Best long haul carriers to Prague
May 2nd, 2015, 08:02 AM
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Best long haul carriers to Prague
I need your suggestions on best long haul carriers transcontinental to Prague if you can't fly business or first class. It will be two stop flight either in ORD or JFK, then on to western Europe (mostly likely Heathrow or Amsterdam or Munich depending in carrier).
I would like to do economy plus unless somwone has other suggestions, but I have read mixed reviews on the carriers.
Delta has been my only experience with longer flights in the States.
I appreciate you thoughts everyone
I would like to do economy plus unless somwone has other suggestions, but I have read mixed reviews on the carriers.
Delta has been my only experience with longer flights in the States.
I appreciate you thoughts everyone
May 2nd, 2015, 10:41 AM
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I think all major carriers are about the same in terms of size of seats/pitch in economy. You can check www.seatguru.com to see specifications of your choices, if you want.
I prefer United for economy plus because it's relatively cheap compared to other carriers. It's only about $120 each way for me, and I really like that, at least when I go over as that's when you need to sleep. I don't care as much coming home in the day time. I don't know what it costs on Delta. On United, it just gives you more leg room, not width, but that's the most important thing to me.
I think there are going to be mixed reviews on any airline as none of them are perfect, and a lot of the difference simply depends on what kind of ticket you can afford, as well as random luck regarding something that could happen on a flight.
I do like CSA (Czech Airlines), however for flights to/from Prague and they fly from JFK nonstop to Prague. Generally, it can be nice to use the country's flagship carrier. They partner with Delta. But again, that's a choice--do you want to change in Europe or in the US. If you can get a flight to JFK, then you'd only need one change the whole route. With United, you'd need to change at ORD then in Europe once again. But if you are talking about flying from Springfield MO as in your profile, I don't think you can get to JFK nonstop anyway. so then you are still stuck with two changes to get to PRG.
United is probably one of the best bets for your route, anyway, in terms of price, and they have a hub at ORD, then they'll change at Frankfurt or Vienna coming home. I do like changing at AMsterdam (KLM) fine, though. I would never change at Heathrow unless I had to, and often that even means having to get to Gatwick for a flight within Europe. It's just general standards, I think it's preferable to change at smaller airports if you can.
I prefer United for economy plus because it's relatively cheap compared to other carriers. It's only about $120 each way for me, and I really like that, at least when I go over as that's when you need to sleep. I don't care as much coming home in the day time. I don't know what it costs on Delta. On United, it just gives you more leg room, not width, but that's the most important thing to me.
I think there are going to be mixed reviews on any airline as none of them are perfect, and a lot of the difference simply depends on what kind of ticket you can afford, as well as random luck regarding something that could happen on a flight.
I do like CSA (Czech Airlines), however for flights to/from Prague and they fly from JFK nonstop to Prague. Generally, it can be nice to use the country's flagship carrier. They partner with Delta. But again, that's a choice--do you want to change in Europe or in the US. If you can get a flight to JFK, then you'd only need one change the whole route. With United, you'd need to change at ORD then in Europe once again. But if you are talking about flying from Springfield MO as in your profile, I don't think you can get to JFK nonstop anyway. so then you are still stuck with two changes to get to PRG.
United is probably one of the best bets for your route, anyway, in terms of price, and they have a hub at ORD, then they'll change at Frankfurt or Vienna coming home. I do like changing at AMsterdam (KLM) fine, though. I would never change at Heathrow unless I had to, and often that even means having to get to Gatwick for a flight within Europe. It's just general standards, I think it's preferable to change at smaller airports if you can.
May 2nd, 2015, 11:29 AM
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"Best" can be defined many ways. It would be more productive if you look at all the options and see what is acceptable by your definition of best. Even if you get "best" seat type, arrival time, layover considerations can make less than "best" seat to come out as proving a better experience depends on what you value.
From the seating point of view, US carriers are behind the curve. Delta/United/American offer a few inches more leg space using practically the same seat and call them "premium" seats. Non US carriers such as Air France, Lufthansa, British Air, etc, offer a cabin class not available with US carriers. These European carriers offer Premium economy seats market positioned between US Economy "plus" and Business class. They come with more pitch and seats that look more like business class seats. They are priced between the Economy and the Business class seats. Look at www.seatguru.com and each airline web site on flights you found to see if you can get these European (not US) "premium" seats.
From the seating point of view, US carriers are behind the curve. Delta/United/American offer a few inches more leg space using practically the same seat and call them "premium" seats. Non US carriers such as Air France, Lufthansa, British Air, etc, offer a cabin class not available with US carriers. These European carriers offer Premium economy seats market positioned between US Economy "plus" and Business class. They come with more pitch and seats that look more like business class seats. They are priced between the Economy and the Business class seats. Look at www.seatguru.com and each airline web site on flights you found to see if you can get these European (not US) "premium" seats.
May 2nd, 2015, 01:47 PM
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That's true, but the premium economy on Air France, for example, costs almost double the economy fare, whereas on United, it's only about $120. So in the summer to Paris from the East coast, for example, that can add on about $1200. The seats are about 1 or 1.5 inch wider and have 6 inches more less room rather than the 3-4 inches more leg room on United (and no extra width). I don't know about Lufthansa, etc, I just fly AF a lot so know, I can't afford flying their premium economy.
So it really is what you are willing to pay and how much. I am a little leery of AF, also, because someone on Fodors complained once that even though they paid for premium economy, they got bumped to economy and AF refused to refund them the money difference as in their terms/contract, they call that the same fare class. Seems unbelievable to me, but they consider it just a seating preference or something, no difference than aisle so legally they don't have to refund it. Yes, even though right on their website, they call that a fare class.
So it really is what you are willing to pay and how much. I am a little leery of AF, also, because someone on Fodors complained once that even though they paid for premium economy, they got bumped to economy and AF refused to refund them the money difference as in their terms/contract, they call that the same fare class. Seems unbelievable to me, but they consider it just a seating preference or something, no difference than aisle so legally they don't have to refund it. Yes, even though right on their website, they call that a fare class.
May 2nd, 2015, 02:01 PM
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This is the thread I'm referring to, although it is a little confusing to me as to what the compensation was worth. The complainer got $420 refund per seat and AF claimed it was not being downgraded so they didn't owe EU compensation.
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...-downgrade.cfm
But I'm not clear on whether the $420 was the difference in fare or not. When I checked fares, the cost was more like $1200.
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...-downgrade.cfm
But I'm not clear on whether the $420 was the difference in fare or not. When I checked fares, the cost was more like $1200.
