...

The bubble is dead - long live the bubble. It was good while it lasted! At least you still have the 747 - Gatwick to the caribbean has mostly been 'reduced' to a330's.

[mitchja]

Yep, 19AC is the 'new bubble'. Unless you can manage to swing 14AC which have great legroom...

Avoiding 14H & 14K though as these have the 2 washrooms directly in front of you.

Having flown a couple of times now in Premium on the upper deck with the new config, TBH, I've had enough of it now. Will be sitting on the main deck from now on in Premium on the LGW/MAN 744's. It's not like it used to be.

I may be the only one who still prefers the bubble! I know it's not what it was, but in my personal opinion the downstairs cabin is quite crowded and I didn't like it. Row 24 every time for me.

747Rich wrote :-

I may be the only one who still prefers the bubble! I know it's not what it was, but in my personal opinion the downstairs cabin is quite crowded and I didn't like it. Row 24 every time for me.

No 747Rich you are not on your own. I too still prefer the bubble and row 24 every time to PE downstairs.

I personally wouldn't fly upstairs PE again now. I just find the whole private feel of the cabin has gone. I much prefer the downstairs cabin, I find it a nice size and it just feels overall a nicer place to enjoy the flight. Add in things like, it not being an exclusive cabin upstairs, the rubbish overhead lockers, slower leaving the a/c.

I would personally go for 19AC, these give you the extra advantage that you have no pax behind you, so nobody prodding their IFE, no need to feel guilty if you wanted to recline all flight.

I agree, Mrs Amex and me did MCO last year, outbound downstairs and back in the bubble. Mrs said I dont want to be in the bubble ever again. She said she felt it had lost its special appeal

Dearest Gurus

Thank you all for your advice, much appreciated. oo)

I've changed the current husband & my seats to 18 A & C because 19 A & C weren't available. My main concern was the possibly rammed immigration hall after exiting the aircraft, having read some dire reports over the past few months. Although we're on the later arriving flight, I'll keep my fingers crossed that the earlier BA & VS flights would have got through.

Will let you know.

Am currently in the process of booking car hire & prices vary wildly for a compact vehicle from approx £181 with all excesses, excluding GPS, to over £337, like for like :0

Thanks again, can always rely on V-Flyers

TTFN R-P

Lots of votes for 19AC
What is actually behind the seats?
Is it a bulkhead?
Do they fully recline?
Dick D

[Neil]

Lots of votes for 19AC
What is actually behind the seats?
Is it a bulkhead?
Do they fully recline?
Dick D

It is a wall, but the seats have full recline.

It is a wall, but the seats have full recline.

Thanks Neil
Dick D

Hi, we've booked row 24 too. Is there a curtain behind you that separates the two class cabin?

Hi Rachiem

There isn't a curtain behind row 24 but there is plenty of room because there are emergency exit doors behind it, so you can keep your seat reclined all the time (except for take off & landing).

I think it's a great row BUT, going into MCO on the VS15 (the later of the 2 flights) I don't want to disembark after Econ in the bubble, & most likely UC & PE downstairs in the nose as there can be long queues for immigration, (but probably not as long as going into MIA).

Hope this helps.

R-P

Hi, we've booked row 24 too. Is there a curtain behind you that separates the two class cabin?

I'm pretty certain there are curtains behind row 24, which are used to separate the two cabins and give a bit of privacy. They are opened on take off and landing though.

Hi,
I didn't have the privilege of flying in the bubble before it was split but I love it there. Granted I've only flown a few times but myself and Mr Bethanicus try to sit downstairs on the way to MCO (try to beat the queues!) and upstairs (row 24) on the way home.

We've never had a problem with lack of choice of meals, in fact, on my last flight the cabin crew even went downstairs to get me first choice!

We don't bother with the overhead locker, just put everything in the side bin, still manage to get away quite quickly.

We like the feel of the bubble, even though it's not exclusive I still prefer the feel of it.

Each to their own...
(Still waiting for upgrades for our flights in April/May - fingers crossed!)

Whoop whoop!

A G magically appeared late afternoon on the late flight the current husband & I are booked on so I grabbed it pdq for........

ME!!!!!!

Mr Roxy Popsy can access the CH so that'll be fine.

Er, when should I tell him??

I'll most likely wait until the heating is fixed because a shivering husband by a fan heater is probably not the best time :w

R-P

Just an update to say that another G magically appeared this afternoon so have upgraded my current husband to UC as well.

It just goes to show that perseverance pays off. I hope this gives hope to V-Flyers who keep checking for reward availability. y)

And the plumber is here fixing the heating y)

Happy hunting for elusive reward flights

R-P

Well done RP , just goes to show its worth checking as often as poss