Airlines - Current Opnions?

[Scrap_Vamp]

Hi again,

Having spoken to some of my family about indirect flights they don't seem that keen on the idea.

Both my brothers have had poor service on Virgin flights in the past, and I'm reading increasingly bad things about their customer service.

What I'm after is a list of who exactly flies direct to MCO (or Sanford) from any of the London airports, and what the pros and cons of each airline are, based on recent experience?

Thanks in advance

 

[UKDEB]

As far as London is concerned, Gatwick is your only option for direct, non-stop flights to Orlando.

BA and Virgin are the only airlines which offer such a service into MCO.

First Choice (Air 2000), Monarch, MyTravel (Airtours), Thomas Cook, Thomsonfly, Travel City Direct and XL Airways all fly into Sanford.

BA and Virgin are scheduled airlines, both operating daily flights. All those flying into Sanford are charters and have varying degrees of availability. Quite a few only have one flight a week, for example.

In my opinion, Virgin and BA are much of a muchness, albeit I've only flown BA twice and neither time was to Orlando. I choose Virgin because I get good discounts through their Flying Club loyalty scheme. I'd like to try BA, but the price has never been right. I'd like to try a charter, particularly First Choice which receives good reviews, but we seldom want to fly on a Saturday nor do we tend to visit for multiples of one week.

 

[Scrap_Vamp]

Thanks for your response, Deb.

Has anyone flown with the charters recently who would like to share their experience (and I'm not looking for any bashing of particular airlines!)?

 

[OrlandoMagic]

As far as London is concerned, Gatwick is your only option for direct, non-stop flights to Orlando.

BA and Virgin are the only airlines which offer such a service into MCO.

First Choice (Air 2000), Monarch, MyTravel (Airtours), Thomas Cook, Thomsonfly, Travel City Direct and XL Airways all fly into Sanford.

BA and Virgin are scheduled airlines, both operating daily flights. All those flying into Sanford are charters and have varying degrees of availability. Quite a few only have one flight a week, for example.

In my opinion, Virgin and BA are much of a muchness, albeit I've only flown BA twice and neither time was to Orlando. I choose Virgin because I get good discounts through their Flying Club loyalty scheme. I'd like to try BA, but the price has never been right. I'd like to try a charter, particularly First Choice which receives good reviews, but we seldom want to fly on a Saturday nor do we tend to visit for multiples of one week.

Mytravel and Thomas Cook are the same company now, Thomas Cook Plc. They both use Thomas Cook branded planes. With the mergers of TC and Thomson there is even less choice now!

 

[warrior]

As I like to go away for more than the usual 2/3 week holiday I find I have to book schedule flights, I have flown both Virgin and BA (not to Orlando) but for price I find it hard to beat Virgin, although they are not perfect.

I have heard excellent reports re Thomsons, who have more leg room than the schedule flights, seat back TV and inbuilt games. Apparently the food idn't brilliant but an a par with BA and Virgin.

If I could fly on a charter flight I would definately like to use Thomsons.

 

[Portugal1000]

I have flown Virgin was the last 2 years in December both times. Last year we went PE and sat upstairs and it was fantastic, has spoilt me forever so am going that way agin this December. I have also flown on First Choice in their upgrade section and hey were also very good. I prefer flying into MCO as we can use Magical Express which save on a taxi. I do think the entertainment system on Virgin could be better and would like to see on demand movies and more of them. The only critiscm I reall had of Virgin PE was the food. It was very nice but just not enough for a 10 hour flight.

 

[Babyboo]

We used First Choice last year and booked the upgrade. The flight and sevice was excellent and I wouldn't hesitate to book with them again if only they didn't restrict the flights to 7, 14 or 21 nights.

We normally go for between 8 & 11 nights or 16 nights so scheduled for us unfortunately.

We have never used BA as there prices always seem to be slightly more than Virgin but I would also like to give them a try to compare with Virgin.

 

[amberandolly]

If fist choice did a daily service they would be hard to beat, they are how Virgin were ten years ago and the premier seats are great - we flew 10 hours to Mexico last year and couldn't fault them.
I'm expecting a poor service from Virgin in 10 days time, anything better will then be a bonus.
I have found that the LHR - MIAMI service is better than LGW or MAN, better planes, they have the v-port IFE, the staff were better.
I suppose anywhere that's not "just" a holiday route, is treated better.
We've flown with BA once to MCO, it was a brand new airbus and half empty , so the flight was brilliant, but that was a one in a million chance so nothing o go on really.

 

[laluna]

We have only flown VAfor the last three trips and benfit from good prices because of the flying club. I was apprehensive this time because of things I read but we returned last week and they were fine, although I feel the food was a bit ropey.

 

[Disney owl]

We flew with Virgin twice last year, Gatwick to Vegas & manchester to Orlando & were impressed with the service we received on both flights. Would def fly with them again but my choice would also be based on price.

Have flown Man - Sanford with Travel City Direct & had no problems at all.

 

[Scrap_Vamp]

Thanks everyone for your input

My brothers are coming round on Sunday so I will show them everything that has been said to help them decide (well, that and price!).

 

[Karenpowley]

We used First Choice last year and booked the upgrade. The flight and sevice was excellent and I wouldn't hesitate to book with them again if only they didn't restrict the flights to 7, 14 or 21 nights.

We normally go for between 8 & 11 nights or 16 nights so scheduled for us unfortunately.

We have never used BA as there prices always seem to be slightly more than Virgin but I would also like to give them a try to compare with Virgin.

First Choice with upgrade was excellent!!!Although Thomsons have just bought them out, so if u do book with them, make sure its their airline, as Thomsons legroom is much smaller.

Karenx

 

[Cochise]

First Choice with upgrade was excellent!!!Although Thomsons have just bought them out, so if u do book with them, make sure its their airline, as Thomsons legroom is much smaller.

Karenx

Aren't the new merged company comitting to 33in pitch on long haul charter? FCA are there already and TOM I am sure announced a while back they were following the trend to allow people to breath on the long haul flights, when they do needs a bit of digging.

 

[vicki12a]

we have flown with fc twice and could not fault the service each time we were in the main cabin and everything was excellent, but last nov we flew with tcd as they were so much cheaper and the flights with them were also good they dont have the extras that fc have like seat back tvs but we just took portable dvd player for the kids to watch and to be honest we could have bought them 100 dvds to go with it for the difference in price, also the drinks were free on tcd and with kids wanting soft drinks that can make a lot of difference, we have booked to go with tcd again in aug as the price was so good and wouldnt hesitate doing so again.

vicki

 

[PoppyAnna]

we have flown with fc twice and could not fault the service each time we were in the main cabin and everything was excellent, but last nov we flew with tcd as they were so much cheaper and the flights with them were also good they dont have the extras that fc have like seat back tvs but we just took portable dvd player for the kids to watch and to be honest we could have bought them 100 dvds to go with it for the difference in price, also the drinks were free on tcd and with kids wanting soft drinks that can make a lot of difference, we have booked to go with tcd again in aug as the price was so good and wouldnt hesitate doing so again.

vicki

We have flown VA twice in 12 months to MCO and the service was very hit and miss. The return in May last year was delayed for 5 hours and although this wasn't the fault of the cabin crew they pushed food, drinks and duty free for three hours before dimming the cabin lights - it was 3am
I priced up TCD for the four of us this afternoon on 30 August for 14 nts with a 2 bed/bath apartment at liki tiki village off the 192 (which my friend really liked last october) and a 7 seater dodge caravan. £2500! Boy thats cheap isnt it. I have quite a lot of VA flying club points but still can't get their flights and independant accom and car hire for cheaper than that!
Just need to work on DH.......

 

[astrodrummergirl]

This was just a thread I was looking for. In september we were going to fly with VA but after hearing that you could get massive delays, and more frequent delays we thought otherwise.

Now, all I need to know if anyone has recently flied with BA from Gatwick, as after all this luggage curfufle, I presume that BA's gatwick flights are unaffected and you will receive your luggage?

 

[djb2002]

Anyone got any current opinions on Thomas Cook Airlines ? - Looking to fly from Manchester UK to Sanford Florida.

Thanks

 

[orlandothebeagle]

Can i tell you about expedia/ba and virgin


Booked flights from edin to mco 3 hour change over in london.
Then we took a call from expedia, they said ba flight was cancelld and would have to wait another 4 hrs! nearly 8 hrs, then ba put another flight on and would NOT change us to it without 300 pounds each charge. It was a disaster, expedia, ba and virgin all blamed each other. I am going with thomas cook next time. We went nwa to kansas city with 3 flight changes a few years ago and it was fine no probs that was why I was not worried about virgin flights. It will be the last I ever fly BA or virgin, even bloomimg easy jet give a better service than that shower, dont even get me started.

 

[jockey]

We always use VA but next trip are using Continental. VA were expensive for the domestic connections and the massive delays and security lines at Gatwick just put me off!

 

[clairenutter]

Hello I was reading your question about who to fly with. I also read one of the options was My travel. I would avoid flying with this company at all costs. I flew with them to Orlando last April (from Glasgow) and it was the worst flights I have ever experienced. I have never been so crammed on to a plane in my entire life (and I am not talking leg room!) the amount of space width ways was just terrible. My mother and I are not that big but were so squashed. I also found the customer service was terrible as well and I ended up paying for meals on the flight twice and the company refused to refund the money. You get far more room on an ryanair or easy jet flight that is an hour long than you do with my travel on an 8 hour flight to Orlando. Hope this is of some help to you.

Claire