United or BA flights to London?

[Anonymous]

I was just about to book British Airways tickets for the red eye flight to London in August when somebody mentioned that United operates a day flight from DC. Anybody flown with United? For some reason, I have it in my head that United would be horrid and maybe I should stick with the BA flight (which I have done on numerous occasions). Crazy, given I will have my 5yo and 3yo in tow? Somebody talk sense to me, please.

[Anonymous]

I love BA and my three year-old does much better on red-eyes than day flights for long distances. I have not flown United to London recently, but in general I like the service better on BA.

[Anonymous]

I just flew the day flight on UA. I prefer it but have not done it with kids

[Anonymous]

I've flown UA in business and first class to LHR from IAD. If you are talking that, its fantastic. I'd actually recommend business over first though - first is too private to be able to handle kids in.

[Anonymous]

I would pick by time of day-- personally I like the red eye better (with or without kids) but I know some people swear by the day time flight.

In general I'd pick BA over UA, but United's economy plus might be cheaper than BA's world traveler plus (although I think WTP is probably a bit nicer).

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thanks. Unfortunately, we are traveling cattle class. I probably just need to get my head around daytime vs nighttime flights.

[Anonymous]

My thinking, FWIW, on daytime vs nighttime is that we get a few hours of sleep (which means a few less hours of entertaining the small children), then make it through the first day on excitement, go to sleep early and get up reasonably well adjusted to the time change.

[Anonymous]

My husband loves the day flight for adjusting to the time difference. You get in at night, have a late dinner, then go to bed. Not sure how smoothly that would work with kids, but if they actually slept that 1st night you arrived, you would be well on your way to the time adjustment.

UA economy is pretty crappy though. Not sure about BA.

[Anonymous]

BA sucks too.

I think the day flight would be much better for managing jetlag. Overnight and you arrive at dawn. Can't check into your hotel till 3. By then, you are the walking dead. If you go to sleep, you wake up at midnight.

[Anonymous]

Well the late flight arrives around 10 am, and the goal would be not to go to sleep until 8 or 9 that night. For us that has been manageable, and I think better than spending a day of vacation in travel and then trying to get to sleep soon after arrival, but then we tend a little more towards having problems getting to sleep. YMMV.

[Anonymous]

Flirty husband here. Take BA. Has a much better economy class than United. Also take the 1030pm flight out of IAD.

[Anonymous]

Just flew ba with almost 5 year old. Dc ate, and was asleep within an hour of take off. I travel a lot and actually prefer night flights with kids for this reason. Day flights can be horrid since they are cramped in this little space with little movement option and there is limit how much reading, coloring, iPad they can take before their need to move takes over. Take the BA night flight. Trust me.

[Anonymous]

10:49 again. I would also choose ba hands down over united. Better economy class, better food, and better service. And parents with children and other passengers needing assistance board first with other priority passengers

[Anonymous]

One downside of BA is their seating policy (although maybe UA is just as bad these days).

IIRC, for BA, assuming you are not an elite FF, you have to pay for seat assignments, except that families can get free seat assignments 3 days before the flight and anyone can get free seat assignments 1 day before the flight. I have no idea whether families ever have a problem sitting together if they wait for the free seat assignment (the people at flyertalk might, although they tend to be more FF elite and not economy).

[Anonymous]

P.s. ba has strange seating policy where u need to book it seats online for a fee after u buy your tickets. Make sure to reserve the seats early on after u buy ur tickets if u end up choosing ba