Virgin vs BA

[debchard]

I've got quotes for flights for both Virgin and BA and am not sure which one to go for. The price difference is nothing. Any advice appreciated, bearing in mind my children are 8, 7 and 4.

Must just say this is a wonderful website. I have managed to get some great bargains from the advice on here. THANKS!

Debbie

 

[AlisonB]

A few BA thoughts are posted on this thread . I personally would go for BA over Virgin, as long as the 3-3-3 seat config, and twilight check in aren't big factors for you. JMHO

 

[Red-Snapper]

Nothing much to choose between them really these days I dont think.

Think Virgin might have the better kids channel, but even BA copy the ice cream with the film thing now.

Also Virgin have Twilight Check-in if that interests you. Ba are using 777 with a fairly tight seat config but I dont personally think there is any noticable difference in leg room between that and the Virgin 747.

BA will probably be the newer plane and larger seatback video etc

 

[debchard]

Sorry but what is twilight check in?

Thanks.

 

[Daftman]

TWILIGHT CHECK-IN IS WERE YOU ARE ABLE TOO CHECK YOUR LUGGAGE IN THE NIGHT BEFORE YOUR FLIGHT HOWEVER,THIS FACILITY IS ONLY AVAILABLE FLYING FROM GATWICK.

REGARDS
SEAN.

 

[richard3330]

Virgin all the way for me IMO. Everytime I have flown with BA I have always found the staff less-polite and the general quality of the flight worse. Virgin are much better if you have children as well IMO.

However, if there was a price difference between the two, then I would probably just choose the cheapest.

 

[Highland Lass]

I flew with BA last time and won't do it again.

We had a pretty rotten time and when we got off at Heathrow we had missed our connection due to flight delays. My daughter was ill and no-one from BA was interested. Also when we arrived in our hotel and opened our cases everything was soaking wet. the luggage had been left outside in Heathrow and it was pouringwith rain.

I'm going with Virgin this time

Will let you know how it goes.......

 

[Dimplenose]

I have also had soaking wet luggage but on arrival at Orlando and travelling with Virgin.

Libby

 

[Highland Lass]

Oh well..........its a hit or a miss then..........

Fingers crossed all will be well.

 

[Hilary]

Although most people will have their 'favourite' of one over the other, I think most posts in the past on the same question usually say there is very, very little to choose between them.

 

[kevin harrison]

Virgin for me every time, here's why

Last time we went to Orlando, my wife, who is a nervous flyer anyway refused point blank to get on the plane, no amount of persuading would work. The lady on the Virgin desk saw my wife's face and realising what was wrong came over to us to help. She fetched another lady from Virgin who sat with her for 2 hours, took her on the plane before everyone else to show her how the plane is prepared, let us board first, introduced her to the captain, took us up to the flight deck during the flight and upgraded us to Premium Economy there and back.

Now for me, this was fantastic service, I mean Virgin could have just said "we've got your money - sorry"

Kevin

 

[highflyer747b]

I've flown with ba several times now to Orlando and Miami - and have never had a bad flight. Also, the flights always seemed less hectic and a bit more civilised than Virgin. The kids on the plane got some great Disney branded bags.
I'm also pretty sure that you can forget about flight deck visits - since Sep 11 this has been a big no-no.

Philip

PS Any airline that would give me an upgrade would be my favourite too!

 

[disney daft dad]

We're doing Virgin this time, beacuse last year with BA was horrible, again cabin crew were not the most pleasant and we were in the last 15 rows or so and they ran out of MEALS!!! Ahhhhhh......so we were given a small tub of pringles!! Never again!!

Again this is JMHO... there will be positive and negative for every airline...so go with what's best times/cost for you, again I cannot see past Twilight checkin what a bonus.

Disney Daft Mum
Val

 

[kevin harrison]

Originally posted by highflyer747b
[B

PS Any airline that would give me an upgrade would be my favourite too! [/B]

This is true, but they didn't need to have sat with my wife for 2 hours did they?

 

[Bellis Belles]

Not much in it really having done both. Now get a kids pack with BA also. Think kids tv is better with Virgin. PS. Does any one know if you can still check in bags at DTD when flying home. we were last in WDW during 9/11 so obviously they stopped this. Thanks

 

[#1MMFan]

I'd go with BA. I went with Virgin a few years ago and the attitude (we were forced to upgrade to premium economy because we booked later) was definitely "we've got your money, now we can do what we want". The staff on BA have always treated me with more respect than Virgin did.

I have to say I did - after having problems and being promised a partial refund - write to Virgin, who were less than helpful and they decided to send us some Virgin vouchers for our next flight. Needless to say, they haven't been used.

J

 

[shingle]

we have flown with virgin to florida or califonia 10 times and never have we had any delays its virgin for us everytime

 

[onlyholly]

For the last ten years we have used either BA or Virgin and on our return from South Africa with Virgin in April we decided not to use either again. The cabin crew have an attitude, the airfare costs more than other scheduled airlines, both are cutting back on complimentary packs for kids/adults and my list goes on.

We returned from WDW this morning (yawnnnnnnn) with BMI/United via Washington and I can honestly say it's the best flight we've had in the last 10 years - and we had a few hiccups on the way.

We were delayed leaving Manchester by 1.5 hours but the pilot made up most of the time. It took 2 hours to clear immigration at Washington which meant we missed our connecting flight to Orlando, but got the next available flight and were upgraded to 1st class.

I ordered a kids meal for my DS both ways but unfortunately something went wrong in the system and no meal was ordered - the 1st class chef came to the rescue and made him a special meal (he requested pizza - and boy was it good). Because of the mix up they bombarded him with all sorts of attention and goodies.

The flight entertainment was better than Virgin/BA and even had a channel connected to a camera with a birds eye view from the nose of the plane (very interesting at times - especially at take off and landing).

The leg room is greater than Virgin/BA. The pillows/blankets are softer and cleaner. The meals were fantastic with four choices and proper ice cream (Hagen Das - sp?) The complimentary packs were good and my son received a backpack with a radio and headphones, pens, puzzle books, quality key ring, note pads etc.

Best of all were the staff - they couldn't do enough and were on hand during the entire flight with drinks, chocs, sweets, big smiles and a willingness to help. Something I have never seen with Virgin or BA.

My vote goes to BMI and United and we will definately book with them again in the near future.

Off to bed for me I think as I've been awake for over 40 hours now and I feel I'm wittering a bit !!!!!

Holly

 

[amf]

Hi Holly......I'm so glad to hear that, despite your difficulties, you speak so highly of bmi/UA We are travelling the same route next month and I wonder if you might just answer a couple of questions (once you have had some sleep) just to prepare us

1. Did each seatback screen on the bmi flights have playstation/computer games (we have 2 kids, DD 10 and DS 8, so it would be nice if they were kept occupied)

2. You mention a 2 hour delay in clearing immigration at IAD Did you clear immigration at the Concourse C facility or did you travel in the mobile lounge to the main immigration facility and then back to Concourse C for your onward flight to MCO?

Any info or tips you can give would be much appreciated.

Alex

Edit.......spelling still not my strong point and error corrected too

 

[onlyholly]

Managed to get some sleep on and off last night but still feel horrid. It usually take a few days for me to get back to normal.

To answer your question about immigration:

As soon as we arrived in Washington the immigration hall was down the stairs from the aircraft stand. A permanent setup, not mobile. The reason we were delayed I believe, was something to do with the computer system going down. Personally we think they were just short staffed, slow and had too many flights come in at the same time. Surprisingly the time flew by, we were excited about our holiday and going first class down to Orlando made us forget our wait very quickly.

The walk to domestic departures (concourse C) seemed to take forever but because our onward flight was waiting for us we were whisked past all other procedures and told to go to a certain departure gate. Unfortunately when we got to the said gate no one was expecting us and there was no plane waiting to take us to Orlando. We were told our plane had departed at the original time and that it was our bad luck that we missed it and that we should find the next available flight and stand in line at that gate. We did just that and within a few minutes we were in first class and on our way to Orlando. Our situation could have been very different and I believe it was for a few who had to wait a few hours for the next available flight.

The experience has not put us off flying with BMI/United as it was out of their control and in the hands of airport officials. We have had worse delays with BA and Virgin.

I see you are going to OLCC. We spent our first week there and had a great time.

Saying that we wouldn't go back as the place is huge (bigger than the esate we live on) and we had to drive everywhere on-site, for example, it took us ten minutes in the car to get from reception to our villa (north village), a few minutes drive to our nearest pool and the shuttle ran just hourly and had to be called in advance. If you are a golfer it is paradise I believe. We have played in the past but it's not our thing really. The accommodation was clean and well set out. We had a two bedroom villa. Supplies included were towels, toilet paper, kitchen towell, a couple of washing powder sachets, dish washer sachets and bin liners - no soap, shampoo, washing up liquid, no towel or bed linen change for the whole week unless you paid extra.

We are Hilton Grand Vacation Club owners (5 years now) and were given a free week at any RCI when we upgraded two years ago. We chose OLCC.

In all honesty we had a great time at OLCC but it wasn't the HGVC and we couldn't wait to move to our own place for the remainder of our holiday (10 nights). We're not keen on the Kissimmee area and the 192 is a nightmare at any time of day. Don't go to the Golden Corral on 192 it was awful. At the HGVC we usually go to the Golden Corral (on the same complex as Bahama Breeze) for breakfast everyday but the GC on 192 put us off for the rest of our holiday. The place was dirty and the food just didn't taste right.

Whilst at the HGVC we went on the usual owners sales tour and ended up trading-in our Seaworld property for the new HGVC Tuscany Village property. It looks a gem of a place and can't wait for our next trip on August 2004. The HGVC treatment is fantastic and all shampoo, soap etc is complimentary and all you need to do is ask for more if needed. They also clean and change towels, bedlinen etc twice a week (but maybe that's because we are owners, not sure if you are RCI or renting). Everything is within walking distance, clean and constantly updated.

Have a great time at OLCC and give my ragards to 'the mouse'. If you have any further question regarding OLCC, don't hesitate to ask.

Holly