Continental? Delta?

[NotQuiteCockney]

I've not really flown with American carriers, but we are looking at flights from one of these two. Does anyone know if their transatlantic flights have seatback telly in cattle class? It sounds like a trivial consideration, but with a 4-year-old and a toddler, it's a requirement ...

We have just come back from nyc with continental. Going out we didnt have seat back, coming back we did. Before you book with them, ring and see what plane it is, if its 757 they dont, 767 they do.

Does it have to be one of them? I think they are both rubbish really. Can't you fly virgin or BA? Virgin is always my choice when flying to the US

Done Delta plenty to Atlanta-lots of matronly American cabin crew who are v. nice.
No tvs as I recall.
Not that it will make a difference-allplane trips are shite with little kids mwah hah hah hah!!!!

We're going on to Mexico (funeral), so other airlines aren't great.

There is a BA + AA one, but it's quite a bit more pricey.

Trust me, moondog, with DS1, seatback tellys make a big difference.

What travel agent is best? I want to phone someone and just get flights sorted, sod it. Maybe an agent will know re: telly?

Hi NQC,

Don't use a travel agent, book the flights on line!.

You will more likely get a seatback tv on the transatlantic sector of the journey than on the domestic route (a flight from the US to Mexico would count as a domestic route). You may not get a seatback tv at all.

Would suggest you get yourself a portable DVD player and discs.

American carriers in my experience are not half as good as UK based ones.

What route are you thinking of taking down to Mexico, are you going to travel there via Los Angeles?. If so, BA and AA may be a better option even thought its dearer.

NQC,Trailfinders or Travelbag will do all the work for you.
Ring 'em up (always advertise in broadsheets) tell 'em what you want and they do all the work.

Have used them loads and they are both great.

I fly Delta frequently to the US, and have never had a seat back telly.

Do you have a portable dvd player that will run on batteries? Might also be of use to you after you land.....

I don't have one, but it might make sense to get one. If not now, when we're passing through the states ...

I think it sounds like Continental is the winner. I looked online, and they do seem to have seatback telly, at least part of the time. I may just sort it online, rather than calling an agent ...

Before you buy a dvd player in the USA, check to see if it can be used in the UK. Also don't know if US purchased dvds can be played on a UK machine.....

Oh, yeah, we'd have to buy a multi-region DVD player anyway. Our home DVD player is multi-region.

I think I'll just hope for seat-back telly. Gah.

If you were to buy a portable DVD player you'd be better off buying it here.

....and bring the receipts for the portable dvd player with you both ways, esp. so that they don't try to charge you VAT+import duty when you come back in.

As a frequent traveler to the US, I definitely recommend Continental over Delta. Delta's in-flight service and entertainment is far behind Continental's - probably due to cost-constraints.
My preferred cattle-car to the States is Continental - yes, I even choose them above BA and Virgin - Continental just feels more spacious to me and I rank space over any other "extras."

That's reassuring to hear TinCan. I've heard such bad things about Delta, I think I will book with continental and hope for the best.

I thought I maybe had a new solution, thought I'd try a direct flight to Mexico City and take a car or whatever from there. There are no direct flights to Mexico City from London!?! Very strange.

Have you tried AeroMexico for direct flights? Seems likely they'd have them, but don't know anything about the airline...

agree Continental better than Delta
Do you have a laptop? I always put DVDs on mine for DS when travelling, saves you buying more kit