From today's New York Times (business section)

"Egon Ronay, the London-based hotel and restaurant critic, recently surveyed the trans-Atlantic economy-class service of 10 United States and overseas airlines and, not surprisingly, found it sorely lacking.
"Mr. Ronay and his staff flew each airline at least twice between August and October, during the day and at night, and rated each for check-in procedures and efficiency, comfort and size of seats; friendliness and efficiency of staff; quality of food, in-flight entertainment and pilot's' in-flight comments, and the condition of lavatories.
"In a complicated ratings procedure, Virgin Atlantic came out on top over all with a score of 66 percent, followed by KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (64 percent), Continental Airlines (59 percent), Air France and US Airways (58 percent), Delta Air Lines (57 percent), UAL's United Airlines (55 percent), British Airways (51 percent), American Airlines (48 percent) and Northwest Airlines (47 percent).
"In the food rating, Air France scored highest, with 54 percent, followed by Delta, KLM and Virgin Atlantic (50 percent); US airways (43 percent), American Airlines (38 percent), British Airways (34 percent), Continental and United (29 percent), and Northwest (25 percent).
"Mr. Ronay chastised all airlines for their 'lamentable attitude toward passengers' convenience and comfort' and called the seats 'corset-like and knee-crunching,' the food 'disgusting' and lavatories 'inadequate.'
"'We were surprised at the poor conditions and discomfort, redeemed only by the friendliness of the majority of in-flight staff and the sometimes good in-flight entertainment,' he said."

Mr Ronay obviously travels in business/first class most of the time! I was surprised that Lufthansa wasn't included, & Swissair would also have been worth trying out. Lufthansa has the world's most uncomfortable economy seats, should you ever be trapped in one overnight.

In the same section, the New York Times had an airline update, on deals, lounges etc.

I would be interested to see how each ranking was arrived at.

To me, the passengers being subjected to sit in a confined area that does not allow a person minimal movement is the worst. Being relatively small and not sitting in a center seats makes the trips at least bearable for me, but for a large or tall person in a center seat...I think it is almost inhumane on a long flight.

You can find more information at http://www.egonronay.com/ - there's a book for sale for $35... and a brief synopsis of their findings for each of the airlines surveyed.

This was a good posting, BaoBab. Have you noticed that if these airlines were "students" in school NO ONE would having
passing grades (the Closest is Virgin -- which I'm curious to see how Merry Flyer finds.)

The airlines do need to improve things whether crossing the Atlantic or going across
the U-S. I'm wondering if Egon Ronay has
"tested" U-S domestic service. The numbers
for quality may even be LOWER! CATMAN

I am surprised by the big difference among Northwest and KLM. I flew both airlines transatlantic several years ago, and would have rated the airlines very similar with Northwest having the edge in seat comfort. Maybe KLM is much improved now.

Nor have I been impressed by the cuisine in Air France the few times I flew with them. But then, I am not a wine connoisseur.

Egon Ronay is a restaurant critic, so he may have over-emphasized the importance of food and drink relative to the concerns of the 'average' economy traveller. But there is no doubt that a lot of airline food is awful, and they usually serve pretty grim wines in economy too. Comfort is a big factor in claiming upgrades, but good food & drink run a very close second for me!

Catman - MF may not be overly concerned with life in economy, as his hallowed tootsies never end up in there. He will argue (quite rightly) that BA's Club World and First Class are simply the best. After all, who else has that plush blue carpet?

Oh... you are so right! The last time I flew economy on a flight of more than a couple of hours was about a year ago.

I know this sound awful, but I just can't do it anymore. You get used to a certain standard and that is it.

I am also a big-fellow (Ok, I'm built like a rhino) and I need space.

On a more serious note, I would love to see what Egon has to say about transatlantic Buniness and First, it would be really useful.

Egon, has been really unfair to BA in the past, but I very much respect his views.

It is his guides which I have at home and use for choosing hotels, restaurants and PUBS (especially pubs, as it is those fine establishments which I spend my time at the weekend).

Egon's guides are great becasue they give a percentage ranking, which I find much more useful than just a narrative.

I still have every confidence that BA is and will remain King of the First Class. But whatever happens, I think I would rather fly BA economy than Virgin Upper Class.

Motto of the day....

Wether the carpet be Blue,
or wether the carpet be Red,
Whatever the carpet,
Wherever the carpet,
BA beats the Red anyday.

C'est le vie!

MF

My appologies for the use of the French tongue in that last posting.

I am of course suffering from jet-lag at present (it's either that or I've developed cateracts over night!), under other circumstances I would not sully this fine forum with any phrase in French.

Please Note: This excludes the word Concorde, which is now English!!

MF

Merry,

Vous n'amie pas la lange francaise??? Pourqois pas? (boy is my french rusty!!!)

Remember the Waterloo ;o)

Matt - it is common for English people to study French and/or German while at school. They invariably take great pride in butchering the French tongue, as befits old enemies, while making more of an effort to master the tongue of their German cousins (the two world wars notwithstanding) The Royal Family may have had to change their name because of the slight awkwardness of going to war with their relatives, but there is still a strong Germanic streak in the English. This can be witnessed in the modern Europe by observing how the Germans & English are conspiring to control the Eurobond market while excluding the French...

Don't worry: the French similarly despise the English. These two great nations wouldn't know what to do without having one another to hate.

Ok.... had enough of BS, I will try BA. *s*

A wise decision if ever there was one ;-)
MF

Has Egon Ronay done a survey of the Trans-
Pacific airline flight quality? that might
of interest for our Pacific flyers.

It's a pretty good website. Lately though
teh opinions I'm trying most are from FlyerTalk folk like Baobab, Merry Flyer, Jaws43, Rudi (SNIFF) etc.

The cat's ready to roar that we've gone from
Ebon Ronay to second languages. But I took
Spanish in H.S> and College since one out of
four in U-S will be of Latino descent by the year 2000. Should be ashamed since I am French.

Actually, I speak JERZEE! CATMAN

Your FRENCH?

I can't cope anymore. We loose Rudi at the weekend and then Catman comes out as a closet Frog.

Just a thought: DO Cat's and frogs get on ok?
MF