Delta vs Virgin Atlantic

[justwaitaminute]

I'm Looking for flights to NY in November, I really fancied flying with Virgin, however price wise they are about £500 more expensive than Delta for everyone (3ad + 3ch)

I've not heard great things about Delta, however the people I know who flew with them did fly a few years ago, and I've been told by a travel agent that they have had a revamp of all their planes (individual tv's etc) so maybe they're not as bad now.

Has anyone flown with them recently and had a good experience. whilst I'm reasonably happy to pay the extra for Virgin, If Delta are ok I'd rather save some money iyswim.

Virgin are always a more expensive (IME) wherever you fly. My DC went to Hong Kong in the summer - it would have cost about £450 extra each ticket to fly with Virgin.

Have you looked at Continental or AA? You can probably compare prices easily at Skyscanner.

You should read the recent reviews of Delta on www.airlinequality.com. They are not good. When I compare Virgin's fares with those of BA's most of the time VA's fares come out more expensive (and we're not just talking £20 more expensive here).

Also the US authorities now charge each passenger $14 to apply for an ESTA (electronic travel authorisation and you will all need an ESTA).

Would also suggest you try the services of kayak or skyscanner.

(BTW if you go to NYC try to fly into Newark rather than JFK as JFK is a nasty dump of an airport).

i have just booked to go to new york in nov and flying with delta, i am abit worried now! i was very disappointed to find out i only have 23kg of luggage and am still unclear on the hand luggage. i have never flwon with them before and was just expecting tv's in the headrest and such like, is there a possibility we might not get them?

Delta airlines is the pits. The last time I flew with them (about 3 years ago) they didn't have the screens in the headrest, food was hideous (and that's saying a lot considering all airline food in coach is pretty awful) and the flight attendants were rude.

I vowed never to fly Delta again, no matter how cheap it was.

I've flown Virgin to NYC a few times and it was great. I fly transatlantic a lot (am an American in England) and if Virgin had a better frequent flyer programme I'd probably use them all the time but as I'm in the BA cult Executive Club I don't.

Good luck!

I would NEVER fly with Delta again, even if it was free. They left us stranded in NY with a toddler, when they cancelled our onward flight with no reason. They then offered NO accommodation, a flight the next day with 3 individual legs (over my dead body) and then we had to wait for hours to retrieve our cases. Customer service was "Sorry it's not my fault, sorry it's not xxxx" People were in tears. We ended up having to pay for a hotel and another flight to Austin the next morning. Then, they refused to provide the necessary documentation to allow me to claim on my travel insurance. It still makes me now. (There were no seat back TVS either, but that kind of pales into insigificance)

DH has travelled lots with Virgin and loves them.

lizandlulu

A 23kg baggage allowance is par for the course for flights to the US. You only get more allowance (its still 23kg but you are allowed more bags) if you're travelling in business or first class. Hand luggage is usually only one piece per person.

I would have a look at www.seatguru.com as this will have the configuration of Delta's planes.

I don't rate Delta either. Flew Virgin to NY last year and they were great. I think Continental are ok but of the three I would go for Virgin.

Not all of Delta's aircraft have seat back tvs either; it is still being rolled out across their fleet.

Continental's motto to my mind should be "Not quite the worst".

I would go for Virgin above Delta

Continental were awful - rude staff, they keep the seatbelt sign on all the time, rickety planes and they charge for drinks

I have only flown once with Delta, and it was 6 years ago. the TV did not work, the crew were rude, the food was dire.

Funnily enough I haven't tried again! However, if the price differential was that big, I suppose you go for it - just think of them as being like ryan air.

great

lizandlulu - our flight from Brussels to JFK was perfectly fine. There were good movies, just no seat back tvs. I wouldn't worry too much. They are just more RyanAir than BA. The flight isn't THAT long after all. We took the DVD player for dd.

My friend, who travels a lot for business, always recommends American Airlines. Guess they are expensive though....

its just that i have been to new york tiwce and both flights have had back seat tv's where you can choose when and what to watch, which broke up the time, you know, meal film, read, film ,snack film, land!