Flying to New York - BA or Virgin?

I have been flying LHR - JFK every ~8 weeks for the past year and a bit since I met my girlfriend who lives there :D

Flown with BA/AA/Delta/Virgin and I can't remember the aircraft as there are too many flights...but what I do know is out of all of them I prefer American Airlines as their planes seem to be the newest.

Also a few months ago my flight was cancelled coming back to LHR due to a fault with a plane and they were very good with sorting me out on another flight and gave me free upgrade to their Premium Economy.

Will be booking flights for next month within next few days...
 
np89 said:
If you're flying business, Virgin is far, far superior. For Economy I'm not sure it really matters. Virgin does have nicer food though.
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That's a fair point - most of my experiences with BA/Virgin doing the transatlantic route have been Business or Virgin Upper.
 
Clipsey said:
There is barely anything between all the major brands (Flying Atlantic) these days. It usually depends on the crew, weather and delays etc. how they respond and deal with issues.
So far I've found US Airways to have best customer service (but I can probably bet someone else has had the worst).

I currently have over 100k in BA/AA points so will be travelling with them a few times in 2016, so we'll see.
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My parents always use US - they've been fine although the one time I flew with them the only way to tell crew from punters was a badge - no uniform?

They did have a 7 hour delay recently and were looked after ok - but the compensation was less than the EU states and was in vouchers rather than cash so they were a bit cheeky.
 
Everyone has preferences,

If i can, i always try and fly with BA, my next flights in April are already booked. Ive always had great customer service and general experience.

Both will be fine... as are most flag carriers.
 
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Thanks everyone, have flown with both several times for business but that tends to mean turning left rather than right so don't have much experience of the economy product.

Will just go for whichever has the most convenient times.

Keep your eyes out for a what to do in New York with kids post in a few months!
 
One final question, has anyone booked with www.airexpress.co.uk ?

I've checked they are ATOL registered and the feedback seems pretty good, however I am always slightly nervous going through a third party.

Virgin have a price promise, but won't honour as pretty much no third party websites show the fare class (so it's worthless)!
 
Just got back from New York, we flew with aer lingus who were excellent(when we go back we will be flying with them again), and I was even better clearing US customs in Dublin so you arrive at JFK as a domestic arrival, I would definitely recommend aer lingus
 
Went to new york in early december with Virgin out of Heathrow on a A340-600. 2-4-2 layout was nice as well so no need to move to a single flyer out in the standard 3-4-3 seating arrangment. Was a lovely plane compared to the old 747's you would go out on from Gatwick. One thing with Virgin though is you may end up on a Delta aircraft like we did for our return from JFK. Was quite an old plane and not as comfortable as the virgin airbus. 100mph tail wind pushed the old tin can home all be it rather bumpy most of the way :)
 
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woppy101 said:
Just got back from New York, we flew with aer lingus who were excellent(when we go back we will be flying with them again), and I was even better clearing US customs in Dublin so you arrive at JFK as a domestic arrival, I would definitely recommend aer lingus
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I flew with them to Boston in 2014 and my experience mirrored yours - excellent airline and pre-clearance in Dublin was great. Inflight wifi, too.

And 2-4-2 configured Airbus A330's (Watch for the 757 operated services, these are inferior and 3-3 configured).

All these new planes are all very well but the airlines keep configuring them at maximum density levels - the new Dreamliner isn't amazing in economy as it's crammed in 3-3-3, a layout becoming increasingly more common on the newer Airbus aircraft too. Had 3-4-3 on a recent flight to LAX in a 777-300, thats cramped too and rules out window seats if you are travelling as a couple and don't want the hassle of asking a stranger to move every time you want to get up.

It's the way things are going but 2-4-2 is more comfortable and more convenient especially when travelling as a 2.

To New York this basically limits you to to Virgin Atlantic (A340-600 and A330-300), Aer Lingus (A330-200 and -300) and anyone still operating a 767 (Delta?).
 
I am probably very out of date but Virgin were far superior in service with USA flights. However over the years the perks and service has dropped that personally I would not choose them over BA.

I would just go with whoever is cheapest to be honest. The service and comfort is not going to be very different.

Virgin you probably will fly a 747, BA seem to fly fly smaller aircraft (I am not an aircraft anorak). Both seem to have similar leg room.

Just avoid budget flights unless you like get close and personal with a person you have never met sitting next to you. I never get the leggy blonde, usually some fat dude sweating and stinking of BO.
 
Just come back from Washington/VA trip via BA and on the way out we were in a stunning A380 with a free upgrade to World Traveller Plus! I just asked at check-in and the 4 of us were upgraded. The A380 is simply stunning and we arrived fully refreshed.

Sadly, on the way home, we had an old 777 that was badly in need of a refurbish.

We've just booked Virgin for our Miami try in July in a 787-9. Can't wait for to try the 787 and will see about an upgrade to premium.
 
Third Opinion said:
I am probably very out of date but Virgin were far superior in service with USA flights. However over the years the perks and service has dropped that personally I would not choose them over BA.

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spot on, Virgin get worse and worse, a have nearly 200k airmiles with them, as soon as I have used them I will use others
 
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