Statia

Can anyone tell me what international flights on Continental are like in coach class? Seat pitch, foot rest, entertainment options, overall comfort, etc.?

I'm wondering in comparison to say...Air France or British Airways?

amarena

Statia, according to my airline-geek husband, pitch is 32 in, no foot rest, individual seat-back movies/games but control unit takes up space at your feet, and overall comfort is poor.

Continental charges for alcoholic drinks whereas Air France and BA do not.

Voyager2006

go to www.seatguru.com and enter the airline and then the type of aircraft for a description of seat types, width, pitch, good and poor seats, etc., for most airlines.

Statia

I wonder if the overall comfort would be poor for a 4'-11" tiny thing that weighs all of 100 pounds soaking wet?

Not me....but my sister who would be flying coach to meet me in Rome with our mom who will be in BusinessFirst (we're willing splurge the moolah for Mom's comfort on her probably one and only trip to Europe).

Thanks for the info. Any other info would also be appreciated, so feel free to add.

Sis is just concerned that CO in coach will be dreadful compared to what she's used to in AF or BA.

Voyager2006

I can speak to Continental's Business First since we used it this Summer back and forth to Europe. Excellent service and food, comfortable seats which recline to 170 degrees. FA's were absolutely wonderful and complimentary admision to the CO club lounge on either end was a definite plus. Definitely a big step up from coach class.

cruiseluv

No, it won't be "dreadful". We were on coach in Continental last year to Rome and it was very civilized. They even have the little individual TV's on each seat. My kids loved it. Of course, Business First is better!

Statia

Thanks for the info. Anyone else have anything to add?

SusanP

Statia, I just returned from Rome on Continental (flew into Venice, but that leg was on SN Brussels). I don't know about the pitch, but I'm 5'1" and didn't find it any more uncomfortable than any other seat (although I can't compare to Air France or BA, since I haven't flown with them).

Each seat had the entertainment screen and the control fits into the armrest. The food was awful (the zucchini and eggplant gave new meaning to the word "overcooked"!), but the food on the way over Newark-Brussels wasn't that bad.

Surprisingly, one thing that impressed me was the restroom! I avoid restrooms on flights at all costs, but on a 9-hour flight, sometimes you just have to use it. It had been a long time since I had done so on any airline, but the restroom was definitely bigger than any I had ever seen and amazingly clean 6 hours into the flight.

elaine

Interesting restroom comment, so many of them get downright icky just a few hours into the flight. And the tiny size! I often wonder how large people manage--it's unreasonable even for average people, especially for those trying to avoid unwanted contact with all the surfaces.
I haven't flown first-class to Europe--are the rest rooms larger?

jules4je7

I've flown Virgin Atlantic, BA and Continental to/from Europe and found BA to be the best of the three, Virgin a distant 2nd, and Continental 3rd in terms of
1) legroom;
2) food quality;
3) entertainment choices and functionality;
4) ontime landings/departures;
5) as well as overall abuse suffered at the hands of the airline and their employees.

Ok, everything's true except #5...Everyone was quite nice, but the quality of my flight on BA was the best overall.

Happy travels.

Jules

kismetchimera

Ciao Nyna, I flew with Continental, Air France and British Airways many times..Cattle class is cattle class not matter which airline you take..AA, used to be the best for leg space, but now that is also a thing of the past..
I like both Continental and Air France, but the food in British Airways is just AWFUL..
I think that is wonderful that Continental has finally a non stop flight from Houston to Rome.
Ciao,
AnnaMaria

Statia

Thanks for the further info.

kayd

Is Continental's EWR-FCO a nonstop? I think the differences in comfort from one airline to another are minimal for coach passengers, so I'd take any nonstop to avoid a change of planes anywhere in Europe (especially CDG).

Seamus

I've flown CO in both coach and BusinessFirst across the pond, and BF is definitely a lot nicer (duh). In standard coach, can't say there is a whole lot of difference among the various players. CO uses 767 for this route, and coach pitch is 32", seat width 17.9" (Virgin=32/17.5, AF = 32/18, BA =31/17.5) BA does offer the "World Traveler Plus" seating that is 38/18.5" but it comes at a cost.
As a CO loyalist I'd probably go with them.

kismetchimera

Yes Kayd, Continental has a non stop flight from EWR to FCO.

Dlemma

So far this year, I've flown long-haul flights on Air France (1), KLM (1),and Continental(3). I should mention that I'm 5'11" with long legs, so legroom is my main criteria for comfort.

By far the worst coach class is KLM. The seats are fiendishly designed so that if the person in front of you reclines even a little bit you can't move and worse, you can't see your little movie screen.

Continental's seats are far more comfortable. They are designed so that the person in front of you can recline, and it's still tolerable. It's about as good as it gets in coach (not saying much, I know). As far as food goes, I find the hot meals OK, the breakfast is abysmal.

Air France is a little less comfortable than CO, but the food is a little bit better.

By the way, Continentals Houston-Rome flight is not a non-stop. There is a stop and a change of airplanes at Newark. From Newark to Rome is nonstop, as has already been noted here.

kwt1966

I just returned on 10/6 from Rome on Continental in coach.

The EWR to FCO is a non-stop flight. Going over was wonderful. We had a young, energetic flight crew. The seat width was about normal for coach. It was bearable, and I'm a 5'9" woman - not petite by any means. We had individual movie screens, and the food was tolerable. No food rests.

Coming back was another story. I think I just lucked out on having a surly flight crew. They seemed to be none to happy to be working. I also managed a seat next to not one, but two screaming children.

I've flown BA as well, and it's a toss up in my book for room and comfort. I definitely got better service on BA, though.

Overall, coach is bearable. A 4'11", 100 lb. person should be more than okay.

Statia

Thanks for the further info. I'll pass it along to my sister. We are still at a toss up between AF and CO, both price and comfort being factors.

Yes, if we go with CO, it will be IAH to EWR to FCO. AF would be IAH to CDG to FCO. The price difference isn't much between the two so your replies are helpful. Thanks.

SusanP

Statia, While I don't have experience with it myself, I've read numerous times that changing planes at CDG is not a fun thing to do. It wasn't bad at Newark, so that might be something to consider as well.

elaine, I don't know if 1st Class restrooms are larger, as I used the one in Coach. Of course, it wasn't huge, but definitely bigger than any other I've seen.

rkkwan

Statia -

On the outbound, the EWR connection is very easy; much much better than AF at CDG. On the return, she needs to clear immigration/customs at EWR, then reclear security. Not the most pleasant, but everything's under one roof - which I'll still prefer over changing at CDG.

One alternative is KLM. My parents usually fly KLM to Europe from Houston. They are Continental gold elites, and can get all the benefits on KL like preferred seating, bonus miles, 100% EQM, etc. And transit at AMS is very pleasant.

CO's 767 are very new, all with personal video screens. Pitch is about average at 32". I've never seen a dirty bathroom on CO, even on fully-booked 15-hour EWR-HKG flights. I find the seat comfort level adequate.

There's not much in terms of service on CO's trans-Atlantic flight. No towels, no menu, no free alcoholic drinks, no amenity kits. Food is "edible". As long as you don't expect anything extra, it's alright.

KLM has better food and service, but no personal video screens on their IAH flights on a 747-400 or 767-300.