Fly American if the seat pitch is your primary concern. Food is just about edible on AA. However, entertainment and service are poor.

Fly BA if you want decent service and edible food. However, entertainment is poor, particularly in economy.

Fly Virgin if you want decent entertainment. The food is just about edible on Virgin and the service is not bad.

Do not fly Continental unless it is much cheaper. Also watch out as they used to code share with Virgin (and may still) so you can end up on Continental when you think you will be on Virgin. Continental has shockingly bad entertainment, the ugliest and fattest and grumpiest air hostesses that you will ever meet, really disgusting and inedible food and the worst customer complaints department ever.

So it is between AA and BA IMO, followed by Virgin.

I flew Virgin Atlantic to London last year and was not impressed. The leg room seemed more cramped than other international flights I've been on, the service was not that friendly (however in their defense they did give us lots to eat) and though others have praised the entertainment system, the plane I was on must have been different because I found it very poor - the individual screens were so tiny you could barely see the image and if you leaned to one side it became distorted, plus the audio headsets were really bad - like being in between radio stations. I'm flying British Airways on my trip this March but this will be my first experience with them. I would only fly Virgin in the future if they had a considerably better fare. The airline I really liked was Air New Zealand which we used a few years ago. More leg room than VA, better quality audio & video, friendly flight attendants who offered tea WITH MILK as it should be, even very attractive blankets on the plane which only the presence of my mother prevented me from absconding with.

I flew Virgin Atlantic to London last year and was not impressed. The leg room seemed more cramped than other international flights I've been on, the service was not that friendly (however in their defense they did give us lots to eat) and though others have praised the entertainment system, the plane I was on must have been different because I found it very poor - the individual screens were so tiny you could barely see the image and if you leaned to one side it became distorted, plus the audio headsets were really bad - like being in between radio stations. I'm flying British Airways on my trip this March but this will be my first experience with them. I would only fly Virgin in the future if they had a considerably better fare. The airline I really liked was Air New Zealand which we used a few years ago. More leg room than VA, better quality audio & video, friendly flight attendants who offered tea WITH MILK as it should be, even very attractive blankets on the plane which only the presence of my mother prevented me from absconding with.

I've also flown to London on American and they were fine. But in the end I'd go for the one that offers the best price and most convenient schedule. It's only a few hours of your life after all - depending on where you fly from. I'm in L.A. - 10 hours to London, 11 coming home.

Personally, I always take American but they don't have much leg room in coach. If you have a choice I prefer the B767 (with only two classes) rather than the B777 with three classes. With three classes you are really at the bottom of the hierarchy...with the B767 there are only two classes so it isn't quite as bad. Both have the same leg room but on the B767 the seating is 2-3-2 as opposed to the B777 with 2-5-2 (yuck). Enjoy the flight!

This thread is from January 2004. I'm willing to bet Joanel has already taken her trip.

What is even odder - chief892 registers and for his first ever (and so far only) post - digs up and tops a 2+ year old thread??

weird . . . . .

Another vote for Virgin!! I have used them (Economy) for the 13 years I have been going to the UK and would not go any other way!! Their service is great and you will never get off the plane hungry. Had an opportunity, this last trip (May) to upgrade, for next to nothing, to Premium Economy for my return flight and it was very, very nice! If the price were right for my next trip I would go Premium, but, if not, I am perfectly happy with their Economy!!!