Virgin Atlantic or Delta? (Flying LHR to SFO)

Is the Delta flight even direct? Be surprised if it was - means they have done some route updates since I last looked

I haven't flown with Delta in a long time, but if I had the choice of those I would go with Virgin. Of course if you can fly BA - go for that instead (we all have our own preferences :) )
 
R.O.S.S.I said:
Much to my dismay they wont pay for business but have said they will reimburse Premium Economy tickets.
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Missed this bit. Reimburse? I wouldn't want to have to pay upfront out of my own pocket for flight tickets either... It's all well and good people saying "argue for business class" but I wouldn't have/want to ***** £4k out of my own pocket and wait a month for them to bother reimbursing me! I guess it's difficult if you dont do it often, and have no other need for a corporate card but still.. They should have some sort of corporate card you can use for this.
CapitalOne said:
That’s a bit rough, 11 hours PE I hope they are flying you there at least a day before!
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Yeah this.
Em3bbs said:
On the flip side, I'd rather that more people could fly economy if it means more junior staff can travel without question, and not just 'key employees'. I fly regularly to the West coast of the US, I'm 6 foot 2 and I don't have a problem in economy, or being tired at the other end.
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Someone who no longer works at my company used to do this. Fly himself out to LA in Upper Class, yet "treat" his 2/3 of his direct reports to a trip out, changing who goes every year, and flying them in Premium. I guess it means more get to go out fo the convention/head office etc. but it still smacks a bit of hypocrisy. Either you can do the job after an 11hr flight in Premium Economy, or you can't. Why can a less senior person do their job fine via Premium Economy, yet you cant? I dunno.. corplife I guess..

Also, flying out to the west coast is fine. Make sure your flight lands in daylight and you'll last until 9/10pm that evening even if you don't sleep on the plane. Coming back to the UK and landing at 7am, and going straight into a 2 day team building/conference event is rough for example! It's horrendous coming back this way.. to be honest.
 
Scam said:
Depends who’s paying:p The Virgin Upper class experience from LHR is unbeatable. Driving up to the private entrance (or being driven rather), like the Savoy, three people to greet you, take bags, give you your ticket. It’s fantastic. The lounge is the best there is too. I love it and feel very fortunate to be able to do it with work once a year or so to LA.

Are Delta the sister airline to virgin now? If so I think they’re pretty dire. Girlfriend missed a Virgin connection and had to fly with them. It was awful even in business.
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The lounge puts all the others to shame (allowed in same class), I got a cracking deal of £1100 Upper Class return to Miami which I booked last year for April just passed. The lounge stands out as one of the best bits of the trip tbh. Unfortunately now I've made a rod for my own back and won't ever want to travel below that but the comfort was worth it for me. Night time not so much.
Also makes you realise how bad the other lounges are, Delta Sky Lounge at Miami was one of the better ones but still basic.
 
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Scam said:
Also, flying out to the west coast is fine. Make sure your flight lands in daylight and you'll last until 9/10pm that evening even if you don't sleep on the plane. Coming back to the UK and landing at 7am, and going straight into a 2 day team building/conference event is rough for example! It's horrendous coming back this way.. to be honest.
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I echo that on the coming back - I like to get back in on a Friday or Saturday morning/lunchtime and then go and do something for the day so I don't end up asleep on the sofa.
 
Noxia said:
makes you realise how bad the other lounges are, Delta Sky Lounge at Miami was one of the better ones but still basic.
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Indeed. I went in a short haul work trip once and my colleague was a gold BA member or whatever their highest is (without getting silly). He took me to the BA lounge there and it was trash. Felt like a 3 star hotel buffet breakfast. I think it was Heathrow but I might be wrong.
 
Rotty said:
they must be bad if worse than BA :eek:
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I don't understand some of the hate for BA. Usually my preference, never had an issue and always good service. In fact, saved my ass a few times.

I've done AA short haul, horrible. I imagine their long haul is fairly good / suitable quality.
 
tlrBeta said:
I don't understand some of the hate for BA. Usually my preference, never had an issue and always good service. In fact, saved my ass a few times.

I've done AA short haul, horrible. I imagine their long haul is fairly good / suitable quality.
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Domestic US flights (non transcon) are horrible IMO. Another vote for BA here, I guess it depends where you are flying and what class but business long haul has to be BA, Qatar or Singapore for me. Spoilt? Yes.
 
tlrBeta said:
I don't understand some of the hate for BA. Usually my preference, never had an issue and always good service. In fact, saved my ass a few times.

I've done AA short haul, horrible. I imagine their long haul is fairly good / suitable quality.
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BA seats are shocking, bounce every time someone walks past and you have to climb over people to get to aisle , the lounge is worse than a 20 quid pay lounge, don't mind the onboard staff though
 
CapitalOne said:
Domestic US flights (non transcon) are horrible IMO. Another vote for BA here, I guess it depends where you are flying and what class but business long haul has to be BA, Qatar or Singapore for me. Spoilt? Yes.
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Business is BAs worst class, compare to Emirates, Qatar and even Virgin (not flown Singapore)
 
tlrBeta said:
I don't understand some of the hate for BA. Usually my preference, never had an issue and always good service. In fact, saved my ass a few times.

I've done AA short haul, horrible. I imagine their long haul is fairly good / suitable quality.
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Having flown all round the world on a variety of airlines I would rate BA somewhere near the bottom of the heap. The planes are always manky, the staff miserable and the service dire in comparison to pretty much every other international carrier. I even found domestic US flights on the likes in United less unpleasant!
 
CapitalOne said:
Have you tried the Club Suites? I think it’s on about half of the fleet now. Much better.
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not yet, only has the old ones which were utterly dire, had some firsts booked last year which I lost due to covid

hopefully the new suites will be as good as they look, then they can sort the nasty galleries lounge and hopefully the customer service centre (last one is beyond hope I reckon ;) )
 
Rotty said:
BA seats are shocking, bounce every time someone walks past and you have to climb over people to get to aisle , the lounge is worse than a 20 quid pay lounge, don't mind the onboard staff though
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Rotty said:
Business is BAs worst class, compare to Emirates, Qatar and even Virgin (not flown Singapore)
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So ive only done long haul business a few times. Once with kids and once without.

Seat config i appreciate if youre on your own, it isnt great. However i wasnt, obviously with an 8 month old it was good.

I agree on lounges, last time i used them in October it was rammed. Post covid offers on so it wasnt great...but price wasnt high either.

I wouldnt be able to afford Emirates long haul and Virgin upper seat config wouldnt work for us (i think its all singles or am i wrong?)

a1ex2001 said:
Having flown all round the world on a variety of airlines I would rate BA somewhere near the bottom of the heap. The planes are always manky, the staff miserable and the service dire in comparison to pretty much every other international carrier. I even found domestic US flights on the likes in United less unpleasant!
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Worse then AA 757 short haul...not possible :D
 
I know you must all be waiting with bated breath but I ended up booking Premium Plus with United as the flight times and cost worked best.
Flying on a 777-200 on the way out and a 787-9 on the way back.
 
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