canadian_robin

We are in the process of booking flights from Canada to Kenya. Out of Heathrow, we have two options which are about the same price - either fly Kenya Airways overnight or British Airways during the day. Does anyone feel stongly about one airline over the other? I haven't been on BA for years and have never flown Kenya Airways. I would appreciate your input regarding service, food, chances of luggage arriving with us, etc. I am leaning towards Kenya Airways because I prefer to fly overnight and sleep through the long flight, but have no experience with the airline. Thanks! Robin

amon

@canadianrobin
please remember the times you will land in nbo for both flight and what you want to do on that day/night. eg kq (kenya airways) will land early morning 0545 to 0600hours.if you are to get accommodation before midday, you might have to pay for the previous night or you you might find rooms have not been vacated.

canadian_robin

Good point! The BA flight gets in at 9:00pm and the KA flight gets in at 6:30am. We would definitely need early check-in for the KA flight. Thanks! Robin

Lynneb

Kenya Airways are ok, in my experience they are no worse than any other airline re losing baggage.

Entertainment onboard and food isn't as good as BA but if you're on a night flight you could eat beforehand and then just sleep.

Personally, I'd go for the flight that got to me Kenya first rather than hang around.

Feistybrit

My daughter and I flew Kenya Airways on October 29 for our Tanzanian safari. It was an overnight flight, which I prefer. We found when we got to check in at Heathrow that they were making an unscheduled stop in Paris to pick up more passengers. We were told it would be a 50 minute delay but we sat on the runway for 3 hours and missed our connection from Nairobi the next day.

That was a nightmare. But I found the food and the entertainment to be fine and our luggage did not get lost, much to our surprise.
Instead of getting to our Arusha destination at about 9.30am on the 30th, we got there at 8.00pm!
But nothing is guaranteed with any flight, things can change on the day.
Good luck and don't let anything spoil the trip. We still had a fantastic time.

canadian_robin

Thanks Feistybrit! Good to know! I would not have been happy to have another 3 hours added to an already long flight. I am amazed that Kenya Airways would add an unscheduled stop in Paris. I wonder if this happens often. I am now leaning toward BA! Robin

canadian_robin

Ooops - sorry meant to post the above reply on another link - although I don't see how the ad relates to flights to and from Nairobi either !

mkhonzo

Virgin...is the airline I flew on to reach Nairobi. What can I say, but with the use of the clubhouse in London, quite simply a pleasure! Flight gets in around 07h15. If you purchase your visa ahead of time you'll be through immigration in a heartbeat.

Feistybrit

My daughter lives in the UK and I live in the US. We tried to get a Virgin flight but they only fly out there once a week or something so we were unable to go with them.
I love Virgin though. Always fly with them to England.

canadian_robin

Thanks! I'll look into Virgin. Robin