London To New York. Airlines And Aircraft

BritishB747 · Wed Oct 05, 2011 5:56 pm

Hello,

Next summer, probably June or July, I am intending on going on holiday to meet a few friends who are traveling around the world. We intend to meet up in New York and out of sheer curiosity I decided to price flights to see what the best deal was. My search was for flights from LHR to JFK at the start/middle of June. I wasnt surprised to see that the prices were practically all the same and some were exactly the same. So I thought I would have to try and choose between them some other way. Out of the carriers that fly this route I have only flown British Airways. I like BA and thought may as well do the whole trip on them but thought I would ask for more experienced opinions on the matter. The airlines and aircraft that came up were:

British Airways B747-400
Virgin Atlantic B747-400/A340-600
American Airlines B777-200
Delta Air Lines B767-400
Kuwait Airlines B777-200

I was just wondering if anyone had any good reviews about any of these airlines and think I should travel by them or if they have any horror stories and I should avoid like the plague?

Also what are the aircraft and service like on said airlines? Nice staff, comfortable seats, entertainment, in-flight meals, etc...

Or should I fly to New York by another route? If so any suggestions with good service and maybe interesting aircraft types?

Moreover of the two that operate B747s across the pond do either have economy on the upper deck as I think that would be a different experience?

Thank you in advance for your responses.

Regards

[Edited 2011-10-05 10:58:38]

lhr380 · Wed Oct 05, 2011 6:20 pm

BA only have Club World on the upper deck of the 747, but also BA use 777s (Including the new 777-300) on the route as well.

LGWflyer · Wed Oct 05, 2011 6:33 pm

If you want a bit of adventure do what I done. US Airways from LGW-CLT-EWR and back. Got on an A333, 734 and a CRJ. It wasn't that bad of a price and US was a great airline.

GBLKD · Wed Oct 05, 2011 8:17 pm

I'll keep an eye on this thread as I plan to visit my relatives in Toronto in the next couple of years. It's a similar trip so the results should be about right for us.

The outward I think will be a BA 744 from LHR to YYZ as my son and I really want to take a 747 from T5. I'm fairly open to ideas about the return either YYZ to LHR direct or via New York back to either LHR, MAN, or BHX on the UA/CO 757.

CPHFF · Thu Oct 06, 2011 3:02 pm

What ever you do, dont pick Delta! Please trust me on this one.

B747forever · Thu Oct 06, 2011 5:21 pm

Quoting CPHFF (Reply 4):
What ever you do, dont pick Delta! Please trust me on this one.

Have flown DL over the pond and they are not as bad as you make them sound.

SRQKEF · Thu Oct 06, 2011 7:38 pm

You could take FI LHR-KEF-JFK. 752 with PTVs (or IFEs, not sure about the difference). Often the Economy Comfort (or even Saga Class) fares are equal to Economy on other airlines. Just a suggestion!

Regards,

Sveinn TH. (SÞS)

BritishB747 · Thu Oct 06, 2011 9:50 pm

Thank you all for your responses.

I didnt realise BA had the B777-300s on LHR-JFK. I just thought they were on route to India and the Far East. Could be an interesting one to fly and I imagine it will be nice and new inside. However I have never had the opportunity to fly on a B747 so would like to do that too.

I may have a look at US Airways. I am up for the adventure and dont mind the stops but my fellow travellers may not quite understand the reasoning unfortunatley.

Well my father has flown Delta from Amsterdam to New York recently and he didnt seem to have any bad reviews.

Are the B757s roomy enough on such a long flight? Also do FI still fly from GLA? Or has Continental taken all the customers on that route? If I was getting a better class at a competitive price that sounds like it may be a good plan?

Has anybody had any experience of Kuwait Airlines? I am intregued by this flight. Not entirely sure I would pick it though.

If only it was the old days. The choice would be easy. BOAC VC-10.

Thanks again for all the responses. Much appreciated.

Regards

SRQKEF · Thu Oct 06, 2011 11:57 pm

Quoting BritishB747 (Reply 7):
Are the B757s roomy enough on such a long flight? Also do FI still fly from GLA? Or has Continental taken all the customers on that route? If I was getting a better class at a competitive price that sounds like it may be a good plan?

I would say they're roomy enough for a flight that is no longer than 5 hours max. And they fly to LHR, MAN and GLA in the UK. I think GLA and MAN are year round and 3x weekly or something.

Regards,
Sveinn TH.

Eltomzo · Fri Oct 07, 2011 5:06 pm

Quoting BritishB747 (Thread starter):
Moreover of the two that operate B747s across the pond do either have economy on the upper deck as I think that would be a different experience?

VS have economy on the upper deck, I flew that way to EWR earlier this year.

Quoting BritishB747 (Reply 7):
Has anybody had any experience of Kuwait Airlines? I am intregued by this flight. Not entirely sure I would pick it though.

The tireless PlaneHunter has experience on Kuwait Airlines, though it is the A300 rather than the newer B777:

Fifth Freedom Tidbit: Kuwait Airways A300-600 (by PlaneHunter Dec 2 2010 in Trip Reports)

jetblue777 · Fri Oct 07, 2011 9:00 pm

Quoting SRQKEF (Reply 6):

You could take FI LHR-KEF-JFK. 752 with PTVs (or IFEs, not sure about the difference). Often the Economy Comfort (or even Saga Class) fares are equal to Economy on other airlines. Just a suggestion!

Yep. Icelandair and Air Berlin usually have the cheapest fares for JFK-Europe flights.

IIRC, Icelandair doesn't serve complimentary meals on economy class right? Even on JFK-KEF legs? What's your experience on their BOB service? How about service? Thanks!

SRQKEF · Fri Oct 07, 2011 9:26 pm

Quoting jetBlue777 (Reply 10):
IIRC, Icelandair doesn't serve complimentary meals on economy class right? Even on JFK-KEF legs? What's your experience on their BOB service? How about service? Thanks!

Hot dinner for 3 $, all flights (Europe and N-America). Sorry for asking, but what is BOB?

In my experience the service is good, but you can sometimes have a bad crew (maybe 3% of the crew are bad, the rest is great!)

aflyingkiwi · Sat Oct 08, 2011 3:41 am

Quoting SRQKEF (Reply 11):
but what is BOB?

Buy-on-board.

Regards,
aflyingkiwi

Baexecutive · Mon Oct 10, 2011 2:48 am

Quoting BritishB747 (Reply 7):
Has anybody had any experience of Kuwait Airlines? I am intregued by this flight. Not entirely sure I would pick it though.

Just love the description of food they serve onboard.....

Bland Meal
Soft meal which enables the patient to swallow and digest easily. e.g. vegetable soup, vegetable puree, juice, milk etc.

.....taken from their website Wow!

CPHFF · Mon Oct 10, 2011 6:39 am

Quoting B747forever (Reply 5):
Have flown DL over the pond and they are not as bad as you make them sound.

Well, I can only go by personal experience. I have flown 6 times with Delta (3 times in Y, and 3 times in F). From LHR and STR. I find the Flight Attendants very rude, treating pax like live stock getting from point A to B. In F. They forgot their actual position. The word "Attendant" did not exist. Staff was more interested in chatting to each other and they looked really annoyed when you asked for something (yes, in F). I expect more when I pay € 2 000 for a ticket, and I can get it from many other Airlines.

PL

SRQKEF · Mon Oct 10, 2011 4:56 pm

Quoting aflyingkiwi (Reply 12):
Buy-on-board.

Oh, thanks!

The food is fine, nothing fancy but ok.

debonair · Sat Oct 15, 2011 12:05 pm

Also a very interesting way to fly would be ICELAND EXPRESS- all B737 via Iceland (their B757 are kicked out of the fleet).

In other news, BIMAN might start service soon to N.Y. from London as well- operating an used B744 of Air Atlanta!

initious · Sat Oct 15, 2011 1:32 pm

A late a.netter has a wonderful report on KU LHR-JFK. J class was only 750 pounds, according to him. Enjoy.

Earning Your Trust, KU Business Class To JFK (by AI151 Jul 8 2010 in Trip Reports)

SRQKEF · Sat Oct 15, 2011 3:21 pm

Quoting debonair (Reply 16):
Also a very interesting way to fly would be ICELAND EXPRESS- all B737 via Iceland (their B757 are kicked out of the fleet).

If you want to fly Ryanair style TATL, then yes. 5W are TERRIBLE and they're flights are ALWAYS delayed (avg. 1.5 hrs) only 30% of their flights are on-time. Legroom and overall space is very little. But if the price is right, then why not?

bananaboy · Sat Oct 15, 2011 8:57 pm

Quoting SRQKEF (Reply 18):
If you want to fly Ryanair style TATL, then yes. 5W are TERRIBLE and they're flights are ALWAYS delayed (avg. 1.5 hrs) only 30% of their flights are on-time. Legroom and overall space is very little. But if the price is right, then why not

Seriously? You say that they are terrible, always late and that there is little personal space, but then that if the price is right, to go for it.

Personally, I don't find air travel relaxing or particularly pleasant, at least in Y class. After that review of Iceland Express, I wouldn't voluntarily put myself through that for the sake of saving a few coins. Each to their own, I guess.

Quoting Eltomzo (Reply 9):

Quoting BritishB747 (Thread starter):
Moreover of the two that operate B747s across the pond do either have economy on the upper deck as I think that would be a different experience?

VS have economy on the upper deck, I flew that way to EWR earlier this year.

Cool - didn't realise that. A bit of research shows that this config only usually operates from Heathrow. Do you know how many of their aircraft have that configuration?

Mark

SRQKEF · Sat Oct 15, 2011 10:20 pm

Quoting bananaboy (Reply 19):
Seriously? You say that they are terrible, always late and that there is little personal space, but then that if the price is right, to go for it. Personally, I don't find air travel relaxing or particularly pleasant, at least in Y class. After that review of Iceland Express, I wouldn't voluntarily put myself through that for the sake of saving a few coins. Each to their own, I guess.

I agree 100%. Maybe I didn't word it right, but he said he was looking for price. Me myself would NEVER fly Express, maybe I would if I would be paid for it! Otherwise not. Sorry that I caused confusion.

AirbusA6 · Mon Oct 17, 2011 1:01 pm

All BA's flights to JFK will be 744 operated next year. You could always try EWR instead, personally I prefer it. UA/CO do have some of the flights as 757 though, I think BA's are 772s.

lhr380 · Mon Oct 17, 2011 1:09 pm

Quoting AirbusA6 (Reply 21):

The 773 operates to JFK as well. Normally one of the later departures from LHR

AirbusA6 · Mon Oct 17, 2011 10:42 pm

Quoting lhr380 (Reply 22):
Quoting AirbusA6 (Reply 21):
The 773 operates to JFK as well. Normally one of the later departures from LHR

Next summer it will be all 744 (as per the thread below)

BA To Add 3rd Daily MIA & 8th Daily JFK (by santos Oct 12 2011 in Civil Aviation)

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