Please advise on airlines from US to UK

[The_dip_sticks 0]

Thank you so much to all who spent time and gave me your opinions and reviews! I am very infrequent fly-er so these opinions helped a lot. Based on them I would definitely prefer BA over United, but knowing what problems BA facing lately (thanks for the link to article!) ,i probably will fly by United instead. Just do not want spend couple of hours waiting for luggage instead of being in my honey's hands, who is going to meet me in airport-can't believe it will happen so soon!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Believe it or not Continental airlines has always had really good deals. They are affordable and the service is great. Every time I fly to London to visit my hubby I go Continental. If you miss the flight they put you on the next available flight with out having to pay any extra fee. Trust me I learned the hard way. I learned this lesson the hard way. Before I used to fly on Continental I missed my flight out of Gatwick on another airliner and I had to pay and extra $200++ fee to come on stand by seat, and mind you I missed my boarding time. Even though there was still 1 hr left before the flight took off they still would not let me go on the flight. Regardless if they allowed me to make the flight or the next it was not a problem for me. The issue is that the $200 penalty fee that I had to pay. With continental you dont have to pay any fee if you miss your departure flight, like I said if they will just put you on the next availble flight. I always feel safe when traveling with them because their service is awsome!

[yogib37 3]

BA over United any day.

I fly United all the time (one of the perils of working on money from the Federal Government is that I have to fly a US carrier on business) and they used to be not bad. The service has basically got worse and worse in the last few years though, to the point where their flight stewards are rude, their seats are cramped, their flights are expensive, and you don't get any free alcohol on their transatlantic flights any more or any free food on their internal flights (I took one last week that took 7 1/2 hours, and no free food - OK 2 was on the runway!).

Last time I flew on BA it was much better. Now when I fly to Europe on business I always pick a code share flight, last time I flew to Italy I managed to get a ticket that said "United" but actually got on a Lufthansa airplane, and it was much better.

Basically United have gone to the dogs. The only reason to like United these days is their Economy Plus seating, which I thankfully now get for free as I managed to get Premier status this years as I already few more than 25,000 miles this year on United. Certainly Economy Plus is worth more than their damn useless upgrade coupons that never work because they aggresively sell all the first class seats that are availbale, meaning the upgrades never work and always expire.

You might tell I'm a little pissed off with United right now.

Still they're better than US Airways at least, which is basically the ghetto United.

yeah I agree with you on USAirways... I just flew them last week for the first time and for the last time. the planes are cramp in side. have a screw up boarding process. jab you with everything.. meals, head sets, snacks.. Maybe I got spoiled by jetblue and soon to try virgin america.

Take care

yogi

[MargotDarko 0]

I always fly BA. The service is great, the food is totally edible (sometimes even tasy!), the drinks are free and good, and the enterntainment is fantastic (either an 18 channel new movie thing, or this cool new film library thing) - always a personal screen. I recently flew from Heathrow to DC and then from Chicago back to Heathrow with BA and didn't have any problems with baggage or anything else.

In my experience, airlines is the one industry where British service is actually and quite signifcantly better than American service.

[Mags 112]

I have always flown American and have been quite pleased with them each time. I hear BA is better, but given their issues in Heathrow right now, I'm not sure I'd risk it. Hubby flew both United and American and didn't have any better or worse time on either - they were about the same.

Virgin was never an option for me unless I wanted to fly into Gatwick (no thanks) but I'd love to try it once!

I try to go hand baggage only whenever I can as I HATE waiting at the luggage carousel. I like to be in and out, rather like in public toilets.

[John & Annie 0]

BA over united and Virgin over all of them.

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

Hand luggage only has become next to impossible these days with the new restrictions on liquids - unless you plan to buy all your toiletries when you get there. When I flew out of Heathrow last time they insisted I have only one bag through security, including handbag. So I had to stuff my handbag into my one very small carry-on. It was ridiculous.

Anyways, while I like United domestically (they are the only US airlines not to have reduced me to rage, except for Southwest), I would definitely pick BA for a transatlantic flight.

And I am glad I travel a lot for work so I have lots of miles - I always save them for upgrades on long flights.

[Mags 112]

Hand luggage only has become next to impossible these days with the new restrictions on liquids - unless you plan to buy all your toiletries when you get there. When I flew out of Heathrow last time they insisted I have only one bag through security, including handbag. So I had to stuff my handbag into my one very small carry-on. It was ridiculous.

Anyways, while I like United domestically (they are the only US airlines not to have reduced me to rage, except for Southwest), I would definitely pick BA for a transatlantic flight.

And I am glad I travel a lot for work so I have lots of miles - I always save them for upgrades on long flights.

My Dad flew over here from Malta a couple of months ago and he flew with hand baggage only. Managed to cram in a months worth of stuff and had no problems. But he DIDN'T pack too much in the way of toiletries, he bought what he needed once he was here.

It still worked fine though and he had a generous hand baggage allowance.

I guess you have to weigh up the pros and cons if you do it this way.

Edited September 5, 2007 by Mags

[Lisa and Spence 0]

Im flying back to London from Orlando, Florida on the 28th september, im flying with Virgin Atlantic who i fly with all the time, i have quite a few miles added up now and ive used them and cash for my flight, it came to $625 return.

I only fly with Virgin now as i have never had a single problem with them, BA would be my next choice

[psho 0]

Yeah -- Virgin is usually worth the extra $100 or so. Virgin codeshares with Continental from the SFO-LHR/LHR-SFO route, and for some reason, booking it as a Continental flight is almost always more expensive.

[Fandango 1,439]

I loathe BA....had 2 outta 2 bad experiences with them.

Now Virgin...omG...anyday. That airline is pure gold!

adding: to illustrate just how bad I found BA....I wound up abandoning my return ticket, buying a whole new ticket thru Virgin (roundtrip from London), using the US inbound part, and not using the rest.

THAT's how unbearable BA was to me!

[ladybutterfly 0]

Virgin Atlantic is by far the best airline I have ever flown with! A ten hour flight can be pretty darn boring but not when you are flying Virgin. They have been voted the best in flight entertainment and you have your own TV and remote control that you can select about 56 different movies, you can play them when you want, pause, rewind, you also have a choice of great TV shows and can play video games. Also, I would say Virgin is one of the safest airlines aswell ... Virgin everytime!

[thesnowman 1]

I would recommend flying virgin atlantic. I have flown with BA, Continental and Virgin. Continental are ok for the price, but I found that they didnt have on demand movies or free drinks and the food was a bit meh. BA are fairly decent, but as they are about the same price as virgin I would always go with virgin.

Virgin have on demand movies, tv shows, music and free drinks. Lots of leg room and I have always found the staff to be really friendly and helpful.

When we made the big move over we flew with virgin because we had myself, my then fiance and my son. We wanted to the extra leg room. The staff allowed us to get a bulkhead seat so that we could get a crib in there and my son wandered all over the plan and after around 2 hours all the staff knew his name and were giving him snacks and drinks whenever he wandered past, it was rather funny.

Never flew with united or AA so I cant comment on them.

[Olya2007 0]

Hi again! I am OP , who initially asked the question. Based on your opinions I already booked a flight with Virgin Atlantic .Found very good deal ( I think... )-$ 771.

I feel less anxious now and again thanks a million to you for helping me to make a decision.

I love you all!!!! ...and continue to read about your experiences

[thesnowman 1]

Hi again! I am OP , who initially asked the question. Based on your opinions I already booked a flight with Virgin Atlantic .Found very good deal ( I think... )-$ 771.

I feel less anxious now and again thanks a million to you for helping me to make a decision.

I love you all!!!! ...and continue to read about your experiences

good choice, just make sure not to drink to much of the free alcohol before reaching your POE

[psho 0]

Yay! I'm jealous -- I wish I were going! Have a great flight!

Also -- it's worth it to check in online, if you can.