Best economy class NY-LON route with children

duchy

Virgin DO have a better than average children's entainment section but in these days of portable dvd players it's not a deciding factor for most.
I've had good service from Virgin and dreadful service (and one of the dreadful ones was JFK LHR) Virgin;s seat pitch is awful (but none of them are great just Virgin is worse) but ultimately it's only a six hour flight-so long as you fly direct there isn't a lot to choose between them. Personally I'd avoid carriers like Kuwait and Air India-both of who fly direct but have poor on-time records and in the case of KU isn't a daily flight so if the plane went tech you could be in for a long wait. Personally I like AA service is pretty consistant-seat pitch is a little better than Virgin and they have several flights a day so if anything does go wrong they have back up flights to get you there.

Tinuel

Thanks for your input Duchy.
As my little one is super, mega active, entertainment isn't a decisive factor but certainly important. So overall, you prefer AA if I guess it correctly.
Do they (AA) serve more than one meal per flight? Is the child's meal or the adult's one a decent one?

Ok, so far from all your opinions and experiences, it's:
Virgin: 3 votes
AA: 1 vote
BA: 1 vote

Former_MSE_Andrea

Hi

I just wrote and lost a long post about £225 direct flights between London and New York with Air France. It's an offer on till tomorrow to promote the new direct routes. It's actually a code sharing agreement so the flight will be with Delta Airlines.

However, I was writing it from the London to New York point of view so I have no idea if you can get it for the same going the other way.

Sorry I can't help more!

Andrea

duchy

I'm not sure if AA definitely do children's meals-my son is too old for them now-but I found the food far better on American than Virgin traveling from the USA to UK (Don't know who Virgin use their food is far better UK to US). Personally for a child I pack lots of healthy-ish type snacks anyway-partly in case they don't like the airline meal and partly because I believe a full stomach promotes sleep ! Unfortunately the TSA regard yougart as "liquid" so don't pack that though !
Meals are generally a meal after take off and something more snacky an hour or so before landing-AA's snack is often rather nice cheese pizza.
American carriers in general are far more liberal with hand baggage-I routinely travel with a small suitcase and laptop bag as hand luggage with American-no way would i get away with that with Virgin in economy
I'm an AA frequent flyer -I used to fly Virgin more but overall I get better flight experience from AA so I'm not exactly unbiased but did use Virgin to New York and back last September so my experiences with both are fairly current.
AA flight attendents tend to be older and more experienced-Virgin's are on the whole decades younger and at time tactless (on my September flight my seat mate was a vicar-bible in hand and wearing a dog collar who was asked "Did you order the hindu meal?")
In all honesty my choice would be AA then Continental (especially if Newark is handy for you) then Virgin but you'll get a whole range of different opinions as we all have different expectations and experiences.
Oh and if it matters to you booze is free on the UK carriers but not the US carriers.

Zazen999

Tinuel wrote: »

Hi Zazen999,

So VA give out a goodie bag?

Yes they did when we went with a child.

On another note; JFK is the pits. Totally recommend Newark Airport. Meant to mention it earlier.

The wait when you get to JFK is atrocious, we have had 2 hours on 2 separate occasions.

If you can fly Newark, it is much quicker.

duchy

If it has to be JFK AA have their own terminal but if Newark is as handy I'd seriously consider it but Continental first choice Virgin second.

M4RKM

Delta have a great service, but, currently not all planes doing route TATL'lly, will have AVOD, but the service, the food, the ice cream etc etc, are all very good...

also, remember that from NY-LON, it is a night flight, so maybe your little one will be tired by the time the plane takes off, (take the latest flight possible in that case) and then you might not have to worry about anything..


M

Tinuel

Thanks for the valuable opinions all!
Markymoo,
So Delta has got a good service and entertainment on the newer planes?

Best economy class crossing the pond, votes so far:
Virgin: 3 votes
BA: 1 vote
Delta: 1 vote
AA: 1 vote