BA to Tampa v VA to MCO

[Segdude]

I'm doing the budgets etc for next year. Obviously without flights being released I was stuck for costs, so used this years price's as an indicator. We usually fly VA into MCO and book as soon as the sale starts at the end of the year. When I checked this years prices for 27th June it showed BA as being half the price of Virgin for PE. Is this a glitch, or is it because they happen to have 5 spare seats as yet unsold?

We flew into Tampa a few years back with BA and it was OK but for reasons I wont go into, my wife preferred Virgin so we've stuck with them since, and tbh immigration has not been a pain the last couple of years.

Also, I assume BA's Premium Economy is on a par with Virgin?

[Mr Tom Morrow]

Originally Posted by Segdude

I'm doing the budgets etc for next year. Obviously without flights being released I was stuck for costs, so used this years price's as an indicator. We usually fly VA into MCO and book as soon as the sale starts at the end of the year. When I checked this years prices for 27th June it showed BA as being half the price of Virgin for PE. Is this a glitch, or is it because they happen to have 5 spare seats as yet unsold?

We flew into Tampa a few years back with BA and it was OK but for reasons I wont go into, my wife preferred Virgin so we've stuck with them since, and tbh immigration has not been a pain the last couple of years.

Also, I assume BA's Premium Economy is on a par with Virgin?

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BA and Virgin PE are a world apart. Nothing wrong with BA and if the price was right I would use them, however their seat size compared to VA is poor.

[Jan]

DD and her family flew VA to Atlanta today and the plan was to get an onward Delta flight to Tampa, (codeshare?). It took almost two hours to get through security due to five flights arriving just ahead of them. There are three Delta flights left today for them and they are on standby. However their luggage is on the next flight. They have been warned they might not get on any of the three flights. I don't think they will be doing that route again!

[ianc]

Originally Posted by Jan

DD and her family flew VA to Atlanta today and the plan was to get an onward Delta flight to Tampa, (codeshare?). It took almost two hours to get through security due to five flights arriving just ahead of them. There are three Delta flights left today for them and they are on standby. However their luggage is on the next flight. They have been warned they might not get on any of the three flights. I don't think they will be doing that route again!

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But the OP is comparing a direct flight with BA to Tampa and a VA direct flight to MCO, so what has an indirect flight via Atlanta got to do with it? With the indirect flight, immigration is in Atlanta, not in Tampa or MCO.

[Jan]

Originally Posted by ianc

But the OP is comparing a direct flight with BA to Tampa and a VA direct flight to MCO, so what has an indirect flight via Atlanta got to do with it? With the indirect flight, immigration is in Atlanta, not in Tampa or MCO.

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Nothing whatsoever, sorry! I got it wrong. I was tired and worried and didn't read it right.

[murdi]

Absolutely no need to apologise. It was obviously a mistake which we all make. It could have been pointed out in a nicer manner.

[Segdude]

Thanks Tom, Jan, Ianc and Murdi. Hmmm, seat size could be an issue however it’s more about legroom for me. When we flew to Tampa last time my wife found the 777 did not have overhead air vents like a 747. This was an issue for her post chemotherapy and she found it slightly uncomfortable. I loved the fact we were in our hire car within an hour of wheels touching down 😀.

[Mr Tom Morrow]

Originally Posted by Segdude

Thanks Tom, Jan, Ianc and Murdi. Hmmm, seat size could be an issue however it’s more about legroom for me. When we flew to Tampa last time my wife found the 777 did not have overhead air vents like a 747. This was an issue for her post chemotherapy and she found it slightly uncomfortable. I loved the fact we were in our hire car within an hour of wheels touching down 😀.

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I think there are some trade off's at play here
Legroom. VA better
Seat width. VA better
Cabin crew. BA better
Aircraft. VA 747 awesome. Refurbished BA planes better but not in Econ.
Tampa. Better airport for Immigration
Car hire. Better at Tampa so I am led to believe.

[ERICSMUM]

Originally Posted by Mr Tom Morrow

I think there are some trade off's at play here
Legroom. VA better
Seat width. VA better
Cabin crew. BA better
Aircraft. VA 747 awesome. Refurbished BA planes better but not in Econ.
Tampa. Better airport for Immigration
Car hire. Better at Tampa so I am led to believe.

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I’ll add another possible trade-off: price. As the OP has found, and so have I, it’s possible to save a few hundred with BA if you search patiently. It really does come down to priorities vs compromises !

[Mr Tom Morrow]

Originally Posted by ERICSMUM

I’ll add another possible trade-off: price. As the OP has found, and so have I, it’s possible to save a few hundred with BA if you search patiently. It really does come down to priorities vs compromises !

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So true. Especially some of the BA flydrives that can be an awesome deal.