AC330 From Canada, joined Feb 2001, 331 posts, RR: 0 Posted (11 years 1 month 2 weeks 15 hours ago) and read 1063 times:
Hey,
I was looking at going to London over the summer and want to hear what people have to say about Virgin Atlantic. I have always wanted to fly on them...not sure why...they have just always seemed to be a cool airline to me. Anyway any comments on what its like to fly with them would be great!
Thanks!
Deltaflyertoo From United States of America, joined Nov 2000, 1589 posts, RR: 1 Reply 1, posted (11 years 1 month 2 weeks 14 hours ago) and read 1011 times:
I just flew them to London and IMO they are the best airline I have ever flown. The flight crew was amazing. By the 8th hour into the flight they had the same smiles and attitude going as when when I boarded and we still had 3 hours to go!!
The PTVs are great. Although on the return flight, mine broke. I was the only one on the plane and the flight was full so I could not move to another seat. However, Virgin gave me a complimentary bottle of Virgin Vodka and a Clinic Men's kit.
The food is great and with the pop music playing on boarding and on final approach and landing at a noticble volume level (just shy of loud) it makes for a totally interesting and fun flight. I could not imagine going back to London on any other airline!
Cyprus-turkish From United States of America, joined Nov 2001, 199 posts, RR: 0 Reply 2, posted (11 years 1 month 2 weeks 14 hours ago) and read 990 times:
Has anyone flown on both BA and Virgin and can give an unbiased comparison from the food to cabin crew, seats, PTV's, etc.
I flew on BA this Jan. and couldn't think an airline get any better. Should try Virgin over BA?
FlyVS007 From United Kingdom, joined Apr 2001, 186 posts, RR: 1 Reply 5, posted (11 years 1 month 2 weeks 11 hours ago) and read 945 times:
I've flown both Virgin and BA and I have to say that Virgin was far far better. I haven't flown BA in a few years though, so maybe they have improved, but I left BA hoping I never have to fly them again, whereas I can wait for my next flight with Virgin.
Yes I love the music they play on board, although it does get a little annoying. But weeks later when you hear one of the songs it will bring it all back!
Bmi From United Kingdom, joined Mar 2002, 321 posts, RR: 0 Reply 7, posted (11 years 1 month 2 weeks 5 hours ago) and read 905 times:
I have flown:
VS LHR-SFO
VS LAX-LHR
VS LHR-JFK-LHR
and BA on routes to SFO/LHR
Virgin Atlantic are without a doubt better, they are a more modern, more futuristic airline, better cabin crew (by far) and the service is in a world of its own. Very well done VS, i'd fly with them anyday.
VS11 From United States of America, joined Jul 2001, 978 posts, RR: 0 Reply 8, posted (11 years 1 month 2 weeks 5 hours ago) and read 889 times:
Virgin Atlantic is unparalleled in any respect. Words fail to describe the feeling of flying Virgin. Not flying Virgin Atlantic when you have a chance to do it, is a crime against humanity . Really. You give BA great honour if you compare them with Virgin - BA is just unspeakably mediocre.
ContinentalEWR From United States of America, joined May 2000, 3762 posts, RR: 15 Reply 9, posted (11 years 1 month 2 weeks 5 hours ago) and read 881 times:
Virgin is a wonderful airline, with friendly cabin crew, good food, good inflight entertainment, a good on-time record, and a very pleasing fleet. However, the only complaint I have is the Virgin Economy seat. It is hard as a rock.
I have flown VS from JFK/EWR to LHR and back many times and never, NEVER had a bad flight. I have been on the B747-400, B747-100, A340-300.
AC330 From Canada, joined Feb 2001, 331 posts, RR: 0 Reply 10, posted (11 years 1 month 2 weeks 4 hours ago) and read 863 times:
Virgin it is!! Thanks a lot for the replies. I flew BA last summer and I thought they were great! I can't wait to see what Virgin is like now that I see everyone likes them better! Thanks again,
Ikarus From United Kingdom, joined Jan 2001, 3524 posts, RR: 2 Reply 11, posted (11 years 1 month 2 weeks 3 hours ago) and read 854 times:
OK. Unbiased my reply is not - I like VS better. In economy. No idea about higher classes, though....
Comparing 2 return flights on VS (LHR-IAD and LHR-SFO) with 1 return flight on BA (LHR-YVR) taken last year, Virgin comes out on top.
Why?
- much friendlier cabin crew
- more frequent drink services (on BA, on the YVR-LHR leg, there were only about 2 during the entire flight)
- more movies to choose from, and more video games
- not all BA 744s have PTVs - the one I was on during the return flight did not.
- nicer plane interior
- often cheaper fares
About the seat pitch: I could not notice much of a difference between the two at all. I think they're the same
777kicksass From United Kingdom, joined Sep 2000, 668 posts, RR: 0 Reply 13, posted (11 years 1 month 2 weeks 3 hours ago) and read 827 times:
I think BA have caught up a lot they have very comparable service now. However, I think that BA has always had better buisness/first classes, for example the completely flat beds in buisness etc.
C-GRYK From Canada, joined Apr 2000, 751 posts, RR: 41 Reply 14, posted (11 years 1 month 2 weeks 3 hours ago) and read 823 times:
Virgin wins hands down... I had the chance to fly VS026 (JFK-LHR) in 2000 and return on BA177 (LHR-JFK), both in economy, and Virgin wins by a looooong shot. Since that first VS flight I have flown 4 more legs on them and they have impressed me every time and made me feel good for flying them. They are innovators and they treat ALL passengers as valued customers whereas it seems that BA only truly values their super status frequent fliers and First/Club pax. Go with Virgin, you will not be dissappointed in the slightest, and the same could be said for BA, they too are a good airline, but Virgin just excels and beats BA hands down.
Cyprus-turkish From United States of America, joined Nov 2001, 199 posts, RR: 0 Reply 16, posted (11 years 1 month 1 week 6 days 20 hours ago) and read 780 times:
It might be a British thing.
Virgin is a true flag carrier, and so is BA.
They are probably the best things that ever happened to the UK after Liz Hurley
Barcode From Switzerland, joined Dec 2001, 678 posts, RR: 12 Reply 17, posted (11 years 1 month 1 week 6 days 17 hours ago) and read 754 times:
Didn't Branson want to name Economy riff - raff class ? I thought that quite amusing, even if others did not.
I've flown them LHR - LAX and EWR - LHR. The Lax trip on the airbus 340 - 300, and the EWR leg on the 747 - 400 ( S'posed to be an airbus; but due to high demand our plane was replaced by the mighty 7474 )
They're all very friendly, the FA'S are polite and helpful, and I liked playing Super Mario at 35,000 feet. They're innovative, and do seem to cater to the younger, trendier flyers with their boarding music and psychedelic decor.
Their safety display is amusing as well - it's a cartoon thing that plays on the PTV instead of the FA's doing their thing in the aisles.
No complaints from me, and I'll probably be flying them to Vegas in August.
FutureFO From New Caledonia, joined Oct 2001, 3095 posts, RR: 24 Reply 18, posted (11 years 1 month 1 week 6 days 17 hours ago) and read 747 times:
A couple of years I was able to fly VS from IAD-LHR-IAD. I found it to be the worst flight I have been on. The seats on the A340 suck. No padding on the seats. Slow a/c. And being staff for an airline, Most companies upgrade staff, VS does not. I was more comfortable flying UA 14 hours from SFO-SYD in Y class. Outside of that the food was not as advertised. Could not sleep and was stuck in a middle seat for 7 1/2 hours. Could not use the loo.
Jaysit From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 19, posted (11 years 1 month 1 week 6 days 15 hours ago) and read 726 times:
I flew them on several 747-200s both in the old J class and Coach. Business Class is cool if you can afford it or have someone else pay for it.
Coach has good food, service, PTVs, friendly attractive FAs (a rarity on US based airlines), cool knick knacks - and the WORST pitch and recline in modern aviation history that I have encountered. If you can numb yourself on an overnight 7 hour flight to the UK, you'll be ok. I for one, will avoid flying coach in Virgin.
AC330 From Canada, joined Feb 2001, 331 posts, RR: 0 Reply 21, posted (11 years 1 month 1 week 6 days 4 hours ago) and read 675 times:
Okay, I'm 6'2 so would economy really be that bad?? I've flown Canada 3000, Royal Airlines and Air Transat and they were cramped! Virgin isn't that bad is it??
Jetstreamer From United Kingdom, joined Apr 2001, 329 posts, RR: 4 Reply 22, posted (11 years 1 month 1 week 5 days 21 hours ago) and read 650 times:
I don't know why people keep harping on about the seat pitch on Virgin Atlantic.
I am over six foot and have travelled in Economy on many many occasions. I have not found it to be cramped.
On the other hand I have flown on another well known British carrier to Florida and it was the worst ten hours I have ever spent. Not only was there no legroom, the seat was very narrow as well.
If it really was so bad I would be inundated with complaints from passengers on every flight, which I can assure you I'm not.
C-GRYK From Canada, joined Apr 2000, 751 posts, RR: 41 Reply 23, posted (11 years 1 month 1 week 5 days 19 hours ago) and read 648 times:
Hehehe hey Marc,
Being a huge VS fan I could never put them down, but being unbiased yes there could be a bit more room. No, it doesn't make someone cramped, but there isn't much room to manouver to pick up things from under the seat ahead. Not a big deal in my books because the rest of the VS service totally makes up for it... I'll take VS and their wonderful service/small seat pitch over anyone else with their terrible service/large pitch anyday! Hey Marc Email me when you get a chance, I'd like to know your recent travels!
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From Canada, joined Feb 2001, 331 posts, 
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However, Virgin gave me a complimentary bottle of Virgin Vodka and a Clinic Men's kit. 
From United Kingdom, joined Jun 2001, 2139 posts, 
From New Zealand, joined Dec 1999, 491 posts, 
. Really. You give BA great honour if you compare them with Virgin - BA is just unspeakably mediocre.
From United Arab Emirates, joined Jul 2000, 4161 posts, 
From Switzerland, joined Dec 2001, 678 posts, 
From New Caledonia, joined Oct 2001, 3095 posts, 
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