To pay extra to fly on a certain plane

[MozzchopsThirty]

I am a bit of an odd flyer, love it and hate it in equal measure
I could probably save £40-£50 by flying with BA, but it's on an old aircraft and that'll increase my anxiety

AIBU to pay a little more to fly Virgin on the 787

Btw am lone parent so £50 not exactly a drop in the ocean but I think it's worth it

Mozz, can I ask without any malice intended whatsoever just what the point of this thread is?

If you want cheap Dreamliner, go with Norwegian from LGW

Norwegian from Gatwick to JFK is a leased A330 at the moment.

@PollyFlinderz initially I thought maybe I was being a bit crazy paying extra to go with virgin so that was my question

Now however I'll be happy to go with anyone for a good price

Probably irrelevant but I wouldn’t choose Virgin again. Flew Virgin from London to LA and chose Virgin as thought it would be a good experience. It wasn’t. The plane was old, rattly and very tatty. Seats grubby, tv screens not working. Etc. I was surprised we got there in one piece to be honest (although don’t know what kind of plane it was - best guess - it was a big one! )

Now however I'll be happy to go with anyone for a good price grin

Have a look with Skyscanner if you haven’t already.

I would pay extra to fly on the aer lingus regional turboprop aircraft for short-haul flights in preference to the Airbus A319 or A320 used by other airlines. For short distances a turboprop is much less polluting (and it flies lower down so the view is better).

Similarly the newer aircraft, I think including the 787, are generally much less polluting, and quieter.

Given my experience on a Delta flight on a tri-engined aircraft I'd certainly pay more to avoid that incredibly noisy experience in future.

I wouldn’t ever base my decision on plane type as at booking they always say they reserve the right to change the aircraft at any point. If weather is bad wherever the plane was coming from, they’ll have to use another.

That said, I have gone out of my way to never fly BA for the last 20+ years.

If you’re going to Manhattan or Staten Island, EWR all the way. Immigration much faster, airport smaller, less traffic. If you’re going to any other borough, JFK.

It’s not long anyway these days. Generally under 7 hour going to LHR, normally around 7h 20-30 in the other direction. Overnight it really makes little difference.

Thanks for all the advice

I finally booked last night after dd showed me how to use a private browser
Booked with virgin LHR-JFK
Will probs book a private transfer into manhattan or will get the subway which is what we did last time and it was fine

Ds1 & 2 excited 😊

Yay!!! I’m pleased you’ve finally got yr trip booked. You will have a fab time in New York 😊✈️😊

YANBU, my old neighbour who was an air traffic controller used to always pay extra to fly on particular aircraft.

How odd. My grandfather and sister were both ATCs and happily flew on all major airlines.

@stupomax. Where did I say airline? My neighbour would only fly on aircraft with four engines across the Atlantic. He paid extra to ensure they didn’t fly on an aircraft with only two engines.

My neighbour would only fly on aircraft with four engines across the Atlantic. He paid extra to ensure they didn’t fly on an aircraft with only two engines.

How odd that a professional in the field would do so. He would certainly be one of the few rather then the norm.

Must have certainly limited any shorter journeys for him

Where did I say airline? My neighbour would only fly on aircraft with four engines across the Atlantic. He paid extra to ensure they didn’t fly on an aircraft with only two engines.

LOL - what a nutter.

Have a fab trip Op

Glad you got it sorted.

Could be worse OP, at least you have the option. I'm flying with United Airlines with work, no choice because UA was much cheaper. Not looking forward to it. Would have loved the option of BA.

yes who needs time and money lol

My ex was the same about flying across the Atlantic but I guess that's why they have ETOPS

I'm glad we got it sorted too as I'd been talking about it for a week then thought it might not happen

OMG OP! I work for BA as a pilot - can you tell me which planes your ex-mechanic OH recommends to avoid?

FFS if I thought any of them were dangerous I wouldn't be able to go to work in a morning.

FFS if I thought any of them were dangerous I wouldn't be able to go to work in a morning

Two of my lot fly both Airbus and Boeing, and another one fixes them. The two who fly them go off to work happily and the one who fixes them doesn’t stop them.

I've survived over 25 years in the industry.

Flying A/C

**

You’re hardcore!!!

Not quite at your length of service, Martha, but 2 engines have seen me backwards and forwards across the Atlantic, Indian Ocean, Hindu Kush, Sahara, Greenland, Siberia and Amazon for the last 14 years. The aircraft I currently fly could take off, climb, cruise and land on one engine. Not that I ever plan on doing any of that kind of thing!