BA vs Virgin

[karentan]

i'm 99% sure we're going to fly with BA (flew with virgin last time), but was just wondering what other people think of both airlines. if anyone can help i'm looking for:
pros and cons of both airlines,
whats the food like on BA?
whts the service like?

basically what are people's experiences of BA and virgin?

thanks in advance

 

[wayneg]

Only ever been on BA once, Man-New York return. Really poor plane, water leaking on me. Food for DS was about 90% chocolate, chocolate drink, choc bar, choc cake etc. he loved it it was average for us. miserable staff.
Not used them since.
BMI beat both Virgin and BA for us, shame you have to go via Chicago to use them.
I am sure we just got a bad flight to New York, others have no problems.

 

[CustardTart]

Only ever been on BA once, Man-New York return. Really poor plane, water leaking on me. Food for DS was about 90% chocolate, chocolate drink, choc bar, choc cake etc. he loved it it was average for us. miserable staff.
Not used them since.
BMI beat both Virgin and BA for us, shame you have to go via Chicago to use them.
I am sure we just got a bad flight to New York, others have no problems.

Wayne, we had exactly that issue on BA flights (London/Bahamas return) scared the pants off me as the miserable FAs gave conflicting explanations!!! Very unimpressed and we haven't used 'em since...

 

[Jakey Rowling]

Assuming its economy or PE, I'd go with the best price as there is not enough to choose between them.
Virgin does have the advance seat selection over BA but its not worth paying a huge amount for and there is little real difference in my opinion in the overall package.
Food - typical airline food for both
service- varies, possibly found BA edges it in Econ but it's crew dependant.

 

[angel659]

I used to prefer VA over BA, but the last flight I noticed a drop in service and the plane was old and was not as comfortable as the BA economy. For instance both trips we had supported head rests and foot rests (on BA). The chairs on the flight home hardly reclined at all. Considering just over 80 passengers on our flight I thought I would recline the seat and noticed it hardly moved. My dh was the same. The food is pretty much the same. The service well I think it might come down to the crew I dont know. The last time I flew with VA I was not impressed. Everytime we flew with VA we have been delayed.

I would still go with whoever was cheaper. I dont think there really is much difference. Also I get to collect air miles with Virgin. I dont know if you can collect air miles with BA.

 

[Pinklepurr361]

I flew LHR/JFK/LHR with BA in November and they were superb. Far far better than we were expecting. Great food, great entertainment and excellent staff. Crew were mature and professional, made you feel "safe" IYKWIM! Having only flown with Easy Jet in recent years it was such a relief to feel this as I am a nervous flyer. Only tiny niggle was that my sister who was travelling with me needed to ask for 3 sets of headphones before they worked.

I'm going with VA to MCO in March and I am a little worried that they will not live up to my expectations. Econ out and PE on the way home. Paid a fortune for peak dates as we are tied to the Easter holidays. It had better be good!

 

[Jakey Rowling]

. Also I get to collect air miles with Virgin. I dont know if you can collect air miles with BA.

In terms of collecting and spending miles for M+M or flights, I think the two schemes are pretty similar nowadays.

Still haven't quite forgiven VA for changing the transatlantic miles to 50K from 40K for a flight a couple of years ago, an effective 25% decrease in my miles.
I managed to get most of the loss credited back but it took too long a time as far as I was concerned.

 

[JohnnySharp2]

We choose Virgin because they fly direct to MCO from Manchester, BA don't.

 

[wayneg]

We choose Virgin because they fly direct to MCO from Manchester, BA don't.

Same for us, even though I was not happy with our only BA flights the main reason we don't use them is convenience of VA from Manchester.

 

[Richard Bruvofetc]

We've used both. 10 years ago I would have said definately Virgin, but over the years Virgin's service and aeroplanes have been falling in quality. My preference now is for BA - their staff appear to be far more mature and professional and the aeroplanes a lot higher in quality. The food on BA is marginally better, but still standard aircraft food. Virgin's crew coming home last October were the worst crew (besides a Cyprus crew on First Choice), I have ever come across.

At the end of the day, its the price that still makes my decision - two years ago BA were £100 cheaper, so I flew them; last year Virgin were £100 cheaper, so I flew them; For my trip next October it's BA again, the tickets are £300 cheaper.

One other thing, Virgin tend to depart late on a very regular basis these days.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

For about five years in a row it was Virgin, but BA came cheaper and the service has got better, last year and this year its BA, but maybe 2009 will be Virgin.

Service was better on Virgin but has been falling down, meals better on BA,

I have found BA have improved considerably

 

[Mrs Stonfiesta]

We always go BA, price is the main reasons as i have always found them cheaper. I would have to say that the virgin flights into and out of MCO are often delayed and the BA tends to go on time without any problems. The other reason for us is that the BA flight is generally less busy and also has fewer children/families and as a currently childless couple this works better for us. i am sure in years to come i will be putting the family on Virgin and myself on BA!!!

 

[selmuir]

The 2 times ive been to orlando were in Virgin and Monarch

Virgins seats in the planes were annoying because they have a pillow where your head should be so you get a really soar neck because of it ( some people may preffer that but i dont )

Monarch would be absoulutly great if it had little tv's on the back of there seats rather than a big screen for everyone but hey it was still a good flight

I dont know if some planes go faster than the other but when i was on the Virgin plane ( 2007 ) it only took 8 hours and when i was flying with Monarch ( 2006 ) it took me 10 hours

 

[Dimplenose]

The other reason for us is that the BA flight is generally less busy and also has fewer children/families

We're thinking of using BA in 2009 and this would be appealing to us as our youngest will be 15 by then. Would this still be true in school holidays?

(I know I'm turning into an intolerant grumpy old woman now my own children are growing up).

Libby

 

[Hilary]

I'll echo the general 'not much to chose between them' view, and we book with whichever airline gives us the best price/airport/date/time combination for each trip.

... although I do like the BA footrest