Recommended Airlines?

Hi there..
We are headed back to the states (for good Yay!!!) in April.
I was wondering what airline to book with.
I have only ever been United and Air India (Air India was better believe it or not)
We are going into Orlando and have choices of United, BA, American and Virgin.
What do you recommend? (Im a flying fraidy cat chicken too)
And as far as plane type its between a 747 400 and a 777.
Advice?

Citrine, is it important that it be non-stop, or would you prefer layovers?

My only real option for non-stop from PHX-LHR is British Airways.  The service used to be better a few years back before they started cutting back to save money.  The most noticeable difference can be found in the meals.  I actually used to look forward to what was being served on the flight.  It's still decent, but definitely not a high point of the looooong flight.  Their entertainment is as good as it ever was.  Oddly, I've looked at fares with other airlines and BA has always come out cheapest.

Well with 3 lil ones, we dont fancy any stopovers.  
I just wanted something nice for the kids and good service.

Hubs has only flown BA so he doesnt have much to compare with LOL.

My little ones love the fact we've always gotten seats with their own tv screen right in front of them on BA. No idea if we have simply been lucky, or if all US/UK flights on BA have this.

(Im a flying fraidy cat chicken too)

lol - me too. My airline of choice is BA.

I will always try to fly Virgin. That's my own personal preference. But, they do have a great kid's attitude. Not only with things they give out (like backpacks with keep-busy things along with an apple and a fruit juice) but also with their meals and the entertainment (at least one feature-length cartoon movie, Saturday-morning-type TV, and a game system with at least 20 choices) suited just to them. You have to pre-order the kids meals, but they will be served first before the other meals, so you're not fussing with their meals and yours at the same time.

Depending on how little your little ones are, they may seat you in the bulkhead, which is the larger area so you can move around and have cot-like things attached to the wall in front for babies to sleep in.

We've flown with Virgin to Orlando as well. I know you're only doing the one-way thing, but just for general knowledge, we try to first see what Virgin Holidays can do. Often we can get a flight, hotel and car rental for almost what it costs for the flight and a cheaper hotel alone.

I'm with LisaE - I love Virgin and haven't flown anyone else transatlantically since Pan Am went bust...okay, I'm old...

Anyway, they're very kid-friendly and the direct to Orlando is a nice flight.  That one leaves out of Gatwick, which I prefer to Heathrow, as well.  Also departs from Manchester.

Anyway, another vote for Virgin!

Thank you very much for your advice!
Our house sale is going through faster then we thought and they want to complete March 18 instead of April 18 Weeeee!

We thought since the plane flight to Raleigh NC is 8 1/2 hours...we could do Orlando first..only 1 hour longer by plane (For the kids sakes..and mine too  I LOVE DISNEYLAND hehe)  So, flying into Florida gives more air choices where the only direct flight into Raleigh is on American.

The only icky side is we would have to get the Amtrak to Raleigh, which is an overnight gig for 12 hours-ish and gets in at 5:30am.  I wonder if its terror, hell, disaster with kids to rent a car and drive it back instead?

I normally fly Continental to Houston, but fly Virgin to Orlando. I wish Virgin fly direct to Houston, but they don't. I think their meals are quite good as well.  Most all airlines that fly transAtlantic have the little individual tv's.

Citrine, if you are flying into Orlando, I should warn you that after landing it's quite a process to get out of the Airport. It's good to be prepared if you have kiddies with you.

Once you get off the plane, you will go thru a security area where your carry on's are put thru the machine again, followed by passport control/immigration. There is a luggage pick up just past that. Once you collect your bags, you have to go to another security area where they take your bags again, and you then have to take the monorail to the main terminal to pick them up again.

The whole process took a hour an a half the last time we flew into Orlando, which was this time last year.  After a 9 or 10 hour flight, it can be quite tiresome, especially for kids.

If you are going to DisneyWorld or Universal Studios, I am kind of an expert on them, (5 visits there in the last 18 months LOL) so if you want any tips, just let me know  

Happy Traveling

Ooh, I love travelling by Amtrack! It's really a comfortable ride. And the kids can get up and walk around.

Ooh, I love travelling by Amtrack! It's really a comfortable ride. And the kids can get up and walk around.

I was worried about my 2 year old terrorizing passengers. LOL
She is lovely and smiley but cannot sit still.

I normally fly Continental to Houston, but fly Virgin to Orlando. I wish Virgin fly direct to Houston, but they don't. I think their meals are quite good as well.  Most all airlines that fly transAtlantic have the little individual tv's.

Citrine, if you are flying into Orlando, I should warn you that after landing it's quite a process to get out of the Airport. It's good to be prepared if you have kiddies with you.

Once you get off the plane, you will go thru a security area where your carry on's are put thru the machine again, followed by passport control/immigration. There is a luggage pick up just past that. Once you collect your bags, you have to go to another security area where they take your bags again, and you then have to take the monorail to the main terminal to pick them up again.

The whole process took a hour an a half the last time we flew into Orlando, which was this time last year.  After a 9 or 10 hour flight, it can be quite tiresome, especially for kids.

If you are going to DisneyWorld or Universal Studios, I am kind of an expert on them, (5 visits there in the last 18 months LOL) so if you want any tips, just let me know  

Happy Traveling

FIVE!!! Wowsa
Okay I havent been there in 20 years LOL.
I have been searching expedia and got bogged down with too many hotels.  I did a Virgin Holidays search too...but it actually quoted me a first class holiday..8000 pounds FGS LOL!
Any hotel ideas?  Pass ideas?  
My memory of Florida seems to just be of extreme heat and an unfortunate sunburn. LOL

My airline of choice is BA.

I'm another fan of BA! Last trip to the US was with USAir. The flight staff were great on the way over but really rude on the way back here. And the plane seemed to be falling apart! Headsets wouldn't work, cracked screens, arm rests held together with ducktape!    Made me worry if the wings were held on with superglue and rubberbands!  

I think we'll stick with BA as I haven't had a bad experience with them yet. (and the drinks are free..   )

I did a Virgin Holidays search too...but it actually quoted me a first class holiday..8000 pounds FGS LOL!

Umm...doesn't do much to help my cause of it being less expensive, huh?  

If you can be flexible on dates, sounds like you hit a busy pocket. Sometimes moving even one day out will make a huge difference. (ie if you wanted to go Saturday-to-Saturday but swtiched to Thursday-to-Thursday, etc.

Umm...doesn't do much to help my cause of it being less expensive, huh?  

If you can be flexible on dates, sounds like you hit a busy pocket. Sometimes moving even one day out will make a huge difference. (ie if you wanted to go Saturday-to-Saturday but swtiched to Thursday-to-Thursday, etc.

Im going to recheck.  I just got that Virgin Holidays DVD Disneyland video in the post today (The one with the catchy tune that all the adverts play LOL)
Its great as it shows the hotels and even the plane!

: )