Topic: Which Airline?

[Ares.]

Off to USA with work sometime in the next few weeks and I have an option of KLM via Amsterdam and direct with BA. I'm tempted to do KLM. Thoughts?

[Ares.]

First, business or Coach?

Business. Seems like KLM does a codeshare with Delta for direct to NYC. I could choose that instead of a stopover in Amsterdam.

[Ares.]

Definitely KLM for me, and I think if you go back to page 6(?) in this thread someone else had a similar query and went KLM. A far more pleasant airline than BA who I've personally never had anything but trouble with in recent years.

Cheers mate. I've never been a fan of BA hence was leaning towards KLM. Will book the ticket when I know the dates of travel.

[Effes]

good luck. one of the most boring places on earth.
you could walk from one end of the new terminal to the end of the old one to kill an hour.
I was there for 3 hours a couple of days ago waiting for a connecting flight, and I hate the place. Waited hours and hours in Dubai airport over the years and it's the one thing I hate about flying with Emirates.
The bit where you have to go through security again to go to departures is disorganised, and a pain in the arse.
I did noticed that there is a new sleep zone, which I assume is like a pod for sleeping with a bed, in the old terminal. so my advice would be to get some sleep, not forgetting to set your alarm obviously.   

I can 2nd this - got stuck there (Dubai airport) for 12 hours and kept trying to sleep in a corner, and
kept getting woken up by staff and asked to move.

A really grim 12 hours that was

[Ekul]

I've had very good experiences with KLM compared with other airlines. I'd definitely suggest them to anyone for long flights. They were the cheapest option when I was looking too (although this obviously depends on a lot of things).

[Hyypia headers]

On KLM, or any other airline for that matter, I've been looking into flights from Amsterdam to Perth. A one way flight would cost me around 2100€. A two way ticket would only cost around 1200€?

Now how does that work?

[Carllfc]

Have an impending 12 hour stopover at Dubai International airport in a couple of days.  Any recommendations about what to do ?  Been reading some stuff on the internet and they seem to be quite scathing in general about how poorly run the airport is.  Anyone got any experiences please do let me know.  Cheers !

Ive been to Dubai airport a few times and its improved over the years I think. Just sleep where you can and there is loads of shops there to look around to kill time. There is also a gym and swimming pool there too but I think that depends on which class you are in.

[Tetti]

Definitely KLM for me, and I think if you go back to page 6(?) in this thread someone else had a similar query and went KLM. A far more pleasant airline than BA who I've personally never had anything but trouble with in recent years.

If you are going  Business class, BA is fine.  Not my favorite , but can't imagine why you wouLd add an extra leg and a flight change in Amsterdam, when going to the US.  Total trip time goes up and more hassle.

Business. Seems like KLM does a codeshare with Delta for direct to NYC. I could choose that instead of a stopover in Amsterdam.

So that presumably would then be Delta business class, not KLM at all. I would check that.

Try somewhere like airline quality forums or seat guru to get some more views.

[SMD]

Quick question for the frequent flyers.

Is there anywhere at Gatwick airport - BEFORE security etc or in arrivals or whatever - that might have our match showing tomorrow? I have a room booked with WiFi so can stream if necessary, but free WiFi is almost always crap and would prefer to find a pub. Just not sure anywhere will have it on. Any ideas? Can go to North or South terminal. More likely than not I'll end up trying to stream, but if there is somewhere convenient then that would be better!

Also - on an unrelated note - Singapore Airlines in economy? Read that it's really not very comfortable. Anyone got any experience of them?

Thank you

Dad said Singapore Airlines in economy is comparable to Emirates.

As for Gatwick, I can't remember there being anywhere that shows telly that isn't BBC News or that guff airports have on screens with tickers and shit. This says there are no pubs with footy: http://www.useyourlocal.com/pub-search/search/q/listview-true/?search_distance=1&t=gatwick+airport&q=&lat=&lng=&submit.x=0&submit.y=0&submit=Search&PubFeatures%5B%5D=9998&PubFeatures%5B%5D=9999&PubFeatures%5B%5D=10027&sort=0

[Ares.]

If you are going  Business class, BA is fine.  Not my favorite , but can't imagine why you wouLd add an extra leg and a flight change in Amsterdam, when going to the US.  Total trip time goes up and more hassle.

So that presumably would then be Delta business class, not KLM at all. I would check that.

Try somewhere like airline quality forums or seat guru to get some more views.

Thanks for the advice. I decided to go with Delta since I haven't been on their Business class before. Direct flight, too.

[Tetti]

Quick question for the frequent flyers.

Is there anywhere at Gatwick airport - BEFORE security etc or in arrivals or whatever - that might have our match showing tomorrow? I have a room booked with WiFi so can stream if necessary, but free WiFi is almost always crap and would prefer to find a pub. Just not sure anywhere will have it on. Any ideas? Can go to North or South terminal. More likely than not I'll end up trying to stream, but if there is somewhere convenient then that would be better!

Also - on an unrelated note - Singapore Airlines in economy? Read that it's really not very comfortable. Anyone got any experience of them?

Thank you

I did 22 hours in economy in Singapore.  Seats are better than most, food was good and the stewards we're lovely.

[Jonathan Hall ☆☆☆☆☆☆]

I saw the same opinion a few times. I thought it was odd, because I certainly thought that popular opinion was that Singapore were up there with the best of them.

Here's the website I was looking at... 6.1/10 rating, and you'll see a few bad reviews on there. Don't know if it's just fussy business types or what. But meh.

http://www.airlinequality.com/Product/Yseat-SQ.htm

Anyway. I'm really not a fussy flyer anyway. I'm one of those freaks who actually enjoys it, even in economy. If I have the entertainment system, a couple of snacks and a blanket, I can fade into my own little world until I get to the other side. Obviously the extra bit of comfort is nice, but I've done 14 hour flights on Iberia and not felt too bad, so I'm sure this will be fine either way!

I did Barcelona to Madrid with Iberia once. You deserve a fucking medal for a flight that long.

[Corkboy]

Iberia are truly one of the worst airlines to fly long-haul with. But I really do enjoy being able to melt away into my own little world for several hours and just read / listen to music / think / sleep on flights. So I can put up with it. I know. I am some kind of weirdo. No need for anyone else to say it

If you're any way tall, it can be difficult to find your own little world.

[Jonathan Hall ☆☆☆☆☆☆]

I'm quite small, 5'5", so I suppose I'm lucky.

I'm actually EXCITED for a 22 hour journey. Seriously. I'm such a freak.

Going to stop going on about it now and leave you all to it.

A freak called Ryan

[Yabazza]

Flown to Sydney a couple of times with Malaysia Airlines, economy class.  Found them really good and the hostesses were beautiful.

[Livbes]

Flew across the Atlantic with Air Canada recently. It was a new plane (777 i think) very smart, decent food, decent leg room, brand new screens and a huge selection of films and entertainment. Would defo use again.

[Effes]

Got the dubious pleasure of fly Air Lingus to Boston in business class at end of Jan

They call it "Premier Class" - anyone got experience of this?

I didn't like Aer Lingus at all - flew Dublin to Boston.

The choice of food in the lounge was very poor , crusty little sandwiches or cereals.
The lounge at Boston coming back was an embarrassment.
Choice of films on the plane was poor.

The plane itself, legroom etc and the staff were acceptable though.

[Livbes]

For short haul to Europe I have been very impressed the BMI this week. Decent Recaro leather seats with very good leg room.

On another noet for geeks like myself get this iPhone/iPad app: flight radar 24 it's boss.

[Carllfc]

Was that in their 'premier class' or whatever they call it these days?

Just re-read your post. Was tempted to fly with them next time I go to JFK as their prices are pretty competitive in J.

For all Emirates' faults you can't beat their Business Class lounge at Dooobai when it's not as busy as a cattle abattoir. It's a lot better since they stop letting non-economy passengers in discretionally.

What faults did you find with Emirates?

[Effes]

What faults did you find with Emirates?

Emirates is over-rated.
I think people have a misplaced perception of Emirates - like it's all top-notch oil barren dripping in wealth.
Flew with them a few years ago, and was not impressed with the service, leg-room ..... that was economy though.

[Carllfc]

Emirates is over-rated.
I think people have a misplaced perception of Emirates - like it's all top-notch oil barren dripping in wealth.
Flew with them a few years ago, and was not impressed with the service, leg-room ..... that was economy though.

Fair enough if you have had a bad experience on it. Personally everytime Ive been with them Ive had no problems at all.

[Carllfc]

I fly 99% of my business travel with Emirates, and I'm Gold Skywards so it's very up and down for me.

Their economy cabins are dreadful. Most, apart from the A380 are in need of serious refurbishment. The seats are generally heavily soiled with dirt and food remains, and the armrests and seatbacks are on the whole, tatty and covered with more stains.

The seat width and pitch are deeply average (again, barring the A380).

The cabin crew seem to fluctuate from brilliant to BA-levels of brusqueness, so depending on the flight and the day, you're playing a game of passenger Russian Roulette.

That said I travelled F/C from Cape Town to Dubai recently and it was magnificent (as it bloody should be, to be honest), and they've been absolutely brilliant whenever they've misplaced my bags.

I've also been upgraded often through Skywards bookings, something I've never had the pleasure of ever having happened to me on BA or Virgin (silver on both). I did 6 Cape Town - Dubai return flights last year and was upgraded 3 times.

I have an affinity with Emirates as they have been my main carrier since I've been doing a long-haul job, and so my gripes are fairly minor to be honest, they are just frequently magnified when I've worked for 2 months straight in somewhere like India, and it doesn't quite live up to your expectations.

I see fair enough. Yeah i normally travel to Australia via Dubai on the A380 so I guess its not so bad. Business class is good too and they always have a large selection of films etc which is decent.

[smig]

I see fair enough. Yeah i normally travel to Australia via Dubai on the A380 so I guess its not so bad. Business class is good too and they always have a large selection of films etc which is decent.

[eirwen]

I just flew with Emirate for the first time from Europe to Asia and it was a great experience.
Cleanest plane I've ever been(I think the fewer passengers helped) and the entertainment system was amazing. Service and food was quite good too.
The only downside is the time as there was a layover in Dubai. Otherwise I would use it more often.

[Carllfc]

?

[Geezer08]

Flew to Doha last month on business class with Qatar Airways, and honestly that was the best flight I have ever had. Amazing service, comfort, food, drinks, entertainment, noise cancellation and a brilliant premium terminal in Qatar.. Amazing service, the best airline I have ever had the pleasure of flying with

[Livbes]

Going to the hellhole that is Saudi Arabia again in a few weeks. Going to fly to Bahrain and drive across the causeway because getting into Dammam is a fucking nightmare so my dilema is as a plane geek i really want to get on an A380 so i can go on the 14:10 Emirates from Manc to Dubai then from there to Bahrain but i wouldnt get in until 3am.

If i go the usual with Qatar or Ethiad i could be tucked up in bed by 11pm. So to anyone who has been on the big bird, is it worth it? Is there much of a difference?

Cheers.

[Livbes]

If you fly a bit with Emirates you'll see a big difference in legroom, seat pitch and seat width. They're beautiful planes. It's almost impossible to tell whether you're in the air or on the ground at times, it's that quiet.

Have a look on seatguru, but there are 4 seats on the A380 Emirates economy configuration without seats in front of them (they're behind the emergency exit rows) so you have the same legroom (actually more) than in Business Class.

Business Class on the A380 is marvellous.

Cheers. Will just be cattle class with my company but i think i will go for it.

[Gus 1855]

Off to Oz soon, tempted to stick with Emirates, but options on Cathay, BA, Qantas, Malaysian, Etihad and Qatar too....any thoughts.

[Livbes]

My itinerary has chnged a bit next week so I'm on an Emirates A380 from Heathrow to Dubai and same back a week later. Inbetween I'm going to Doha, Bahrain and Saudi with Gulf air and Bahrain air, so a new plane and 2 new airlines to tick off the list. Can't wait for the A380.

[bahrainexpat]

Gulf Air are just an ongoing disaster, losing a million dollars a day and it shows. Bahrain air are ok for a budget airline.

I have held a Skywards Gold for 12 years now (thanks to the company and a lot of business class travel), and there is no doubt in my mind that their standard of service has deteriorated over the last five years. The long haul flights are still ok, but the regional flights around the GCC are frankly crap, consistently late, and with poorly trained cabin crew. Terminal 3 in Dubai is a disaster, already chronically overloaded, and a high proportion of GCC flights depart from Terminal 1, which involves a sponsored walk from the check in at Terminal 3.

Best airline in this region, Qatar Airways by a country mile.

[Jimmy Conway]

Just back from Dubai. Finally got to fly Emirates, sadly the mrs booked us on the Boeing 777 flight from Manchester. Gutted it wasn't the A380.

Well, I am disappointed. Maybe I was expecting too much due to the hype. But it was poor from start to finish. Seats where dirty when we boarded. Half the overheads where locked as the cabin crew needed them apparently. The toilets had not been cleaned and to be honest made a portaloo at Glastonbury look 5 star.

The way back was some what better though, so may have just been unlucky on the way out.

[JMM]

I've had sex on a Emirates A380 from Manchester-Dubai, if anyones intrested.. I'll be flying one way to Perth from Manchester in October. Who should I go with?

[Billy1561]

I've had sex on a Emirates A380 from Manchester-Dubai, if anyones intrested.. I'll be flying one way to Perth from Manchester in October. Who should I go with?

Your missus?

[Jimmy Conway]

I've had sex on a Emirates A380 from Manchester-Dubai, if anyones intrested.. I'll be flying one way to Perth from Manchester in October. Who should I go with?

Hand Shandys dont count.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sPin5LRBfZo

[JMM]

Your missus?

The Pilot.. Na, me bird ye. We were bladdered off all the free bevvies on the flight, one of the air hostesses called me a "bastard" as I sat back down.

Hand Shandys dont count.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sPin5LRBfZo

 

[zero zero]

The toilets had not been cleaned and to be honest made a portaloo at Glastonbury look 5 star.

Grim.

Emirates seemed to have gone downhill fast. There's a definite difference since the financial crisis, imho. Etihad were way better.

[Cruiser]

The Pilot.. Na, me bird ye. We were bladdered off all the free bevvies on the flight, one of the air hostesses called me a "bastard" as I sat back down.

 

Serious? Why she swear at you?

[JMM]

Serious? Why she swear at you?

Probably pissed off that I had just been shagging in the toilets. I made sure no other passengers caught us or nothin so I don't know what her problem was haha.

[Livbes]

In Heathrow ready for my first trip on the A380. Couldn't get checked in online so had to get what was left and even though I checked in 4hrs before im in the middle of the middle section, gutted, although by the looks of it row 54 is a front row with extra leg room.