this is my post from this thread...
Favorite Airline
As a traveller who flies between 150K and 200K miles per year, typically (thats what 4 trips for board meetings in the USA and family in NYC does when you're based in the far east), I'd like to think I have a good basis of comparison for picking airlines at least on routes I do often (Asia - USA, internal USA). The list of those I've flown on is pretty extensive, and its not a simple answer. Some of it is about class, and some of it is about routes. As any experienced traveller will tell you, their ultimate booking choice is some perhaps undecipherable algorithm based upon a number of factors, including the quickest travel time, airport departures, general service level and facilities level for the flight/craft, frequent flier credit, and some other even more intangible factors that give one a boner for one airline and a softee for another. All that said, here's my list of good ones and bad ones (and some additional conditions).
For flights between Asia to the western USA, basically, for economy/coach, I don't think you can beat HKG to LA on Cathay. Price is slightly higher than the mainland Chinese carriers, but its a direct flight, service level is high, they don't fuck up meals, and for what its worth (its worth something to me) the stewardesses are still stewardesses, not flight attendants. Not old fat hags, or worse, dudes (sorry gay dudes, but its my dime).
Another airline that excels particularly for me flying to Vegas is Korean Air, because it flies HKG- Incheon - Vegas, skipping a connection in LA. The list of Asian airlines flying from Asia into Vegas is limited, and KAL is the cheapest/best quality combo. Asian stewardesses, super clean facilities, good food (I prefer asian cuisine and it tends to "travel better" as airline fare anyway, and I don't eat pork/beef/chicken, so Asian airlines tend to fit a seafood/veg diet better anyway). Another notable benefit of the Asian airlines in general is that people are smaller (news flash, its better to sit next to smaller people, male or female) and quieter on the airplane. Funnily, even though Chinese are so loud normally, on airplanes, they are master snoozers, and rarely raise their voice above a whisper. Koreans and Japanese, not surprisingly are also nice and quiet, makes that Ambien work better. The other airline to aim for on flights to the USA from the far east is EVA, the Taiwanese airline. Tied with KAL for overall experience, very modern facilities, etc. The only bad thing about EVA from the LA side (when flying business) is that they have a shared lounge (unless that changed recently) so you are in a really shit business class cramped facility, rather than one of the really nicer lounges for the code-share partners of the USA airline. Of course, from the Asia side, you'll end up with a far better experience.
Other airlines Ive flown that past basic muster for coach are JAL (old facilities, but good service, and pretty good food), Philippine airways (beware, though of the stealth stop going east in Fiji - find out if they're stopping in Fiji and Manila, or its LA to Manila - I've had both and Fiji adds two hours). I have to admit though, my window seat on the American/JAL (an AA flight though) coming back to HK this week was surprisingly livable, though the food wasn't very good). And the price was pretty darn low (I did HKG-Vegas roundtrip for 900 USD - three JAL flights and three AA flights, two of which were the LAX-LAS puddle jump).
Once you upgrade to Business Class, its a little bit different metric as the costs vary so much. I've flown both Philippine and Malaysia Airways, both are somewhat "ghetto business class" but they cost perhaps 60 percent or 70 percent of other business class seats HKG-LA. Philippine is definitely preferable, as the Malaysian facilities were quite old and the seat was not even a full recline in business, while PAL had double decker planes with the business class upstairs and full sleeper recliners. Take a point off on PAL as they have the American/Euro approach to flight attendants, fat ladies get the choice routes and perhaps biz class too. But for 1350 one way HKG-LA biz class, PAL is still a pretty good deal when Cathay one way coach can cost around 1000. Korean Air has a super nice biz class Incheon- LA route and I think that was one of the nicest business class flights I've ever experienced. EVA has a wonderful business class with great seats, cuisine, and little Taiwainese angels waiting on your every beck and call. Back in the ghetto biz class arena, Malaysia gets a little bump as in Tokyo they share a very nice business class lounge with JAL (if memory serves) so if you've a longer layover (sometimes they're 4 hours on the HKG-Narita-LA route) thats a reason to consider MAL. And you know the likelihood of another crash anytime soon is miniscule.
I've flown business class British Airways for years, first because I worked for a UK bank that had some deal with them and then, after a long gap, more recently because they had direct flights from BKK to London-Heathrow. I spend a lot of money (well, someone did) and I had a scottish dude in a kilt (he actually may have worn a kilt to match his beard) in business, not exactly the sight I want when being tucked into a recliner. Otherwise, I'd have to say that the service level on BA wasn't bad for a Euro airline, though I think the seating arrangements for the sleepers offer less privacy than business on some other airlines. In my experience, Europe - Asia flights in business on Jet Air (India) were far more luxurious and comfortable, though I am not sure they service past India (I flew them to Chennai when I worked on a movie there). Jet Air was on the level of an Etihad in business. Regardless of what you think of the manners of many Indians, remember the hotels in Mumbai are among the most opulent with the best service in the world.
Other airlines I'd always consider based on consistently good experiences with them are any of the Virgin alliance, and of course, Singapore airlines.
For around China, you'll do better to stick to Hainan, Hong Kong, Shenzhen and China Southern Airlines. I tend to avoid as much as possible Air China, China Air, and China Eastern (though I've taken CE several times on local trips). In general, aim for the HK airlines or those they partner with (Hainan and Shenzhen) and your trips will be more comfortable and less scary (seriously).
For around the USA, its generally a lesser of evils, amongst which I'd generally rank Delta as better (I know some will virulently disagree, but its mostly about the route in the USA), then United, then the others. For the smaller, I do admit to liking Southwest primarily because you can cancel or change flights anytime cost free depending on the ticket (might cost u a bit more but the flexibility is great). Also on puddle jump short flights, not having seat assignments is actually really a time saver, as everyone just files in and sits down. The stupid jokes of the flight attendants annoy me, but I usually wear headphones anyway. Jet Blue also isn't bad, NYC to Florida, or from LA to Salt Lake City.
Delta business class is almost not worth the upgrade at any price, and I'd say the same is true on most USA domestic flights. You get a few free drinks, but typically the big difference is the seat, and the seat alone. Last domestic flight I flew business on was Atl-Salt Lake for Sundance in January, and the seat was the sole difference (perhaps the entertainment unit also). I guess I'd say that its worth it only for medallion level (or equivalent), miles or if someone else is paying. One good thing is that many USA airlines seem to changed the upgrade purchasing system so the cost in miles is based on the distance of the flight.
This seems helpful...http://www.airlinequality.com
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