 | | |
28-07-2008, 8:26 AM
|
#1 (permalink)
| | Member
Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Bradford
Posts: 37
Thanks: Gave 16, Got 4 | BA or Virgin to Washington. Any recommendations?
Hi,
In September I have to fly to Washington. It's for work so I am allowed to go "Premium Economy". The choice is basically between BA and Virgin. I have flown trans-atlantic (all classes) with Virgin quite a few times and always been satisfied. However last time was 3 years ago so not sure if things have got better of worse.
Does anyone have recent experience of Virgin and/or BA trans-atlantic and can recommend one over the other, or even some one else? Thanks.
Cheers
Mark
|
| |
28-07-2008, 10:26 AM
|
#2 (permalink)
| | Member
Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Bounds Green, London
Posts: 885
Thanks: Gave 375, Got 234 | Re: BA or Virgin to Washington. Any recommendations?
Given the choice i'd fly with United!
__________________ "Hey,what happened to Progressive Ed?" XBOX Live-ADT65 WARNING! Disabled access is a Dalek conspiracy! |
| |
28-07-2008, 10:33 AM
|
#3 (permalink)
| | Member
Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Kent
Posts: 897
Thanks: Gave 9, Got 43 | Re: BA or Virgin to Washington. Any recommendations?
I would go virgin, but it has been many years since i have flown pren, normally fly UC
__________________ NTL ex C&W Pace 4010 STB x2, Denon 2307 Receiver, Panasonic AE700, Harmony 885, Pannasonic TH50PZ70, PS3, Tosh RP30, LG RZ32LZ50 LCD TV, DMS II MCE PC, Toshiba G30-163 HD DVD Laptop |
| |
28-07-2008, 12:33 PM
|
#4 (permalink)
| | Member
Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Bradford
Posts: 37
Thanks: Gave 16, Got 4 | Re: BA or Virgin to Washington. Any recommendations?
Thanks Bill - United only seem to have economy or full blown business class. My company travel policy allows us to stretch to the premium economy for long flights but will not go as far as business / upper class (shame  )
Thanks Jon - I have been UC with Virgin a couple of times as a result of upgrade and it is a different world! Happy with premium economy - that exra bit of space make a lot of difference.
May stick with Virgin at least I will get some frequent flyer points but they will probably expire like the last lot
Cheers
Mark
|
| |
28-07-2008, 1:29 PM
|
#5 (permalink)
| | Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Berkshire
Posts: 2,303
Thanks: Gave 3, Got 106 | Re: BA or Virgin to Washington. Any recommendations?
Book the cheapest, making sure you tell your boss = brownie points. It's only 6-7 hours anyway, barely qualifies as long-haul. |
| |
28-07-2008, 2:19 PM
|
#6 (permalink)
| | Veteran Member
Join Date: Jun 2001
Posts: 5,785
Thanks: Gave 259, Got 757 | Re: BA or Virgin to Washington. Any recommendations?
If you buy a full price World Traveler Plus ticket on BA, you stand a good chance of an upgrade to club at this time of year because world traveler is usually over booked and they are looking to move folk up a class.
They did for me last time.
|
| |
28-07-2008, 2:24 PM
|
#7 (permalink)
| | Member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 129
Thanks: Gave 20, Got 51 | Re: BA or Virgin to Washington. Any recommendations? Quote:
Originally Posted by Mark Greaves Hi,
In September I have to fly to Washington. It's for work so I am allowed to go "Premium Economy". The choice is basically between BA and Virgin. I have flown trans-atlantic (all classes) with Virgin quite a few times and always been satisfied. However last time was 3 years ago so not sure if things have got better of worse.
Does anyone have recent experience of Virgin and/or BA trans-atlantic and can recommend one over the other, or even some one else? Thanks.
Cheers
Mark | I'd fly BA just to keep my exec club status. If you're not above blue in exec and you don't collect miles then Virgin are a good choice. See if your in house travel company have any offers. Sometimes there's good upgrades to be had. I wouldn't fly united since an engine failed on me on an MD-80 above Dallas  Was a few years ago mind
__________________ "Go ahead and play the blues if it'll make you happy." - Homer Simpson |
| |
28-07-2008, 2:28 PM
|
#8 (permalink)
| | Veteran Member
Join Date: Jun 2001
Posts: 5,785
Thanks: Gave 259, Got 757 | Re: BA or Virgin to Washington. Any recommendations?
BTW, if it is convenient, I have found flying into Baltimore is a more pleasant experience than Dulles.
No queues, nice modern airport. |
| |
28-07-2008, 7:58 PM
|
#9 (permalink)
| | New Member
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 0
Thanks: Gave 1, Got 3 | Re: BA or Virgin to Washington. Any recommendations?
I've flown with Virgin quite a few times in the past and have never had a complaint...this changed when i went to Las Vegas in October last year.
The staff were rude, the planes were old and on the way back they tried to sit me at the front of the plane and my boyfriend at the back even though we had already pre-booked our seats! Oh and our flight was delayed going out and coming home! Absolute nightmare and a let down seeing as I'd flown with them before.
I'm flying with BA when I go to Florida in September and I'm looking forward to it.....heard some pretty good things about them too!
|
| |
29-07-2008, 9:55 AM
|
#10 (permalink)
| | Member
Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Bradford
Posts: 37
Thanks: Gave 16, Got 4 | Re: BA or Virgin to Washington. Any recommendations?
Thanks everybody
I think it's going to be BA. Washington is not my final destination and the BA timings are more convenient. Plus I have never flown long haul with them before so am curious to see the difference with Virgin.
Will turn up smartly dressed to boost the chances of upgrade to next class
Cheers
Mark
|
| |
29-07-2008, 10:41 AM
|
#11 (permalink)
| | Member
Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Edinburgh
Posts: 324
Thanks: Gave 171, Got 77 | Re: BA or Virgin to Washington. Any recommendations?
Wouldnt worry so long as its not Qantas.
__________________ Sammy 40" & 37" LCD's, Sammy HTA710 Receiver, Amp & Sub with 6:1 surround Sound, Sky HD, HTPC with 1.5tb HD's, LG GGC H20L Blu Ray & HD-DVD Roms, Nvidea 8600GT HDMI, Xbox 360 (Bust ) |
| |
29-07-2008, 10:42 AM
|
#12 (permalink)
| | Member
Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Edinburgh
Posts: 324
Thanks: Gave 171, Got 77 | Re: BA or Virgin to Washington. Any recommendations?
Companies are tight if they dont allow you to fly business class when on business. Look to change companies.
__________________ Sammy 40" & 37" LCD's, Sammy HTA710 Receiver, Amp & Sub with 6:1 surround Sound, Sky HD, HTPC with 1.5tb HD's, LG GGC H20L Blu Ray & HD-DVD Roms, Nvidea 8600GT HDMI, Xbox 360 (Bust ) |
| |
29-07-2008, 8:06 PM
|
#13 (permalink)
| | Member
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 147
Thanks: Gave 34, Got 41 | Re: BA or Virgin to Washington. Any recommendations? Quote:
Originally Posted by Nobber22 Book the cheapest, making sure you tell your boss = brownie points. It's only 6-7 hours anyway, barely qualifies as long-haul.  | I had to fly virgin economy back from Dulles a few years ago. The (very large) guy next to me had a box-like part of the plane's structure under the seat in front of him so he couldn't stretch out. Both he and I tried to get him moved, to no avail. He ended up sleeping all over me for 6 hours.
Never Virgin economy again - and never Virgin if I can help it.
Dave
|
| |
29-07-2008, 9:11 PM
|
#14 (permalink)
| | Prominent Member
Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Manchester
Posts: 4,119
Thanks: Gave 186, Got 381 | Re: BA or Virgin to Washington. Any recommendations? Quote:
Originally Posted by Paul_HDLover Companies are tight if they dont allow you to fly business class when on business. Look to change companies. | We have to have an 8 hour or longer complete flight before we can go biz class - so only my flights to Asia qualify; this doesn't usually bother me on a flight to USA (normally have 5 or 6 such trips per year).
However, I was allowed to make an exception on my return leg from Boston next month because I am hosting and presenting 3 one hour web conferences 2 days after I get back to UK. I suspect many other companies have a similar policy.
I'm a loyalty scheme "tart" - belong to all 3 major ones though currently only have frequent flyer status with 1 of them; I choose most flights based on a mixture of convenience of the tinming and cost.
I can't say I honestly think any of them stand out above their competitors though.
Chris Muriel, Manchester
|
| |
29-07-2008, 9:39 PM
|
#15 (permalink)
| | Veteran Member
Join Date: Jun 2001
Posts: 5,785
Thanks: Gave 259, Got 757 | Re: BA or Virgin to Washington. Any recommendations? Quote:
Originally Posted by Paul_HDLover Companies are tight if they dont allow you to fly business class when on business. | Then there must be a lot of tight companies around... |
| | | |