BRITISH AIRWAYS to Orlando...Good , Bad or just the same ????

[mike230652]

Looks like we'll be going out to Orlando from Gatwick with BA in November.
Any comments as to whether their cattle class is the same as everyone else's? is it worth upgrading...if indeed they have a Premier Gold or equivalent?

Or should we try TravelCity?

Any help appreciated

TIA

mike230652

 

[rob@rar.org.uk]

As far as their economy service goes, they are much the same as Virgin and other scheduled airlines, and offer slightly more leg room than most of the charter airlines. They also fly into Orlando International, whereas the charter airlines tend to fly to Sanford (which is about an extra 30-45 minutes drive).

BA do have a premium economy seat - it's called World Traveller Plus - but I don't think it is available on the Gatwick-Orlando route. This may change in June 2004 when BA refit the planes on the LGW/MCO route to the new Club World seats. The difference in price between BA's World Traveller (economy) and World Traveller Plus is generally much greater than the upgrades that the charter airlines charge for their upgraded service.

We've just booked our seats for August 2004 and after much consideration decided that Travel City Direct's Sunshine First was the best option for us. It offers lots of leg room (54 inch seat pitch) and a small (child-free) cabin, which hopefully will be nice and quiet. It wasn't a cheap upgrade (£350 per person) but as we are going with my parents on their one and only holiday to Orlando we decided to treat ourselves. We did consider Virgin's Premium Economy, but I don't think it offers good value-for-money, so we opted for TCD.

Regards

Rob

 

[WDWfan uk]

I have to say I have not found any major differences between Virgin and BA - both airlines always wheel out their oldest planes when they see me coming anyway

I think Virgin cater slightly better to children and their food is slightly better too but that does not affect our decision.

I am happy to use BA and have done for most trips.

 

[mike230652]

rob,

I've only flown from Newcastle before ( sheltered life plus I'm too lazy to travel more than 12 miles to an airport !!!! ) so we've used Air2000, Airtours ( shocking!) and Britannia.

I assume they'll all be about on a par with Virgin/BA ?

Just that flying with BA I can pick up 4 flights for £920 in late November. Would be cheaper but now that DD Emilia is 12 she's apparently and adult!!!! Mind you, she's thought that for the last 4 years anyway, now she can prove it !!

BTW does anyone know how far it is from Tampa or Miami to Orlando............just wondering, i may end up taking 3 weeks holiday.

mike230652

 

[rob@rar.org.uk]

If I could get tickets for 4 people for £920 I'd be happy to sit with the suitcases in the hold! Unfortunately we have to travel during school holidays, so we're paying nearly that much each. Does this include a flight from Newcastle to Gatwick?

Regards

Rob

 

[mike230652]

If only!!! The connecting flights are £69 each....but bearing in mind the cost of an overnight Gatwick hotel, parking, fuel etc. it's probably better flying from Newcastle.


Need to have a discussion with DW about dates...we're lucky, we can go at more or less any time we want.

Thanks for the info


mike230652

 

[AlisonB]

In recent years we've flown BA and Virgin - and a few years ago we flew Continental and a charter airline whose name escapes me!

We personally preferred BA, but there's not a great deal in it. We found the cabin staff a bit more professional, the food a bit better and the drinks far more frequently offered with BA and also the TV screens were a bit better quality - though this may have been because we had a newer plane.
We would not pay scads more ££ to fly BA but if the prices are more or less the same as Virgin, then BA would definitely get our vote.

The only slightly minor point for us is that BA have gone to 777s now, and the seat config is 3-3-3, which is not so ideal for our 4 person family, as we like to sit 4 abreast. Shaun and I will now fight over who gets to sit on their own across the aisle in peace!

 

[mike230652]

Alison

it's a racing certainly who'll get the "seat across the way "...ME!!

BTW, can pre-book seats with BA ? If so, I'd try for two and two behind ( if you get my meaning ! )......just that the offer I'm after closes in 4 days and I want to get this resolved.




mike230652

 

[AlisonB]

Yes - you can pre book seats - and there's no 180 day limit either!

 

[fester]

We got quite a good deal through BA's website. From Aberdeen to Orlando via Gatwick for £417 each (5 of us) leaving on September 25. Most of the other flights we looked at had 2 or more changes. We depart Aberdeen at 7am and the Orlando flight departs at 10.55 so there is not a lot of standing about..hopefully!! Seeing as we live just a few miles from Aberdeen this definitely appealed to us compared to the 3 hour drive to Glasgow (which is a nightmare on the way home!!) we have taken on the last two trips to Orlando. It is also the first time we have flown scheduled so even if there is a wee bit more legroom than Airtours and Britannia then i will be a happy lad. Incidentally my sister was on the same flight back in March and was delighted with it. The service and food were both great compared to previous charter flights and the seat back tvs were great too plus the flight was about 45 minutes early on both legs.

 

[squitty]

Mike,

Just to say that we did the NCL to LGW to MCO a couple of years back.
It was fine flying down but we found it a bit of a long wait coming back. We landed at something like 7am and had to wait til noon to get the connecting flight back to NCL. It was really boring sitting around the airport for that long. All we wanted to do was get home.
This time we are driving down the night before staying at the Gatwick Hilton with parking included.

 

[Fantasia Sam]

Another vote here for BA Cattle Class over Virgin Cattle Class mainly the service and the food. That said PE in Virgin is better than WorldTravellerPlus in BA if only because you go in the bubble for Virgin's PE but there again you can't fly WTP on the BA LGW-MCO route .

I'd like to do Sunshine First but I'm concerned that because it's charter then it's more likely to get delays and although I don't mind delays on the way out I can't stand them on the way back especially at Sanford such a boring airport on the way home. Sanford is great on the way from the UK as it's so speedy getting from plane to transport or hire car. I lvoed Sanford from that point of view.

 

[vernon]

Mike you were asking travelling distances. Miami to Orlando is about a 4-5 hour drive, it's a pretty easy journey straight along the motorway. I wouldn't advise driving straight off a flight for anyone that's thinking of it, it's an easy drive, but a fairly boring one. At the end of a long flight it would be easy to nod off
Tampa to WDW is just about 60-75 minutes.
To Clearwater/St Petes maybe 90-110 minutes from Orlando.

 

[Eastender]

Stewardess said the B.A 777 we were on had a charter configuration, i.e less legroom. Still the same as Virgins 30" pitch but don't go much on penny pinching like that. Do you still have to book accomodation with TCD to book sunshine 1st?

 

[mike230652]

Thanks to everyone for their help and advice!

Made the leap and just booked ( and got confirmation ).

After consulting the family i.e. getting DW's permisssion! we're flying out to Tampa on November 27th. Decided on a week on the Gulf Coast and a week in the land of the Mouse.

Total cost was £929.00 inc taxes etc. No upgrades available on that route unfortunately, but seems like a very good price for 3 adults and 1 child..............?!

Now comes the easy bit.......organise two villas, car hire, transport to Gatwick, insurance etc. etc.

Doubtless I'll be asking a thousand questions of you good people over the next few months!!! Great......now I'm in planning mode LOL!!


Thanks again for the advice and help.



mike230652

 

[Red-Snapper]

I would say BA have at least caught up with Virgin if not exceeded them recently.
We always used to fly BA but they got complacent and when we went on Virgin they were so much better.

Over the last few years BA have invested in better seasback videos, better meals etc and I now think they are probably better given that Virgin seem to not invested in the older jumbos for some time.

Also have flown to Antigua twice on the BA 777 using the confoguration above and would say there is at least as much room as in the 747-400 - certainly a lot more than the Britannia flight we took recently to Mexico.