From personal experience - if you don't want to loose your luggage fly Virgin!!

If its straight choice between BA/VA I would pick V/A.

You dont say were you are flying from , but if it Manchester def V/A as you will get a direct flight with them . BA dont fly to Orlando from Manchester and this would be a one stop , and a plane change, and maybe an airport change.

But why do you discount the other airlines they are equally as good and in general much cheaper.

TDC, First Choice, Thompson's, Thomas Cook in that order.

I prefer BA and travel with them whenever possible.

Discounting the one "One Stop" i have never found BA prices to to come anywhere near other airlines.

And now they are set to go even higher.

The games on virgin are not on every flight. We went in 2007 and they had them on both flights, the kids really enjoyed them and were looking forward to them again on our recent flight but they were not on there and coming back the tvs did not work at all.

Would still fly virgin though

I would pick Virgin.It is only a personal opinion but all airlines are, and will have, problems operating in the strange financial climate of'the crunch'.BA will probably have a lot on its plate and still has to find luggage systems that work!.Go by peoples experience and also make up your own mind.

I choose between the two based on price. Whichever is cheaper, I choose. That has benn virgin twice in 2007, but the last 3 times was BA.

I find the service comparable, with both having gone downhill together for the last few years. I have had great, and poor experience with service and IFE on both.

I used to think Virgin were great, even on 1st trip to the states in 1991 to Boston when had 24 hr delay and ended up flying home on AA...1st time to Florida in '93 was with them & all good.

Over the years, have flown many airlines based on price, AA, NW, UA, BA, last few years BA and I think they offer a good service. Last went on Virgin in '06 which was out to Nassau/back from Orlando - was not impressed on return leg as the plane was old and the cabin crew announced service would be slow due to lack of staff !! Also, the check-in at downtown disney (which they advertise as a big advantage) was shut with no warning.

I think it depends on price, not much to choose really, my choice is slightly in favour of BA.

Thanks for comments. I am probably going to fly from Manchester but would consider other airports.

I think 18 hours on a plane is a looong time - so wanted the entertainment to keep all happy. My son has said he only wants to go with Virgin as he so enjoyed the games last time!

I also see that sometimes the Tv/games are not there or don't work with Virgin - so I will look at prices for other airlines too.

Any other people's experiences would help me make decision.

thanks!