mandragora | Advice wanted

I'm looking into booking a flight to Chicago for Z-con and it basically comes down to three choices. I want a direct flight, because there's less can go wrong on a direct flight (remembering how it once took me 37 hours to get from Heathrow to Oklahoma City, due to delays on each leg of the flight, and I had to change 3 times). I want to fly from Heathrow because, Gatwick... *spit* (Heathrow is much easier for me to get to is the real reason, I've got nothing against Gatwick as an airport).

So, flying from world's busiest international airport (Heathrow) to world's busiest airport (O'Hare) unsurprisingly there's a wealth of choice. Naturally I'm looking at the cheapest options. But there's not much in it (about £20) between American Airlines, United Airlines and British Airways (BA).

BA I know. I've flown BA to various destinations round the world quite a few times. I've also flown United to the US in the past and don't recall having any complaints. Don't think I've flown American, but am not sure.

So, anyone got any comments on whether either United or American have a bad or, hopefully, good reputation?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I flew American Airlines once. I'd forgotten to pack a bottle of water, and they served a small cupful halfway through the flight. When I got off the plane I was actually dehydrated - I mean, I could feel it. The first thing I requested from my host who met me at the airport was that she take me somewhere I could get a drink of water.

Crikey! Was this long haul? Because serving so little water long haul could be actively dangerous.

I've got no qualms at all asking for additional water on even short haul flights and have never not got any water. So, if you asked and didn't get, well that makes it even worse.

I didn't think to ask. It's the only time I've ever been on a transAtlantic flight where there hasn't been a drinks trolley every so often (well, except Virgin Atlantic, and there they just have glasses of water and fruit juice available for pickup in the galley). It was also only my second transAtlantic flight (my first one had been with BA three years earlier) and it's only since then that I've realised how exceptionally bad their inflight service was.

dude! that's awful! was that a recent transatlantic flight?

Because of school, I've had the chance to fly across the pond a bunch ( 6 or 8 times) on several airlines and they've all been very good about bringng around several rounds of juice or water! In addition, I've noticed that each flight they keep pitchers of cold water in the galley areas near the lavs so thirsty people can come get them and sleepy people won't be interruptedby constant flight attendant service.

I also dehydrate easily and feel no compunction about hitting my call attendant button; I've been pleased with the service every time.

Finally, I've become a real squeaky wheel about service since I've logged so many miles lately. Yonmei, if this was recent, I would encourage you to call or email American's customer care office. I have had splendid results (apologies & coupons!)

No, this was five years ago. Too late to complain. (And I had no problems getting enough water on the flight back: I suspect that on the flight out that plane must have been short of water.)

I think United's service generally sucks.
(and I don't just say that because I have relatives who are pilots at 2 other airlines)!

Gosh, this comment made me giggle.

Looks like BA is becoming the favourite. Oh well, I should get good service for that extra £20, right?

BA service is fab (you know, by airline standards of fab). If the difference is only £20 for the return flight, figure to yourself you're getting a nice meal, free booze, and all the tea, coffee, fruit juice, and water you can drink, for £10.

I'm not sure that I'd ever categorise BA service as 'fab' *g*.

Certainly within Europe and even when flying business class it isn't that great.

And what you describe should come as part of the service when flying long-haul iae. I use the word 'should' advisedly, though!

But I have flown BA to the US and it was as good as any, compared favourably with Virgin Atlantic, for example. I seem to recall it had a slight edge on United, but it's a while since I flew United. I just wanted to make sure that there are no horror stories circulating. I'm not enamoured with American after what you said, nor United after what Thermidor said.

At least with BA I know what I'm likely to get.

I did say "by airline standards" *g*

I admit I basically go for the cheapest flight available, whoever it's with, but I have fond memories of Virgin Atlantic.

I did say "by airline standards" *g*

You did indeed. Sad that the qualifier is so necessary. *g*

Usually I go for the cheapest flight, but not if I know that it's a really crap airline. Example, flying Hong Kong to China. We could fly either China state airline or the Cathay Pacific subsidiary 'Dragonair', which cost slightly more. There was absolutely no contest - we figured that flying Dragonair we should at least survive, whereas the same could not be said of China state airline...

And I try never to fly chartered because those planes are normally delayed and it's just not worth the saving over scheduled because of the delay IMO.

Yes, I've definitely become more fussy as the years progress.

United, though having financial difficulties which mean it's cut a lot of staff, is based in Chicago and has its own (newer) terminal there. I live in Chicago and everyone I know/work with generally prefers to fly United out of O'Hare.

O'Hare is a big-ass place, and the "international" terminal is far from everything else. You might want to see if flying one of the domestic airlines gets you into a better terminal. Or if they all dump you out there to go through customs.

Many thanks for the info, but unless I change flights (and in the US at that, as I could change in Amsterdam if I flew KLM, for example) which I want to avoid as I wrote above because it gives more opportunity for delays, not to mention making the journey that much longer, I have to come into the international terminal, no matter which airline I fly with. This includes United.

As is typical with US airports there appears to be one international terminal, together with 4 domestic-only terminals. In the UK we don't tend to have domestic-only terminals 'cos there's not that many places to travel. *g* If you do take an internal flight you'll travel from a terminal that also takes international flights, but won't have to go through passport control etc. The same goes for domestic flights in Europe.

It always brings home to me how big the US is when I consider the vast number of domestic flights there are!

It looks like United gets preferential treatment like BA does at Heathrow, which would definitely make United the best choice for a domestic flight, but whoever I fly with I'll be landing at that international terminal. Hopefully it won't make much difference as I'll be taking a taxi straight to the hotel.

Are you going to Z con? Will be lovely to meet you if so.

Are you going to Z con?

Oh, I wish I were. But no, I'm working that weekend.

Good luck with your trip. I hope you like my city. (and I hope they've improved the International Terminal a lot since I last flew in there.)

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