Favourite Airline?

[Jack_Dawson]

I happen to think for just...coolness, easy-to-deal with, and chance of getting a great seat even if you book the flight the same day, Southwest is head-and-shoulders above everyone. Plus, you can order Wild Turkey and Cokes and they never even ask you for your expired coupons. And when they do, they're OK that they are expired. Just sayin'.

:beer:

[DBoon]

1. other - Jefferson Airplane

[Jack_Dawson]

2. Way to date yourself

And...I recognize the reference.

:toast:

[DBoon]

12. yeah, they were my favorite band when I was in 7th grade

nt

[AlCzervik]

3. I voted United because we usually fly free due to all the miles we have but Lufthansa

is my actual favorite airline, best chocolate i ever had was on that airline.

[Jack_Dawson]

4. How many miles?

:shrug:

[AlCzervik]

5. right now it's over 400k.

[Jack_Dawson]

6. How come my 250K

(mostly through my cc) doesn't translate to upgrades? Just askin'...

:beer:

[AlCzervik]

7. i don't know, do you have the special card?

i get an automatic upgrade even when i book coach. How many miles do you fly in a year?

[Jack_Dawson]

8. What's the special card?

I have "Mileage Plus" credit card. But I think flying miles are worth more than dining miles.

[AlCzervik]

9. here's the links-

http://www.united.com/page/middlepage/0,8680,1168,00.html?navSource=mileageplus&linkTitle=121k

and this one

http://www.united.com/page/article/0,6722,52380,00.html?navSource=mileageplus&linkTitle=MMndBeyond

[Deep13]

10. Air Canada nt

[PBS Poll-435]

17. True dat.

I was treated like royalty on a coach flight.

My own TV. 2 free drinks! (ok they couldn't make change for a USD $50.)

But still,

I Lurve Air Canada!

[terrya]

32. I agree with you.

Air Canada is the best. Excellent service...even in coach.

[barb162]

11. KLM

[Zavulon]

19. I second the KLM vote.

Those guys start breaking out the food and drinks before the plane even levels off. Amazing service.

[Initech]

24. I'm booked on KLM in March.

Should be great - first time visiting Amsterdam. :smoke:

[Initech]

13. Southwest - no fees

I book flights on Southwest all the time for work and they're the easiest in the world to work with.

Most difficult? US Airways.

[question everything]

14. That's an oxymoron. Favorite Airline? (nt)

[Critters2]

15. Belizian Air. nt

[uppityperson]

16. SAS, they treat you right and well.

They give you drinks, and you get to watch movies at your seat, and even a hot wet washcloth in the morning before you land if you are flying over seas. They used to have little sayings on everything, even salt and pepper packages.

Domestically? None.

[Submariner]

18. Qatar Airways - had to fly first class

The oil company picked up the tab. They shuttle first-class to the plane in a 800 series BMW. Serve sugar sprinkled dates with an almond in it, hot Arab tea poured from an Aladdin's Lamp-like silver urn. Great tasting food the whole flight, some of it I did not recognize. Everyone in Arab clothing with designer labels and were dripping in jewels.

A few cracked me up playing with their electric seats like a little kid in a toy store.

[SoxFan]

20. Southwest

They are, by far, the most customer-oriented of the major airlines. As long as you don't care about fru-fru amenities, it's the best.

I have also had good luck with AirTran. The fares are reasonable and the service was good. Unfortunately, they have a relatively limited route system and schedule.

[Beaverhausen]

21. Quantas - because that is the airline that took me to Australia

[cloudbase]

22. Continental for domestic travel.

So many good overseas carriers. I like KLM and ANA.

[CatholicEdHead]

23. Hawaiian Airlines

I love the drinks they serve for inter-island flights.

Northwest/Delta are the worst.

[mnhtnbb]

25. My fav airline trip was on Air New Zealand in '94. Haven't flown them since...

but the flight attendants were helpful, funny, and served free booze in coach. Made the long ride
from Honolulu to Auckland bearable.

[fizzgig]

26. frontier for travel within the states

but jet blue is up there, as well. the service on the plan is always wonderful and the staff is always so friendly.

but the best flight i ever had was on british airways when i came back from london a number of years ago. when i was checking in, they told me they were going to move me up. i had a seat in the middle of coach and i thought they meant they were going to move me closer to the front of coach, but they actually bumped me up to business.

oh gods, it was awesome. i had the bulkhead seat and could put my foot on the wall and lock my knee. the food was amazing (the only time i've ever had foie gras), the choice of tv was excellent and the drink service was fantastic :D

i will say, though, that as much as i hate united for traveling in the states, their international flights aren't bad.

[RFKHumphreyObama]

27. Well I voted for Singapore Airlines

Greater leg room, high quality of service, efficient and comfortable with the latest technology.

But there are other airlines which are excellent as well

Brunei Airlines was surprisingly good. Brunei is an Islamic state so all the stewardesses have their heads covered, an Islamic prayer is said before takeoff and no alcohol is served. But that makes flying the airline all the more unique. The service was second to none and, because the airline is not a major airline, there are always several empty seats on the so it is not crowded. I highly recommend it

Malaysia Airlines is usually good –they usually have the latest technology and it is relatively comfortable. Service is slightly hit and miss sometimes though

I enjoyed flying United Airlines during my time in the States –usually good service and pleasant flying experience

[mwooldri]

28. British Airways.

And no it's not being biased here - just best service I received was from them, even when things went wrong.

Had one issue when the plane was horribly delayed from Charlotte to London Gatwick... one of the crew didn't shut the door right and as a result the emergency chute inflated. Tried to get a replacement but US Airways parts didn't have the right bit. So to fly safe, they asked for volunteers to fly via NY instead until they got down to a safe number of passengers. I volunteered but didn't get picked. The whole delay was about 3 hours but still I wrote and complained to BA, who in return gave me a voucher for £250.00 towards a future flight. Oh, and on that future flight, I came to the USA with my now wife. Reason for coming was to get married... and this slipped out when speaking with the crew. We both got slipped a couple of bottles of champagne. Was told she snuck it out of First Class and not to tell anyone. Other apart from that it's the general service... plenty of drink, never unhappy to help out... even if they weren't making their rounds you could always go to the back of the plane and ask for a drink.

Then came September 2001 and after that BA discontinued flying from Charlotte. Since then I've flown US Airways - they had a plane breakdown and all they did was invite us to stay in the terminal and hand out blankets; the plane was delayed 10 hours. Oh and on the way back I got unvoluntarily bumped to the next days flight because they were overbooked. Air Canada was nice, Continental too (they're my present favourites after flying with them twice as a family back to UK). Delta lost our luggage, but did get it back the next day. American Airlines was a whole non-experience - nothing memorable, nothing bad either.

Maybe one day I'll get to fly BA again, but only if I can afford it. They're always more expensive than the others, primarily because they don't fly where we want to fly out of, and if I want to fly them, I'd have to fly someone else to their airport. Until then, Continental have my business unless someone else is uber-cheap.

I wonder what would happen if Ryanair did start a transatlanic air service?

Mark.

[cwydro]

29. Continental for their friendliness and professionalism.

Plus they still give free sandwiches, even on an express flight. (I almost fainted.)

But I fly USAirways mostly and they are pretty good. The friendliness of their gate and ticket agents could improve however.

I fly non-rev however, so perhaps that invalidates my vote and answer.

[tjwmason]

30. Eurostar

I'm now a total convert - I dislike flying, not for the flying itself but because I hate airports and particularly hate having to arrive at one in the middle of nowhere 2 hours before leaving and then getting dumped at another one in the middle of nowhere.

By contrast, train to Paris was shockingly easy and relaxed - half hour check-in time at St. Pancras International station (very easy to get to); getting onto the train was far quicker and easier, good service (by which I mean a not unattractive French steward asking several times if I'd like more champagne)...and first-class return tickets were cheaper than cattle-class flights with B.A., food was far superior to anything I've had whilst flying; arrive at Gare du Nord, short taxi hop to the hotel. Given the time wasted exacerbating my hatred of airports, and the difficulties in getting from the airport to the destination it's actually quicker too.

[cwydro]

31. Lufthansa is fantastic.