Thinking of Flying Virgin

[ujpest doza]

We have 3 options for our next trip in December 06.

Thomson direct from Manchester to Sanford
Virgin Direct from Manchester to Orlando
BA Newcastle to Gatwick to Orlando

I have my own opinions on the various pros and cons of each but would like some opinions.

Thomson fly quite early and arrive at Sanford at 1330 and as i know Sanford quite well i know i will be in and out of the airport and on the road quite quickly, but will obviously have a 45 mile drive to our house. I'm used to charter seats on Airtours and Thomas Cook but haven't flown Thomson long haul (except Premiar Gold) so am unaware of how cramped it may be on the plane (seat pitch is supposed to be 30 or 31?)

Virgin fly a little later but still get to MCO at 1450. I haven't been to MCO for nearly 7 years and am therefore a bit unfamiliar with the airport and in particular the car hire depot and roads leading from it to the 417 as i always used the b-line from the old Alamo depot next to highway 15. How much better is the comfort and service on Virgin? (its actually about the same price as Thomson).

Flying BA means i won't have to drive to Manchester but will have a minimum of 2 to 4 hours wait at Gatwick outbound and a minimum of 4 hours wait at Gatwick upon return. The flight doesn't reach MCO until 1620 so it will most probably be dark by the time i reach the car hire office and therefore will have to leave the airport in the dark.Is the service better on BA than Virgin, ie is it worth the hassle of driving to Manchester in order to arrive a bit earlier in Florida?

I have flown BA long haul a couple of times but have never flown Virgin so would like some other peoples opinions. If it helps, i shall have a 3 year old with me.

[Robert5988]

There are a lot more options than the 3 you have given surely. From Manchester lots of charters, BA indirect, AA indirect, BMI etc

The MCO car hire depots are now on the airport site and have been for some years. It is very easy to get on the 417 from MCO.

[ujpest doza]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Robert5988
There are a lot more options than the 3 you have given surely. From Manchester lots of charters, BA indirect, AA indirect, BMI etc

The MCO car hire depots are now on the airport site and have been for some years. It is very easy to get on the 417 from MCO.
[/quote]

I know, but if i am driving to Manchester i want a direct flight.I can go indirect with BA from newcastle so wouldn't drive to Manchester for anything other than a direct flight.

Thomson are the only Charter flight on the dates we want to go and are actually £1000 cheaper than the other charter companies on the days previous and afterwards.

[stabard]

I have not flown with Thomson so cannot comment on the airline but I do like Sanford airport as I found it freindly and easy to clear adn get on the road.

I like flying with Virgin as I can do Online check in or Twilight check in which leaves less hanging around at Gatwick. However I find MCO a bit hectic. The car rental places are easy to find and access to the 417 is easy. Also only a short drive to the house.

If the flights are a similar price I would choose Virgin

[heathercobbett]

We have been with many different carriers and they have all been fine so we no longer have a favourite

[wrpac00]

I have only ever flown into MCO and have found it fine on every occasion, over the past 2 years friends of ours have had really bad experiences at Sanford but others have been OK.

If the price is the same I would fly Virgin and has been said already all (apart from Hertz I think it is) car hire firms are downstairs in the terminal.

[ujpest doza]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by wrpac00
I have only ever flown into MCO and have found it fine on every occasion, over the past 2 years friends of ours have had really bad experiences at Sanford but others have been OK.

If the price is the same I would fly Virgin and has been said already all (apart from Hertz I think it is) car hire firms are downstairs in the terminal.
[/quote]

The car hire would be with Dollar.
Where exactly are the cars in relation to the car hire desks in the airport?

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by ujpest doza
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by wrpac00
I have only ever flown into MCO and have found it fine on every occasion, over the past 2 years friends of ours have had really bad experiences at Sanford but others have been OK.

If the price is the same I would fly Virgin and has been said already all (apart from Hertz I think it is) car hire firms are downstairs in the terminal.
[/quote]

The car hire would be with Dollar.
Where exactly are the cars in relation to the car hire desks in the airport?

[/quote]

Just across the road as you leave the Terminal, so quick and easy now[msnwink]

[Mags]

Another advantage of Virgin is the Downtown Disney check in on the way back.

The car hire desks are all in the terminal building and then you just need to cross the road to the multi-storey car park and you will pick up your car from there.[msnsmile2]

[pieman790]

Will this be during the kids holidays?
We tend to use BMI from Manchester via Chicago as they are cheaper than Virgin when the schools are out. We saved £900 for a family of 4 last christmas based on the Virgin fare.
Virgin are good and i would use them if the price was within £200 but i cannot justify the extra £900 they charge.
We have used the BA route via Manchester before and had a good flight.

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by ujpest doza
We have 3 options for our next trip in December 06.

Thomson direct from Manchester to Sanford
Virgin Direct from Manchester to Orlando
BA Newcastle to Gatwick to Orlando

I have my own opinions on the various pros and cons of each but would like some opinions.

Thomson fly quite early and arrive at Sanford at 1330 and as i know Sanford quite well i know i will be in and out of the airport and on the road quite quickly, but will obviously have a 45 mile drive to our house. I'm used to charter seats on Airtours and Thomas Cook but haven't flown Thomson long haul (except Premiar Gold) so am unaware of how cramped it may be on the plane (seat pitch is supposed to be 30 or 31?)

Virgin fly a little later but still get to MCO at 1450. I haven't been to MCO for nearly 7 years and am therefore a bit unfamiliar with the airport and in particular the car hire depot and roads leading from it to the 417 as i always used the b-line from the old Alamo depot next to highway 15. How much better is the comfort and service on Virgin? (its actually about the same price as Thomson).

Flying BA means i won't have to drive to Manchester but will have a minimum of 2 to 4 hours wait at Gatwick outbound and a minimum of 4 hours wait at Gatwick upon return. The flight doesn't reach MCO until 1620 so it will most probably be dark by the time i reach the car hire office and therefore will have to leave the airport in the dark.Is the service better on BA than Virgin, ie is it worth the hassle of driving to Manchester in order to arrive a bit earlier in Florida?

I have flown BA long haul a couple of times but have never flown Virgin so would like some other peoples opinions. If it helps, i shall have a 3 year old with me.

[/quote]