VIRGIN OR tHOMSON????

[princesskel]

Hello! Am looking at flights for our first holiday to disney next year. Am trying to decide between these two airlines and would be grateful for any advice!! Flights with thomson are cheaper but have heard lots of great things about virgin so not sure who to go with. Has anyone flown with thomson or both of these companies?? We have 3 young children travelling with us and maybe a 5 month old baby so want child friendly flights most importantly! Am interested in leg room, tvs and whats available to watch and do especially for kids! Is it worth paying the extra to fly with virgin? Will be the kids first time on a plane. Thanks ! xxx

 

[SteveUK]

I have been with Thomson, but a while ago. Last three times, I have flown with Virgin, and found it cheaper to book through somebody else, but making sure it is Virgin flights.

I like the Virgin flights and have found the service to be very good. If you get the decent entertainment package on the plane, then no complaints at all. I personally would go for Virgin flights, but look around at prices. It then depends on what sort of difference you are talking about? Is it significantly more expensive?

 

[Rammstein]

We have always flown with Virgin. Their service is very good like SteveUk mentioned. It depends on when you're going. At the moment they are using a 747-400 service from Manchester to Orlando daily. You have a better chance of getting the better entertainment package on Virgin's 747-400's. They also use 747-200's which are older and some I don't think, have the updated system.

You also have to remember that Thomson fly into Orlando Sanford from which I hear is a 2 hour transfer time to International Drive and Walt Disney World area. I have yet to find out if this correct or incorrect. Virgin fly into Orlando International which is only a 30 minute to 1 hour transfer time depending on where you're going and traffic. It depends wether you think paying the extra money to travel with Virgin is also worth the less extra hour transfering to the Orlando tourist area.

 

[morgan22]

IMO Virgin flight beats Thomson flight hands down ... we chose to fly Thomson last year last minute as it was a great deal (£198.00 per person inc. taxes!!) for the same dates Virgin wanted £425.00 ... I am a travel agent and know a good deal when I see one - however boy was I wrong on this occasion ... we ended up paying over £200.00 each to upgrade to Thomson's 'Premium' cabin (sorry can't remember what it's really called) - we should have stuck with Virgin from the outset .... Plus Orlando International is such a nicer airport that Sanford and so much closer.

Unless flying direct is an absolute must - shop around and i;m sure you'll find cheaper deals on other scheduled flights via another US airport - you'll probably find the inconvenience of transitting is nothing to the added comfort you;ll gain from not choosing a charter flight.

 

[mkt]

Choose BA or Virgin. Sanford airport is approx. 50 miles from International Drive/Universal and 60 miles from Disney. You might be able to go cheaper flying on a US Carrier and doing a layover in the US (eg, AA via Miami, New York, Chicago, or Dallas; Delta via Atlanta; Continental via Houston or Newark, US Airways via Philadelphia or Charlotte, etc).. and Delta has in-flight entertainment, and once you're over the US, some of their planes have Satellite TV at no charge.

 

[CAPTAIN HOOK]

There's cheap and then there's convenient. Personally, I'd rather spend that bit more (Virgin or BA) and fly directly into Orlando Int, than flying two journeys and hanging about in an American airport (for several hours) for the second flight to Orlando or driving all that way from Sanford after a 9 hour flight

 

[disneyworld07]

Try JETSAVE for cheaper virgin flights/holidays. Some great deals in there especially for kids.

Have fun!! We are off in 19 days from the UK!! Booked direct through virginholidays.co.uk very early


Have a great time!