usbeauty

While the miles may not matter for elite status or paid upgrades, it does matter when it comes to comfort because you CAN buy a first class or business class ticket. And, those tickets are much easier to obtain than a free economy ticket. For instance, I am flying first class next week on United to London and only "bought" the ticket a month ago. As comfortable as Virgin, BA or AA is, you will more likely than not be flying on a plane with 400 fully occupied seats, with too few lavatories and barely palatable meal service.

Kayb95

<i>&quot;While the miles may not matter for elite status or paid upgrades, it does matter when it comes to comfort because you CAN buy a first class or business class ticket.&quot;</i>

True, but it will cost you twice the miles as it would to get a free coach ticket. I'd rather suffer through 8 hours of coach travel and have two free tickets to England then spend all the miles on one business or first class ticket.

usbeauty

I understand KayB. But the OP stressed that they are looking for comfort and service. My point is that will be hard to find in Economy no matter which airline.

Kayb95

Yes, very true. You just can't be comfortable in coach - no matter which airline you pick.

AAFrequentFlyer

I'll have to disagree. BA has 31&quot; seat pitch in their economy. AA has 34-35&quot; seat pitch in their economy class. It's quite a difference.
Also, BA will give you 25% of the actual miles flown on economy fares. AA will give you 100% of the miles flown on any published fare.

You choose!

usbeauty

I hear ya. I have not flown AA in a long long time because United is convenient to me from San Francisco. But my experience in United Economy Plus is that a few more inches in a fully packed 777 for 11 hours to London does not translate to &quot;comfort&quot;.

AAFrequentFlyer

Comfort, maybe not, but would you rather sit with your knees up to your chin, or have some room to move around? Like you said, it is 10 hour flight.

Gardyloo

Yeah, it's all relative. If you can't upgrade with miles or miles + dollars (also possible on some airlines), or don't want to spend the miles in the first place, then it boils down to making the best of a rotten situation. That 3 extra inches of leg space is ultra important on overnight, longhaul flights, when everyone reclines to the max to try to &quot;sleep.&quot; (Ha, ha.) Try to get up out of a middle seat to go to the loo or do your mandatory anti-DVT walkarounds when the seats with 31&quot; pitch are all the way back. At least 3 other people will be annoyed at you. It's not a whole lot better with 34&quot; pitch, but enough to make a difference. If the prices are the same, and the meals are produced by the same flight kitchens at the airport, then why not opt for more space?

I don't have the numbers close at hand, but on transatlantic flights in tourist season, I'd be very surprised if 25% of the people in business or first have actually paid the listed price. Who can? So for some of them, at least, figuring out how to work the mileage system is paying off. Why not the rest of us?

LauraD

Rex, We got a similar deal in 11/03 to Amsterdam in first class on Northwest. It was $1000 per person. And CO had a deal for a long time for $1790 for a businessfirst seat to Europe. Regularly $7000-8000.
A lot more bang for the miles if you upgrade with them than use then for a free coach seat.
JMHO.

bettyk

Our last two trips to Europe (once to Frankfurt and once to London) have been on American in Coach. Let me tell you, that extra couple of inches make all the difference in your comfort level on a transatlantic flight. Our next flight to Frankfurt in 2005 will most likely be on American too.

rj007

AAFF has a very good point about FF programs. American gives you full credit for miles even if you buy a cheap ticket. BA only gives you 25%. I flew BA in Nov 03 to London and Berlin. I liked their service, but got just 25% credit. They can keep their FF program.

I don't consider flying coach to Europe suffering. Service on AA very good and there is enough room to sit and relax. I can't see paying $1000 or $1800 to fly to Europe. My first flight to Europe in '95 I paid $525 and that is still the most I have paid (9 trips from California total to date). Last year flew LA to Dublin on Aer Lingus in Jan for $315 (taxes included).

tashak

American Airlines DEFINITELY has more legroom in coach than any other airline. And this is regular coach, not the so-called premium coach that is required on United. 3-4 more inches of leg room doesnt' sound like much, but it is an enormous increase in comfort, even for a very short person like me. (For example, I can use a lumbar cushion comfortably in AA coach, but when I do it on other airlines, my knees hit the seat back-- and I am only 5'4&quot;. Anyone who tells you this doesn't make a difference is either really really short, hasn't actually sat in the seats to compare them...or is on painkillers and/or strong sleeping pills for the flight!

But if you are ever paying full fare economy or higher, go for British Airways. Their premium coach seats are the old ones from business class and they are amazinly comfortable--the next best thing to business class.

Ann41

United is my favorite. Virgin is in second.

British Airways used to be my favorite, but that airline has gone sharply downhill over the past several years. If you like bad service both in the air and on the ground, along with overheated cabins and unclean bathrooms, then BA is the carrier for you.

walkinaround

BA is my favourite. ALL airlines have gone down hill over the last several years. BA is still the most consistent in my opinion.

I'm not impressed with Virgin. Aside from the &quot;cool&quot; factor they don't seem to get the basics right (like boarding procedures, etc). The staff seem to be disorganised when performing even the basics.

I avoid all the US airlines whenever possible.

GrantGGM

Hi there. I've been flying British Airways for some time now for business going Business class and their sleeper seats. I just learned something interesting about their fares. DT fare is a business class fare that is cheaper than the regular price (being Cdn it costs return for one ticket about $9K Cdn too much). For $5K Cdn I paid for one seat in Business I can fly to Dusseldorf - a less popular city to land and then buy a cheaper ticket back to London return in economy if I want to go there. I also was able to use their Visa card via Royal Bank of Canada that links to BA and I'm taking my sister-in-law. Both of us going for 12 days for $5,000 Cdn (about $3500 USD) return in Business class - sleeper seats. Call BA up and ask for DT fares.
Might help get a good seat &amp; service.
Cheers
Janine

Kayb95

Grant, what does DT stand for?

awbaker

Virgin. The airline spends more per economy passenger on food than competing carriers, around $10 per person. Liquor is free. Every seat has its own video screen. Small amenity kits are given out (eyeshades, toothbrush). Other carriers may have slightly more legroom (such as AA), but for the total package, Virgin has consistently sought to produce the premier economy class product. Provided miles/network alliances/departure city don't limit you, Virgin is your best bet. I'd note that Platinum Amex Card holders need to be UK registered to get free access to the Clubhouse. I saw somebody get turned away for this.

ldb

American has good leg room in economy class - the only class I can afford. They also have a flight that leaves Chicago in the morning and arrives in London that same night. You can get a good night's sleep and have a full day the next day. I just checked the fares from KC to London. They're $120 cheaper than I paid. It's $648 round trip. That's about the best fare I've found for that time of year.

Elizabeth

I like the service on British Air but reading these comments I appreciate having the low-mileage thing brought into focus.

My worst airline experience was on KLM -
more than 5 years ago so maybe it's improved - but in this case it took 72 hours (not a typo) for me to get from JFK to Amsterdam AND KLM was basically rude to us all along the crazy &quot;adventure&quot; caused by their equipment failures.