- I recently flew back to back in economy class with Virgin Atlantic Airways and Norse Atlantic Airways.
- The main option, Virgin, offers more amenities, but budget airline Norse may offer better value.
- I would recommend both, but beware of Norse’s baggage fees, which can be up to $300 each way.
As an aviation reporter, I spend a lot of time reviewing airlines. My job sometimes gives me the advantage of flying business class on long-haul flights, but most of the time I’m in economy class.
I have traveled in economy class on virtually every transatlantic airline, most recently on two consecutive flights with Virgin Atlantic Airways and Norse Atlantic Airways between New York and London.
These are two airlines at opposite ends of the spectrum. Virgin is a 40-year-old, well-known wide-body airline, while Norse is a new low-cost carrier trying to make the previously unsuccessful long-haul low-cost carrier strategy a success.
While I think Virgin is the better choice in terms of comfort and amenities, I would still recommend Norse to budget-conscious travelers who don’t mind giving up a few freebies for a cheaper ticket – as long as they respect the strict baggage regulations.
This is how my experiences were in comparison:
