Using my rewards points to fly to London and Paris next May. Should I use Continental or Virgin Atlantic? I guess it really doesn't matter as long as I get the flight for my miles but I wonder if there is a big difference between the airlines. I recently read a traveler magazine and Virgin was listed in the top 10 airlines to Europe. Continental was not. Is there a significant difference. I have flown Continental statewide but not to Europe. What do you think?

I had a great experience on Continental flying Newark-Manchester. The planes are small but immaculately clean (and new). The employees were helpful beyond what I've ever experienced on any other airline. Also, the check in lines were a fraction of the length of Virgin's, I suspect because of the smaller planes. I've never flown Virgin, but I wholeheartedly recommend Continental.

We fly Virgin and love it. Food, movies, staff ...all good!

I think Continental and Virgin are somehow linked for European flights as I've been on Virgin flights which also have a Continental number eg. VS11/ Continental214 or whatever......

Virgin planes are nice and the staff is great, but the checkin lines were incredibly long at LHR when I was coming back from Dublin in July. Also, they boarded us from the gate to a BUS and then a 10 minute drive UNDER the runway to the plane itself -- then an hour wait on the tarmac before we left. Very weird.

The trip over was uneventful.

Oh, and Virgin has this strange fixation with blankets. Nothing can be on your lap as we take off/land, including blankets or pillows. They all need to be on the floor or in the overhead. Also, all armrests need to be down for takeoff/landing. Very odd.

We have flown both airlines transcontinental and thought they were both above average. The Continental flight crew out of Newark to Paris were extremely professional. Really top-notch! We flew to London out of LAX and the lines were horrid, but the plane crew was very good. I think the times and connections (and maybe miles to be redeemed) should be your deciding factor. I would recommend either airline from our experiences.

I have flown both and prefer Virgin for the amenities.
The leg room in coach on Virgin seems more cramped than other airlines but I like the movies and the food and snacks alot better.
As long as you are getting the flight for miles I would try Virgin.

Beware that Continental uses single-aisle, narrow-body 757s for some trans-atlantic flights. 3x3 seating.

For what it is worth, I haven't flown Continental. But I have flown BA, USair, Alitalia and Delta, but my best transatlantic flight by far was Virgin Air.

We just returned a couple of weeks ago from Europe and we flew Virgin. It was myself, DH and our kids, 12 & 8. While there were long lines, strict weight requirements on the luggage and late flights, I wouldn't say that was just a "Virgin" thing; it happened with all our airlines on this trip;BA and Easy-Jet. And while there were a few things that did happen; lost luggage, not all sitting together o/w, I would fly Virgin again in a heartbeat.

The seatback monitors made the flight seem like it was only 5hrs instead of 10, and with all the food we were served, we had to turn some away (too full). They even gave our son a back pack filled with books,crayons and such and they give everyone little plastic amenity bags with ear plugs, socks,toothbrush, toothpaste,etc. These were nice touches!

Listen to Brian_in_Charlotte. Avoid booking CO's 757 flight to Europe, if you're flying coach.

Currently, at least one of the three EWR-LGW is a 757, and one of the two EWR-CDG.

CO's 767 and 777 are fine.

I love Virgin because I'm a movie nut and they have hundrends of movies to choose from. But I fly Continental at least 4 times a year, and they are very professional.

GreenDragon:

Just be happy you were on an airline which ENFORCED those safety measures you described as "odd."

They are both above average. Pick the one with the best connections and times for you.

I have flown both and vote for Virgin hands down!!!!

I've flown both and they are both fine but a few pluses and minues: Continental mostly uses the 757s so 3x3 seating (I prefer a window seat with only one person next to me). They don't usually have seat back video screens so movie watching is lousy. But, the smaller planes mean much quicker boarding and getting off the plane, shorter check in lines, etc. Food was excellent on both my recent Continental flights. If you fly out of Newark Continental has it's own terminal which is very nice.

Virgin had better in flight entertainment, and the seating I prefer but what everyone else said about the lines is true.

I don't think there's enough difference to really matter. Pick the one with the best flight times for you.

CO uses the 757 for a lot of routes, but it's not "mostly", especially for London and Paris. Also, they're receiving two more 777s early next year. Even if they win the rights for Newark-Shanghai, they will still have one more 777 for European duty.

For summer this year, EWR-LGW has at least one daily 777. The second flight is mostly 767, but 757 sometimes. The third, a late flight, is not daily, and is 757.

EWR-CDG is one daily 777, plus either a 767 or 757.

IAH-LGW is twice daily 777, IAH-CDW is daily 777.

CLE-LGW is daily 757, summer only.

767/777s are also used for AMS (along with 757), BRU, FRA, MAD, GVA, ZRH, MXP and FCO.

as much as i WANT to like virgin, i don't. behind all of the style and "cool" i don't see a lot of substance. they often fall down on managing the boarding process and other fundamental things. the legroom in economy is among the worst in the business. as i said, i appreciate how they do things a little differently in an industry that is far too boring, however, all is lost if you can't get the basics right.

Dukey:

I am always glad when safety rules are enforced, but I am confused as to WHY those rules are there.

What harm is a blanket going to do on my lap? They had the AC cranked so high I was shivering with it on. I wasn't the only one. The little old lady across the aisle was blue. Even the crew acknowledged that it was very cold, but we still had to put the blankets away.

Sabena used to do the same thing re: blankets. I never understood it either. Must be a European thing.