London to NY - Virgin vs BA

colcheslad

Good evening all,

I'm travelling to New York shortly and have the choice between Virgin Premium Economy and BA Premium Economy (review on US legacy carries are fairly poor so I'm discounting them unless anyone can offer their own experiences!). I can mix and match, will be travelling to NY on an early afternoon flight and returning on the red eye.

Could anyone who has flown both pitch in with which would be best? Or are they much of muchness?

Many thanks in adv for your opinions!

richardw

Has been discussed here http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/british-airways-executive-club/1826866-product-comparison-ba-vs-vs-premium-economy-2.html#post27988530

Westin

Little in it but in my opinion VS would be preferable in PE on this route providing fares similar and timings suitable.

stoneman

Are you collecting Avios or VS miles? that would be my deciding factor everything else being equal.

bigadaj

It's all opinion but I'd prefer the virgin product, however presumably ba have more flights, so more choice and less disruption of a flight goes technical or has issues.

Both code share so you could be travelling on another carriers metal, potentially delta with virgin and American with ba.

Nick_C

I've not flown Virgin PE so cannot make a comparison from personal experience.

I flew with BA PE 3 times in 2013 on old 777s and 747s. The old PE seating was very comfortable, with a proper leg rest when the seat was reclined. I slept well on the flight back from the States.

I flew BA PE to Montreal last year on a 787. I found the new PE seating very hard an uncomfortable, and the new seating has a footrest but no leg rest.

Unless you have status, you pay about £40 pp each way to reserve a seat on BA. It's free with Virgin.

According to Seat Guru, the Virgin seat is 2.5" wider.

BA have really cut back on standards. The second "meal" on the way out to NYC will be coffee and a fun sized mars bar.

I would choose Virgin.

Although I wouldn't rule out American. Their Business Class outshines BA. I'd be keen to try their new PE.

colcheslad

Thanks all, very helpful. Not claiming any miles so just a choice on comfort looks like Virgin picks top spot but will check out the AA product.

richardw

bigadaj wrote: »

...Both code share so you could be travelling on another carriers metal, potentially delta with virgin and American with ba.

Not with Premium Economy, Delta and AA don't have PE on the LON-NYC route.

richardw

Nick_C wrote: »

..Although I wouldn't rule out American...... I'd be keen to try their new PE.

Btw AA have PE currently only on their B789 aircraft based at Dallas, you have to select an Economy fare on their website and then choose a seat in the PE cabin on the seat map for extra cost.

Don't forget you currently get the benefits of EU reg EC 261:2004 when flying from the US to the UK on BA and Virgin, you don't on AA, Delta and United.

Nick_C

Actually one drawback of flying back from the US to the UK on a US airline is, in my experience, American passengers stay awake talking loudly through the night. UK passengers are usually trying to sleep.

PeacefulWaters

colcheslad wrote: »

Thanks all, very helpful. Not claiming any miles so just a choice on comfort looks like Virgin picks top spot but will check out the AA product.

Claim the miles. There's a free flight or hotel room if you game them sensibly.p.