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

Delta are the worst transatlantic carrier by a country mile, I was devastated when Continental and Delta merged, meaning you never knew if you were going to get a nice Continental plane or annoying rubbish Delta. I've stopped using them completely, which means I'm down to AA.

How is AA?  I may try US Airways next time - with connection in Philly, like what Andee planned to do.  We nearly used them this time around.

Usually hear good stuff about British Airways & Virgin, but for us - that means getting down to London or a change in London...I don't know... 

Used to be a really good BMI (now merged with British Airways) flight from Manchester to Dulles, but they stopped that route a few years back.

When I first moved over, I could get nonstop flights from Manchester to Washington area (Dulles) or Atlanta (usually means Delta *sigh*) pretty easily - but so many routes have been stopped & all the flights now are packed full.  Have resigned myself to making at least one change from hereon. 

A year ago, we did KLM (codeshare with Delta) & had horrible experience with them too...bah.  The transatlantic (Delta) part wasn't the problem - we wasted most of the day just getting out of Leeds & Amsterdam - missing our connection to US, wholly KLM's fault. 

I am flying into Atlanta or Baltimore/Washington because that's where my brothers live.  Also, I have tried to be a loyal Delta customer because *cough* a family member works for them - well for maybe ten more years until he retires...but I just can't do them transatlantic any longer.

aimless - SkyPesos sounds about right!

How is AA?  I may try US Airways next time - with connection in Philly, like what Andee planned to do.  We nearly used them this time around.

Usually hear good stuff about British Airways & Virgin, but for us - that means getting down to London or a change in London...I don't know... 

I've flown AA BOS-LHR and it wasn't too bad. My worst experience has been with BA, but it wasn't too bad either and I'm sure it was just a one-off and I was also traveling with what I didn't know was a UTI, so that may have been the reason. My best experience has been with United/Continental but that mostly boiled down to it not being a popular route, so I got an entire row to myself on a red eye both times I flew with them.

I'm flying LHR-BOS with Virgin Atlantic on December 1st. I've never flown with them, but I'll let you know what I think.

I was thinking we should all start a thread (that is maybe stickied?) on airline experiences reviews...

Not on this one, because Andee's thread was about affordable short-notice flights, so I've kind of taken it off on a tangent...sorry Andee! 

But it would be useful to have a central thread ongoing for people's up-to-date reviews & experiences with transatlantic on one airline or another, wouldn't it?

Fab idea! 

I was thinking we should all start a thread (that is maybe stickied?) on airline experiences reviews...

Not on this one, because Andee's thread was about affordable short-notice flights, so I've kind of taken it off on a tangent...sorry Andee! 

But it would be useful to have a central thread ongoing for people's up-to-date reviews & experiences with transatlantic on one airline or another, wouldn't it?

Great idea!

Ok - please somebody start it.  PlainPearl?  Courtney? 

I guess it doesn't only need to be transatlantic - my thought was just that we expats would probably sooner be tuned in to those flights, and with longer flights, having a good/comfy/value experience is more important.  Although I will say that my (Gdansk to Leeds flight) experience with Ryanair back in June was just fab - when I expected it to be crap based on what one tends to hear about Ryanair.

My inlaws flew US Airways to Philly from Dublin last month and as for concessions, they had to pay for anything other than water, coffee, or tea. A bit of a slap in the face when you're paying $1000 for a flight IMO. Unfortunately, since Aer Lingus stopped flying direct to Dulles, this route from Philly is the only local direct one for us now.

I know you're not keen to fly out of London, but BA goes from BWI to LHR.

Well that's something in Delta's favour - transatlantic, you still get a free meal & a free snack/breakfast (neither great but they are sufficient), and free wine or beer in economy class (and one free checked bag) in return for your $1000.  Entertainment is complete rubbish though - on our way home, we could watch a movie on a far away screen the size of a postage stamp with awful sound. 

Well that's something in Delta's favour - transatlantic, you still get a free meal & a free snack/breakfast (neither great but they are sufficient), and free wine or beer in economy class (and one free checked bag) in return for your $1000.  Entertainment is complete rubbish though - on our way home, we could watch a movie on a far away screen the size of a postage stamp with awful sound. 

Yup that's Delta.
Continental have in seat entertainment and a power socket! Their food is the WORST by a country mile. Free alcohol.

AA are middling, planes are fine, food is fine, no alcohol is free.

BA has free alcohol, planes are fine, food is fine.

BA and AA are about the same for me.

I flew on Air Canada to Seattle via somewhere in Canada a month ago, that was pretty good, LOADS of alcohol, I was a bit tipsy, food was decent, I got an Emergency Exit on the way back. yay. Changing was hassle free, funny to be in Canada for a bit, the small plane was tiny and I was sat in a jump seat which was an...experience.

Yes this is all good stuff!  I'll see if we can start by splitting the airlines comparison detail/reviews onto a separate thread...

Delta are the worst transatlantic carrier by a country mile, I was devastated when Continental and Delta merged, meaning you never knew if you were going to get a nice Continental plane or annoying rubbish Delta. I've stopped using them completely, which means I'm down to AA.

I think you're confusing Delta and United, cheesebiscuit. Delta merged with Northwest several years ago but not with Continental. United and Continental merged recently, finishing up earlier this year. The "new" United is ok. I preferred the old Continental but United could be worse. United and US Airways are in the same alliance--Star Alliance. Delta is the only US airline in SkyTeam, but it includes other airlines like Air France and KLM. American is the only US airline in OneWorld, along with airlines like British Airways, Iberia and Cathay Pacific.

I've flown all of the major US airlines transatlantic/long haul except the old United at one point or another. US Airways kind of sucks but is often the cheapest. I rather liked the old Continental, haven't flown it internationally since it became United. I had an unpleasant experience flying AA but to be fair, it was years ago. Delta actually has a fairly pleasant in-flight experience (free glass of wine or beer with dinner, fairly pleasant employees) but I avoid them because their FF miles are basically worthless. If they're the absolute cheapest by a significant amount, I'll still fly them.

I flew with American Airlines earlier in October to San Diego (via Newark) and then back to Manchester from San Francisco (via Chicago). It was, easily, the worst set of flights I'd ever taken. Delays on both ends, really, really old planes, and it was all unbelievably crowded.  I have to say; I used to make it a point to pony up the extra $300 bucks or so to fly Virgin Atlantic, and I think it was worth every penny.

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 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.   

To the OP don't just check the standard airlines. Lots of charter airlines fly from Manchester to Florida direct and have flight only deals. Try Thomas Cook, Thomsons and First Choice for starters.