Rate these three airlines PLEASE!
Apr 18th, 2004, 10:28 AM
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Rate these three airlines PLEASE!
Going to Rome from LAX in May 4 ppl. Can't decide between Swiss, KLM or British. Does anyone have any opinion good or bad about Swiss Int'l Air???
Apr 18th, 2004, 10:38 AM
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Sheila -- that's Schipol, not KLM per se -- but it amounts to the same thing
[and she's right -- Schipol is a twilight zone for luggage]
From Chicago Swiss uses MD 11s -- cramped clunkers even for a petite soul such as myself
[and she's right -- Schipol is a twilight zone for luggage]From Chicago Swiss uses MD 11s -- cramped clunkers even for a petite soul such as myself
Apr 18th, 2004, 10:43 AM
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Just returned from my trip to Interlaken/Rome and took Swiss Int. Air from Los Angeles. They are now using the Airbus 340 which is one the most technical planes in the sky today including the entertainment "packgage" available in the coach section. It includes 9 movies available at anytime on the sceen in the seat in front of you. A camera is located in the cockpit for takeoffs and landings and a camera is also located in the bottom of the plane for an additional viewpoint. The service to/from Switzerland and Rome was SUPERB !!! BUT THAT'S WHERE IT ENDS!!! The Airbus 340 is the most UNCOMFORTABLE plane for long distance traveling. There is ZERO room to walk around as you can only stand in the 4 feet aisles. Lickily I was on one of their last MD 11's back to LA from Zurich. The 340 will replace this aircraft in the near future. AVOID THE AIRBUS 340 AT ALL COSTS !!! Mike
Apr 18th, 2004, 11:03 AM
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Do you know how you will capture the considerable value of FF miles for such a long haul on each of those carriers? While there is certainly more to consider than that, it is not something to ignore, either.
Apr 18th, 2004, 11:11 AM
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Thank you all for your input so far. I have scratched KLM and am now focusing more on BA and Swiss. Last year we had a great flight with BA but I was hoping that Swiss would be more comfortable in econ class. With two kids BA was cramped although they did not seem to mind at all. I would like to try something new and Swiss has great discounts for kids. Somehow thought it might be less likely to meet up with Bin Laden on Swiss too.
Flyboy - I sadly am not equiped to interpret the FF math. We have logged some miles in the past but I cannot jump through the firey hoops of restrictions and black out dates. I wish I had the energy and the brain cells as I understand that so many people greatly benefit from FF miles. I usually just charge the trips to my AMEX and get a rebate at the end of the year. Not as good as the FF way. I never thought that one trip a year for four people would add up as I thought miles expired after 12 months. At least that was the way it used to be with the all time worse airline, Alitalia - IMO. Any suggestions?
Flyboy - I sadly am not equiped to interpret the FF math. We have logged some miles in the past but I cannot jump through the firey hoops of restrictions and black out dates. I wish I had the energy and the brain cells as I understand that so many people greatly benefit from FF miles. I usually just charge the trips to my AMEX and get a rebate at the end of the year. Not as good as the FF way. I never thought that one trip a year for four people would add up as I thought miles expired after 12 months. At least that was the way it used to be with the all time worse airline, Alitalia - IMO. Any suggestions?
Apr 18th, 2004, 11:15 AM
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I used KLM once from Houston to Schipol, the services were allright for cattle class.
Also I have used British from London to Rome..but because we were upgraded to first class, we received excellent services..
Coming back from Paris to London, always with British Airline, we stayed in cattle class, the food was HORRIBLE...
Also I have used British from London to Rome..but because we were upgraded to first class, we received excellent services..
Coming back from Paris to London, always with British Airline, we stayed in cattle class, the food was HORRIBLE...
Apr 18th, 2004, 11:17 AM
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I don't recommend BA. Flight between London and Rome was alot nicer (shorter of course) but was on BMI. I hated our BA aircraft from SFO to LON. One of the flight attendants was ill-trained in dealing properly with passengers.
Apr 18th, 2004, 11:18 AM
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Hi Kismet!!!
I have not been around for awhile and I am so pleased that you replied. I too have had good experiences on BA - minus the terrible food. I usually order a Veg or Kosher meal in order to avoid the mystery meat.
I have not been around for awhile and I am so pleased that you replied. I too have had good experiences on BA - minus the terrible food. I usually order a Veg or Kosher meal in order to avoid the mystery meat.
Apr 18th, 2004, 11:29 AM
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All three are pretty much equal with the comfort/service offered. Assuming the connection times are simlar in the respective hub cities, all three will take about the same time to get you to the destination.
Personally I would look at what can I get out of flying one of the three that the other 2 can't give me.
Assuming the fares are same or very close, I, just like <b>Flyboy</b>, would be looking at possible miles accured for this long trip.
If you are a member of NWA/KLM program or whoever is their partner, go with KLM.
If you are interested at all in American Airlines and their mileage program, go with Swiss.
BA would be the last choice, only because of their assenine new mileage earning rules. 25% in economy. You can't earn miles with their American partner AA on transatlantic flights. So for me, not much of a return.
Just a suggestion, but AA from LA to London, connecting with BA, would be my choice on such a long trip. AA has the most comfort in coach. They fly B777 on that route. Entertainment is on par with the others, service is same or very close. After all we're talking economy. And since the short BA flight is not transatlantic, you will earn AA miles, although at the ridiculous rate of 25%. Still you would be more comfortable for the long haul.
Personally I would look at what can I get out of flying one of the three that the other 2 can't give me.
Assuming the fares are same or very close, I, just like <b>Flyboy</b>, would be looking at possible miles accured for this long trip.
If you are a member of NWA/KLM program or whoever is their partner, go with KLM.
If you are interested at all in American Airlines and their mileage program, go with Swiss.
BA would be the last choice, only because of their assenine new mileage earning rules. 25% in economy. You can't earn miles with their American partner AA on transatlantic flights. So for me, not much of a return.
Just a suggestion, but AA from LA to London, connecting with BA, would be my choice on such a long trip. AA has the most comfort in coach. They fly B777 on that route. Entertainment is on par with the others, service is same or very close. After all we're talking economy. And since the short BA flight is not transatlantic, you will earn AA miles, although at the ridiculous rate of 25%. Still you would be more comfortable for the long haul.
Apr 18th, 2004, 11:37 AM
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Calamari, I am 6ft. tall and weigh 179 lbs. There is another "item" I forgot to mention about the 340's. The seats are so small/tight that your butt (pardon my French) is completely "snugged in". I honestly do not know how an overweight person can fit in that seat. By the way, all the employees of Swiss Air on that flight agreed with my analysis especially the lack of walking space. It really makes their job alot harder. Mike
Apr 18th, 2004, 11:41 AM
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I'm not sure which aircraft I flew on BA a few years ago but it was a newer one. I'm only 5'2" and the legroom was pretty nonexistant and it appears that the seats got narrower too. It was a very uncomfortable 10+ hours.
Apr 18th, 2004, 01:44 PM
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Calamari, FF math isn't all that difficult. If it was me, I would take the KLM flight and have the miles credited to a Northwest Worldperks account. As a base member, you would get 100% mileage credit and the miles never expire as long as you have account activity at least once every three years. Do that trip twice and you have enough for a capacity controlled free ticket in the U.S./Canada. Do it only once you have enough miles to access a cheap "Cash & Miles" fare at some point in the future. The value of the miles at 1.5 cents each for that trip is almost $200 per person and you get the AMEX points anyway, so that has nothing to do with the other part of the equation. Regardless of which carrier you choose, I would check the partnerships and be sure to bank the miles somewhere where they are going to be the most useable for you in the future (and at 25% credit for BA, I would tell them to stuff it! LOL!).
This stuff is worth learning. If I was taking that same flight as a gold elite, I would be getting enough miles on that one trip for a free domestic ticket. Yes, there are some challenges to booking minimum level award tickets -- and YES it is DEFINITELY worth the trouble. (If you decide to book KLM and you don't have a Worldperks account, e-mail me at: [email protected] and I'll show you how we can BOTH get more miles.
)
This stuff is worth learning. If I was taking that same flight as a gold elite, I would be getting enough miles on that one trip for a free domestic ticket. Yes, there are some challenges to booking minimum level award tickets -- and YES it is DEFINITELY worth the trouble. (If you decide to book KLM and you don't have a Worldperks account, e-mail me at: [email protected] and I'll show you how we can BOTH get more miles.
)
Apr 18th, 2004, 09:06 PM
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Rex
I missed out on the fares I was considering. I hope to leave around May 31 and return end of June. Should I hold out hope that summer rates will go down or am I just not taking my family to Italy again this year? What is your valued opinion? Thanks in advance.
I missed out on the fares I was considering. I hope to leave around May 31 and return end of June. Should I hold out hope that summer rates will go down or am I just not taking my family to Italy again this year? What is your valued opinion? Thanks in advance.
