Are BA As Good As Virgin

[earthelves]

I Have Only Used Virgin & Continental To Fly To Orlando,So I Guess What I'm Asking Is Are BA On Par With Virgin??

Thanks For Your Input

 

[Hilary]

On balance, I prefer BA to Virgin, but there's really so little to choose between them that we just decide which one to use based on convenience / price.

(BA have a fold-down footrest and headrest 'flaps' that I prefer to Virgin's seats, but that's about it!)

 

[Jakey Rowling]

Not a great deal in it once you're on the plane in economy on the MCO route in my opinion.
Virgin has advance seat selection, same luggage allowance, similar food, IFE similar.

Personally I think Virgin IFE is a little less reliable but not enough to stop me using them.
It's pretty much down to the crew on the day as to how good a flight you have.

Virgin last year, BA this year based on price if it helps.

 

[wayneg]

I have only used BA on the Man-NYC route, they were very poor, it was a bad plane and grumpy staff. Similar to Virgin at times
Doubt there is much between them go with price. BMI are the best we have used.

 

[SammieG]

oooh dont get me started again on Virgin!

Suffice to say that we found BA significantly better than Virgin in just about all areas....
(except Virgin give out ice creams on the outward flight! - but they werent very nice ice creams.. so i dont mind not having them again!)

 

[Pootle]

I don't think there is much in it either, especially if travelling in economy (I travel in PE as I want just 2 seats and a bit more comfort).

The biggest disadvantage of Virgin seems to be its delays (I have flown with them 3 times to Orlando within 13 months and the outward flight has been delayed each time).

From Flightstats.com - During the period 1st March to 30th April:

BA - 66% departed on time, avg delay 44 mins
Virgin - 35% departed on time, avg delay 76 mins

The advantage Virgin has over BA that's important to me, is the ability to pre-select your seats, which is why I am currently using Virgin.

 

[wayneg]

I was looking at this site a few days ago, don't know how accurate it is.
Virgin 2nd worst scheduled carrier from UK airports, Only 1 worse, FlyGlobeSpan(Guess you I was looking at for Vancouver next May )
http://www.flightontime.info/scheduled/scheduled.html

Flown with them about 10 times, thankfully never a delay outbound more than a few minutes but last twice coming home 2-3 hours each time.

 

[Pootle]

I was looking at this site a few days ago, don't know how accurate it is.
Virgin 2nd worst scheduled carrier from UK airports, Only 1 worse, FlyGlobeSpan(Guess you I was looking at for Vancouver next May )
http://www.flightontime.info/scheduled/scheduled.html

Flown with them about 10 times, thankfully never a delay outbound more than a few minutes but last twice coming home 2-3 hours each time.

Thanks for that link Wayne - pleased because it includes charters and DS is getting married in Las Vegas in August so his party is travelling with Mytravel direct from Manchester.

Don't suppose this helps, but we went to Vancouver last year and used BA into Seattle (direct flight) and it's an easy and interesting drive from there. As you are starting from the north I know this is unlikely to be of interest, but I've flown this route with BA before and like it.

 

[Hilary]

Only 1 worse, FlyGlobeSpan(Guess you I was looking at for Vancouver next May )
http://www.flightontime.info/scheduled/scheduled.html

Sorry, off topic from original post, but we flew Zoom to Toronto a couple of years ago and they were just as good (and possibly slightly better) than BA to Vancouver a couple of years before that. At that time (but after we'd booked ), Zoom had a less-than-perfect reputation and I was apprehensive about using them. However, we were very pleased with them.

I'd definitely check out Zoom if we were going to Canada in the future (and, last time I looked, they'd also added more destinations from more UK airports).

 

[wayneg]

Thanks Hilary and Moira
I am looking at all options, My DMIL has always wanted to do an Alaskan cruise, now in her 70's we think we need to take her sooner than later. Our only option is May school hol, rest of hols next year are Florida again.
I have started getting a list together of cruise options, its either Seattle or Vancouver. Then flights I would prefer Manchester, even indirect is better than driving to London but is its has to be London I will do it. I have on my list Zoom, FlyGlobeSpan, Thomas Cook, BA, and BMI(might be more list is at home).
Will be glad when its all booked, I can arrange Florida trips in my sleep but this is testing me.