BA versus Virgin - Funny

[HighFlyer]

I found this on the internet and thought it was a very fair look at the plusses and minuses of BA and Virgin as a comparison.

Advantages of BA over Virgin:
- The seat is fully flat and very comfortable (beats a sloping “flat seat” for me any day).
- The seat is very private (very good if travelling alone).
- The service was more “consistent” than on Virgin (I have certainly had better service on Virgin, but I have also had worse on Virgin too) and very professional.
- Some of the food was slightly better.
- Love those Molton Brown products J.
- Travel to more destinations.

Advantages of Virgin over BA:
- When the service is great it is really great.
- Flexible meal times (eat what you want when you want).
- Entrees don’t have that “all baked on one plate” feel.
- Virgin do really nice soup and great pasta (BA don’t seem to do soup and my experience of their pasta was not great).
- Better amenity kits (or at least they used to be – I believe that they have recently changed).
- Sleep suits (on available in First on BA).
- Snuggly duvets (BA only has blankets – duvets are so much nicer).
- Priority luggage tagging (not offered by Club World).
- Onboard bar and beauty therapist offered on flights flying to/from LHR.
- Limo service (if you buy a qualifying fare).

My next set of flights (to LA after Christmas) are booked on Virgin (Continental tickets again). I looked at the cost of flying BA, but it was two or three times the price: BA is not THAT much better than Virgin (even if I DID have the money).


:: My aplogies to the author for pinching this, but the comments seemed good enough to warrant sharing the information ::

[Bazz]

As the author seems to be dipping in and out of BA First & Club World, I'm not sure what is being compared here, I also assume it was penned prior to the UCS product launch?

[Pete]

Well those first two objections will have been addressed be the new UCS. As for the food, the comment seems contradictory with the Virgin positives [?]

I understand Virgin have been putting cabin through some 'refresher' courses in customer services of late, perhaps a VS staffer can confirm this?

Looking at it, I guess the only one 'for-BA' that I would totally agree with is that they fly more places. But then, why would you want to go *there*?

Pix

quote:
The seat is very private (very good if travelling alone).

As long as you dont mind sitting staring at the person in the rearward facing seat in front of you! [:p]

quote:
I looked at the cost of flying BA, but it was two or three times the price

BA Club World fares can be bought for exceptionally cheap prices if you book your ticket ex LIS or VIE (via LHR). This includes a Club Europe flight to LHR and back and will earn you a total of 320 tier points (over half the requirement to qualify for silver). For example, return Club World flights LIS-SFO in June can be bought for £1500*


*I in no way endorse this practice whatsoever. Travel is undertaken *entirely* at users own risk

Cross border selling just doesn't work with e-tickets !

Shame !

Commenting on Pix's reference to refresher courses, I do know that VS staff were being sent on a course to improve team work. Apparently, the theme of the course was based on how geese work together to achieve more efficient group flying and the catch phrase associated was to be 'keep on honking'!

[Nottingham Nick]

I seem to remember reading on FT that BA were trying to stamp out the practice of buying cheaper tickets that originated on the continent and then went via LHR where people were not using the continent - LHR legs of the tickets.

I understand that they were refusing to honour the tickets if all the legs weren't used, or at least threatening to do this.

Nick