Transatlantic flights & weather
I have always assumed that on days like today I see a lot US bound flights taking the southerly option and heading out via Southampton, it was because there must be some unfavourable weather in the Atlantic. Today there have been flights of different airlines passing over Basingstoke heading for Miami, New Orleans, Newark etc. Just now, a Virgin en route to Boston passed overhead here. The next departure from Heathrow seemed to be a United flight to Newark yet that one has gone westerly toward Bristol etc. Do different airlines have different views on the weather and how it affects their flight plans?
As I write, another Virgin flight, coincidentally bound for Newark is overhead my location.
Incidentally, another United flight ex LHR is currently doing laps off the Swansea area. The flight is UA959, N654UA and was bound for Chicago.