British Airways

[Ann B]

Hi

We usually fly to Orlando with Virgin who we like. We are starting the planning for next year and are considering flying with BA. Have any of you flown with BA and how do they compare with virgin? Do they all have seat back TVs etc?
Thanks. Any advice/comments would be greatly appreciated.

Ann

 

[wayneg]

This thread from a few week back might help you.
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2221949&highlight=virgin+ba

 

[jen_uk]

I've flown BA a couple of times and both times they were good, to New York we had seat back Tvs but to Albania we didn't, thats only a short flight tho so not surprising.

 

[cazzie]

We took advantage of the BOGOF sale for club class earlier in the year so I am hoping they are good.

 

[Shooby doo]

Flown with them 3 times including last year. We upgraded to WT+ on the way out but didn't bother on the way back because the last few times that we have flown home the planes have been half empty- not this time! BA have started using 777 on their Orlando flights which are smaller than 747 so the flight was full but to be honest I didn't think that the upgrade was worth it & should have saved the extra £s for something else. Definately better than our last flight with Virgin & would definately use them again. All seats have seat back TVs & free headsets & as of last year they were still 2 suitcases per passenger although that may have changed.
SD

 

[kristieuk]

Still 2 suitacases per person on US flights Easily compare to Virgin, 777's are new planes, all with seatback tv's, don't think you'll be disappointed, but agree that WT+ is not worth the extra money. If you can't stretch to Club, economy is much better value.

 

[Ann B]

This thread from a few week back might help you.
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2221949&highlight=virgin+ba

Thanks Wayne
Been away for a couple of weeks so had missed that post!
Ann

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

Still 2 suitacases per person on US flights Easily compare to Virgin, 777's are new planes, all with seatback tv's, don't think you'll be disappointed, but agree that WT+ is not worth the extra money. If you can't stretch to Club, economy is much better value.

Again this nonsense about the age of aircraft
the 777's are the same age as Virgins 747's!
for example:
G-RAES BA 777-236ER registered with BA 10/06/1997
G-VAST (Ladybird) Registered with Virgin 17/06/1997

 

[kristieuk]

Again this nonsense about the age of aircraft
the 777's are the same age as Virgins 747's!
for example:
G-RAES BA 777-236ER registered with BA 10/06/1997
G-VAST (Ladybird) Registered with Virgin 17/06/1997

Sorry if you thought this was 'nonsense'. It was by no means meant as a comparison between the age of Virgin and BA aircraft - the op was just asking whether they had seatback tv's etc - my response was meant as a way of saying the 777 is a modern aircraft. That's it. I (and probably the op) am not that interested in when the aircraft was registered, just whether it's a nice plane with all the conveniences one would hope for on a long haul flight.

 

[gemmybear83]

Personally I think the interior of the BA planes are much modern than the VA Gatwick/Manchester aircraft, and I prefer set back tv systems (and it works ). Too be honest I wish I have booked BA over VA for this holiday. The only advantage VA has is Downtown Disney check in and the ability to "request" seating in advance (BA only has 24 online check in).

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

BA have as much problems with their IFE as Virgin.

because a cabin interior is showing wear especially as they are in continuous use compared to BA who can rest aircraft does not mean that the aircraft are older and this is what i meant by nonsense as time and time agin messages are posted that the Virgin 747's are "old" they are not.
The way the message was written, to me, read that the BA 777's were more modern than the Virgin 747's which they are not.
I would agree taht there is very little difference between the two airlines now however.

But still Virgin's Upper Class and PE are better than BA's Club World and WT+

Economy is much the same

 

[Shooby doo]

Obi wan tbh I'm surprised that Virgin haven't moved to 777s not that they are any better but because it takes less passengers to fill them!When we last flew with Virgin the return flight was half empty with everyone spreading out as soon as after take off (which I had been counting on with BA!) but I would comment on the return plane -not good it may well have been the spare but definately older than the outward flight.
To the Op have to agree with the other poster about Club class,WT+ just didn't justify the extra compared to WT.
SD

 

[jen_uk]

Obi wan tbh I'm surprised that Virgin haven't moved to 777s not that they are any better but because it takes less passengers to fill them!When we last flew with Virgin the return flight was half empty with everyone spreading out as soon as after take off (which I had been counting on with BA!) but I would comment on the return plane -not good it may well have been the spare but definately older than the outward flight.
To the Op have to agree with the other poster about Club class,WT+ just didn't justify the extra compared to WT.
SD

Just about every Virgin flight I have been on has been full, I can only think of one flight that had a few spare seats.

 

[Tora Millypoops]

I have flown both British Aiways and Virgin Atlantic and in my opinion I prefer British Airways. I found that the entertainment was better on the British Airways planes and also more reliable. Also with the BA 777 planes there are less passengers and to me it seems less noisy. When I have flown British airways the cabin crew have entertained the children with competitions e.t.c. In the past couple of years I have also found that flying with BA is cheaper than VA, although this may not be the case now.

I enjoy flying with both BA and VA, but overall I prefer flying with BA.

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

Obi wan tbh I'm surprised that Virgin haven't moved to 777s not that they are any better but because it takes less passengers to fill them!When we last flew with Virgin the return flight was half empty with everyone spreading out as soon as after take off (which I had been counting on with BA!) but I would comment on the return plane -not good it may well have been the spare but definately older than the outward flight.
To the Op have to agree with the other poster about Club class,WT+ just didn't justify the extra compared to WT.
SD

The last thought was that the Orlando route would get the A380 as this would combine the two daily Orlando flights into one.

They might replace the 747's (especially the Alitalia 5 who's lease is up next year) with A340's from the Heathrow fleet when the A330's come online in 2011/12, or they might move some of the Heathrow 747's to gatwick at this time.
The Boeing 787's on order seem to be going farther back with their delivery dates and will probably be cancelled.