Best Airline?
Mar 31st 2004, 6:27 am
#16
I'm lovin' it
Joined: Feb 2003
Location: Brisbane
Posts: 1,525
Re: Best Airline?
Originally posted by lostkiwi
Afternoon all,
Bit of a subjective one I know.. but what is everyone's opinion on the best airline to fly to Oz on? given that your arse is planted in the same place for 24 hours solid - its worth a few views I reckon.
I have flown the following between London/Melb or London/Auckland and would rate in order of favorites::
1. Emirates - (couldn't fault them - good leg room)
2. United Airlines (pretty good - ok leg room)
3. BA (twice - both times big delays - and generally a bit to snobby)
4. Malaysian/Virgin - (this was in '96 so may have improved - was ok-ish)
5. Qantas (please god never again) - No leg room, apalling service, unscheduled stop in Auckland because the didn't load enough fuel!!! - 3 hours delay on Auckland tarmac... I could go on)
I would have made this a poll but - dunno how/cant be arsed.
Cheers!
Afternoon all,
Bit of a subjective one I know.. but what is everyone's opinion on the best airline to fly to Oz on? given that your arse is planted in the same place for 24 hours solid - its worth a few views I reckon.
I have flown the following between London/Melb or London/Auckland and would rate in order of favorites::
1. Emirates - (couldn't fault them - good leg room)
2. United Airlines (pretty good - ok leg room)
3. BA (twice - both times big delays - and generally a bit to snobby)
4. Malaysian/Virgin - (this was in '96 so may have improved - was ok-ish)
5. Qantas (please god never again) - No leg room, apalling service, unscheduled stop in Auckland because the didn't load enough fuel!!! - 3 hours delay on Auckland tarmac... I could go on)
I would have made this a poll but - dunno how/cant be arsed.
Cheers!
For us it was BA. They were terrific. Have a sandwich when ever you want (free) or a soft drink (free again).
Gawd, when I said to the stewardess "I'm feeling a bit peckish" at about 2 am, but didn't fancy another sandwich, she even made me cheese-on-toast, whilst I stood and had a little chat with her in the galley. Good looking girl too...not like those monsters you get on the US airlines.
BTW..I haven't flown Singapore, so can't comment.
Mar 31st 2004, 6:29 am
#17
Guest
Posts: n/a
Originally posted by snowhite
This time we are going with Singapore because of price
This time we are going with Singapore because of price
2 adults and 2 kids on singapore air came to £2200 plus taxes etc, we have booked through travelbag with BA/Qantas for £1600 inclusive of all taxes.
Mar 31st 2004, 6:41 am
#18
I'm lovin' it
Joined: Feb 2003
Location: Brisbane
Posts: 1,525
Originally posted by WBB
we found them to be very expensive, we saved over £1000 by going through travelbag.
2 adults and 2 kids on singapore air came to £2200 plus taxes etc, we have booked through travelbag with BA/Qantas for £1600 inclusive of all taxes.
we found them to be very expensive, we saved over £1000 by going through travelbag.
2 adults and 2 kids on singapore air came to £2200 plus taxes etc, we have booked through travelbag with BA/Qantas for £1600 inclusive of all taxes.
I heard they were selling off Oz return trips for 8 virgin sheep and a couple of bags of leeks.
Mar 31st 2004, 6:43 am
#19
Guest
Posts: n/a
Originally posted by chippy
Taff......Isn't there a 'Welsh air'?
I heard they were selling off Oz return trips for 8 virgin sheep and a couple of bags of leeks.
Taff......Isn't there a 'Welsh air'?
I heard they were selling off Oz return trips for 8 virgin sheep and a couple of bags of leeks.
LMAOhttp://www.airwales.co.uk
Mar 31st 2004, 6:44 am
#20
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 9,397
BA Qantas every time!
Mar 31st 2004, 6:47 am
#21
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Apr 2002
Location: brisbane
Posts: 1,020
im glad Emirates get a good write up as we are flying with them on fri.How did you manage a free upgrade?
donna
donna
Mar 31st 2004, 7:14 am
#22
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Mar 2004
Location: Ridgewood , Perth
Posts: 3,134
its got to be Singapore Airlines, they were great especially if you have kids ! they cant do enough for them !! oh and hubby really liked the air hostesses !!!!!!!!!
Mar 31st 2004, 8:07 am
#23
Forum Regular
Joined: Nov 2003
Location: WEST YORKSHIRE. UK
Posts: 31
We used "Singapore" because of price offered, and generally they were excellent!
The only down side was having a RAW FISH SANDWICH offered for breakfast. And my 4 year old boy given a glowing(yes it looked RADIOACTIVE) lasagne for his main meal, even i couldn't eat it!!!
Apart from that they were excellent.
my little lad was ill on the flight, and the stewardess was very very helpful.
For us a main factor in choosing a carrier is cost, so i guess it'll be raw fish and radio active lasagne again next time. Hoping for april '05 to validate the visas
The only down side was having a RAW FISH SANDWICH offered for breakfast. And my 4 year old boy given a glowing(yes it looked RADIOACTIVE) lasagne for his main meal, even i couldn't eat it!!!
Apart from that they were excellent.
my little lad was ill on the flight, and the stewardess was very very helpful.
For us a main factor in choosing a carrier is cost, so i guess it'll be raw fish and radio active lasagne again next time. Hoping for april '05 to validate the visas
Mar 31st 2004, 8:43 am
#24
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 11,149
I have flown
Cathay, Singapore, JAL, BA, qantas and Royal Brunei and rate them in that order. I would avoid BA/QANTAS because they do not seem to give a monkeys about their customers.
It looks like the virgin all the way via HK route won't start until the new year.
Cathay, Singapore, JAL, BA, qantas and Royal Brunei and rate them in that order. I would avoid BA/QANTAS because they do not seem to give a monkeys about their customers.
It looks like the virgin all the way via HK route won't start until the new year.
Mar 31st 2004, 8:57 am
#25
still searching
Joined: Jan 2004
Location: everywhere
Posts: 357
went with jal via japan, good flight to japan lots of movies and games to play. bit of a down grade to aus from jap, but overall i would fly with them again .
Mar 31st 2004, 8:28 pm
#26
She's a bird, you know
Joined: Jul 2003
Location: Yorkshire
Posts: 7,655
Don't get me started on Emirates...we'll be back down the Bundy's Undies line again (Emirates managed to leave our suitcases sitting on the runway in Dubai on our way home - a not infrequent occurence, I've since found out).
I didn't much like Emirates, aside from the luggage incident - bad food, uncomfortable seats, movies weren't up to much and way too many pastel colours!!!
I've only flown BA/Qantas on my other trips far afield and can't say I've had a problem with either, but maybe I'm just lucky. Intending to fly Singapore next time...
I didn't much like Emirates, aside from the luggage incident - bad food, uncomfortable seats, movies weren't up to much and way too many pastel colours!!!
I've only flown BA/Qantas on my other trips far afield and can't say I've had a problem with either, but maybe I'm just lucky. Intending to fly Singapore next time...
Mar 31st 2004, 9:07 pm
#27
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Joined: Jan 2003
Location: Down the road, that's where I'll always be
Posts: 467
BA were pretty good (but I'm probably biased as they upgraded me and young_lass to business class from Singapore to Sydney )
)
Apr 1st 2004, 12:47 am
#28
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 6,848
I used to live in Singapore and flew a lot with Singapore Airlines; my husband was in the top tier of their Kris Flyer frequent flyer programme.
It's pretty much unheard of for Singapore Airlines to give anyone an upgrade - even their most frequent flyers. My husband used to fly Business Class with them about 8-10 times a month for more than five years yet never once got an upgrade! If you're hoping to get an upgrade do not fly with this airline. (One exception; you might if you fly a child as an unaccompanied minor. We used up the last of my husband's KrisFlyer miles to send my 13 year old son from New York to Singapore via Amsterdam so he could visit one of his old schoolfriends. He was unaccompanied and the cabin director called him to one side as he boarded the plane....my son flew First Class all the way! (He came home with a nice amenity kit!). On his return journey he was upgraded to Business Class.....not bad on an entirely free ticket!).
They're a good airline - but ever since Malaysian Airlines opened up their new airport in KL the airline improved dramatically. Most expats who've lived/live in Singapore often preferred to fly with Malaysian to Australia as the tickets were far cheaper....yet the service is on a par with Singapore Airlines. They are just masterful with their advertising campaigns, focussing on the 'Singapore Girl'.
A good place to check for prices is this London based consolidator which all the expats in South East Asia get their families to use when they want to go on visits; they specialise in Asian airlines to Asia and Oz/NZ:
http://www.leestravel.co.uk
It's pretty much unheard of for Singapore Airlines to give anyone an upgrade - even their most frequent flyers. My husband used to fly Business Class with them about 8-10 times a month for more than five years yet never once got an upgrade! If you're hoping to get an upgrade do not fly with this airline. (One exception; you might if you fly a child as an unaccompanied minor. We used up the last of my husband's KrisFlyer miles to send my 13 year old son from New York to Singapore via Amsterdam so he could visit one of his old schoolfriends. He was unaccompanied and the cabin director called him to one side as he boarded the plane....my son flew First Class all the way! (He came home with a nice amenity kit!). On his return journey he was upgraded to Business Class.....not bad on an entirely free ticket!).
They're a good airline - but ever since Malaysian Airlines opened up their new airport in KL the airline improved dramatically. Most expats who've lived/live in Singapore often preferred to fly with Malaysian to Australia as the tickets were far cheaper....yet the service is on a par with Singapore Airlines. They are just masterful with their advertising campaigns, focussing on the 'Singapore Girl'.
A good place to check for prices is this London based consolidator which all the expats in South East Asia get their families to use when they want to go on visits; they specialise in Asian airlines to Asia and Oz/NZ:
http://www.leestravel.co.uk
Apr 1st 2004, 12:53 am
#29
She's a bird, you know
Joined: Jul 2003
Location: Yorkshire
Posts: 7,655
Originally posted by Englishmum
I used to live in Singapore and flew a lot with Singapore Airlines; my husband was in the top tier of their Kris Flyer frequent flyer programme.
It's pretty much unheard of for Singapore Airlines to give anyone an upgrade - even their most frequent flyers. My husband used to fly Business Class with them about 8-10 times a month for more than five years yet never once got an upgrade! If you're hoping to get an upgrade do not fly with this airline. (One exception; you might if you fly a child as an unaccompanied minor. We used up the last of my husband's KrisFlyer miles to send my 13 year old son from New York to Singapore via Amsterdam so he could visit one of his old schoolfriends. He was unaccompanied and the cabin director called him to one side as he boarded the plane....my son flew First Class all the way! (He came home with a nice amenity kit!). On his return journey he was upgraded to Business Class.....not bad on an entirely free ticket!).
They're a good airline - but ever since Malaysian Airlines opened up their new airport in KL the airline improved dramatically. Most expats who've lived/live in Singapore often preferred to fly with Malaysian to Australia as the tickets were far cheaper....yet the service is on a par with Singapore Airlines. They are just masterful with their advertising campaigns, focussing on the 'Singapore Girl'.
A good place to check for prices is this London based consolidator which all the expats in South East Asia get their families to use when they want to go on visits; they specialise in Asian airlines to Asia and Oz/NZ:
http://www.leestravel.co.uk
I used to live in Singapore and flew a lot with Singapore Airlines; my husband was in the top tier of their Kris Flyer frequent flyer programme.
It's pretty much unheard of for Singapore Airlines to give anyone an upgrade - even their most frequent flyers. My husband used to fly Business Class with them about 8-10 times a month for more than five years yet never once got an upgrade! If you're hoping to get an upgrade do not fly with this airline. (One exception; you might if you fly a child as an unaccompanied minor. We used up the last of my husband's KrisFlyer miles to send my 13 year old son from New York to Singapore via Amsterdam so he could visit one of his old schoolfriends. He was unaccompanied and the cabin director called him to one side as he boarded the plane....my son flew First Class all the way! (He came home with a nice amenity kit!). On his return journey he was upgraded to Business Class.....not bad on an entirely free ticket!).
They're a good airline - but ever since Malaysian Airlines opened up their new airport in KL the airline improved dramatically. Most expats who've lived/live in Singapore often preferred to fly with Malaysian to Australia as the tickets were far cheaper....yet the service is on a par with Singapore Airlines. They are just masterful with their advertising campaigns, focussing on the 'Singapore Girl'.
A good place to check for prices is this London based consolidator which all the expats in South East Asia get their families to use when they want to go on visits; they specialise in Asian airlines to Asia and Oz/NZ:
http://www.leestravel.co.uk
Apr 1st 2004, 1:43 am
#30
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Aug 2003
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 2,389
Originally posted by Englishmum
I used to live in Singapore and flew a lot with Singapore Airlines; my husband was in the top tier of their Kris Flyer frequent flyer programme.
http://www.leestravel.co.uk
I used to live in Singapore and flew a lot with Singapore Airlines; my husband was in the top tier of their Kris Flyer frequent flyer programme.
http://www.leestravel.co.uk
I've sent you a pm
