United or BA flights to London?

[Anonymous]

10:49 here. I am also the 11:02 post.

[Anonymous]

BA is MUCH MUCH better than UA. Just nicer all around.

[Anonymous]

We've thought about it but my DH has done United numerous times (not the day flight) to London and says its awful. Food is terrible and Economy Plus really isn't all that. He has had some kind of delay on every single trip. That said, BA I'm sure get delayed too.

Virgin are the best of the IAD to LhR carriers but they only have one flight a day.

[Anonymous]

Hate UA. I'd forgo the day flight to take BA or Virgin (if that's an option)

[Anonymous]

penguinsix wrote:Loathe and despise United. Filthy planes, surly staff. I avoid them whenever possible (but still take a couple flights a year simply because of scheduling).

That said, I'm a huge fan of the day flight. BA usually offers one in the Summer but not sure if they will this year. It makes flying to London just like flying to San Fran or something. I always feel like crap on the overnights, even when in business. Much prefer the day trip then dinner in the city and off to bed on UK time.

This. BA used to have a day flight, which was awesome.

[Anonymous]

I didn't know BA had a day flight in the past. I know Virgin used to offer one in the summer only but stopped a few years ago.

[Anonymous]

United economy class for a flight to London is an absolutely horrible experience - seats are so close together, it's very claustrophobic. I highly recommend BA.

[Anonymous]

Fly Virgin Atlantic. It's so so much better.

[Anonymous]

OP here. So I just booked BA as the price went down a little. Shame VA was more expensive for the days we wanted. Thanks for all the advice.

[Anonymous]

BA was horrible last time - British plane food (somehow yuckier than American plane food, go figure) and attitude to boot. Taxing into Heathrow we had to walk outside through some doors on the tarmac and walk a mile to the gate, they didn't do a great job of keeping an eye on everybody deplaning - I kept thinking what a huge security nightmare if would be if somebody darted off. During a layover in London we asked if we could move up our departure flight, try and go standby on an earlier plane. The agent said "No, that's not how we do things here" and when we asked if she could just check it, she said no. I said jeez, airlines in America would, that's just good customer service, she said "That's why they are all going out of business."

[Anonymous]

BA if you can go on the very late flight - kids will be exhausted by the time you take off (so will you!) and should sleep a decent amount on the flight. You get in late enough to wrangle a hotel check in by the time you get there. Also, the BA area of IAD is nicer than the UA area, and you will go in and out of T5 at LHR, which is now (finally) pretty well organized and pleasant to sit in.

[Anonymous]

Flew UA from IAD to LHR in March with twin 5 yo's. Going over we took the 10/11 pm flight. Kids were asleep within a hour after take-off. The downside was the four of us were not initially seated together. Caused some stress for one of the kids. UA was no help in getting us seats together so we had to do it ourselves. Luckily it worked out. Coming home was a day flight, kids stayed busy watching movies. Worked out fine. Food was really bad. I have never flown BA, but next time I I would give it a try over UA. Plus I think BA might still offer complimentary alcoholic beverages.

[Anonymous]

To be honest, in economy both UA and BA are pretty terrible with kids. BA is slightly less awful, but don't expect a barrel of laughs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:BA was horrible last time - British plane food (somehow yuckier than American plane food, go figure) and attitude to boot. Taxing into Heathrow we had to walk outside through some doors on the tarmac and walk a mile to the gate, they didn't do a great job of keeping an eye on everybody deplaning - I kept thinking what a huge security nightmare if would be if somebody darted off. During a layover in London we asked if we could move up our departure flight, try and go standby on an earlier plane. The agent said "No, that's not how we do things here" and when we asked if she could just check it, she said no. I said jeez, airlines in America would, that's just good customer service, she said "That's why they are all going out of business."

It sounds like you haven't traveled very much internationally.