Continental v Virgin ?

I have a ticket NYC-LHR and can use either CO or VS.
I am very familiar with VS but never tried CO.
Which is best ?
For me a big plus of VS is I can eat dinner before I board. My experience of US carriers lounges is a piece of cheese and a pretzel.

I once went Continental but it was years ago and I thought they were crap. However, my Aunt used them recently and said it was one of the best airlines she'd flown with. This doesn't help, does it?

I have travelled Continental quite extensively in BusinessFirst (their business class product) to/from Newark and one thing for sure, you will not leave the aircraft hungry!

They do have flatbeds, on demand entertainment and the service is pretty solid. The food is generous though lacks a little flair but never had a bad flight at all.

Hope this helps.

Jon

[Scrooge]

Which class are you flying ? if it is business then I would say fly UA (CO)

CO is much improved (would't touch a UA plane with a barge pole), the entertainment systems are good, the flat seat good, food as people say is excellent.

There's no flair, the lounges are dull, sleeping is not as comfortable, and the crew can be testy.

Why not try going out on CO and back on VS, CO with the day flight, to test?

I have changed to the VS out of JFK as I want to eat before I fly and then sleep on the flight.
CO seems to feed you well on the flight but I want to eat before and sleep as much as poss on such a short flight.

I am surprised CO (and the others) don't offer pre-flight eating on such a short flight - it means they have to carry less food on board and much better for the pax.

The airlines still have to carry two meals (main/2nd meal)for each passenger regardless of the offering in the lounges. What if there's a problem with the catering or no one eats in the lounge? You can't exactly say to a business class passenger(or any) that there is no food.

The airlines still have to carry two meals (main/2nd meal)for each passenger regardless of the offering in the lounges. What if there's a problem with the catering or no one eats in the lounge? You can't exactly say to a business class passenger(or any) that there is no food.

I don't think the BA sleeper service Club World flights carry main meals for J passengers -- only small snacks. I have read varying reports of what happens if you are hungry...

I am surprised CO (and the others) don't offer pre-flight eating on such a short flight - it means they have to carry less food on board and much better for the pax.

The logistics of setting up dining biz class-style in what pass as lounges for US airlines is significant. Just a totally different model. There aren't even any real kitchens in Presidents Clubs.

No - where BA offer dine before you fly there is no main meals loaded. Similar to VS Good Night service which assumes one eats before the flight (either in the lounge or elsewhere (like at DXB)) and wants nothing but a snack and sleep.

If BA and VS can offer catering services on the ground in both the UK and USA I see no reason why other carriers can not do likewise.

The airlines still have to carry two meals (main/2nd meal)for each passenger regardless of the offering in the lounges. What if there's a problem with the catering or no one eats in the lounge? You can't exactly say to a business class passenger(or any) that there is no food.

I don't think the BA sleeper service Club World flights carry main meals for J passengers -- only small snacks. I have read varying reports of what happens if you are hungry...

[honey lamb]

No - where BA offer dine before you fly there is no main meals loaded. Similar to VS Good Night service which assumes one eats before the flight (either in the lounge or elsewhere (like at DXB)) and wants nothing but a snack and sleep.

Erm, on the VS Good Night Flights main meals are loaded and there is a range of options one of which is the full meal service. Even those in the snooze zone can have a main meal taken at the bar.

I had a friend on BA once who could not have a meal on board because he was told (rather rudely) he should have eaten in the BA lounge !

Now in his circmstances that was impossible due to a late connecting flight and was lucky he made the BA flight. He was not happy at all!

What about people who turn up essentially at the last minute and have no time in the lounge?

As to VS GNF - I have been on one and most UC pax had a full meal service (other than in the snooze zone) despite the fact there was food in the lounge.

Similar to VS Good Night service which assumes one eats before the flight (either in the lounge or elsewhere (like at DXB)) and wants nothing but a snack and sleep.

This is completely inaccurate, you can have a full tray on any flight day or night!

cheers

alex

No - where BA offer dine before you fly there is no main meals loaded. Similar to VS Good Night service which assumes one eats before the flight (either in the lounge or elsewhere (like at DXB)) and wants nothing but a snack and sleep.

Erm, on the VS Good Night Flights main meals are loaded and there is a range of options one of which is the full meal service. Even those in the snooze zone can have a main meal taken at the bar.

Thank you for the clarification HoneyLamb.

That explains why when we were in the snooze zone we couldn't eat there but were allowed to go to dine at the bar y) We didn't know it was a full meal (our mistake or poor communication from cabin crew) so had a snack and slept. After all from New York it is such a short flight sleep is the (well our) main priority.

[honey lamb]

Erm, on the VS Good Night Flights main meals are loaded and there is a range of options one of which is the full meal service. Even those in the snooze zone can have a main meal taken at the bar.

Thank you for the clarification HoneyLamb.

That explains why when we were in the snooze zone we couldn't eat there but were allowed to go to dine at the bar y) We didn't know it was a full meal (our mistake or poor communication from cabin crew) so had a snack and slept. After all from New York it is such a short flight sleep is the (well our) main priority.

On the Good Night Flights there are three options as can be seen here

FWIW, CO, like UA, only have part of their fleet refurbished with the new C product. With UA, it's the 777s which have only been partially converted (about 20% of them), while on CO the 767s have not been converted at all. Stepping into C on either airline on the older cabins is going to have a decidedly retro feel

Moreover, several of the EWR-LHR flights with CO are on a 757, with the new C seats, but somewhat cramped feel. While I suppose there isn't much material difference between flying SFO or LAX to HI or JFK, and flying NY-LHR, it's still a little odd to me to do the TATL flights on a single aisle jet.

I prefer the UA and CO seats in C to the VS seat because of the recline vs flip over issue (CO's is a newer version of the UA seat, and a better one), I prefer IFE on CO and UA to vPort (but that will improve with the new biz product on VS), food on CO is much better IMO, lounges on CO, UA or any other airline in the US are pretty much pathetic shadows of what VS offers.

Just looked at booking a CO flight between Newark and Dallas and there was no option to enter the FC number, anyone know if CO has dropped VS?

Just looked at booking a CO flight between Newark and Dallas and there was no option to enter the FC number, anyone know if CO has dropped VS?

My wife and daughter just had miles credited for a CO flight EWR - LAS for the 26 July. My miles haven't credited yet, but my flying club number is still in my One Pass profile.

Just looked at booking a CO flight between Newark and Dallas and there was no option to enter the FC number, anyone know if CO has dropped VS?

CO still list VS as a partner on their site here

Yes they are still a partner and rewarding/redeeming each others miles.
I am using UA (CO) miles to buy a VS ticket.

Yes they are still a partner and rewarding/redeeming each others miles.
I am using UA (CO) miles to buy a VS ticket.

Really? I have some UA miles to use. How did you do it?

Tonty, you'll need to create a one pass account unless you already have one, connect the two (there is a link on ua.com, in fact on both UA and CO sites on how to do this), and you can then transfer miles between the two at your leisure.