BS: virgin atlantic airlines

Subject: virgin atlantic airlines
From: kendall
Date: 10 Aug 01 - 07:28 PM

Has anyone had any bad experiences flying on Virgin Atlantic? Ever since UPS broke my guitar, I'm reluctant to trust it to any of those apes.

Subject: RE: BS: virgin atlantic airlines
From: catspaw49
Date: 10 Aug 01 - 07:46 PM

Virgin Atlantic is a very new and untried airline Kendall so I don't know what to tell you. You might try flying on Old Whore Pacific instead although some of their equipment is clapped out.

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: virgin atlantic airlines
From: kendall
Date: 10 Aug 01 - 09:13 PM

I understand it is a subsidiary of British Airways. What would I want with a "clapped out whore?"

Subject: RE: BS: virgin atlantic airlines
From: Maryrrf
Date: 10 Aug 01 - 09:59 PM

Well, I flew Virgin Atlantic in May from DC to London (on a free ticket, no less, that I got from charging things on the generous expense account in my former job in the Chemical Industry - I had over $60,000 worth of points on my American Express!)and it was great. They got my Martin guitar there and back in one piece. Martin does supply a pretty sturdy case. My flight was comfortable and on time, food was good, there were nice little individual movie screens with a choice of five or six channels. Oh and they give you a little goodie bag with slippers, toothpaste, aromatherapy cream, etc. My seat was in economy so there was very little leg room, but that's the case with all the airlines. To make it a little safer for the guitar you can ask them to let you carry it to the gate and they'll put it in the baggage compartment by hand, so it doesn't have to go down the chute. And when it came out it arrived separately from the other baggage, so they were looking out for it. I'd certainly fly Virgin Atlantic again, even if I didn't have a free ticket!

Subject: RE: BS: virgin atlantic airlines
From: catspaw49
Date: 11 Aug 01 - 12:07 AM

But has anyone tried Old Whore Pacific? I think they are all wide bodies.

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: virgin atlantic airlines
From: Sorcha
Date: 11 Aug 01 - 12:11 AM

Has anyone had a Virgin Atlantic? Exactly what is a Virgin Atlantic? Does it have gin? vodka? What possiblities here........

Subject: RE: BS: virgin atlantic airlines
From: catspaw49
Date: 11 Aug 01 - 12:22 AM

It's straight salt water on the rocks....real rocks.....with a cod skewered on the swizzle stick under the little umbrella. You can drink a quart of the stuff without getting drunk and still have the pleasure of throwing up as if you were!

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: virgin atlantic airlines
From: sledge
Date: 11 Aug 01 - 02:25 AM

One way to upset Richard Branson would be to describe his airline as a subsidiary of British Airways, He's had them in court more often than Jeffry Archer.

And they're pretty good as well.

Sledge

Subject: RE: BS: virgin atlantic airlines
From: Peg
Date: 11 Aug 01 - 10:46 AM

ahem, to answer kendall's question; I have flown Virgin to the UK and thought they were excellent; always my first choice, actually. British Airways is a close second.

Peg

Subject: RE: BS: virgin atlantic airlines
From: gnu
Date: 11 Aug 01 - 10:58 AM

I usually fly coach.

Subject: RE: BS: virgin atlantic airlines
From: gnu
Date: 11 Aug 01 - 11:01 AM

Cramped commuter aircraft... steward : "... ensure your table trays are in the upright, locked position, and that your carryon baggage is safely stowed up the ass of the person in front of you."

Subject: RE: BS: virgin atlantic airlines
From: catspaw49
Date: 11 Aug 01 - 02:22 PM

Geez, kinda' hard to get a joke off the ground in this thread..............

Kendall, we have run several threads on the subject of packing a guitar and transporting it in several ways on airlines. Some will still alow in cabin storage if you ask in advance and explain your situation. Try a search on baggage in the DT and Forum search box. Bert had a lot of great info as he is very familiar with the equipment used.

If you want to fly the best airline in terms of best in baggage handling, on-times, alternate landing percentage, and maintenance, as well as several other fields, there is one ranked no lower than 5 in every measurable category as well as lowest crash percentage (0). Fly Qantas!!! You can get a flight to England, it's just that you'll have to go through Sidney, Australia first.

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: virgin atlantic airlines
From: Mudlark
Date: 11 Aug 01 - 03:04 PM

I have used American, TWA and Virgin to get from LAX to Heathrow...and Virgin is by FAR the best. Once my uncle gave me an upgrade to Business...my god, what luxury...there was even a car at either end of flight to get me to airport and to my friend in Putney. But even in coach the individual little tv thingys help to pass the time, the food is good as airline fare goes, and the service was friendly. And as I recall, the drinks are free...not that I care....

Subject: RE: BS: virgin atlantic airlines
From: GUEST,duh
Date: 11 Aug 01 - 04:30 PM

TWA when is was still around - best - Airbus and with more room than any other.

Delta - excellent but then I paid 1000 bucks for the ride, Ga / Shannon RT on a LT111

Virgin - ummm no no no... like being in a sardeen can. Never again on a 747 ...

Planned trip will be Airbus / Lufthansa or Airfrance - a340.

Subject: RE: BS: virgin atlantic airlines
From: kendall
Date: 11 Aug 01 - 04:36 PM

Too late now, I have my tickets. My new passport arrived yesterday, so, the pieces are falling into place.

Subject: RE: BS: virgin atlantic airlines
From: kendall
Date: 11 Aug 01 - 04:37 PM

Too late now, I have my tickets. My new passport arrived yesterday, so, the pieces are falling into place. BTW, the tickets were $362.00

Subject: RE: BS: virgin atlantic airlines
From: kendall
Date: 11 Aug 01 - 04:40 PM

Sorry, I tried to stop it, but, it didn't work.

Do you know what a banjo solo and premature ejaculation have in common?

You can feel them coming on, but, there is nothing you can do about it!

Subject: RE: BS: virgin atlantic airlines
From: Maryrrf
Date: 11 Aug 01 - 05:06 PM

Kendall, may I ask where you found that fare??????? Was it through a consolidator or something? I'm thinking of going to Glasgow in late September/early October and I haven't found anything that cheap to London. Where are you leaving from? I would be going out of Washington DC. Cheapest I've found DC to Glasgow is Icelandic which is something like $590.

Subject: RE: BS: virgin atlantic airlines
From: Linda Kelly
Date: 11 Aug 01 - 07:11 PM

Kendall,they have a good reputation but if you do have any trouble then contact Richard branson directly- he is fairly hands on and isn't afraid to get involved with unhappy cusotmers. The first time I flew to New York was with Freddie Laker many years ago. The flight was cheaper if you took your own food. It is quite a site to see the whole of an airplane getting out their tuppaware boxes and aluminum foil wrappers !

Subject: RE: BS: virgin atlantic airlines
From: kendall
Date: 11 Aug 01 - 07:43 PM

Maryrrf, that was one of those specials that pop up from time to time. I got it from www.lowestfare.com

I'll be leaving out of Boston and flying into Gatwick in London. That price is basic, then, there is a tax, and I added trip insurance, so, it all came to a bit over $400.00. Still a bargain, eh?

Subject: RE: BS: virgin atlantic airlines
From: kendall
Date: 11 Aug 01 - 07:56 PM

I just checked and, the price from D.C. to London is now $408.00

Subject: RE: BS: virgin atlantic airlines
From: Maryrrf
Date: 11 Aug 01 - 08:00 PM

I'm going to check that site out. Thanks, Kendall! And I know you will enjoy your trip. I sure did!

Subject: RE: BS: virgin atlantic airlines
From: Cappuccino
Date: 12 Aug 01 - 07:29 PM

Cheapest airline always used to be Aeroflot. But of course you had to take your own sandwiches, and help push-start the thing on the runway. - Ian B

Subject: RE: BS: virgin atlantic airlines
From: Sorcha
Date: 12 Aug 01 - 07:32 PM

Yea, but my problem is that Denver to NYC (or anywhere on the East Coast) is that it is about twice as much as fare from NYC to London. Sucks.

Subject: RE: BS: virgin atlantic airlines
From: kendall
Date: 13 Aug 01 - 08:43 AM

Utah Phillips said he flew one of those "White knuckle airlines" and when he asked for a parachute, they gave him a sewing machine and a silk worm.

Subject: RE: BS: virgin atlantic airlines
From: Mrs.Duck
Date: 13 Aug 01 - 11:07 AM

My one concern with Virgin atlantic is that they are owned by Richard Branson, The man who has gone down in the sea more times than any Old Pacific Whore!!!

Subject: RE: BS: virgin atlantic airlines
From: Terry K
Date: 13 Aug 01 - 11:23 AM

...but as they they say, what do you expect to happen if you put a prick in a balloon.

Cheers, Terry

p.s. he's not really hands-on - I once complained about his pickle and he just ignored me.

Subject: RE: BS: virgin atlantic airlines
From: Charley Noble
Date: 13 Aug 01 - 11:39 AM

What was that Tom Paxton "thank-you" song about his guitar and some midwest airline? Was it Republic? Good luck, Kendall.

Subject: RE: BS: virgin atlantic airlines
From: GeorgeH
Date: 13 Aug 01 - 12:10 PM

I thought Branson had recently sold off Virgin Atlantic . . or perhaps only a part-stake in it??

G.

Subject: RE: BS: virgin atlantic airlines
From: Mrs.Duck
Date: 13 Aug 01 - 12:13 PM

Quite possibly George but there's no joke in that!

Subject: RE: BS: virgin atlantic airlines
From: Geoff the Duck
Date: 13 Aug 01 - 12:53 PM

Who was it who famously said Never let facts get in the way of a good story!
Anyway Richard Branson made his cash with Virgin Records, They were cheaper because they didn't have a hole in the middle!
You could have trouble getting a guitar into a Virgin plane - the hold is probably full of Tubular Bells! You could land in an Old Field!
Quack!
GtD.

Subject: RE: BS: virgin atlantic airlines
From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull
Date: 13 Aug 01 - 02:21 PM

I've never been on a plane, but I have been on a boat.

Subject: RE: BS: virgin atlantic airlines
From: GUEST,kendall
Date: 13 Aug 01 - 08:12 PM

Maryff I just received notice of a special from US Air.

http://usairways.com/promotions/specials/hot_fares.htm

very cheap city to city

Subject: RE: BS: virgin atlantic airlines
From: Maryrrf
Date: 13 Aug 01 - 11:23 PM

Thanks, I'll check it out. Lowestfare.com went up today. Airfares are nuts! I log on every day to different sites - Expedia, Travelocity, etc. and every day I get something different. So far I'm thinking my best bet is Icelandic! I've come across a few specials but due to work constraints my dates aren't very flexible, which is a problem when it comes to cheap airfares. They haven't been available the days I need to travel.