International Airlines

[King_Henry]

Originally posted by brampta
Argh I am so over Qantas but I'm racking up frequent flyer points between Melbourne and Perth.

Dont fly Garuda until you've written a will. They dont teach their pilots how to land planes.

Qantas landing looks like this.....
--------------------
------------------------
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Garuda? like THIS
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
= = = = __/\___

Sorry this is the best artistic impression that I could give!

You think Garuda is bad, wait till you try Merpati (that is if they still exist)

Anyone who has flown with them will vouch for me.

Took them a few years ago when i flew to Kupang (West Timor).

Seriously thought i was going to die.

 

[mandy]

Originally posted by Kane McGoodwin
Singapore Airlines are probably the best I have been on.

Kris TV!!!!!! Can't beat that!

Lufthansa are OK, but have a very dodgy breakfast menu.

Best meal I ever got on a plane was with Delta. A very nice fillet mignon.

American Airlines served a very tasty chicken salad.

Garuda were fine last year when I went to Bali. I'd heard horror stories, but their satay beef was very pleasing to the palate.

Service on Ryan Air was ok, but we only got a salami roll.

and yes, I judge my airlines on the food they serve and the movies they show.

 

[brampta]

Originally posted by King_Henry


You think Garuda is bad, wait till you try Merpati (that is if they still exist)

Anyone who has flown with them will vouch for me.

Took them a few years ago when i flew to Kupang (West Timor).

Seriously thought i was going to die.

I'm pretty sure Merpati went down about the same time as the Suharto regime. I don't think they're flying from Perth anymore. Only garuda and qantas since ansett went down

 

[iceman]

Originally posted by mandy5


Lufthansa are OK, but have a very dodgy breakfast menu.

[/SIZE]

maybe thats why i didnt like them

that and the fact they packed in a million people into extraordinarily small seats in economy class

 

[Pornstar]

British Airways are good, much better than Qantas. Love the British accent of the flight attendants too, very sexy. If you are flying around California stay away from America West airlines====>pure assclowns.

 

[The Spornstar]

I'm going overseas at the end of the year and I'm unforunately supporting Eddie's mob in Emirates. On the bright side I hear they are a good airline.

Only international flights I have been on involved British Airways and Thai. I was too young to remember BA, but Thai weren't that bad. The in-flight entertainment wasn't great but the food was ok and the service was soooo much better than I've ever had on a Qantas flight (though I've only flown Qantas domestic - I prefer the Virgin hostesses, absolute hotties the lot of them!).

Can someone answer me this - When I fly Emirates, will I get my own TV with channel choices in Economy or is that only for the pr*cks like Eddie in First Class ?

 

[Still Crowing]

Fly El Al, the Isreali national carrier. Seriously, sounds like a demented idea but:

BEFORE Sept 11, they used to require passengers to turn up at least 2 hours before a flight, for FULL a security check. Imagine what they are like now?!? That is one airline that has it's security sh|t in one sock.

My personal favourite for O/S flying....Lauda. The hosties rocked, they have this Swiss/Austrian accent thing going. It's a relativey small airline that really seemed to pride itself on looking after the customer.

OTOH, as much as I dislike what they did to Ansett, AirNZ did keep my glass filled with wine all the way from Sydney to Auckland last year, and I was in Cattle class. Between me and the cute Canadian girl next to me, we polished off a fair bit; helped to make sure I didn't have to spend the first day in NZ alone

 

[you_idiot]

Originally posted by Still Crowing
...as much as I dislike what they did to Ansett, AirNZ did keep my glass filled with wine all the way from Sydney to Auckland last year, and I was in Cattle class.

Thanks for mentioning that, Kasey.

That's one memory I relish from my expensive but necessary side trip to Wellington on Air NZ in March. They always kept my wine glass full... the flight attendants made frequent trips up and down the aisles to ensure this.

And I always get to the airport at least two hours ahead of departure, even if I'm only flying domestic. You never know what can happen.

For international flights, it's minimum four hours for me, which took on a ridiculously excessive (but absolutely necessary) tone when I had to fly back from Amsterdam to San Francisco last September 15-- I was at the Amsterdam airport SIX hours ahead of takeoff. And that flight was delayed a further two hours so that flight security would see that the plane was OK (they discovered a busted valve in the engine, good thing for that delay!), and all that was on a 12-hour flight en route to SFO. Most weary flight of my life, undoubtedly. I was asleep within 30 minutes of getting home after my mom brought me back from the airport.

Cheers,
William

 

[Still Crowing]

Yeah, I ALWAYS get to the airport at least 2 hours before the flight for international, and 1 hour for domestic. Luckily for me, 'cos on that trip to NZ I forgot my passport (after checking three times that I had it before I left the house!).

Another thing, you'd be surprised how being polite/friendly to airline staff can be rewarded. I seem to have a better than usual success rate for free upgrades, earlier flights etc.

Also it can help if I am in uniform. Perhaps they can relate

 

[Vindaloo Mat]

ranking those I have flown....

KLM
Singapore
Air NZ
Malaysian
BA
JAL
Ansett
Qantas
Thai
Northwest
SAS
Continental
Indian Airlines
Lauda

I HATE Lauda. A word of warning....Lauda and Alitalia both regularly overbook their flights....that is they have 200 seats and sell 230 tickets, allowing that 30 people don't turn up.

So, as I did, you can arrive at the airport 1.5 hours before the flight...midnight in KL...two kids and pregnant wife...to be told that you have no seat..."but I have a ticket and you took my money", I say....."yes but we fill the plane on a first come first serve basis", they say...."yes but you did not tell me that", I say..."thank you come again", they say, "but....", "thank you come again".

Never been so angry in all my life. They guarenteed me a flight on the next plane.....in two days time.

NEVER....EVER.....>FLY LAUDA.

Vindaloo Mat

 

[The Spornstar]

How many of you guys have ever got a free upgrade? Was there any reason for it? Just wondering about the best methods for scamming an upgrade

 

[thommo16]

My fave airline would be Japan Airlines. Okay the food was a bit weird, but we had a overnight stopover in a 5 star hotel in Osaka, with a gorgeous breakfast!!!

 

[Still Crowing]

Originally posted by The Spornstar
How many of you guys have ever got a free upgrade? Was there any reason for it? Just wondering about the best methods for scamming an upgrade

Just be polite, smile, ask nicely. Also, helps if you are there early.
Hunting Free Upgrades is like being out on the pull, but for a good seat rather than a good (stopping now ). You gotta ask the question. You'll get knocked back a few times, but when it comes off, you'll feel like a king!

Also, if I am flying on business, and I am in uniform, the guys n gals behind the check-in desk seem more receptive to the question. So, short of signing your life away to the 'Grey Funnel Lines' or renting a costume, I think basic manners will give you a decent leg up. You'd be surprised how little people in public service get to see them from the general public these days.

btw Vindaloo Mat, maybe thats just an Asian destination thing. When I was in Europe, Lauda were nothing but professional (and the hosties were HOT!).

 

[GoEagles]

Originally posted by brampta


I'm pretty sure Merpati went down about the same time as the Suharto regime. I don't think they're flying from Perth anymore. Only garuda and qantas since ansett went down

Only Garuda and Qantas go to Bali direct from Perth these days, however in October a new airline called Paradise International will begin Perth-Bali flights (also Sydney-Bali flights) with a possibility of Melbourne also