Economy to Chicago

[fozzyo]

I'm looking at flying to Chicago for the memorial weekend next year and am looking at options. This will be an economy trip, and since I don't have Gold with Virgin I'm looking at other airlines.

So who has the best economy at the moment for UK to ORD? Preference is for Birmingham (BHX) or Manchester (MAN) departure. Some options are American direct from MAN or KLM via Amsterdam.

Just looking for feedback on the economy products in comparison to BA / Virgin.

Mat xx

Fozzyo I couldn't find the AA direct flight, is it running next summer? Do check if it's a 767 or 777 - many of AA's 767s have not been refitted so have no personal IFE and very dated interiors whereas most of the 777s are better and have AVOD. Then you'll have to pay for any drinks and face up to AA's notoriously surly, aged, cabin crew.

If you don't wish to travel through London, where BA may be your best bet, have you looked at Swiss? I hear increasingly good things and they also sometimes have very attractive fares via Zurich ...

slinky's got AA down, UA will be a similar story, you can fly them via LHR on the newly refitted 767s (not too bad, same issues slinky points out, no free booze, soft drinks are free otoh) or through FRA via LH. If you are going to FRA, you can also go LH. I do like Swiss a lot for intra-europe flights, mostly because connecting through ZRH is quite painless these days and their *A senator lounge quite nice. Cabin looks good, on long haul it won't be better than VS/BA, IMO, but superior to US carriers, you can get a glass of wine, in other words, with your meal. Their swiss milk chocolate is liberally handed out. I do rate them as clearly better than LH for the many european trips I have taken with them since Feb - 12 so far. Did a couple with LH and had no desire to repeat.

I'd pick a US carrier if pricing is clearly superior. If not, LX would win it for me.

quote:Originally posted by MarkedMan
slinky's got AA down, UA will be a similar story, you can fly them via LHR on the newly refitted 767s (not too bad, same issues slinky points out, no free booze, soft drinks are free otoh)


I flew UA to Chicago a few years ago in their Economy Plus (?) cabin for a bit of extra legroom and it was...ok...Given the price I didn't mind paying a few dollars for a glass of wine but didn't appreciate the looks of disapproval when I asked to purchase a second.

Paul

[fozzyo]

Hmmm, it may well end up a Virgin flight by the looks of it.

Yes flew UA to ORD last year but was lucky enough to be in Economy + and the row behind the crew rest area so lots of leg room so was a v plesant trip.

Food was OK but alcoholic drinks were $5