lifeisgreat

Hi Lisa,

I wish Virgin was an option as I have heard such good things about them, and they are having a sale at the moment. I wonder if they have a US partner airline? If so, then I could fly with them on the transatlantic part, and then the partner airline to Memphis without having to collect baggage and re-check. I did this once through Newark. I flew from Memphis one way on ((( :scared: Airtran, the former :scared: Valuejet))), and then a major carrier from Newark to London. The major carrier (I cannot remember which one it was for the life of me) and Airtran had a baggage agreement so that I did not have to deal with them again until I reached London, which was nice. It saved me around $150.

lifeisgreat

Guess free booze is out for the trip

Thanks Pollyana.

Ikke

For comments on many airlines, check this site
http://www.airlinequality.com/

What needs to be remembered is that one bad flight doesn't mean that the airline is bad, you can just be unlucky and have a grumpy crew (same rule applies in reverse, you can get a good crew on one flight and then find all other flights with this great airline are crap).

I fly a lot on business and can say that in general European airlines have the best service across the atlantic. But, in my experience there is one exception to this and that is Virgin Atlantic, it's like wandering into the land of the lost bimbos, much prefer to fly with a crew of motherly types where at least you can get a drink rather than be surrounded by a group of airheads who just chat to each other all the way and ignore the passengers (and yes, I have flown with them more than once).

Personal experience with Continental was really bad, but others rave about them.

United have good economy seating - especially if you can get into premium economy (they don't charge extra like other airlines) and BA has the best Business and First class service.

Haven't flown Northwest for years but colleagues do regularly and have yet to hear anything good about them.

Sarah

I actually found Virgin to be the best airline I've ever flown with, in terms of food quality, entertainment and service they have been excellent when I've flown with them, but as you say it really depends on your own subjective experience. I wish all airlines had the tellys in the back of the seats, it makes it so much easier to relax, to just plug in and switch your brain off. Those TV's in the top of the plane where you have to crane your neck to watch them are okay but after a while they're uncomfy to watch. Food wise I've found BA to be good but in-flight entertainment to be lacking. US Airways in flight entertainment was great but food was crap. I guess it depends what you're after. My worst ever food experience was with American airlines, food just so disgusting I didn't touch it and thats saying something for a pig like me! Delta was pretty bad too the plane I got on was really dirty and there were food bits all over the seats and floor yuk!

BritGuyTN

To be honest I think United are still in chapter 11 bankruptcy protection

us airways went in, came out and then back into it again, whereas United went in and haven't been out.

the difference is that United are perceived to be in a better overall position and to have a lesser risk of actually being liquidated

they have better positioned hubs, a low cost division and have managed to get bigger wage and pension concessions from their staff

VFRpilot

I travel to Europe quite a bit (not London) and whenever it makes sense, I always choose to travel with Virgin and route through London. The whole experience (at least in upper class) is far better than any of the others I have travelled with. Not sure if I would have the same view, if I was paying myself and travelling cattle class. On the domestic front, we have used the Delta no frills airline SONG (up and down the east coast) and found them to be far better than the parent. Coast to coast I prefer American.

Ikke

United have been in and out of Chapter 11 for years, but they seem to survive.

Worst experience with them was flying out of Memphis to Portland OR via Denver. First flight was delayed and the check in guy in Memphis was, to put it mildly, incompetent. Then to make things worse two United planes came to adjoining gates and the girl working there didn't know where the planes were heading to - so she went out to ask the pilots where they were going!. Eventually got on the Denver flight. On arrival I found I had not been put on the next flight out but a much later one but my only choice was either to wait or go earlier and then wait for my luggage at the other end. Once on board the flight to Portland - around 7pm departure, in first class - I was informed there was no dinner service, just drinks and pretzels - it was 'too late' for dinner!!

Ash UK/US

I have flown Northwest/KLM, BMI and United on transatlantic routes and the best one in my opinion was the BMI flights although United was pretty good too.

My hubby, daughter and I just got back from orlando on the 20th we flew US Airways I will NEVER fly them again... what a nightmare... they must be in a very bad financial way as they are on a pay-as-you with the fuel companies. We flew via Phili (their new hub) on our way to Orlando we had an hour delay waiting in a long line of planes waiting to take off... coming back we had a 3 hour delay because when we arrived there was a plane at our gate waiting to be fuelled (it was still there when our plane was due to take off) when our plane got into the gate it had to wait to be fuelled too. while we were waiting we over heard the US airways staff talking about who was coming to sign for payment of the fuel there was at least 12 flights delayed because of the fuelling problem that I know of and there were probably a lot more... one guy had been waiting 9 hours for his flight. While we are waiting to board we where watching the staff on load and off load luggage I thought because of the delay people had decided to switch flights... if only... we arrive at grand rapids to find that they had off loaded 4 of our 5 pieces of checked luggage as well as about 20 other peoples luggage... claiming it was a 'weight and balance' problem (bullshit) anyhow they told us we would get them that night they would come in on the 9.30 flight we finally got them the following evening. did I mention I will NEVER fly that excuse for an airline again?

Ash

Lesley1020

Hi again...

I have flown through both Minneapolis and Detroit with NWA, en route to Memphis and both were fine... I would probably go with Detroit given the choice.. you should try and shop around and see if you cant get the direct flight from Amsterdamn, its a hop and a skip over there on KLM and then its non stop all the way...

Try www.majortravel.co.uk
www.lastminute.com
www.klm.com
www.travelplanners.co.uk

(I used to always find Major to be the cheapest)

tony126

I do not see BA mentioned much. Any good reasons?

veryfunny

Continental and KLM

BA, waited three hours, thanks to their delay on boxing day waiting for family to arrive at SFO airport. What poor service!

dgsyd1

We always fly BA from Detroit to Heathrow, and have never had any complaints. We did have a 3 hour delay when we flew in November, but the staff couldn't have been more helpful. It helped that as others have said, the new McNamara terminal at Detroit is the dogs b*llocks.

Circus-of-Power

I have only ever flown with BMI or American ....

For the Transatlantic stuff I would agree with alot of people here and vouch for BMI ...... Good food, good service and free drinks.
American Airlines are OK on the longer flights but the food does suck big time ( they always say "Our award winning menu " ..... but they never mention which award. )
I'm limited to 2 carriers for the internal flight from Chicago to Peoria and I always choose American .. its always late and its always over booked but it gets me there.

Side point .... I have used Amtrack a time or 2 just to be economical and to have a chance to unwind after getting thru O'Hare .... very good it was too and cheap by UK standards ..

sibsie

Jet Blue are starting up a new transatlantic company. I think it's going to be called Max Jet though they're still deciding on the name. They'll be using 767's and should be every bit as good and competitive as the regular Jet Blue.

Manc

because it wasn't on the original list............


It's a sad state of aviation affairs though when Northwest who traditionally have the worst reputation of the legacy carrier are getting quite a few thumbs up.