Favourite Airlines

[Evil_Maniac From Mars]

As a traveller and flight simulator enthusiast, I've naturally been interested in aircraft and airlines. I have my favourites, but I've never really asked others about theirs. So here are my questions to you, Orgahs:

What class do you like to fly? Which airlines? What have been some memorable events (positive and negative) that have happened on your flights or with regards to the airline? Pictures are, of course, very welcome.

One of my favourites would have to be Swiss European. I've flown the regional routes offered by Swiss quite a few times, economy class. The seats are fairly nice with decent leg room for an airline, the Zurich hub is excellent if pricey (though the flights are anything but expensive), and the free chocolate on flight is an added bonus.

EDIT: I almost forgot to show you this, the new website of none other than Finnair. It has to be one of the most entertaining airline websites out there.

[Don Corleone]

I've never been in their first class, but trans-Pacific business class aboard Singapore Air is about this || close to heaven.

[Hooahguy]

Airtran has been a personal favorite.

[pevergreen]

QANTAS.

Hey, its better than Virgin Blue/Jetstar.

Plus, on my first flight alone, I got a row of 11 seats to myself. It was a night flight (also my first one) and it was an international connection, so the middle part had 5 seats, and each side had another 3. I could see like 8 people.

best flight ever

It was only 2 hours though...

[Sasaki Kojiro]

Delta, because they used to give my aunt a free deck of cards every flight.

[ICantSpellDawg]

British Airways, Because their business class rules and they have personal showers for you in Heathrow. Qantas gives pretty good stuff away in Business.

[naut]

Hmmmm. For me the friendlyness and politeness of the flight attendents always goes a long way for me in remembering a particular flight as good or bad.

Cathay Pacific, Business Class on long haul flights is great. Good service, friendly stewards, leg space.

I've always had good experiences on British Airways, Heathrow is a , but the flights themselves were always fairly good.

I'm with you EMFM, Swiss European is good. Flight from Frankfurt to Zurich was an enjoyable one. Polite, friendly staff.

LANChile is surprisingly good. The female stewards are almost always pretty, which is a bonus. They're friendly too. Plus the return flight was a bonus, before the flight started we were waiting and my name got called up in the boarding gate. Rather perplexed I went up to the gate and they told me that we had been moved to business class (I love when that happens). Plus, they all thought I was Chilean, so they all spoke to me in Spanish at first, well I am 1/16th or so Spanish, but, I'd have to tell them "No hablo Español" and they'd reply "Oh, you are not Chilean?" Was quite amusing.

Two airlines I don't like are United and QANTAS. United for obvious reasons, the service was terrible, ugh. QANTAS because the stewards are all overly aggressive, highly hormonal Aussie women. Which is never a good thing.

[InsaneApache]

I'd have to go British Airways as well. Even the bog standard one's have oodles of leg room and nice big seats, not to mention free food and drink. Did I mention the free food and drink?

[LeftEyeNine]

I've never been in their first class, but trans-Pacific business class aboard Singapore Air is about this || close to heaven.

Being a Turkish DGCA employee for half a year by now who never stepped onto an apron, let alone getting on an airplane, I can decide on an agreement of Singapore Air's quality regarding the fact that they are among the first airlines to have bought this baby.

While dealing with TU-154s of (about 40 years old) Caspian Airlines and the likes, it's this || close to heaven, examining their paperwork.

Edit: Oh and Singaporeans have a tendency of obsession with quality in aviation. They have this as well.

[Hosakawa Tito]

I usually only fly in North America and prefer Continental or JetBlue. Most of my trips are under 3 hours so paying for First Class is a waste of money.

The only unpleasant trip I can remember was on a regional carrier *Allegheny Airlines* turbo-prop from MacArthur Airport Long Island NY to Philadelphia PA. The wind shear and turbulence was so strong we dropped a couple of thousand feet like a stone and the plane's tail swung like a pendulum during the landing. I spent some quality time & money at the PA airport's taproom to calm my nerves.

[Gregoshi]

I spent some quality time & money at the PA airport's taproom to calm my nerves.

"Quality" time at Philadelphia International Airport? You must have really been "calm".

During our holiday in Australia we flew US Air, United, Air New Zealand, Qantas and Jetstar. The US airlines and airports were rather depressing compared to the Australia/New Zealand ones. Jetstar was okay but they did everything except hand out cleaning supplies to have us help prepare the plane for the next flight. I didn't get in the toilets, but I almost imagined a coin slot next to the toilet paper dispenser. The price you pay for a cheap airfare...

Probably the most notable experience I ever had on a flight was shortly after takeoff out of St. Louis. Everything seemed fine until the pilot came on and said (literally): "The problem we are experiencing..." My thought process was: HUH?!! PROBLEM? WHAT PROBLEM? It was only that the landing gear wouldn't retract, but what an abrupt way to inform the passengers.

Which reminds me of another difference between US airlines and those from other countries - British Airlines in particular. The safety briefing on US airlines is comparable to telling a child that a dead person is "just sleeping". When I flew to London on BA, I found the their safety (refreshingly) blunt. "If the passenger next to you is horribly burnt and incapacitated, please put on your oxygen mask first before assisting them with theirs." I exaggerate, of course, but that is kind of how it seemed after going through many US safety briefings. BA stewards/stewardesses actually put on the safety equipment too, unlike the US personel who look bored and don't want that oxygen mask messing up their hair.

[InsaneApache]

Aye well I've heard it said that the brace position is advised so that they can identify you through your dental records, it helps not one jot if you hit the ground at 600 MPH +.

Of course you're in a prime position to kiss your arse goodbye, so all's not lost.

[Caius]

I know the one that must NOT fly. Seriously.

[Papewaio]

I've flown Garuda Internal to Indonesia.

Not the worst, but the worst that has an International presence.

Flown on a twin prop between mine sites and had the Indonesian Pilot come out after landing pale as myself (and I make Goths look tanned)... it was an interesting flight.

Been on a QANTAS flight from Singapore to Perth with about 80% of the tourists braced and about to vomit. Myself and the other regular got seconds on the food and plenty of alcohol.

Best Airline Singapore, excellent service and their hostesses look like the ones in the Ads.
QANTAS stewards are fine if you don't mind the mincing.

[Sigurd]

I have to agree with those that mention Singapore airlines with their classy stewardesses and friendly and calm atmosphere during flight. A good second is Malaysia Airlines with their triple sevens.

Flying business is always better than coach but although I get some heat from my international colleagues for spending unnecessary company money, I don’t care. It’s the better space, friendlier atmosphere and free drinks and most importantly – the business lounges at the airport.

To illustrate the importance of the lounges, I had been on a business trip to London and was a little tired. When entering Heathrow airport it was packed with people. I was gently ushered into the business line at the security which went much faster than the regular lines. The waiting hall was packed with people and I couldn’t see a single available seat anywhere. Apparently people were being delayed and the general atmosphere was “sweaty” lacking a better word. Entering the SAS business lounge was like entering another world with the calm and hushed atmosphere, friendly and beautiful blond stewardesses at the welcome desk, the air-conditioned two floor lounge and all the finger food and drinks you could manage. I stocked up on some tapas and a few drinks and found a quiet corner and a stress-less chair and pulled up the latest Raymond E. Feist book – Heaven.

Some might say snobbery, but after experiencing a worst ever ride from Bergen to Brisbane via Oslo, London, Los Angeles and Auckland (2002) – I just will not jeopardize my general health if I can avoid it by riding coach and spending "quality" time at horrible airports.

[Lemur]

Flying inside America, I've had nothing but positive experiences on Midwest Express. Very cool people.

International flights? I've yet to be on one that didn't stink. Then again, I never fly first class, so maybe I'm missing out on the good life.

[FactionHeir]

I quite like Virgin Atlantic (their First Class is great) and Lufthansa.

[Tristuskhan]

Aeroflot.

Departure from Geneva saturday september 27, flight to Moskow, then Moskow-Ulaan Baator arrival on sunday 28 6.10AM.

Returning on saturday october 24, arrival in Paris at 14.30.

Cost: 940 euros. I travel once every seven years... Mongolia, I'm back!

(it's just a pity they put old Tupolev 154s out of service, I loved travelling in a plane that was carved in a single block of steel)

[Evil_Maniac From Mars]

Internationally I like Lufthansa quite a bit. A good newcomer to economy "quality" has been, surprisingly, Air Canada (excellent improvements on everything on the bigger aircraft). I have never been more comfortable in economy class, or eaten better food.

(it's just a pity they put old Tupolev 154s out of service, I loved travelling in a plane that was carved in a single block of steel)

I think the stress, for me, of flying Aeroflot, especially in a plane like that, would burn more calories than a day of tramping around Ulaan Baator.

[Tristuskhan]

I think the stress, for me, of flying Aeroflot, especially in a plane like that, would burn more calories than a day of tramping around Ulaan Baator.

Oh well, last time I went back from Ulaan Baator, in 2002, the Tupolev had to perform an unscheduled landing in Novosibirsk because of an oxygen problem (at least that's what I understood, very impressive tarmacs in Novosibirsk by the way, long long lines of AN-12s an Il-76s). So I can understand your feelings about this airline. The issue is that the only alternative for Ulaan Baator is China Airlines, 60% more expensive. So I go for Aeroflot or I'd only travel once every ten years.

One more thing, the Ulaan Baator line seems to be some kind of punishment for Russian hostesses, giving the trip a very particular flavour.

[FactionHeir]

As in the service is particularly bad?

[tibilicus]

I flew Emirates to Australia via Dubai recently. The leg room was barley satisfactory. QANTUS would of been a much more desirable choice..