I have a choice of Continental or Virgin Atlantic for the same price or British for about $40 more. Does it make any real difference which I choose? All land at Gatwick.

You should look at what type equipment they fly as well as think about seating choices. Also, consider departure and return times and if the flights are direct or connecting.

Go to seatguru.com for information on seat. Select the airline and aircraft type and it will give you an idea of the quality of the seats.

If I had that choice I'd take BA any time. Virgin has great Upper Class but their economy is truly awful.

I think Virgin's Premium Economy also bests BA's but of course that doesn't help if flying economy.

BA without a doubt

Thanks everybody. BA it likely is.

soogies -- all the flights and returns were about the same time and all were direct. The only difference besides the price difference seemed to be in comfort, so I will check seatguru.com.

Cathinjoetown -- the premium economy was almost twice as nmuch as the regular economy, and I didn't want to pay that much.

I'd grab the BA economy fare too.

Have a great time.

Virgin economy is fine (better food than most, free drink, decent seatback entertainment) - slightly chavvy association (which is probably a bit harsh) but will certainly beat any US carrier hands down as far as coach goes.

I've never flown Continental or Virgin cross Atlantic, but I'd avoid BA any chance I get. Any airline can have problems, but it was their total incompetence and lying about it that upset me -- including an attendant at the gate rudely assuring me the flight WOULD be leaving ON TIME, even though it was already 10 minutes past departure time and there was no plane at the gate. Another time they loaded everyone on a plane that they knew wouldn't fly due to mechanical problems (I even heard the mechanics say so as they were leaving the cockpit), fed us dinner there, and then canceled the flight and deplaned us all. BA? No thanks!

I don't know if it true for every city and every flight, but on some BA flights you cannot reserve a seat until 24 hours before the flight. This isn't much comfort for getting the seat you might want.

I've never seen much wrong with Continental...but make sure you wouldn't be on a 757 !! Very tight and closed in for an international flight. (of course it's not such a long flight from Orlanda ...as opposed to LA, Houston, Denver, Chicago etc....but still uncomfortable in a 757.

CO doesn't fly to LGW anymore (except for summer CLE-LGW). And it never operates non-stop from Orlando. What the OP sees is a Virgin codeshare flight with CO flight number.

I see I have some more to learn about choosing a flight. I'll research it a bit more. Thanks for the help.

Currently, there are two Virgin flights, both on the 747-400; and one British Airways, on a 777-200.

The 772, with a 3-3-3 seating, is slightly more comfortable than the 744 with 3-4-3. But like others have said, BA won't let you get advanced seat assignments on most discount coach fares; and they are also very stingy with FF miles - you often get only 25% BA or AA miles. If you fly on VS, either with VS or CO flight number, you can generally earn 100% miles on VS or CO's program.