Any tips on getting an affordable short-notice flight from UK to US?

My impression is that nowadays - all/most flights are unbelievably crowded because the airlines have cut back so many routes (cost-cutting efficiencies).

Some of my friends had a good & reasonably priced experience in August with Iceland Air, with change in Reykjavík to the Baltimore/Washington area - think they flew out of London though.  Price was a big factor for them because there are 5 of them - 2 adults & 3 children, and again this was in August.

I have flown with Icelandic air to NYC. It was insane and uncomfortable, but very cheap.

I think these days with airlines, no matter which one it is, I go in expecting low standards and everything that is good i.e. free booze or mixed cocktails, individual screen entertainment, good food, friendly staff- is a huge bonus! 
I've had good-bad- and in-between.  Just get me there in one piece and I will always be happy.   

I'm with you on that one, PB!

Virgin (BOS to LHR) was hellish this time but the flight back was pretty much OK (except for the Patriots fans passing smelly food around). DS thinks Virgin is going downhill because they're not linked with any partners.

I'm with you on that one, PB!

Virgin (BOS to LHR) was hellish this time but the flight back was pretty much OK (except for the Patriots fans passing smelly food around). DS thinks Virgin is going downhill because they're not linked with any partners.

Care to share why it was hellish? I'm flying with them to and from Boston pretty soon, so I'm curious what it's like.

I think these days with airlines, no matter which one it is, I go in expecting low standards and everything that is good i.e. free booze or mixed cocktails, individual screen entertainment, good food, friendly staff- is a huge bonus! 
I've had good-bad- and in-between.  Just get me there in one piece and I will always be happy.

I'm okay with that - to a point.  When we were flying Ryanair - I was expecting it to be horrible, but it was cheap - ended up being so much better than I thought it would be.

On the other hand, when you're paying a hella lot more, I don't think it's unreasonable to expect a certain standard of things...  Which is why I said earlier, might as well leave the entire market to the low-cost carriers - as you get no better and often worse experiences/service on the old traditional airlines yet you're paying them a premium price.  For the price you are paying on those, poor service/experience is unacceptable.

Care to share why it was hellish? I'm flying with them to and from Boston pretty soon, so I'm curious what it's like.

IMO, any transatlantic flight is bound to be hellish  But this latest flight from BOS to LHR was pretty full to begin with and the only seat I could choose that wasn't in the tail was right backing up against the loos. Handy but had it's disadvantages. For one thing, after takeoff I had put my bag in the gap behind the seat (so I'd have a little room for my feet) but was told off by the flight attendant for doing that. They were also crabby because I put my blanket on an empty seat across the aisle (they don't want you to have it over you during takeoff). It was this attitude of marching up the aisle and bellowing "whose is this?" like you were a criminal for not sitting there with your hands folded the whole flight.
Later on, I wanted to put my seat back but it wasn't working so stopped an attendant who tried and also failed. She promised to come back later and help but never did. At breakfast time they came around with tea and coffee and the people in front of me wanted coffee but the attendant had run out and promised to come back with it. About half an hour it still hadn't appeared so the man told another passing attendant. She was really sarky about it, saying "well, you don't have to worry about it -- we're not landing yet." They did get their coffee but I thought the crew on that flight were really not very helpful.
On the other hand, the return flight was much better -- although also very full (Patriots fans going home!) I always order a special meal (veg.) and you usually get it before all the others. This time it came practically just as the the seat belt sign went off and before they came round with drinks -- so I was pretty thirsty! But it was the Tuesday after Sandy and NYC flights were still cancelled -- so I guess I felt lucky just to get back to Boston anyway.
Good luck -- you just never know what you'll get.

My last flights with Virgin were similar (June 2012 LHR-IAD). Previously I was a huge Virgin fan and felt that they were worth the extra money but I do think things are slipping.

Anybody have any experience with Aer Lingus? I've always opted for non-stop flights which means a London airport. Been thinking it would be easier in the long run to do the BOS to MAN route -- but that means changing in Dublin. We did it -- via Shannon -- years ago but wondered if anyone has done it more recently.

Thanks, BostonDiner and Courtney. I'll report back with my findings.

My last flights with Virgin were similar (June 2012 LHR-IAD). Previously I was a huge Virgin fan and felt that they were worth the extra money but I do think things are slipping.

My feelings too!!

Anybody have any experience with Aer Lingus? I've always opted for non-stop flights which means a London airport. Been thinking it would be easier in the long run to do the BOS to MAN route -- but that means changing in Dublin. We did it -- via Shannon -- years ago but wondered if anyone has done it more recently.

Yes! Lovely! I've done it twice in economy -The Boston-Dublin planes are brand new, the flight attendants are very nice, all times my flights were early!, food was good -you have to pay for alcohol (but that's all becoming normal now  )  plus going via Dublin you go through US immigration, so you just collect your bags at the Southwest airlines claims like it was domestic.   I've now become an Aer Lingus fan!
I've also done business class in Aer Lingus (work trip) and that was really really really good (better than a lot of other business class flights).

I'm on BA this week to Logan; 1.) Because it was actually cheaper than Aer Lingus this time and 2.)  Because I can connect via Aberdeen and not have to change airports in London (just involves a 2 hour train ride first) - so it will only take me about 19 hours to get back as opposed to 25 it usually takes me. Living in the North of Scotland has many, many advantages, but air travel is not one of them!