Round Trip vs. One Way Airfare?

Another endorsement for Virgin, if you're flying from the east coast.  But yes, book through another website, not the actual airline's - it's far cheaper.  I use Student Universe mostly (they always have Virgin flights) or Cheaptickets/Expedia.  I love the airline (very...British...feel for lack of better description), am always please with the flights I take, and you can't beat the prices!  I fly direct from Dulles to Heathrow and my ticket this time around is $325!

Hmm...didn't really care for Virgin to be honest.  I found the seats to be amazingly cramped and the way the under-seat storage was arranged was just bizarre.  (Three 'sections' for four seats.)   Even my girls complained, and they're tiny little things!  The price seems to be good, though, flying to/from London. 

This will be the second time I've flown Aer Lingus, and I had a good experience with them the first time.  Plus they're flying me into Edinburgh instead of London.  (I booked through Orbitz, btw, not the airline website.)

Modified to add - my Virgin Atlantic experience was on a long-haul from London to Las Vegas...seats may be more comfortable on other aircraft/shorter flights...

I dont really care for Virgin Airlines myself either. for the simple reason if you are on the plus side the seats are cramped together & arent very comfortable for a International flight. price was good though I flew to California from Heathrow in mid april this year roundtrip non stop flight was $550 dollars. I thought that was a good price but I know others will disagree with me though.

my two cents for booking on orbitz, travelocity, expedia vs. virgin.com, continental.com etc...

i usually use orbitz etc to look for best deal.  then i go to that carrier's direct website and if the deals the same, i book through them.

i had a REALLY bad experience when i booked through expedia a codeshared continental flight actually flying on virgin metal.  when it all went tits up continental blamed virgin who blamed expedia who blamed.... well you understand.

even if it's $10-25 more expensive, i book through the individuals airlines website whenever possible.   you often get extra Frequent flyer points for booking online and you can manage your booking very easily in all the different sites.

as for virgin- when i first started coming to the UK 10 years ago Virgin really was great.  they were one of the first that i flew that had inidivual back of the seat TVs, the food was good, and the stewardess have matching lipstick.

their product has gone downhill a bit.  for me it's usually a toss up between BA or virgin out of Heathrow or Continental out of Birmingham.

I have had great experience using this website for transatlantic fares:

http://www.bt-store.com/

They are a ticket consolidator so you won't get a choice of airlines, but if you're not picky, it's a good choice. The one-way fares are usually half or only slightly more than half of a comparable RT flight.

Incidentally, i always try to fly United because I have elite frequent flier priveleges with them, and because they are the main airline at my home airport, Washington Dulles

Oh these tips are awesome! Keep 'em coming!

We will be two adults and one child (2 years old.)  We'll be coming out of the east coast, specifically Atlanta. I'm really short and petite, and have done international flights in the "back of the bus" many many times, and so don't care about cramped accomodations or nasty airline food, but DH is very large and so might be uncomfortable.  He complains about coach seats being too small and hurting his knees, but he rode all the way to New Zealand and back in one and survived.  But really, I think he'll be so excited to be moving finally that he won't care if he has to ride the whole way in the lav. 

We will be moving two cats, and I don't know if we're allowed to ship them without being on the same flight.  I need to do more research on that...getting my USDA paperwork today, hopefully (crosses fingers!)

I have had great experience using this website for transatlantic fares:

http://www.bt-store.com/

They are a ticket consolidator so you won't get a choice of airlines, but if you're not picky, it's a good choice. The one-way fares are usually half or only slightly more than half of a comparable RT flight.

Incidentally, i always try to fly United because I have elite frequent flier priveleges with them, and because they are the main airline at my home airport, Washington Dulles

thanks!! yeah their prices look pretty good, plus it's letting me get the return ticket for 6 months later than my departure ticket.  actually 7 months.  hey i have another question, so BUNAC lets you live and work for 6 months, but I want my return ticket for around 7-8 months after I leave because I'm planning on traveling around other countries after the 6 months is up.  will they let me in the country with a return ticket later than 6 months? also someone said virgin atlantic lets you change the return date once for free, but I will be leaving from Columbus, Ohio and Virgin doesn't seem to be the cheapest from here.  are there any other airlines that let you change the return date for free? maybe i'll just get a one way ticket to nyc and fly out of there instead...

NYC is way cheaper, I fly out of Newark, but only because it is easier to get to for my parents and if I didn't they would totally make me take the bus. 

As far as  I know, they will not give you an extended stay past your BUNAC date on your entry, but I literally hopped the ferry to France, didn't even get off the boat, and got another stamp for six months.  But I am not sure about the flight, I would think as long as you have a return and explain you should be ok. 

The flexiable date for Virgin was only on the studentuniverse website, I am not sure if it is available elsewhere. 

Yeah I second the motion on flying out of NYC or Newark. I once took the train up from washington and flew out of NYC because it was so much cheaper, even after factoring in train costs; though that doesn't seem to be the case these days.

Yeah I second the motion on flying out of NYC or Newark. I once took the train up from washington and flew out of NYC because it was so much cheaper, even after factoring in train costs; though that doesn't seem to be the case these days.

I noticed that the whole of the east coast seems to be about the same cost for the past few years. 

I noticed that the whole of the east coast seems to be about the same cost for the past few years. 

hmm yeah i checked into it and thta does seem to be the best way to go. i can get a one way to nyc for about $100, maybe less if i check around and buy it at a good time. thanks!