What's your favourite Airline?
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 494
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From: Somewhere
My own personal favourite was Saudia (Sudden Arrivals, Unannounced Departures, Inshallah Airways). I miss the prayer of supplication prior to take-off, the refreshing cardamom tea and hot towels. I don't miss having to wear wellies to use the on-board loos.
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 51
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From: YSSY
QANTAS - especially when you've been away from home too long and are homesick, nothing like seeing that kangaroo and hearing a friendly accent.
Going back to the 'other home' (Eire) - Aer Lingus.
Trans-Atlantic -BA - (because they can still serve a decent cuppa).
Going back to the 'other home' (Eire) - Aer Lingus.
Trans-Atlantic -BA - (because they can still serve a decent cuppa).
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 45
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From: Abu Dhabi
For me its a straight fight between BA and SQ and nothing really comes close to the feeling that they give me when travelling and that is irrespective of class.
I do fly a tremendous amount with Etihad and they have a pretty good product but it lacks substance. In addition to that they have no idea how to deal with high mileage frequent flyers, to them you are cattle just like everyone else. I do not expect special treatment but they lack the touch and sensitivity of my two favourites.
One to avoid for me is Qatar airways, every part of the travel process is fraught with problems due to incompetent staff on the ground. no issues with cabin crew at all though
Easy jet always works for me as well so i fly them when on short haul in Europe which is once in a blue moon
I do fly a tremendous amount with Etihad and they have a pretty good product but it lacks substance. In addition to that they have no idea how to deal with high mileage frequent flyers, to them you are cattle just like everyone else. I do not expect special treatment but they lack the touch and sensitivity of my two favourites.
One to avoid for me is Qatar airways, every part of the travel process is fraught with problems due to incompetent staff on the ground. no issues with cabin crew at all though
Easy jet always works for me as well so i fly them when on short haul in Europe which is once in a blue moon
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 17
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From: Bangkok / San Francisco
SQ
SQ is certainly no better than any other airline.
The flight attendents are incapable of handling any request out of the ordinary.
I have to vomit every time some one repeating the same dribble... oh SQ they are so wonderful... blah blah blah.
Besides that - their safety record is suspect.
The flight attendents are incapable of handling any request out of the ordinary.
I have to vomit every time some one repeating the same dribble... oh SQ they are so wonderful... blah blah blah.
Besides that - their safety record is suspect.
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 95
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From: Lincolnshire
Long haul: Virgin Atlantic
Short haul/Europe: Dare I say it.... Ryanair.
The main reason is because the fares are so attractive, I usually pay no more than £15-20 return.. Lately I've been paying £1.02 return!
Yes, Ryanair isn't the best airline, far from it - But at least I can get from A to B cheap!!
Short haul/Europe: Dare I say it.... Ryanair.
The main reason is because the fares are so attractive, I usually pay no more than £15-20 return.. Lately I've been paying £1.02 return!
Yes, Ryanair isn't the best airline, far from it - But at least I can get from A to B cheap!!
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 45
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From: Abu Dhabi
Everyone has their own opinion and BA/SQ is mine. I fly well over 100 sectors per annum and mostly on intercontinental routes and stand by that opinion, anyone ithough is perfectly welcome to disagree but vomiting is probably a going a tad to far.
Life would be so boring if we all agreed
Life would be so boring if we all agreed
Joined: Aug 2006
Aviation Qualifications: LAME
Posts: 264
Likes: 55
From: Hedge
I am a longtime SQ fan, but I have to say something in favour for Emirates.
Flying the regular route both ways from LHR to CGK (Economy) SQ is efficient and a pleasure to travel with, but Emirates are fun
I love SQ, but it is a bit robotic.
If I am in a rush I will go SQ, otherwise EK gets my vote purely for the friendly cabin crew experience
Flying the regular route both ways from LHR to CGK (Economy) SQ is efficient and a pleasure to travel with, but Emirates are fun
I love SQ, but it is a bit robotic.
If I am in a rush I will go SQ, otherwise EK gets my vote purely for the friendly cabin crew experience
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 100
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From: Mainland Europe
My 2 pennies:
Best overall airline is Singapore.
Best airline for 1st class travel is probably Lufthansa, this only applies when using FRA or MUN with their 1st class terminals - simply excellent.
Best short haul carrier for me is a budget operation, Air Berlin. Superior to full cost and other budget airlines.
Most upgrades - Lufthansa. Particularly good when flying out of Frankfurt because they seem to upgrade any LH card holder from C/D to F when the plane is full of American businessmen because they're all UA card holders.
Best overall airline is Singapore.
Best airline for 1st class travel is probably Lufthansa, this only applies when using FRA or MUN with their 1st class terminals - simply excellent.
Best short haul carrier for me is a budget operation, Air Berlin. Superior to full cost and other budget airlines.
Most upgrades - Lufthansa. Particularly good when flying out of Frankfurt because they seem to upgrade any LH card holder from C/D to F when the plane is full of American businessmen because they're all UA card holders.
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 162
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From: In the Dog house
As a frequent economy long haul pax (UK - Oz 3-4 times pa - is this frequent?) Etihad gets my vote . As already posted elsewhere I am impressed with their Guest airmiles system. Express check in and security screening, business class lounge access and priority luggage when travelling economy keeps my patronage. What more do you want? Food is fine and IFE has worked to date. Can anyone beat that after only 30000 miles or so?
BurglarsDog
BurglarsDog
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 171
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From: London
My airline of choice is always BA.
But the finest flight I ever took was Sydney to Johannesburg in Qantas business class. Everything about it was simply perfect.
I'd never consider using a low cost airline. These days, BA is often not a lot more expensive than Easyjet (and is frequently cheaper, particularly at short notice), and I like the comfort of knowing that BA won't cancel a flight and abandon me at some remote location for days on end, as Ryanair might.
But the finest flight I ever took was Sydney to Johannesburg in Qantas business class. Everything about it was simply perfect.
I'd never consider using a low cost airline. These days, BA is often not a lot more expensive than Easyjet (and is frequently cheaper, particularly at short notice), and I like the comfort of knowing that BA won't cancel a flight and abandon me at some remote location for days on end, as Ryanair might.
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 100
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From: Mainland Europe
As a frequent economy long haul pax (UK - Oz 3-4 times pa - is this frequent?)
I'd never consider using a low cost airline. These days, BA is often not a lot more expensive than Easyjet (and is frequently cheaper, particularly at short notice),
and I like the comfort of knowing that BA won't cancel a flight and abandon me at some remote location for days on end, as Ryanair might.
I'm picking the argument because low cost does what it says on the tin, nothing more, nothing less. If you are trying to get to a funeral I wouldn't advise it, but if it is a simple journey I see little reason to choose BA. Particularly, if you can avoid the hell that is LHR or LGW.
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 171
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From: London
I don't think anyone is in any doubt that the low-cost airlines have forced the established carriers to lower their prices to match. I do thank Easyjet, Ryanair and those that came before for that. But the simple fact is that if BA is offering a product significantly better than that of Easyjet for a similar price then I will use it. I don't consider either Heathrow or Gatwick to be "hell" - or, at least, no more so than Luton or Stansted. Getting to them is certainly a lot easier (and, in the case of Heathrow, cheaper). If you've checked in online and are carrying only cabin baggage then almost every airport is a breeze.
I don't know anyone personally who's been left stranded by Ryanair (although maybe that's because I don't know anyone who flies regularly with them). But it does happen - just look at the Skytrax forum - and the mere possibility of it happening puts me off using them, no matter how cheap they are. The measure of a good airline is how they handle matters when things go wrong.
I don't know anyone personally who's been left stranded by Ryanair (although maybe that's because I don't know anyone who flies regularly with them). But it does happen - just look at the Skytrax forum - and the mere possibility of it happening puts me off using them, no matter how cheap they are. The measure of a good airline is how they handle matters when things go wrong.
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 294
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From: Melbourne, oz
Ansett was the best ever - but I like Cathay Pacific. Nothing sensational but consistently good and on time. I think reliable is the best word. A320 galley bitch - you don't happen to work for jetstar do you? Let me burst your bubble.
As a very regular SLF Virgin Blue crap all over Jetstar. I will gladly pay more dollars to travel with them when flying domestically in oz.
As a very regular SLF Virgin Blue crap all over Jetstar. I will gladly pay more dollars to travel with them when flying domestically in oz.
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,302
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From: N. Spain
They must have improved since the one time I flew them...
One trip is hardly a basis for a balanced judgement. All airlines/CC have good and bad days. Can't comment on Monarch as I've not flown them but I've had excellent and awful flights on various carriers, sometimes on two legs of the same trip, just with a change of CC.
One trip is hardly a basis for a balanced judgement. All airlines/CC have good and bad days. Can't comment on Monarch as I've not flown them but I've had excellent and awful flights on various carriers, sometimes on two legs of the same trip, just with a change of CC.