To Europe?

The choices I am looking at are as of today:
NorthWest
Airfrance
Delta
KLM <?>
Continental
am I forgetting someone?I believe that is it - I am going to be flying on Delta miles. I have been using the Northwest japan site to check the different options. It is still till early and I am waiting on FF points anyway..but who would you choose to fly if you could on any of the above? I have a pretty open schedule and will coodinate based on where we end up with the best choices are.

I have googled for reviews and the older ones on Delta are pretty bad. Does anyone know if they have replaced their seats?

And one more question - if it is coach who would you fly???

Thanks in advance,
Dawn

Depends on what route.

okay - not sure what route - only that I am going to Europe and looking at all over - where ever I can get the best flight etc. I just need to get to Europe. Leaving from LAX

Leaving from LAX, this is an easy answer. AirFrance or KLM. Northwest, Delta, and Continental will require a pretty long leg in domestic First class. Domestic First Class is not as good as International Business Class.

I would not choose any of the US carriers over AirFrance of KLM. The only exception would be if I were going somewhere deep into Europe - Athens, for example, where the intra-EU leg was as long as the intra-US leg would be.

As for AirFrance vs, KLM, AirFrance is the better bet,

travelgourment - Thank you~

I agree with trying to keep yourself in an international business configured aircraft for as much of your route as possible. I also find Air France's lie flat business seats more comfortable than KLM's on their long haul aircraft. Intra-Europe business is usually just economy-like seating with the middle seat blocked and KLM doesn't even block the middle seat so again Air France is better (unless you're flying domestically within France which is economy only).

Most of Delta's transatlantic flights are on 767-300ERs. These are in the process of refurbishment - adding new seat covers, on-demand video, new pillows, duvets. This should be completed by the time you fly. I find the seats comfortable but some do complain about the seat width which is narrower than most other carriers in business and you have quite a long trek in a domestic first configured aircraft in order to connect from LAX.

Thanks Patty.

I am really on the fence about using all the miles for our tickets to go in business. I could bascially take another trip the next year on miles again if I do not "blow" all of them on one trip.

Having said that - I keep getting nervous (and might be for no reason) with miles and what if they continue to make it more difficult to use. I also have no idea what our personal circumstances will be and if in fact we would be able to take another such trip...

It sounds like if I do go the business route I will try for Airfrance - and perhaps even in Econ. I was happy with the one flight we took from Chile to Paris on Airfrance in Economy. I felt the plane stayed so much cleaner (strange but the bathroom was not gross by the end of the long flight) and the individual screens really helped with the kids.

Thanks again - I really appreciate al the feedback.
Dawn