Virgin Atlantic Vs Delta Airlines?

Soldato
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31 May 2005
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Choosing between flights and for the same route, within an hour of each other is either Virgin or Delta.

Any preferences on here?

Other than getting dragged off of Delta :D
 
I think most people will recommend Virgin over Delta but I've no experience of Virgin, one thing I would say is to make sure the option you go for has everything you'd want/expect. Last time I looked at some long haul flights quite a few airlines were mostly running budget style with no hold luggage or meals etc.
 
I was due to be flying to atlanta in september, virgin out and delta back, just worked out that way, paid extra for delta comfort, but virgin gave me only cattle class as an option even though I was paying more.. 'course, flight has now been cancelled, so.. maybe next year
 
From a risk point of view, Delta are probably slightly safer (financially) than Virgin right now as they have been given a government bail-out. If the flight is any further away than the next month or two, I would book on Delta . There have also been horror stories in trying to get money back on cancelled flights from Virgin
 
We flew Virgin to San Francisco in 2018 and they were decent. The food was good and leg room was better than most. Probably the 4th best airline I have been on. First is Emirates, 2nd South African airways and third Quantas
 
I'd say Virgin, I've never had a bat flight with them.

I've used Delta domestically within the US quite a bit and only one international flight with them. They were decent enough, can't remember anything bad that stuck out. The staff were really nice
 
Thanks guys.

I will risk it with Delta, only because they are the first flight of the day on the way out (JFK) and the last flight back on the way in (LHR) so gives me more time :D

I have heard that Virgins planes are more comfy/larger on the same route?
 
They are part of the same alliance and code share quite a lot. In fact i think Delta has a large share of Virgin. Make sure that you are actually on Virgin plane and not just a Delta ticket on a Virgin flight and vice versa. I've flown both dozens of times, made Gold frequent flier in previous years but not this one for obvious reasons. I like Virgin, have flown all classes multiple times. They were getting new aircraft too. Just retired their last 747s i think.
 
I use Delta when travelling to the US, about a dozen international and as many internal again (usually econ on long haul and use points for the front seats on internal flights) and never had a single problem with them. They do overbook and was offered $2ks worth of vouchers and would have taken it only for it being a friday and didn't have time to stay in NY another day or two. A few guys took the offer and we left about 5 mins late which was no problem to me.
 
They are part of the same alliance and code share quite a lot. In fact i think Delta has a large share of Virgin. Make sure that you are actually on Virgin plane and not just a Delta ticket on a Virgin flight and vice versa. I've flown both dozens of times, made Gold frequent flier in previous years but not this one for obvious reasons. I like Virgin, have flown all classes multiple times. They were getting new aircraft too. Just retired their last 747s i think.

Well, have just booked through Virgin directly on a Delta flight.

Not sure what that means if the Delta flight gets cancelled, can I get a Virgin one? I guess not.
 
Regarding the actual flights (not the rest) I've had 3 very poor experiences of Delta's "premium" economy when flying to the US on 8hr+ flights so I personally won't ever use them again. Things like dirty and/or broken seats (dirty as in popcorn everywhere, sticky coke/pepsi spillage and chewing gum rubbed on the fabric - broken screens/trays), random flight-time changes (one flight home had to be rebooked two days before I was due to fly home) and a fairly "poor" attitude generally if you ever have an issue that needs their help to clear-up. Obviously every airline suffers exactly the same issues so Delta aren't uniquely worse than than the rest.

I've only used Virgin once (basic economy) and it was adequate, nothing amazing, nothing bad, seats were OK and everything went just fine.
 
I try to go out of my way to book virgin, the purple makes it feel very elegant and classy. Never had a bad experience, always go economy after trying Premium with a couple of airlines Virgin/BA/tui/ the extra £1200 it costs me just isnt worth it imo.

Virgin have come into some criticism recent with refunds etc. . mostly people **** and moaning about not getting their money back quick enough and not taking into account the whole epidemic etc. . i rebooked my holiday within minutes and was very satisfied. I should be going vegas with them in september on one of their new a350/1000's. Not sure it'll be going ahead though.
 
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I'm supposed to be flying to Jamaica with Virgin in early Oct, upper out and premium back, at the moment they say they restart that route about 3 days before we go
 
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