jmsvss

What is your airline of choice flying from east coast USA (probably DC area)to Japan? Why do you like them? Which would you avoid?

glorialf

I would avoid all US carriers and fly on one of the asain ones -- service is 100% better, bathrooms are cleaned constantly, food is better. All in all 100% better. I would fly whichever of these has the shortest flight -- i.e. nonstop if possible from DC-- I suspect it will be either Japan or ANA. However, I can recommend any of the following airlines:
Japan Airlines
ANA
Thai Air
Cathay
Singapore
Malaysian Airlines

rkkwan

I'd take ANA non-stop if you're not tied to a particular airline or FF program.

rhkkmk

american and continental are options but as stated the asian airlines will probably provide better service all around..

birder

I fly American if at all possible. Why? Because as far as I can tell, they are the only airline that offers 2-5-2 seating in coach. Get a window and it's only you and only other person in the row. Plus American offers videos in the back of every seat. I really despise being stuck in a 3-5-3 configuration - there's really no good seat - so that's why I prefer American. If an Asian airline had the 2-5-2 configuration, I would definitely go with an Asian airline because I believe the service and food would be better.

someotherguy

I assume Birder is talking about Boeing 777 aircraft. United also configure their coach section 2-5-2 and have the huge advantage of Economy Plus (an extra 4 or so inches of legroom in the front section of coach). You need to have status on United to book in Economy Plus, or pay $299/year. The other 777 configuration is 3-3-3, by the way, not 3-5-3. 747's are invariably 3-4-3.

birder

Cool - I didn't know that about United. I would certainly pay the $299 for Economy Plus access.

DonTopaz

ANA offers Premium Economy on their flights from the US to Japan. In addition to more leg room, Premium Economy also offers wider seat that regular economy.

Given a choice between United and ANA, I'll take ANA any day. The people who work for ANA seem to actually understand that customers are important, and their flight attendants do a lot more than sit in the galley and chat with each other during the flight.

KimJapan

But ANA charges a huge premium for their premium economy seats...much more than UA's $299.00/year.

mrwunrfl

By "DC area" if you mean Dulles airport then the choice is United or ANA. Otherwise, you will make at least one connection. If you choose a connecting flight via New York then check to see if the connection involves changing airports (LGA to JFK) in New York.

fluke

Asian airlines rule. US airlines suck, bad service and food.