Advice wanted

[mandragora]

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?

Comments

[thermidor.livejournal.com]

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)!

[mandragora1.livejournal.com]

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?

[yonmei.livejournal.com]

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.

[mandragora1.livejournal.com]

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.

[yonmei.livejournal.com]

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.

[mandragora1.livejournal.com]

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.