British Airways vs Virgin Atlantic

[ER]

We normally fly Virgin from Gatwick but it is looking likely that we will need to go with British Airways this Christmas. Does anyone have any comments on how good or bad they are??

Regards,
Elaine

[Carla]

I prefer BA to Virgin.

Have used both on a number of occasions, but would rather go with BA, and they are often cheaper than Virgin as well. The service on BA in the last couple of years has been superior to Virgin. Their routes are also more flexible into USA, in as much as you can go direct into Orlando, Tampa, Miami or Atlanta, whereas with Virgin it is either Orlando or Miami.

Many Northerners use Virgin because it is one of the few scheduled airlines that flies out of Manchester.

[ER]

Thanks Carla!
BA were voted Most Parent Friendly Airline 2003 and I often use them for domestic flights with no problems but it's such a long flight I just wanted to check that they were OK.

Regards,
Elaine

[floridadreamvilla.co.uk]

Carla:

I assume you are referring to scheduled airlines direct from MAN - MCO and not scheduled airlines that fly out of Manchester to anywhere (there are a LOT of these - probably as many if not more than Gatwick) .

quote:Originally posted by Carla
Many Northerners use Virgin because it is one of the few scheduled airlines that flies out of Manchester.

[Ian Dee]

I have used both too. Virgin seem to have the better prices though as I note a few sites who seem to have quicker access to their release datess.
Virgin are probably more tuned to the children.
Last time I flew BA I got the impression that their seat pitch was a bit more than Virgin?

[fiona]

We started flying with BA a few years ago after a few bad experiences with Virgin and I have to say we were very impressed. It may have been just luck but the cabin crew have been so helpful and good with the children, whereas Virgin who used to be so good, now seem rude and indifferent.

Also BA give us a choice of flights to Orlando, Tampa and Miami, so we can usually find a good price. Virgin seem much more expensive by comparison.

[Carla]

Wouldn't know John!!! Only care about the Orlando flight. I'm lucky enough to live near enough to use Heathrow, Gatwick, Birmingham, Luton, East Midlands and Bristol, so never worry about what Manchester does or doesn't offer.

[floridadreamvilla.co.uk]

That must be very handy for you Carla .

[Nostromo]

quote:Originally posted by Carla

I prefer BA to Virgin.

Have used both on a number of occasions, but would rather go with BA, and they are often cheaper than Virgin as well. The service on BA in the last couple of years has been superior to Virgin.

I beg to disagree. My wife and I travel a lot and have used both BA & Virgin on several sectors. We have always found the service on BA apalling and while Virgin is not exactly best in the world, they at least better than BA. This is most certainly true for the Orlando flights where BA seem to have chosen the most empty-headed flight attendents that they could pick; several passengers were bitterly complaining about the confusing & conflicting advice given both on board and on the ground during our last trip. Many confirmed that this had happened before and that they would not use BA again.

For our visit next April-May, Virgin flights (via Charter Travel) were some £15 a head cheaper than BA and with 7 of us going, we saved over £100. Furthermore, the Virgin flights often (probably not always) have a mid-afternoon landing time ie earlier than most other flights from Europe. This means that one has less hassle with the car hire and better chance of getting the same vehicle that one has booked.

[Carla]

The BA flight lands mid afternoon, at 3.05pm in Orlando and I shall be on it next Sunday!!

The first Virgin flight from Gatwick arrives at 3.25pm and the second at 4.40pm. So I will have cleared immigration before the Gatwick Virgins arrive!!

However the Manchester Virgins get in at 2.35pm so hopefully they will have gone through by the time we have landed.

It's all much of a muchness really. In economy there is very little to choose between these two and both have their advocates and as Nostromo says, the team that you get on the day can easily sway your opinion one way or the other.