Dependence of bubble state stability and translational apparent bubble velocity on the direction of an in‐plane field has been observed in Permalloy‐coated garnet films. Bubble state stability and velocity are affected by the position of planar domains with respect to the direction of bubble motion. The position of the planar domain is determined by the direction of in‐plane field. When the planar domains trail the bubbles, the bubbles move faster and the stable regions for bubble‐wall states are larger than when the planar domains lead the bubbles. The difference in stable regions is caused by an increased mutual interaction between the bubble and the planar domain when the planar domain leads the bubble.