For those who have booked their economy or premium economy flight with Virgin Atlantic a great perk is the option to travel in the Virgin Atlantic Bubble when flying to Florida (or New York/Las Vegas). We love flying in the bubble and below we share the benefits of reserving a seat in the Bubble.
What is the Virgin Atlantic Bubble?
The bubble is a smaller section on the upper floor of the Boeing 747, which is also home to the cockpit. There is one small set of stairs to reach here so be aware for those with reduced mobility. As you board the plane you will see the stairs up to the Bubble just to your right as you enter so you can head straight up there.
Although you will have to pay £35 per person each way to book these seats there are many benefits to travelling in the bubble that outweighs the cost.
Early Boarding
Waiting around for your seat to be called can be frustrating and can cause you to be in long queues whilst waiting to board, especially if you are in economy with the masses. Normally, for those that have booked seats in the bubble will find that they will be called first (after upper class and premium economy) before the other economy passengers. This is great for those who wish to get on, get settled ready to begin your journey both outward and return.
One of the First Off the Plane
As well as being one of those first to board the plane another benefit of seats in the bubble means that you will be one of the first groups off the plane too. Because of the location and layout of the bubble the first few rows of premium economy that are in front of the standard economy seats allow for those travelling in the bubble to disembark with them. So, is you are at the back of the bubble you will get off sooner.
Any chance to get off and to security before the majority of passengers on your flight is one to grab with both hands. Anyone who has flown into Orlando International Airport before will know how long the queues can be at security so this is a great advantage.
Peace and Quiet in the Bubble
As there are only 53 seats in the bubble, 20 of which are premium economy and 33 economy you will find that the bubble is a lot quieter than downstairs. This makes it a lot easier for those who may be trying to relax, sleep or work and can help those who are anxious flyers feel more comfortable. You will also see the pilots pop in and out of the cockpit too and on occasion they will chat to passengers (of course others are still flying the plane).
Helpful Cabin crew
The limited number of seats brings another advantage to the bubble in terms of service from the cabin crew. Those in the bubble will have a more personalised service as the cabin crew only have a small number or passengers to look after. You will also find that you are served food and beverages quickly and choices will not run out as fast as downstairs.
In the bubble it is very easy to get the cabin crews attention and get a quicker service than you would downstairs in the larger economy area.
Toilets
The toilets on the plane are never the best and if it’s a full flight could see you queuing for a awhile. The bubble has two toilets between a maximum of 53 passengers (the pilots also use these) which is a great ratio and much better if you have little kids that just need to go.
Storage Options in the Bubble
As well as your standard overhead storage compartment some of the bubble seats will have window storage too. These are really useful to store your neck pillows, magazines, blankets etc in that you will want to hand during the flight. There is also a large cupboard at the rear of the bubble for larger hand luggage etc to be stored. The location of this means that you can easily view if anyone is rummaging through the luggage in case you are worried about your valuables.
Space in the Virgin Atlantic Bubble
Another great perk of travelling in the bubble is the sense of space that you get. The economy and premium economy seats are exactly the same as downstairs but because of its size and limited number of passengers it feels a lot bigger. Seats with extra leg room are available and you will find that they do have a lot of room seats, the best seats in the bubble for this are 75 A-K.
The bubble is a great place to sit for your Virgin Atlantic flight and is really worth the extra money to reserve these seats. Reservations are a must if you wish to secure your seat and ensure you are in the bubble.
Unfortunately these planes are being phased out so take advantage of the bubble before it is gone.
You can find our full Disney World Planning Guide here
Travel Essentials when Flying to Florida
If you would like to find out more about our Disney World Travel Essential please take a look at our article here or by clicking the image below.
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Thanks and see you soon.
Claire
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