Jan Alaska

I prefer American but they can be expensive, My kids usually fly on British Airways, we havent had any problems and they do a really good unaccompanied minors programme. The one and only time we used BMI they 'lost' our baggage, it took 3 days to get it back by which time they had taken a couple pairs of new jeans, sweets for the kids, cologne from husbands wash bag and a couple of thousand dollars worth of CD roms which we had been told couldnt travel in carry on because they were a 'threat' to be fair this was 2 weeks after 9/11
Wouldnt touch NWA, we flew with them when we moved over here because they had the best luggage allowance and were cheap, the staff onboard have to be the rudest bunch I have ever come across, they kept a select few "bevvied" up and refused us an extra bottle of water ... GrrrrrrrR

Havent used any of the other carriers because they dont offer a service to our local airports.

Franklin

Yeah, I visited a company in Ann Arbor a while back and flew back to DC from the new terminal ... it is fab-a-roo ... the trains run to one side above your head. My peripheral vision is pretty good and when one of those trains whisked by I was blown over ... I thought one had somehow got into the terminal ... I then spent time on the train - just to get a better perspective of the new terminal (I say "new", it is probably a couple of years or so old now). But it's a fantastic terminal, the Japanese water exhibit is fab-a-roo ... the terminal might become the object of flights into Detroit ... it is that cool, imho ... the new terminal sure rocks.

Big D

[QUOTE=candy wy.][QUOTE=Big D]BMI are fantastic - would recommend them to anyone - used alot in the UK and transatlantic!

Not that they were on the list! United are fine in the US no complaints. Used American recently and impressed so far. I meant that I was talking about them not that you were and they weren't on the list! I just rave about them to anyone who listens!!! I know they code share some United routes as united always do the internal US bits!!

Free booze is important - someone mentioned to me that not all provide it now? BA/BMI/United/KLM/Lufthansa certainly do - its a while since I've used anyone else but I've never been transatlantic and paid for booze! And hopefully I never will!!!

Lesley1020

Hi! I live in Memphis now, and on previous trips always flew here with KLM/Northwest, with the exception of one time I did Continental.via Newark. I would choose Northwest any time. Would you be doing the direct flight into Memphis via Amsterdam? If so, I usually found them to be really great....except when pets were involved and even that worked out OK in the end!!

This time I'm flying home with Continental and not looking forward to it after past experiences with them, but NWA were out of the price range this time around.

Good luck whatever you choose and if you need a tour guide or any help getting around let me know!

AmerLisa

We've flown on quite a few airlines, domestic and trans hops. If I were going to recommend a good carrier for international it would be Virgin. BMI were very good, but their domestic carrier is United - Big Time Crap and I wouldn't fly them again if they paid me twice. Continental is pretty bad, US Airways and the worst is Southwest, if you want good customer service, don't fly with them. The best domestic carrier I've found so far is Alaska Airlines. I think its well worth trying them, their prices are very good.

lifeisgreat

Very good point and good to know BritGuy.

lifeisgreat

Hi Jan,

Yes, I have heard good and bad about Northwest. I haven't flown American in ages--although when I did, I do remember it being good.

lifeisgreat

Hi Big D,

I flew BMI once from Heathrow to Glasgow and thought they were terrific. Unfortunately, I am not flying out of Manchester, and it's United that would take me first to either Chicago or Washington, and then on to Memphis.

Pollyana

For those interested in the free booze....

http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=272703

lifeisgreat

Thanks Manc. I did not know about the bankruptcies. From the replies I have read so far, I will not be flying US Airways or Delta. United is still a possibility (Free booze might sell it).

lifeisgreat

Good to know if you know that you are going to have a long layover. It makes it easier if you know that you have something interesting to see and do.

lifeisgreat

Hi Rockgurl,

Thanks for this. I think I will cross of Continental as well.

lifeisgreat

[QUOTE=candy wy.][QUOTE=Big D]BMI are fantastic - would recommend them to anyone - used alot in the UK and transatlantic!

Not that they were on the list! United are fine in the US no complaints. Used American recently and impressed so far. In this case, it is United that is doing both legs of the flight. I either have a choice of Heathrow to Chicago, or Heathrow to Washington.

lifeisgreat

[QUOTE=candy wy.][QUOTE=Big D]BMI are fantastic - would recommend them to anyone - used alot in the UK and transatlantic!

Not that they were on the list! United are fine in the US no complaints. Used American recently and impressed so far. Hi Candy,

It is United that is doing both parts of the flight, but thank you anyway

lifeisgreat

Hi Lesley,

This particular NW flight is through Minneapolis--and I think that there is another one through Detroit.

Thanks so much for the offer of tour guide. I am actually moving back to the area after living in the UK for a couple of years, so know it pretty well already. The question of flights is only coming up now because I am flying into Memphis, and not Atlanta as we usually do. My husband always insisted on flying into Atlanta on BA, so there was never a question. I however, do not love BA so much that I want a 5 hour drive after getting off of the plane!