Long Haul carriers - best airlines?

Which airlines are the best for the long haul - to Los Angeles, and why? Which are the worst? Thanks

Virgin are really good.  You are looked after really well, great food and in flight entertainment. I was on a flight sitting next to a girl whose TV screen didn't work so they brought her a DVD player from first class and a selection of DVDs.  Plus you get those cool coloured bags with the eyeshade, toothpaste etc.   

BA provides a similar level of service and comfort. 

The worst? Lufthansa. Bad customer service. Cramped seats. Bad food. Bad movies on one big screen. No eyeshade or earplugs. Very budget.

So far I've only used AA - about 5 RTs. They're okay. I can only say it's a good flight when I can use miles to upgrade to business class. Coach is almost intolerable for me. Seats not comfortable at all. 

I'm tempted to fly virgin so would love to hear from anyone who has flown virgin as well as american carriers, for comparison's sake. On RT flights originating in the US you can get a 2 for 1 ticket deal through Amex Platinum's website for upper class cabin. That makes those tickets pretty affordable if you book well in advance. Sadly this deal isn't extended to trips that originate in England.

I prefer BA to Virgin, mostly because I think the seats in cattle class are a bit more comfy on BA.  I have no major complaints about either one.  I've never flown on United or AA.

Let's see ... I've flown that route with American, BA, Virgin and Air New Zealand.

Personal ranking:
1. Virgin
2. American
3. Air New Zealand
4. BA

Reasons:
Every airline is subject to occasional delays / cancellations, but in my experience of such events, Virgin have always treated their customers, even cattle class ones, as human beings.  A couple of nasty experiences with BA have shown me that they don't quite take the same attitude - old experiences, but I don't know that much has changed from seeing some of the TV coverage they've had this year.   The other two I can only recall 1 or two flights each, both excellent and no makor problems.  Horrific check in line for American though, and the Air New Zealand flight is the first (or second) leg of their London to New Zealand service, so in LA you're joining not a totally clean new plane, but a plane and passengers that have already completed a longh haul leg.

P.S. I have also flown indirect using United (domestic), then Transworld and PanAm (atlantic crossing) on this route .... but I think that comments would be irrellevant to the question

I have a choice between Dublin and anywhere I can connect via Belfast (Amsterdam, Paris, London). It'll be coach - are they all the same cramped seating or are any a little better than the others? I'll be @ 5 months pregnant & travelling with a toddler. Usually we take the direct flight (11hours) but I am wondering would it be better to break this one up. Either way I am not looking forward to the flight and am seeking to make it as painless as possible.

I've used both Virgin and BA quite a bit and I think the pros and cons of each make ranking them tough. BA seats are very slightly more comfortable (though 10 hours in cattle class is tough to do much of anything with in terms of comfort) but the entertainment on Virgin is better since most of their planes now let you watch on demand, pause, etc. Service is VERY slightly better on Virgin and the food is very slightly better, but BA appears to be ever so slightly more lenient with baggage weight, etc.

I've noticed that both tend to seat people with babies in the bulkhead since that's where the baby cots are - gives you a bit more breathing room too.

I would avoid Amsterdam - maybe it's a coincidence but everytime I've ever gone through there I've had to change planes that were MILES away from each other - the terminal is so big as to be ridiculous. I also found it immeasurably frustrating to have to fly PAST London, run through the Amsterdam airport, and then fly an extra hour BACK to London after already having been on a plane for 10 hours.

Personally I wouldn't fly on Virgin on a flight that long as I find that the leg room is extremely limited compared to BA, US Airways, and Delta, but if you're short then that wouldn't be so much of an issue.

I agree with the leg room thing on Virgin BUT they were absolutely brilliant when I flew to NY last month from Belfast (using BMI to Heathrow first) I always use the aisle seat though so I can put at least one leg out and have no one next to me on one side. It also gives the ability to get up whenever needed without asking anyone. Actually, my flight with Virgin was the best flight I ever had. 54 movies to watch and tons of other television. The food and the service was excellent. BA was great too when I flew on their airline a few years ago, but I liked Virgin much better.

Personally, I hate Delta for long haul. I find everything about the flight cheap and the service is not on par with other carriers.

Virgin is the way Stella Marie but prices may make the difference. Check and see.

My choices in order:

Virgin
BA
American

I hear that Virgin currently have a $120/£70 deal for a return trip in Feb 2005.

Well, I looked up alternative flights out of Dublin, but they all priced far too expensive. I was thinking an American carrier might be good. Decided it wasn't worth adding a couple hours travel time to an already long flight by connecting via Amsterdam/Paris/London, even factoring in having to take the bus to Dublin. Aer Lingus has a special now and we managed 2 RT to LAX for @ £500. I am not a huge fan of AL comfort-wise but they are good with kids. And I just remind myself that at least it's not the days of ships, people endured far worse than a cramped 11 hour flight.

Funny enough I never had a problem with flying, it's just being stuck on a plane for that amount of time that I have a hard time. Pure torture.

In June they are supposed to be starting flights from Newark to Belfast and I think in the future - if the flights are available - I may just break up the trip.

Thanks for the tips everyone - good to know.

Once Continental goes into Belfast, life will be a lot easier. You can fly direct to Newark for a price that is supposed to be competitive and then fly Jet Blue or something similar and your flight will be much easier.

AL is okay. I am a bit annoyed that I had a ton of frequent flyer miles and they just did away with their program but other than that, I have no complaints.

For those of us who MUST have leg room - I did fly over here on Virgin (from Los Angeles), and they had just given away the last emergency row seats, so I was forced to sit with knees nearly under chin; but fortunately had no one sitting next to me, so I could at least stretch a bit sideways.

I can't really compare, because I've flown Virgin for some years now; and always show up early to get the emergency row seats; so this last time was a first.

As far as everything else - I do love Virgin, for all the reasons above.

Fortunately this time round (going home for Christmas), mom & dad turned in their Amex points and got me a seat in 'Premiere Economy' so I automatically get a seat with legroom!  HURRAY!!!   [smiley=2thumbsup.gif]No more checking in hours ahead of everyone else and hoping... what a luxury!  I can't tell you what a huge relief that is. 

Although I guess I just did.   

P.S. I have also flown indirect using United (domestic), then Transworld and PanAm (atlantic crossing) on this route .... but I think that comments would be irrellevant to the question

I SO miss PanAm - my parents both flew w/them for years (that's how they met; he was a pilot, she was a stewardess...it was a lonely night in Rio...   ).  Anyway, I'm so sad I often troll through eBay looking for PanAm "artifacts."  I'm pathetic, really....

Not too particular about airlines--though I will NEVER fly Air India again!!  They have dead cheap fairs, but it has never been a good experience!!  I expected difficulties when I lived in India, but not on London to Chicago flights!!!

I always look to ride an Airbus plane.  They have more space and are much more comfortable.  And when you book with expedia you can choose your seat--I always pick the two on the sides for DH and I.