Topic: Which Airline?

[Gus 1855]

I am going to be doing a lot of flying to the Middle East in the next few months and can choose between all the flights with Virgin, BA or Emirates.

Anyone with any experience of them, which should I go for?

[flying red]

Virgin is best - Upper Class is a more pleasant experience than BA's Club World. That said, I've mostly had good experiences in Club with BA and they have good lounges in Singapore, HK, etc.

I haven't been on Emirates for a few years, but wouldn't you need to change in Dubai? The direct flights back overnight work really well because you can sleep right through and get back into UK time fairly easily.

[Cochise]

I'd choose the one Raymond Babbitt wanted.

[SMD]

I am going to be doing a lot of flying to the Far East and Asia in the next few months and can choose between all the flights with Virgin, BA or Emirates.

Anyone with any experience of them, which should I go for?

Emirates pisses all over BA. The planes are cleaner, more comfortable, more space for your legs and the stewardesses don't think they're above serving you. I haven't flown Virgin but I've heard from others they're alright, they can be a bit shit with delays so if you're on a tight schedule I wouldn't recommend them.

I would recommend Malaysian Airlines if they're an option. It does mean flying non stop to KL but they're a cheaper option than Emirates and provide a similar level of service.

[Sri Sudachan]

 Emirates.. I'd rather walk than fly B.A.

[wilo in berlin]

Not BA.
I've not tried Virgin but friends say it's good.
I'm an Emirates frequent flyer. The new planes are great, lots of space in economy, better food, proper knives, good selection of films on demand, frequent flyer miles add up too. I've been upgraded on 1 in 3 flights too (flying alone helps).

[TheKid.]

Every Virgin plane I've flown on in the last few years has been like it's hosties - tired and old!!

[Barney_Rubble]

Emirates pisses all over BA.

Emirates.. I'd rather walk than fly B.A.

Thirded, defo.

[MrGrumpy]

Not Emirates. For a long haul flight you want a direct flight above all else.

[john_mac]

If its just which airline gives you the most comfortable & best flights, I'd go Emirates, if for no other reason than most of the stewardesses out of Mancland are scousers!

Have found them to be much better than Virgin or BA but would go with a direct flight if you can get one.

[Sri Sudachan]

If its just which airline gives you the most comfortable & best flights, I'd go Emirates, if for no other reason than most of the stewardesses out of Mancland are scousers!

Have found them to be much better than Virgin or BA but would go with a direct flight if you can get one.

 Very true  ...and the uniforms are nice.

[GBF]

emirates if they do your destinations...they will be probably cheaper than the others and higher quality.  Dont go with BA, rather opt for donkey cart instead

[SMD]

Has anyone ever had a good BA experience?

[Sri Sudachan]

Has anyone ever had a good BA experience?

 I have. I paid for a direct flight to Bangkok and got a free 75 hour round Asia odyssey mystery tour 





edit- Tey also carried my suitcases to my home just four days after I arrived!

[john_mac]

Has anyone ever had a good BA experience?

Did sit by Ronnie Whelan going to Sevelle for the Betis game, which was nice, fuck all to do with BA mind!

[Gus 1855]

Right, opted for Emirates initially, but can change if need be. Thanks for the feedback.

Had good experiences with BA flying around Europe, but never been long haul with them.

[MrGrumpy]

Has anyone ever had a good BA experience?

Several but I'm a gold member with them!

[SMD]

Several but I'm a gold member with them!

[rushyman]

Virgin

B.A is fucking shocking from head to toe

[Jimmy Conway]

Thoughts echoed. BA is toilet, got complacent in 80s and 90s with the whole 'the worlds favourite airline'. Then all these Middle Eastern and Far East Asia airlines upped their games and now make them look just shite.

Best airline I've ever flown with is Lufthansa. The crew all spoke about 3+ languages each and are very friendly and helpful. Plus they served Warsteiner in a glass bottle. Funny how yoi cant you get toe clippers on a plane, but they'll serve you beer in a glass bottle. Madness!

Anyway, Emirates gets my vote (as mentioned if they fly to your destination)

[CheshireDave]

Has anyone ever had a good BA experience?

Out of the three Emirates. But having flown to New York a few times with BA with no problems especially with Terminal 7 at JFK.

But to answer the original question it depends on where in the Middle East and how much your budget is.

If it's Dubai you're going to and your budget is high than Emirates every time because obviously they fly direct. But if you're wanting to save money take your pick from Qatar, KLM or even Air France. You'll save about £150 on what you'd pay for a direct flight. But you'll have to stop at either Doha (not a big issue, very fast connecting flight, done it quite a few times), Amsterdam or Paris. If you go with Emirates you might be getting the new A380. Beware it takes a fucking age to get off the plane. Also heard a few other bad things about it.

If you're flying out of London then you could go with Royal Brunei Airlines as they fly direct (to Dubai) from Heathrow for about £350. Not used them myself, but it's an option if you want a direct flight and your budget is tight.

EDIT: Another option would be Etihad and fly to Abu Dhabi and catch the coach to Dubai. Done this once before because I managed to get a cheap Etihad flight and was fine.

[filopastry]

Depends if you're flying economy or club/business as well, if its economy I'd say Emirates, better service than the 2 british carriers, although from what I've read I might reverse that advice for club/business

[Mavis Cruet]

Several but I'm a gold member with them!

[MrGrumpy]

Lol, I knew after I'd posted that I'd get a few comments. BA are not the worlds best airline, they are not the worst either. If you think they are pants, try flying with one of the American legacy airlines, Ryanair or a British charter airline, American Airlines being about as shitty as an airline can get.

In their favour, they fly directly from the UK to more places than any other airline and where they don't go to (obscure South American capital cities), their partners LAN and Iberia who are both pretty good will take you the rest of the way.

I have always found their staff to be helpful, they even managed to get me to New York on the same day that one of their 777s crashed at Heathrow.

For a long journey, I reccomend a direct flight 7 hours in a slighty tatty plane is better than two 6 hour flights in a new one.

[NatD]

Emirates are good, as are Qatar and Etihad.  Any ME carrier is much better than a European one.

But, Singapore are supposed to be amazing, not sure how much it would cost you though and where you would have to fly from / to / via.

Have also heard good things about Virgin, but don't have any experience with them.

[MrGrumpy]

Virgin are better but they don't fly to half the places BA do.

[Jookie]

Emirates are good, as are Qatar and Etihad.  Any ME carrier is much better than a European one.

But, Singapore are supposed to be amazing, not sure how much it would cost you though and where you would have to fly from / to / via.

Have also heard good things about Virgin, but don't have any experience with them.

Economy wise Singapore Airlines and Emirates are way superior to Virgin or BA. Everything about them is a step up - service, seats, space, food, in flight entertainment.

Never been on Emirates or Singapore above economy class (since I paid for them myself!). Been on BA Club World for work a few times and I wouldnn't have a single complaint about them. Much better than the Business Class on any US airline.

In saying that the best flying experience I've ever had was on American Airlines when I was upgraded to First Class. Got as much space as you would you about 9-10 seats in economy! Food, wine list etc was absolutely superb. Just wish I could fly in that style every time!

[SMD]

I was upgraded once on Emirates to Business Class, was amazing. Food was actually edible and for the first time in my life I had room to sleep on a plane.

[Gus 1855]

Martin Broughton is hanging out on RAWK now?

BA are shite. Iberia are even worse. Easily the worst airline I've flown long haul with. LAN are much better in fairness, but Iberia? Pretty good? Not in a million years. They're fucking lucky to have so little competition on flights to South America, otherwise they could never get away with such crap planes and awful service.

I've never had a bad word to say about Virgin, but I've never flown Emirates, so I don't have much advice to offer there. Straight choice between Virgin and BA? Virgin win hands down.

Flew to Chile once with Iberia, single most painful flight of my life. Even worse than a 4 hour Ryanair flight.

[America's Sweetheart]

Emirates. Best airline I have ever flown. Business or Cattle.

On one business flight to Dubai, I spilled a bottle of wine on my seat and the one next to me - which was empty. There were no more free seats next to another free seat, so the lovely lady put me in first class instead. And then brought me another bottle and told me to be more careful in future.

[SMD]

Emirates. Best airline I have ever flown. Business or Cattle.

On one business flight to Dubai, I spilled a bottle of wine on my seat and the one next to me - which was empty. There were no more free seats next to another free seat, so the lovely lady put me in first class instead. And then brought me another bottle and told me to be more careful in future.

That was your excuse the first time but what about every other?

[NA_]

Emirates.

[El Campeador]

Emirates, no contest.

[Effes]

I get the choice of carrier with my job, and if I'm flying East of the UK and Emirates fly there, I always go with them.

Just got back from Johannesburg with Emirates this morning. Flew business there (upgraded) and cattle back. BA is a neverending cess-pit of disappointment.

The other advantage of Emirates is the brilliant Skywards rewards programme they run. I have flown to the Carribean twice with BA this year, and I'm only about 1% of the way towards my next 'level'. I've just gone Gold on Skywards, and it took half the time that it would with BA. Not fully experienced gold on Skywards yet, but I believe they're not shy with the upgrades. Got treated like a king on silver anyway.

Etihad and Qatar are both excellent too.

If, like me, you don't really sleep on planes, the Emirates ICE entertainment system is World Class. Million times better than the grainy looped videos you get on BA - I had enough of that after watching too much late-night RTL on the Astra Satellite in '95.

You sound like George Clooney in "Up in the Air"

[Groundskeeper Willie]

Ryan Air is a good shout. Excellent first class, lots of leg room, comfy chairs.

[rednewbie]

Emirates.. I'd rather walk than fly B.A.

is the right answer.

[Jonathan Hall ☆☆☆☆☆☆]

Flew to Chile once with Iberia, single most painful flight of my life. Even worse than a 4 hour Ryanair flight.

Used Iberia once, never again if i can help it. Was the Barcelona to Madrid shuttle, absolute shite planes and 3 hr delay.

If i ever do that trip it'll be the new train link.

[Kahuna{=}Berger]

On the flip side, I'd really urge everyone, never to fly with Oman Air. I'm not kidding when I say that they are the Ryanair of long haul travel.

[Gus 1855]

Flying with Emirates now on Wednesday to Dubai. Will report back!

[Red Cez]

Flying with Emirates now on Wednesday to Dubai. Will report back!

Great choice - best airline I've come across.