Virgin America V Delta for domestic US flights

[Denali]

Hi and thanks for reading,

Planning a US trip and my first thought for internal flights would be Delta, because thats what we flew last year with no problems, but checking prices/cabins and Virgin America might be the better option.

Hoping people can weigh in with some opinions, we are looking at LA>Seattle>San Fran>LA flights so all on the west coast/short flights.

Does anyone have a firm opinion on either airline, does VX have a good reputation (not cancelling flights) in the US?

Many thanks for your time.

 

[williamsf1]

Hi and thanks for reading,

Planning a US trip and my first thought for internal flights would be Delta, because thats what we flew last year with no problems, but checking prices/cabins and Virgin America might be the better option.

Hoping people can weigh in with some opinions, we are looking at LA>Seattle>San Fran>LA flights so all on the west coast/short flights.

Does anyone have a firm opinion on either airline, does VA have a good reputation (not cancelling flights) in the US?

Many thanks for your time.

Do you have status with VA? If you do DL might be a better option , however if you don't VX has a far better hard product and onboard service than DL ( however some on here hate the VX style)

VX was recently voded no1 airline in USA ... however DL was 4 th Virgin America tops airline quality report

VX have newer A320 fleet with seat back entertainment.. DL have a very mixed older fleet.


As for cancellations..... any airline can have issues , I have recently flown 6 VX segments with 100% OTP and 5 DL segments with 1 being delayed 45mins out of LAX due to crew and another delayed out of MSY for late arrival of aircraft

If both airlines were same $$ and at a suitable time , VX would be my preferred

 

[Denali]

Thanks. We (ie hubby but I do all the planning/bookings/we always fly together) are currently gold but will be platinum as soon as VA processes our flights from last month.

Money wise, the DL Seattle>SF price is killing us as I would like to fly these in J and we've not flown VX so it would be nice to fly something different. Maybe I'll use VX just for Seattle>SF section if it means I can shower at the Delta lounge when we arrive from our Sydney flight.

 

[robd]

Do you have status with VA? If you do DL might be a better option , however if you don't VX has a far better hard product and onboard service than DL ( however some on here hate the VX style)

VX was recently voded no1 airline in USA ... however DL was 4 th Virgin America tops airline quality report

VX have newer A320 fleet with seat back entertainment.. DL have a very mixed older fleet.


As for cancellations..... any airline can have issues , I have recently flown 6 VX segments with 100% OTP and 5 DL segments with 1 being delayed 45mins out of LAX due to crew and another delayed out of MSY for late arrival of aircraft

If both airlines were same $$ and at a suitable time , VX would be my preferred

You will earn SC's with both DL & VX. I will be booking VX in preference to DL on my next trip later this year.

 

[Denali]

You will earn SC's with both DL & VX. I will be booking VX in preference to DL on my next trip later this year.

Ive read that the T3 Loft lounge does not have a shower, is that correct?

 

[serfty]

Ive read that the T3 Loft lounge does not have a shower, is that correct?

That is correct.

 

[jordanva]

Hands down take VX

No matter what American airline you choose, you will be disappointed with their lounges compared to Australian domestic lounges. They all suck. For that reason just get to the airport with enough time to check-in, go through security, have a look around the terminal and get on the plane.
DL planes suck, DL staff suck. They are all old, the F or J products are terrible, they are basically wider seats with same space and recline as a VA Y seat. no entertainment and as for 'meals', they give you cookies or similar. So bad.

VX on the other hand is a fun new airline, the F product is awesome, the staff are great and you actually get a substantial meal you would expect in F. Your drink is never low and always a fun flight. I do a lot of travel in the US, any time I can fly VX which is usually LAX, SFO, ORD, JFK or BOS, I do and I do in F. I only fly delta for others because VX has very limited destinations.

Although VX does not have lounge access at most airports you will be traveling, their onboard product and service definitely makes up for anything you've missed by having lounge access with DL.

Bit of a rant of how bad DL is, but us Australians - we are very lucky for what VA and QF deliver on the ground and in the air compared to US airlines.

 

[serfty]

Eh? The Skyclubs are OK for one used to Admirals Clubs.

I tend to fly DL (even though their First/Business product is inferior to VX) because, the premium Cabin fares have generally been cheaper on DL than on VX so I get better SC/$ earn on DL and there are more skyclubs.

 

[Deewhy]

You can always go for the chance of paid upgrade on VX. To either MCS or first. Seats in VX first is better than VA business.

 

[robd]

You can always go for the chance of paid upgrade on VX. To either MCS or first. Seats in VX first is better than VA business.

I'm sure I've read that the paid upgrades will still only give you the SC's of the original fare purchased, and even then, you need to keep the original receipt as the upgraded BP deletes the original, and you need to retro claim.

 

[Milboo]

VX without hesitation.

Every Delta flight I have had has been tired disinterested flight crew, tired planes and all in all a bit meh.

Either airline - take your own food on board as the on board purchasing options are pretty average.

 

[Deewhy]

I'm sure I've read that the paid upgrades will still only give you the SC's of the original fare purchased, and even then, you need to keep the original receipt as the upgraded BP deletes the original, and you need to retro claim.

Maybe I got lucky. I did a MC->MCS -> first upgrade a while ago and got the first SCs. Maybe an error?

 

[Warks]

Am considering the same. Flew LAX-SEA-LAX with VX a few years ago and I was pleasantly surprised at the service, IFE and new planes. Got seated in the absolute back row though (with the family) and I've never seen a planeload of people take as long to disembark. Must have been 25 minutes at least. You wonder how they manage the turn-around times. Then again maybe it's as bad here but I wouldn't know sitting nearer the pointy end.

In October I'm planning SYD-LAX (with VA probably) then LAX-YVR-LAX with AC (as they have direct flights) then LAX-MCO (Orlando) - this is the leg I'm tossing up about the airline. I don't think I've flown Delta (UA, AA nearly always) and I've never heard a good word about them.

Can do the lot for just under $2000 when I checked last night - some cheap SYD-LAX fares at present.

 

[Deewhy]

In October I'm planning SYD-LAX (with VA probably) then LAX-YVR-LAX with AC (as they have direct flights) then LAX-MCO (Orlando) - this is the leg I'm tossing up about the airline. I don't think I've flown Delta (UA, AA nearly always) and I've never heard a good word about them.

Can do the lot for just under $2000 when I checked last night - some cheap SYD-LAX fares at present.

I did Sfo-mco in MCS on VX. No dramas here.

If you go delta there is also your option to get the economy "plus" seat with extra legroom they can upsell you at purchase time.

 

[robd]

Am considering the same. Flew LAX-SEA-LAX with VX a few years ago and I was pleasantly surprised at the service, IFE and new planes. Got seated in the absolute back row though (with the family) and I've never seen a planeload of people take as long to disembark. Must have been 25 minutes at least. You wonder how they manage the turn-around times. Then again maybe it's as bad here but I wouldn't know sitting nearer the pointy end.

In October I'm planning SYD-LAX (with VA probably) then LAX-YVR-LAX with AC (as they have direct flights) then LAX-MCO (Orlando) - this is the leg I'm tossing up about the airline. I don't think I've flown Delta (UA, AA nearly always) and I've never heard a good word about them.

Can do the lot for just under $2000 when I checked last night - some cheap SYD-LAX fares at present.

VX 3 day sale at the moment. LAX-MCO between Sep 3 - Nov 19 from $165.



Book the best flights | Virgin America

 

[Warks]

Thanks for that. Could only get $408 rtn. Saw it on Webjet for $388 last week with someone. I have to confirm a few things yet before I can book it so will miss this one.