Air Atlanta

[deniseb90]

I booked it direct from the TCD website - mind you I booked this back in November last year. I haven't had any problems with them yet - just hope that continues. Anyway Air Atlanta can't be that bad, Virgin use them on their Manchester to Orlando route anyway!

[zaz]

I flew with Air Atlanta last year. I have been every year for the last 5 years and that was the first and last time with Air Atlanta. Other than losing one of my bags on the return home, I found the plane and service very poor class compared to other airlines including Britannia etc.. I am flying BA this time.

[carrie]

Oh dear Zaz I wish i could have got virgin or BA but they were booked so im stuck now, can you tell me exactly what was wrong, im worried about the plane more than anything, they spec it all up saying they have in flight entertainment 31inch seats etc.
Guess i will just have to hope you had an unlucky flight.
hope BA is better for you.

[chrisfynes]

Have you tried the American airlines?
I flew via Chicago with United and it was fantastic. Great service, drinks and films etc and the price was over £100 less EACH. The time in Chicago was filled clearing customs and immigration so was not wasted. Straight off the internal flight into car hire (no queues of Brits)

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by deniseb90
I booked it direct from the TCD website - mind you I booked this back in November last year. I haven't had any problems with them yet - just hope that continues. Anyway Air Atlanta can't be that bad, Virgin use them on their Manchester to Orlando route anyway!
[/quote]

Can I just clear something up, Air Atlanta DO NOT operate Manchester - Orlando for Virgin!! They did ONCE for a few weeks serveral years ago when they had a plane shortage. Virgin operate the Manchester flights on there own planes which are ex leased planes from Air Atlanta but now re registered in UK regs and possbly even re owned by Virgin (they owned them originally). They are definitly not the same interiors!!!

Air Atlanta lease and operate flights for airlines all around the world when they have plane shortages because lets face it there are not enough Icelandic people that want to fly, the population is very small - that was a quote from one of their Captains!

Having flown with both I would not fly with Air Atlanta again!! And TCD are a no no in my view c**p!!!!!

Lucy

[RIS]

I need to be a bit careful here but....... Everything has a price for a reason!

[MrEktion]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by lal[
Can I just clear something up, Air Atlanta DO NOT operate Manchester - Orlando for Virgin!! They did ONCE for a few weeks serveral years ago when they had a plane shortage. Virgin operate the Manchester flights on there own planes which are ex leased planes from Air Atlanta but now re registered in UK regs and possbly even re owned by Virgin (they owned them originally). They are definitly not the same interiors!!!.....

.....Having flown with both I would not fly with Air Atlanta again!! And TCD are a no no in my view c**p!!!!!

Lucy
[/quote]

Hi Lucy,

I agree with you mostly, except unfortunately Virgin don't own the planes they use from Manchester, they do lease them from Air Atlanta. This is probably because Virgin don't have any 747-200's in their fleet so they were better to sell them to Air Atlanta and wet lease them back. You are of course right in saying they are different interiors and crewed by Virgin not by Air Atlanta Europe.

On a more general note about TCD from Manchester

I too have flown with both and the seating is the same in Economy 31-32 inch pitch. Given the choice I'd pick Virgin over Air Atlanta or TCD if everything was equal. The problem is it isn't often equal.

Whilst Virgin give seat back TV's, a choc ice during the in-flight movies and a backpack with some toiletries, socks etc (or they did last time I flew with them), TCD are usually from Manchester (not always, but usually) £200-£300 per person cheaper off peak. Granted in Peak July and August I think this is much narrower. So you pays your money and you make your choice Seat back TV?, Choc Ice? Backpack or £1800 between 6 of you to spend in Orlando.

Having last flown with Virgin in 2000 and flown 4 times with TCD since 2002 you can see my choice and that has been a major contributing factor to going 4 times in 2 years. Never had a problem, never had a bad flight, maybe just lucky - who knows.

Given that every other Charter that flys to Orlando is 29 inch seat pitch if you want a direct flight from Manchester with a bit of legroom then it is Virgin or TCD and without TCD for competition who knows what the Virgin fare would be. Seeing as VS75 is always overbooked and many people end up bumped onto Continentals flights via Newark I think a bit of competition is very healthy on this route.

If you want your flight to be an experience go Virgin if you see the plane as a big bus to Orlando look carefully at TCD's prices (including all the extras[msnmad])and you could save a packet.

Mr E.

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by RIS
I need to be a bit careful here but....... Everything has a price for a reason!
[/quote]

I totally agree!!

Lucy

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by MrEktion
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by lal[
Can I just clear something up, Air Atlanta DO NOT operate Manchester - Orlando for Virgin!! They did ONCE for a few weeks serveral years ago when they had a plane shortage. Virgin operate the Manchester flights on there own planes which are ex leased planes from Air Atlanta but now re registered in UK regs and possbly even re owned by Virgin (they owned them originally). They are definitly not the same interiors!!!.....

.....Having flown with both I would not fly with Air Atlanta again!! And TCD are a no no in my view c**p!!!!!

Lucy
[/quote]

Hi Lucy,

I agree with you mostly, except unfortunately Virgin don't own the planes they use from Manchester, they do lease them from Air Atlanta. This is probably because Virgin don't have any 747-200's in their fleet so they were better to sell them to Air Atlanta and wet lease them back. You are of course right in saying they are different interiors and crewed by Virgin not by Air Atlanta Europe.

On a more general note about TCD from Manchester

I too have flown with both and the seating is the same in Economy 31-32 inch pitch. Given the choice I'd pick Virgin over Air Atlanta or TCD if everything was equal. The problem is it isn't often equal.

Whilst Virgin give seat back TV's, a choc ice during the in-flight movies and a backpack with some toiletries, socks etc (or they did last time I flew with them), TCD are usually from Manchester (not always, but usually) £200-£300 per person cheaper off peak. Granted in Peak July and August I think this is much narrower. So you pays your money and you make your choice Seat back TV?, Choc Ice? Backpack or £1800 between 6 of you to spend in Orlando.

Having last flown with Virgin in 2000 and flown 4 times with TCD since 2002 you can see my choice and that has been a major contributing factor to going 4 times in 2 years. Never had a problem, never had a bad flight, maybe just lucky - who knows.

Given that every other Charter that flys to Orlando is 29 inch seat pitch if you want a direct flight from Manchester with a bit of legroom then it is Virgin or TCD and without TCD for competition who knows what the Virgin fare would be. Seeing as VS75 is always overbooked and many people end up bumped onto Continentals flights via Newark I think a bit of competition is very healthy on this route.

If you want your flight to be an experience go Virgin if you see the plane as a big bus to Orlando look carefully at TCD's prices (including all the extras[msnmad])and you could save a packet.

Mr E.
[/quote]

Mr E,

You may or may not be right about the ownership of Virgins aircraft, but I have it from a source that when they recently re registered the aircraft with UK reg they also took back ownership?

I agree with a previous post that everything is priced for a reason.

I also agree that competition for Virgin is very healthy and I wish BA would get a slot from Man!

The Man flight is not overbooked all year and thats why they have not introduced a second flight a la Gatwick (I spoke to one of the flight planning managers recently).

For me my choice of airline goes deeper than the seat pitch and the ice cream. I pay for premium on my airline of choice, if Virgin is full rather than going with TCD I would go BA via Gatwick or US Airways.

Freedom of choice!

Lucy

[MrEktion]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by lal[br

Mr E,

You may or may not be right about the ownership of Virgins aircraft, but I have it from a source that when they recently re registered the aircraft with UK reg they also took back ownership?

I agree with a previous post that everything is priced for a reason.

I also agree that competition for Virgin is very healthy and I wish BA would get a slot from Man!

The Man flight is not overbooked all year and thats why they have not introduced a second flight a la Gatwick (I spoke to one of the flight planning managers recently).

For me my choice of airline goes deeper than the seat pitch and the ice cream. I pay for premium on my airline of choice, if Virgin is full rather than going with TCD I would go BA via Gatwick or US Airways.

Freedom of choice!

Lucy
[/quote]

Hi Lucy

I have to go direct I am afraid as I have a small child and the journey needs to be as short as possible, but I agree a non-direct route is an option too!

I am all for freedom of choice hence my post above, all I am saying is you had a TCD bad experience and I have had 4 good ones therefore it doesn't mean we should denegrate anybody elses choice by saying they are c**p. For you they were, they havn't been for me so far! (hostage to fortune alert [msnsmile2]).

BTW the info I got about Virgin's re-registered (G-VBEE and G-VSSS) planes was from the fleet listings page Jethros-i12

the links are as follows:-

Air Atlanta Fleet

http://www.jethros.i12.com/FLEETS/Li...IR_ATLANTA.htm

Virgin Fleet

http://www.jethros.i12.com/FLEETS/Li..._ATLANTIC.html

I think the re-registering is possibly due to Air Atlanta Europe taking over the leasing , now the have a full operators licence, from Air Atlanta Icelandic. Many of AAE planes also leased to Excel have GB registrations.

Mr E.