Virgin America vs Southwest

[minniecarousel]

Last time we went to WDW, there was a non-stop from the Bay Area (can't remember if it was Oakland or San Francisco) to Orlando. Since we don't want to spend big bucks to fly one of the N/S from SF to Orlando, we're trying to decide between a one stop on VA out of SF or the one stop on SWA out of OAK. VA is about $300 more (total) + costs more to park or get a ride out of SF.

I'm not a great flyer, and have been spoiled flying VA. If you've flown on both, what's the seat & comfort comparability between the 2 airlines?

 

[bumbershoot]

VAmerica is worlds away from SW. Gorgeous seats and seatbacks. Fabulous in flight entertainment system. The ability to order food from your entertainment system at any time (I don't remember the particulars of it though). Mood lighting (the above-window lights cycle through soft pinks and purples and maybe blues) that IMO really can help soften moods.

The biggest issue, and maybe this is where the price difference is coming from, is that you get two bags each for free on SW and zero bags free with VAmerica.

 

[rwdavis2]

The next time we fly to California it won't be on Southwest if we can help it. Probably Virgin America. Larger seats and the ability to buy more leg room if necessary. Our last flight on Southwest was really uncomfortable. They had take away a lot of leg room since the last time I flew them.

 

[minniecarousel]

OP here - I just hate the thought of flying SWA. It's fine for an hour flight, but onto Orlando - I dunno, sounds uncomfortable to me. We've been taking VA non-stops when we go to NY.

Gotta justify the cost to fly VA.

 

[austinwildflower]

VA! You don't know how good you've had it flying VA until you start flying Southwest. SWA has no assigned seating, so get ready for a lengthy boarding process complete with passenger arguments over saving seats (a contentious issue since SWA began selling priority boarding). SWA also currently has a poor on-time record, and it's fleet isn't particularly well-maintained. Living in central Texas, I can't avoid sometimes flying SWA, but would not consider it if VA were available here!

 

[bumbershoot]

SWA has no assigned seating, so get ready for a lengthy boarding process

They've actually shown pretty solidly that choosing your own seat is FASTER than the other ways of boarding. Saving seats is the problem, but that's a different issue.

 

[austinwildflower]

The Southwest boarding process is sometimes slowed down by issues related to who does/doesn't get to preboard. This was what I was referring to in terms of a lengthy pre-boarding process, in addition to passenger arguments about seats. There was a very long (20+) preboard line on my last SWA flight out of Orlando, and the gate agent spent a lot of what should have been boarding time dealing with people who were trying to argue their way into pre-boarding with no pre-board pass. This in addition to the plane being over an hour late and SW losing our luggage. SWA sounds great in abstract, but I've found flying with them to often be a major hassle in real-life.

 

[minniecarousel]

OP checking in again. We were able to get a great price on VA! Getting to SFO may be a challenge. We'll need to check the price of a town car vs. Park n'Fly.

Going to Disneyland is so much easier - we drive!

 

[Yellowjj]

Glad that it worked out for you but I'm stumped when people compare full service carriers to WN. Your comparison should be with United or any of the other legacies. Everyone knows WN is a no frills airline so they should be lumped with the other no frills.

If you want more pitch between seats, IFE or AVOD, mood lighting, assigned seating, priority boarding.. etc; then you need to comparison shop between VA, DL, UA or AA. All of which can get you there 1-stop or in or in UA case, nonstop.

 

[MillauFr]

Yes you would think that Virgin would offer non-stops between SFO and MCO. Only United flies the route now. Even SeaTac has two airlines flying the MCO route non-stop, Delta and Alaska.

 

[Yellowjj]

They did, not sure when they discontinued the nonstop to SFO. With only one flight a day to LAX now, it doesn't bode well for keeping the station open; especially considering LAX-MCO will soon have 4 other carriers on it. DL, UA and AA....with Frontier starting in October. Five carriers for a mostly leisure route of that distance is alot!