[Jaideco]

Hi Guys,

I have been looking through all of the threads trying to find the best airline to take. So far they all seem to have different pros and cons but I thought it would be nice to try to get your ideas about them together all in one place.

The airlines that I have found out about are (in order of cheapness)
Asiana (Korean) Airways - Noone seems to have commented about them yet but they are very cheap, are they any good?
Cathay Pacific - Also cheap but one thread suggested that their planes were quite old whereas another recommended them highly, what is the consenus?
Singapore Airlines and Air New Zealand - These are pretty much the default airlines aren't they, a bit more expensive but lots of feedback.
Also KLM, Lufthansa and QANTAS, these tend to just go part of the way to Singapore or somewhere similar and then use one of the other operators.

In order to keep things organised there are a few specific areas that I would like to know about.

Environment: Seating; space, comfort and furnishings, also quality of the air etc...
Entertainment: Films, Games, Availability of laptop power sockets etc... Anything to do.
In Flight Service: Quality of the cabin crew's service, food etc...
Ground Service: Anything to do with booking, checking, baggage handling etc... Anything other than the flight really.
Overall Value for Money:

On a side note, I would be interested to hear any recommendations for routes where you have taken any extended stopovers on the way across to sightsee.

Thanks everyone, I am looking forward to hearing what you all think.

[Chutney]

Not really an expert in this area, but as I stand six and a half feet tall, seat pitch is always a biggie for me.

I do know that Malaysian Airlines have 34" in economy, which compares favourably with the majority of carriers offering 31-32" in these seats.

I'd be interested to know if any airlines make it possible to pre-book the seats with extra legroom. Some do what they call "medical necessity seats", which allows disabled/pregnant/very tall passengers to pre-book the extra legroom seats (cost me about £50 for a flight to Mexico and back to do this), but it isn't very widely advertised as to which airlines offer this.

[Jaideco]

At time of writing I have been to NZ once on a round trip using British Airways. Both ways the British leg was handled by BA and they used a codeshare with QANTAS for the New Zealand leg.

The service that I had from British Airways was excellent, as I would expect for the price. In all the categories of legroom, entertainment, service and food they excelled themselves.

My experience on the QANTAS side was not so positive however. I found the aircraft appeared older and was less well equipped for the journey. The seats were showing wear and the craft had fewer options for inflight entertainment. My main gripe however would be that they forced me to wait 12 hours in Auckland for my connection to Wellington because they were short of one cabin member - I would have expected them to have someone on standby for this.

I took stopovers in both directions, LA on my way out and both Sydney and Hong Kong on the way back. I would recommend all of these however Hong Kong stood out as somewhere that you could do and see a lot over just two or three days. If you were to do this, I would strongly recommend taking a day to tour Lantau Island, and another day to tour Hong Kong, Kowloon and the New Territories. If you have any further time you can further explore the areas that you enjoyed most. LA didn't stand out as much but if you are interested in American culture or have the time to explore further afield (the Californian National Parks, Grand Canyon etc) there is still plenty to see.

Overall verdict.
These routes were good but a bit pricey, especially after QANTAS let them down. I would strongly recommend that if you are going to pass through Hong Kong that you take a stopover for a couple of days, you won't regret it.

[veronica]

This has also been posted in the luggage thread but feel it is relevant here too so have posted it again.

I have just flown back to the UK with Singapore airlines and returned with Air NZ via LA. the service on singapore is better, the food better and Changi airport is great, but you can only get away with up to 30 kg.
Air NZ seems to have budget cuts on its food, they still offer alcohol with it but the food seems to be very basic and no real choice (maybe I was just sitting at the end of the trolley run) but its biggest disadvantage is it goes through LA and the ridiculous immigration/customs set up.
Where anywhere else in the world you would go into a transit lounge, at LA you have to go through immigration and get photographed and fingerprinted, get bags and go through customs, out into the street, along a bit, up the escalator with said luggage (there may have been a lift I didn't find due to lack of time) recheck bags, go through security and leg it to the departure gates, not a relaxing experience. each individual step involves queuing and in my case the computors went down at immigration with about 50 or so people to go. it took about 25/30 mins for them to get going again (and I had already queued for about the same time) so by the time I was through I had to run, dump my bags at the checkout and leave them unattended there to be checked in by airport personnel who I couldn't see. They were amongst other travellers who were queueing to have their bags checked on other flights. this seemed to negate the OTT security procedures that are in place. I just got to the gates as they were boarding, and thats with jumping the queues at check in and security. At Christchurch I was one bag down as it had apparently gone to Auckland, it did get delivered to our house later that evening though.

This baggage check thing apparently doesnt happen if you are flying to Auckland, only Christchurch. I think in fairness it wouldn't have been so tight with the computors behaving but it was the reason we stopped flying with airNZ a few years ago and we only decided to give it another chance as it was suggested here on the forum that the luggage thing had been amended. As I said it has changed for Auckland but beware those who are south island bound. Its a real shame as I would rather spend the money flying Air NZ and support local industry but after I take the return flight back to the UK next year, unless they change the route, I won't be flying with AirNZ via LA. better luggage allowance or not

[Toronto_Kiwi]

I won't be flying with AirNZ via LA. better luggage allowance or not

We won't be flying Air NZ through LA again either. Our luggage was delayed for several days both ways - both times in LA. Also everything Veronica said regarding the ridiculous set-up in LA for customs and connecting flights. I felt like K. in Kafka's 'The Trial' - emerging from one queue to check passports to another longer queue for the carry-on baggage x-ray.

[katandbob]

look at www.seatguru.com, it gives information about the plane types, I found this very useful, and I booked with Cathay...sorry you'll have to wait till June 2nd to hear what we thought about it, but the tickets were £300 + taxes etc, and the econ seats have power points for laptops. etc, the website also gives info about the planes.

we have 6hrs in Hong Kong then onto Auckland.

good luck

PS anyone know if its worth paying $50 for joining the POLO CLUB???? what does this actually get an economy passenger? I'm a bit confused with it all

Kat

[starkhorn]

Hi Veronica,

I know exactly how you feel about LAX and the immigration set-up. I was on NZ1 going straight through to Auckland so I didn't have the nightmare of getting my bags re-checked in.

I really don't get the security procedures though at all, I mean why did we need to get photographed, finger-printed when we are just sitting in the transit lounge for a few hours. I would understand if people were entering the US but we can't leave the transit lounge anyway.

Anyway aside from the nonense at LAX, I've no problems with Air NZ. Comfortable seats even in economy, at 6ft I had plenty of room for my legs. Now that they improved the video screens for the NZ1 flights then I'd imagine the in-flights movies must be better....they still had the big screen when I used them. Food was plain old airline food but no big deal as I didn't take the plane for the food. :) The cabin crew were all very nice and friendly.

If only the situation at LAX wasn't such a mess, it must be really costing Air NZ.

Will I go through LAX again? Honestly I don't know, going through Singapore seems alot less hassle, shame as I liked AirNZ....I just hated LAX.

Cheers
Brendan

[Toronto_Kiwi]

Hi Veronica,

Anyway aside from the nonense at LAX, I've no problems with Air NZ. Comfortable seats even in economy, at 6ft I had plenty of room for my legs. Now that they improved the video screens for the NZ1 flights then I'd imagine the in-flights movies must be better....they still had the big screen when I used them. Food was plain old airline food but no big deal as I didn't take the plane for the food. :) The cabin crew were all very nice and friendly.

Air NZ itself is fine. The new in flight video entertainment system is excellent although it isn't currently available on all flights.

My airline food trick is to always order a special meal (usually vegetarian) even though I don't exactly require one: you get your food first and it's been prepared individually so it's generally higher quality. This worked as well with Air NZ as it has with Air Canada.

[mathmussim]

If you want to see some data, this site has a lot of reviews and ratings (seat reviews too).

http://www.airlinequality.com/

[jubjub]

I found the LAX thing fine, OK the passport control nonsense is a bit much, but as I was on a through flight (NZ1) i did not see my cases from heathrow until I got to Auckland, just had my hand luggage to contend with. I cleared customs voluntarily as I was business class and wanted to go the "proper" lounge.

I always order vege meals as I hate fish and dont want to take a chance on not getting anything to eat.. and they were great on my flight over. Have to say the odd BA flight we have done despite ordering meals well in advance through executive club bookings, I have not been given them, excuse being "must have been a late request" :roll .

Would do Air NZ again, but only on a through flight, hate having to recheck luggage mid journey, and next time at least there will be decent entertainment for all.

BA have been good previsouly overall long haul too.

Edit:- Forgot to put link to this site http://www.seatguru.com/index.php, tells you plane layouts and seat pitches by airline

[jdbob]

I've only been to NZ once. I flew from Idaho (through Salt Lake City, UT) and picked up the LA <-> Auckland flight on Air New Zealand. I had no complaints about the flight down, refurbished 747, plenty of entertainment options, usable seats.

However, on the way back it was one of the non-refurbished 747's, poor entertainment (common screen) and worn out seats. Bit of gamble indeed.

Going back down on the 19th, but on a 777 from San Francisco <-> Auckland, will have to see how it goes.

Personally, I didn't think the food was all that bad considering it was Pacific|Economy|Cattle class. Compared to Dis-United airlines to Europe :)

[G&K]

At time of writing I have been to NZ once on a round trip using British Airways. Both ways the British leg was handled by BA and they used a codeshare with QANTAS for the New Zealand leg.

The service that I had from British Airways was excellent, as I would expect for the price. In all the categories of legroom, entertainment, service and food they excelled themselves.

My experience on the QANTAS side was not so positive however. I found the aircraft appeared older and was less well equipped for the journey. The seats were showing wear and the craft had fewer options for inflight entertainment. My main gripe however would be that they forced me to wait 12 hours in Auckland for my connection to Wellington because they were short of one cabin member - I would have expected them to have someone on standby for this.

I took stopovers in both directions, LA on my way out and both Sydney and Hong Kong on the way back. I would recommend all of these however Hong Kong stood out as somewhere that you could do and see a lot over just two or three days. If you were to do this, I would strongly recommend taking a day to tour Lantau Island, and another day to tour Hong Kong, Kowloon and the New Territories. If you have any further time you can further explore the areas that you enjoyed most. LA didn't stand out as much but if you are interested in American culture or have the time to explore further afield (the Californian National Parks, Grand Canyon etc) there is still plenty to see.

Overall verdict.
These routes were good but a bit pricey, especially after QANTAS let them down. I would strongly recommend that if you are going to pass through Hong Kong that you take a stopover for a couple of days, you won't regret it.

Might do this next time we fly back - where did you stay in Hong Kong - Any recommendations for reasonable Hotels ?

[Debbie]

Just to add another airline into the mix, EVA AIR
I can't recommend them as I've never used them (or any other as it happens) but friends have just immigrated to NZ and used them and this was their feed back. The main point being £900 for busness class one way adult. I've had a quick troll of their wed site and the fairs seem constantly reasonable.



"The flights were good - Biz class was nice - big seats, on demand movies, good food, etc. Seats not as good as BA (not total flat bed) but for 900 quid very good. They weren't great on the booze front although I didn't really ask for any extra so they would probably have been OK if I had."

Debbie

[Jaideco]

Might do this next time we fly back - where did you stay in Hong Kong - Any recommendations for reasonable Hotels ?

I stayed at the City Garden Hotel on Hong Kong Island... It was very acceptable in a kind of unadventurous 4* way. The only drawback was that it was a tad far from where the ferries cross over making taxis or comfy shoes and map essential. The restaurant was good and there was a decent choice of tours that departed from the front doors so exploring the region was a doddle.

Going back I would be happy to use it again but I wouldn't go out of my way to get in there when I am sure that there are lots of other equally good hotels around.

[Jaideco]

Does Asiana really exist? Has anyone used them?
Both seatguru and airlinequality.com have no information about them...
I am starting to wonder whether I should book them quickly for my May flight back to the UK so I get a plane to myself or avoid them incase they serve up previous passengers as their inflight menu...

[Tulip]

Hi Jaideco,

We travelled with the Korean airline to and from NZ in 2003. Since then we have travelled out to NZ on Singapore airlines which was far far nicer, however it was a bit dearer. We chose the Korean option due to it being the cheapest on offer and it was adequate ( we didn't crash!). However you do not have nice meals and your own TVs in the seats in front. We had the same meal (some sort of soup) each time the meal came round!! It was OK but uninteresting.

There is only an odd TV in the aisles and the Koreans love to stand in front of you blocking any chance of you seeing the TV. Mind you, the films were almost all in Korean so did it really matter?

The airport at Seoul was magnificent.....very flash indeed but no one spoke English and we didn't have any Korean money to buy any food on the stopover so it was a good job that we had crisps and sweets with us.

An interesting cheap experience. Shouldn't knock it really though - it was cheap so you get what you pay for eh?

Tulip