Virgin Atlantic to London?
 

Am considering flying with Virgin Atlantic to London (from New York) and would like any comments on its service, on-time reliability and seating comfort (appears to be a standard 747 aircraft).

In my opinion if you are flying economy / coach, then without question Virgin are the best transatlantic airline.

Hi .... <BR> <BR>Another piece of advice: try & get a seat at the back where the seats go down to 2-4-2 combination .... they have slightly more leg room ... you want the seats next to the windows. <BR> <BR>Virgin have TVs in the back of the seats, with about 8 movie channels, sport, comedy & radio. Some of the films are fairly new ... ie some of them were not out in England when I flew back from California recently. Also there is a Nitendo game system. I always try & fly with Virgin if pos. <BR> <BR>Mark

Hi Andrew, <BR> <BR>Virgin is definitely the best for in-flight entertainment. Their food, while not fantastic, is also better than other transatlantic airlines. I've never had a delay on Virgin, and I've used them about 5 times to London. Enjoy your trip! <BR> <BR>JB

I have never met anyone who hasnt recommended Virgin and/or preferred them over BA or any of the American airlines. Their in-flight entertainment and service has won them a lot of awards. The only airline to beat them is Singapore Airlines. I used Virgin last year and they were very good, in fact I already have another holiday booked with them this year. Unlike other transatlantic flights I didnt have any delays. The food was the best I've tasted on an airline and the staff were very polite and friendly. <BR>If you check out their website it will tell you the current films playing etc - www.virginatlantic.com

I'm afraid I am one person who wouldn't recommend them over BA or some of the American carriers. We had a horrid trip with them to Miami, dirty plane, couldn't care less flight attendants and I really can do without water dripping on me from the air conditioning system above.

Thanks to all for your comments. I am going to book the flight with Virgin Atlantic.

I hope I've reached you in time. Virgin USED to be the best, but has fallen from its formerly lofty heights in the past 5 years. Unless you happen to fly in the upper cabins, you pretty much are treated like dirt (we were physically barred from exiting the plane by a stewardess, even though I sat right next to the door and was very ill at the time, so the Upper Class passengers could get off first), many of the individual TVs don't work (I've had it happen to me twice), the food's bad, and the cabins are often overheated. <BR> <BR>In my experience, United (I know, maybe not right now!) is the best.

I have to say I disagree with the above poster though I am sorry they had such a bad time on Virgin. Virgin happens to be my favorite airline! I have had horrific luck on American (bathrooms clogged 3 HOURS before touch down in London, no one allowed into 1st class to use the ones up there) B.A, (rancid coffee creamer that came out kind of green and "clumped" when dropped in coffee, and rude flight attendants) <BR>I guess any airline is just a matter of luck it seams, but Virgin *knock on wood, was great, they even gave out Orange Juice to people waiting at check in, people in COACH , thank you very much. I wish all airlines were that considerate.

Amen--I love Virgin! Cattle class transatlantic is never comfortable, but they come closest. The food is the best you'll find on transatlantic economy flights, the goodie bags are great (I love the new backpack-style bags with the candy-colored trim), and the flight attendants are second to none. And you can't beat the seatback entertainment system. Another two thumbs up for Virgin.

On my first flight on Virgin, the stewardess wasn't watching where she was pushing the drinks trolley, ran it into my seat, sending an entire carton (the big ones--not the individual servings) of orange juice down onto my head, shirt, jeans, etc. I was soaked head-to-toe with OJ. This was at the BEGINNING of the flight. What did they do? Nothing, short of a mumbled apology, leaving me to, here goes, stew in my own juices. What a miserable flight. Other than that, I was pleased with Virgin, but this was in 1989. Ever since then, I've flown with Virgin about 5 times to London, and each time the service has declined. I've sworn off the airline completely. What is it with all of the TVs that malfunction?

Kathryn I've known LOTS of people who have flown with Virgin and never had any problems. A couple of people I know did have slight problems, nothing major, and they wrote to Virgin and complained and always got excellent freebies - one family who went with Virgin Holidays got £50 each refund because they said the hotel room was a little small and recently a couple got 2 free flights to anywhere in the world!!!! I dont know what the problem was but they really enjoyed the holiday so it couldnt have been anything too terrible. Anyway, I've never heard of any of the TV screens malfunctioning, you must have been very unlucky. Where have you been flying to and from? Some routes operate older planes than others. <BR>I travelled to Florida last year with them on a jam packed return flight with lots of kids and still got excellent service and completely hassle free flights, check-in etc. I'm using them again this year. <BR>I would say on average they are the best of the transatlantic carriers. They are VERY popular with Brits, sometimes its extremely difficult to find availability, even a year in advance. <BR>

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I just returned from London On virgin Atlantic last week. The flight was excellent. Decent food, good service and on time.

I find Virgin to be an excellent airline. Like some others have said, their entertainment system is the best. Seats are have little room, but thats typical of all economy class...at least they managed to keep me entertained throughout the flight! i've flown BA and Virgin from Miami to London, virgin is by far the best out of the two. <BR>

First, just flew back in economy on Virgin and recommend premium economy if you can afford the upgrade. Seats are exceptionally tight in economy. Now for an anecdote. <BR>I am a writer and was invited on the Virgin flight of Virgin air, in the mid-80s. I'll never forget that experience. Half the plane was English press, half American, MTV crew was there, the rest friends of Branson and his family. There were bands on board, the smell of pot in the air, and Branson himself in a pilot's uniform. We came over to England on other airlines, were wined and dined in England for a couple of days--including at Branson's estate in Oxford where we roamed around before he arrived (in jeans--hitchhiked over with a surprised gent who didn't realize who he was till he arrived at his estate) and at his houseboat in London. Something was wrong with the engine and we were all worried that it wouldn't get fixed and he'd have to take off because of all the hoopla. It was his only plane! We all drank away the flight, and I read much later that he gave an interview that that first flight had been hit by lightning, but nobody knew. Most of us thought the airline would never be a success. Go know.

Flew virgin two weeks ago to and from London to New York. Service and yes, even the food, was surprisingly good. However, the economy seats were the narrowest I've ever experienced (on a 747). This may now be the industry standard for transatlantic economy seating, but it certainly didn't measure up to recent domestic flights I've taken with Delta. Premium economy is the way to fly on Virgin for more comfortable seating.

Stan, <BR>I completely agree. Great service, but the seats were extremely narrow. Much narrower than other flights I've been on. Luckily, when I was on the flight, I was one of the passengers who was chosen to be surveyed about the servie and opinions of the flight. I mentioned how great everything was, except the very narrow seating. I hope if more people site this on the surveys, they will eventually do something about it. Luckily, when I flew to and from London, both times there was no one sitting next to me, so that was nice.

I have to say that I enjoy Virgin better than BA and any other airline for that matter. I think it's more of the entertainment set-up and the meals are not too bad. However, I must agree with those of you who have had crappy experiences with them...you just need to catch them on a good day...I've been on a delayed flight out of LAX where once I boarded (took the millenium!) the plane was not as clean as I would prefer and the service was..."bitchy" (sorry - but that's the only word that fits). I would say 97% of the time...the service and comfort level was at it's best..

I very much enjoyed Virgin Atlantic's service but good Lord...NO LEG ROOM!! To say that we were uncomfortable, at 5'7" and (my husband) at 6'4" is quite an understatement. Do consider an upgrade if it all possible.

If you are flying from Newark, a lot of the Virgin flights are Continental code shares with Continental planes. They are 777's, though, with individual screens on the back of each seat, even in coach. I am only 5-3, so the leg room was fine for me--not sure if you are tall. Food was not real great though! Overall, though---I would always go with the best price---just grin and bear the ride for a trip to to Europe