Virgin America or Delta

[gwilli1]

Another big vote for VX from me too . Love them . Will be doing DFW-LAX with VX next month . I am encouraged with the positive comments for DL . I have a few flights with them (internal USA) next month also so looking forward the experience both in the air & in the lounge. I still couldnt bring myself to travel back with DL from LAX-SYD after they cancelled VA2 on me next month , so decided to reroute via MEL on VA instead.

 

[kevrosmith]

Never flown DL, but can definitely gives thumbs up to VX. I did SFO-LAS and SEA-LAX with VX in September in First class. Don't be afraid to check out the prices of F, especially on the longer flights. I was surprised how relatively inexpensive they were, at least compared to Australian Domestic Business class flights for similar length flights etc. And there's also the bonus of earning more SCs and points.

If you do book them F, make sure they ask if they can bring back the salt and pepper shaker! The FA let me, and it's a great little collectible item.

Also, as this was my first trip to States, and I was unfamiliar with US airlines, service expectations, inflight meals, entertainment, upgrade processes, baggage allowances etc, booking First made it very simple and smooth and also meant I had Priority access through checkin, security, boarding etc. It just made the whole experience more straight forward and less stressful wondering if I was doing the right thing.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

I highly recommend main cabin select on VX. Work out the value to them, (1 free bag, free movie, free food and drink) but the extra comfort (leg room) after 14 hours in Y can be priceless.

I'm wondering why quite a few responses have been very pro MCS, yet here the old DJ equivilent PE was not taken to. Is it pricing or just what?

 

[robd]

I used Delta, Southwest, Jetblue & AA in September last year. Personally, I rate Delta at the bottom.

 

[serfty]

It may also depend on the cabin - due to the low $/SC's ratio my aim for DL/VX is business/First - never been down the back.

 

[MandM]

I'm wondering why quite a few responses have been very pro MCS, yet here the old DJ equivilent PE was not taken to. Is it pricing or just what?

It is more like row 3 or the exit row, plus bag, movies, food and drink rather than a premium economy cabin. IMO the "normal" main cabin is just fine, really fine in fact. It is just after a long-haul flight, when tolerance is even lower, that the absolute scrum to get on the plane, find a spot for your bags and the worry about people cramming in their oversize carry-on and crushing your stuff is relieved by MCS (and if it is someone doing it all for the first time, then this can be VERY overwhelming). Also I always find that I feel totally cramped on a domestic flight following a long haul flight as the space is much more restricted. I only booked it because it was a late booking and MCS was $13 more than the normal main cabin seat, but it really was a nice change and I will do the same from now on. If not following long-haul I'll continue to do normal main cabin, but I might consider MCS on something longer than 3 hours, if the price was right.

 

[Boris spatsky]

I used Delta, Southwest, Jetblue & AA in September last year. Personally, I rate Delta at the bottom.

I still rate AA bottom of the list: my order is (best to worst):
VX
Jetblue
Frontier
DL
AA
UA

have not flown Southwest

 

[MandM]

It may also depend on the cabin - due to the low $/SC's ratio my aim for DL/VX is business/First - never been down the back.

For LAX-SEA on VX it is curently $99 main cabin for 15 SCs. My maths* says that is better than the $500 for 60 SCs in First (on that route, anyway). *my maths could quite well be wrong

 

[Justinf]

I'm wondering why quite a few responses have been very pro MCS, yet here the old DJ equivilent PE was not taken to. Is it pricing or just what?

I reckon it's because VX also has a proper business class service, so they have all three bases covered - Y, Y+ and J whereas when DJ didn't have a J class, it meant it's highest class was the coughpy Y+ product.
With VX, MCS doesn't pretend to be a premium service, whereas for DJ, it did and failed because of it.

 

[serfty]

For LAX-SEA on VX it is curently $99 main cabin for 15 SCs. My maths* says that is better than the $500 for 60 SCs in First (on that route, anyway). *my maths could quite well be wrong

Time is a factor for me as well ...

DL LAX-SFO is $200 and earns 40 SC's.

 

[Kolo]

Just flew VX for the first time JFK-SFO yesterday. What a pleasant surprise after suffering UA and AA flights in both whY and J. I was in J. First impression of the modern interior had me straight away after all those tired AA and UA planes. Cabin crew as good as VA. Meal very good standard for domestic. IFE excellent. Loved that the captain stood at the top of the aisle before takeoff where you could see him as he talked to the passengers. Only problem is lounge access - it opens at limited times at JFK. Also had an interesting discussion at check in where the attendant tried to tell me that I had to collect my bags and recheck at AKL (JFK-SFO-AKL-MEL), despite me trying to convince her that it was an international transit! As far as she was concerned it had to be done "in the country in which your flight from the US lands". In the end I let it be in the comfort that the bag had been tagged to MEL.

On the flight the FA announced that VX is about to start Newark-SFO and LAX in March so it doesn't sound like they are in imminent danger!

Souvenired the S&P shaker too!

 

[jb01]

Well this has confirmed my choice of wanting to fly VX for LAX-MCO-LAX later in the year over Delta, but I can't choose past Nov 20 as my return date, wanting to return Nov 25.
Is it normal for flights with VX not to be released this far out (just over 7 months)?
I would have thought the norm would be at least 12 months.

 

[Fruitcake]

Is it normal for flights with VX not to be released this far out (just over 7 months)?

Fairly common. From what I found when researching flights with them last year the latest date available for travel could often dip as low as five months out (at one point they were tending to open up a couple months of flights every couple of months).