Star Alliance - Star Alliance C Class Longhaul Ranking 2005

As we are approaching the end of a year full of flying Star Alliance and at the same time the "which carrier to choose" threads are abundant, I thought it might be a good idea to share our personal experiences with the different carriers and thus get some kind of service compilation.

As the airlines will to invest in their Y products has IMHO been unanimously low I would only rate the C products. Criteria that may come to mind are for sure reservations, check in services, lounges, seating, service on board, price etc but feel free to add others.

My personal list goes as this:

1. SQ
2. LH (new C)
3. UA
4. RG
5. NH
6. TG

SQ has been fabulous in every regards and a clear first choice for future travel, LH just efficient with good meals, working AVOD (only 1 restart :D ) and a decent seat. I liked the service on UA as well as on RG, while the latter for sure has severe issues with the aircraft interiors and catering. NH and TG have only been 1 sole flight for me, so probably not representative, both with abysmal ground handling and unpleasant crews.
Am looking forward to trying SK next year when the new biz shall be finally in and - very much - to try NZ, but that shall probably be on the next RTW...

How would you rate the carriers you have flown?

Well, I've only flown on 2 of them: UA and AC, both trans-atlantic to and from LHR, so my experience is quite narrow. AC at LHR doesn't always have express check-in, but the lines are pretty short.

Service: I thought that the service on UA was generally better - more like a fancy restaurant and very professional right from the beginning. One exception was a great FA on AC who did a really great job.

Food: This was definitely better on UA. On my last AC flight it was very average, and my wife's Asian Vegetarian option was almost inedible.

Seats: I feel that AC definitely has more room (5"?), though upstairs in a 747 on UA is pretty sweet despite the slightly smaller space.

Lounges: I have only been in half a dozen RCCs, and I just don't see the point. Yeah, the seats are a bit more comfortable, and there's a TV to watch (got to see a great football game in ORD), but there's little to no food, the drink is not just not free - it's expensive! They always seem to be very crowded as well. The staff always seem to be much less polite than the MLL lounges, but that could just be a cultural thing.

AC lounges always have lots of drinks, and often have excellent food. The food in the new YYZ T1 lounge (hummous and pita, soup, salads, fruit, nuts, pastries) was actually just as good as in business class on the plane. There also used to be a wide selection of newspapers and magazines, but that has gone a bit downhill in the last 2 years. Free internet access is also a huge one for me which RCCs don't seem to have. And it's tough to beat the view at the YVR lounge :).

Dr. PITUK

This year I have flown:

OS
AC
UA
LH
SQ
LX (not *A yet but LH partner)

Seats in order of preference:
SQ; LX; AC; UA; OS; LH (old)

Lounges:
SQ; OS (but small); AC; LH; LX; UA (Is RCC really a lounge??)

Service:
SQ; OS; LX; AC; LH; UA

Food:
SQ (Book the Cook can't be beat); OS; AC; LX; LH; UA

Shofar

(Is RCC really a lounge??)

I've often wondered that myself. I feel more stressed out after trying to get a drink ticket here than if I just waited by the gate.

The RCC are ok in LAX and SFO but elsewhere leave a lot to be desired.

This year I have done:

BMI in C - great service - seat OK - space good
UA in C - poor service - old tatty seat - space ok
LH in C - efficient.

The best is SQ, the worst is TG. Of these two I am absolutly certain (nothing like paying for an expensive C class tix and getting on a TG MD-11 to bring a smile to your face!).

UA is OK, LH's new C class is good but not at SQ level, their old is worse than UA. SK's C class is better than LH's old but not as good as LH's new and about the same as UA.

I flew TG on BKK-DPS return in C and liked it very much. Excellent 5-course meal but no sleepers (only 3 hour flight). SK C is like SQ Y+.

Haven't flown much *A, but I found LH C to be excellent - 2 full meals CAI-FRA, big nice seat, and the handful of polite LH crew are definitely up front.


SQ only once from MLE-SIN, but there is simply nothing close. Best airline in the world (although Emirates is a fairly close 2nd)


Derek

My personal choice from this years travel would be;

SQ (head and shoulders above everything else, cant wait for next trip)
LH (new C is good, but its no sq, crew were fairly warm)
TG (new C again good, but had problems)
BD (excellent crew, excellent food onboard chef, seat is a bit dated)
UA (poor seat, poor food, crews were reasonably friendly though)

Well my preference would be as follows:

1. SQ ( well thanks to their overall product)
2. NH ( close second if flying ANA new style business class)
3. LH ( new style C, even if you slide quite a lot on these seats)
4. AC ( well seats are a bit older, but still lots of space and comfortable)
5. OS ( good space and wonderful dish)
6. UA ( well seats quite comfortable, service grumpy, food better economy
7. OZ ( old style seats, only 50 inch space, wait for new product


TG's new product I don't know, but heard is quite good!

The RCC are ok in LAX and SFO but elsewhere leave a lot to be desired.


I haven't been to a/the RCC in LAX in a few years, but if you qualify what I saw then as OK, then you need to get out and fly more. What i saw was something resembling a large, upholstered mens room.

-A

My choice based on travel in 2005:

1. SQ - no one else really compares
2. TG - Royal Silk service - getting closer to SQ than anyone else
3. NH - new C is excellent
4. NZ - new C, only done it trans-Tasman but seats are excellent
5. SK - seats are the best of the non-flat seats and service is excellent
6. OS - good food, seats are OK but I wish the crew would lighten up, they're a bit like LH on a good day ;-)
7. LH - still too much risk of old C (just like premium economy) and crew who are moody, I've been avoiding them this year.

This has been my Star Alliance year and overall positive experience ensures I am shifting my loyalty to it – no more SKY! Anyways, I have flown C on most of the Star carriers are here is my ranking:

1. SQ – Simply the best. Great seats, ‘book the cook’, IFE, crew, overall product.
2. NH – New C class is great. Crew is a bit too formal, but otherwise just great.
3. BD – Surprised @ how their product. Seats are ok … but crew simply excellent.
4. TG – Inconsistent. On a great day, better than NH.
5. UA – Nothing great. Crew is good.
6. LH – Good new seats. Crew just sucks. Robotic blue-eyed blondes with no smile.
7. SK – BAD. Like LH without good seats. I like their J class bathrooms tho :). On ARN-ORD, pray you don’t have this super skinny flamer with piercing blue eyes…

6. LH – Good new seats. Crew just sucks. Robotic blue-eyed blondes with no smile.

Seems like they always save their smiles for me, then. :D
Then again, most of them aren't blond and blue-eyed, either. Maybe you should abre los ojos on your next flight ;)

Seems like they always save their smiles for me, then. :D
Then again, most of them aren't blond and blue-eyed, either. Maybe you should abre los ojos on your next flight ;)

... OH NO ... dont worry ... my eyes were wide open ... their service was nothing to write home about. And if they saved your smiles for more, I should just fly with you. Haha ... I think its funny that their thing was Smiles & More.

... OH NO ... dont worry ... my eyes were wide open ... their service was nothing to write home about. And if they saved your smiles for more, I should just fly with you. Haha ... I think its funny that their thing was Smiles & More.

Well, I'm on LH453 right now, sitting in 2A. I have already gotten dozens of smiles, even from the blond and blue-eyed FAs. Surprisingly, the purser also found out about by recent birthday (LH/M&M now transmits FF pax data to the cockpit right before deprature) and they just surprised me a large box of their really good FC chocolates signed by all 13 crew members. Having another great time on LH.

Well, I'm on LH453 right now, sitting in 2A. I have already gotten dozens of smiles, even from the blond and blue-eyed FAs. Surprisingly, the purser also found out about by recent birthday (LH/M&M now transmits FF pax data to the cockpit right before deprature) and they just surprised me a large box of their really good FC chocolates signed by all 13 crew members. Having another great time on LH.

= All I want to know is why you're the only one getting the smiles. Share your secret.

-A.

= All I want to know is why you're the only one getting the smiles. Share your secret.

-A.

I smile first.

Oh come on, that never works me. I smile way too much. I think your smile is better than mine.

-A.

= All I want to know is why you're the only one getting the smiles. Share your secret.

-A.

Not only the smiles, but also the miles!

O.K., I have put all input that the thread got together and made up a ranking that should reflect the general feeling of those who contributed.

SQ has been put on top of the list by everybody who travelled on it, although being a no brainer quite impressive IMHO ^ .

The list then goes down like this:

2. NH
3. NZ
4. BD/OS
6. AC
7. LH
8. UA
9. RG
10. TG
11. SK
12. OZ

Me, for my part I have been suprised by the good ratings for BD/OS, which seem to offer a better poduct than LH which I am using most. Maybe a reason to go for the more unorthodox routings in 06 :)

I haven't been to a/the RCC in LAX in a few years, but if you qualify what I saw then as OK, then you need to get out and fly more. What i saw was something resembling a large, upholstered mens room.

-A

Both have been refurbished - SFO is particularly improved. I'm trying to stay in more as I fly way too much already!! ;)

O.K., I have put all input that the thread got together and made up a ranking that should reflect the general feeling of those who contributed.

SQ has been put on top of the list by everybody who travelled on it, although being a no brainer quite impressive IMHO ^ .

The list then goes down like this:

2. NH
3. NZ
4. BD/OS
6. AC
7. LH
8. UA
9. RG
10. TG
11. SK
12. OZ

Me, for my part I have been suprised by the good ratings for BD/OS, which seem to offer a better poduct than LH which I am using most. Maybe a reason to go for the more unorthodox routings in 06 :)

No matter how long these threads go, there'll never be a synthesis for everybody. Rankings are utterly useless. Instead, one should try to make a list describing the strenghts and weaknesses of each carrier regarding various criteria like seat (armchair or bed), seat pitch, food, ground and onboard service, lounges, Internet access etc. Even worse, one would often need different comparison lists for each different route and aircraft type. So it's quite complicated.

However, my personal travel criteria are pretty simple: If the plane has no Internet, I'll try to avoid it or make sure I can travel on a weekend. If the seat doesn't convert into a bed and it's a night flight, I'm not interested at all. Food? Couldn't care less, as I sleep and feel better when I'm not stuffed, anyway. So for me, carriers that offer neither Internet nor flatbeds are a no-go, even if somebody offers me money for flying them. I simply won't do it, as long as there are alternatives catering to my criteria.

For what it's worth from my experiences this year:

1) SQ - by some margin.
2) BD - superb catering and great crews. Pity their short haul is in chaos.
3) NH - New Style Club ANA was a little disappointing but good food. Would love to try their new F.
4) TG - can be great but if they weren't so dodgy with a/c swaps I'd trust them more. Trying new F in a few weeks, I hope.
5) LH - had new C on A346 and while it's an improvement (how could it not be) I wasn't that impressed. Crew very hit and miss.
6) UA - still getting over the shock of the age of some of the long haul F/A's.

My experiences in 04-05 would be
SQ - I prefer truely flat beds but service and food are great + I like the A340
TG - had the new C AKL-SYD, good service, great food, comfy seat
SA - flat beds, lots of room, formal crew, fair to great food (soon to be *A)
NZ - flat beds similar to VS, good if not great food, great crew and IFE, new LAX lounge, Tasmin svc is also good
LH - angled bed, roomy, OK food and IFE, efficient crew, crowded lounges
UA - cradle seats looking worn, good food, friendly crew, RCC offers less than other lounges

How does New Style, Club ANA compare with SQ's Raffles Class. The NH seat looks better given that its a newer product.

Also, how do they compare service-wise and food-wise?

Appreciate any comments, suggestions.

Thanks!

How does New Style, Club ANA compare with SQ's Raffles Class. The NH seat looks better given that its a newer product.

Also, how do they compare service-wise and food-wise?

Appreciate any comments, suggestions.

Thanks!

I prefer SQ's Spacebed to New Style Club ANA , which I found very narrow in comparison, similar to new LH & MH J seat.

Service definitely SQ but the food I would say NH is better.

1. SQ (top product overall, awesome service)
2. LH (new C is great, getting upgraded to F is phenomenal, best food/wine)
3. UA (good space, marginal seat, decent food, best upgrade program)
4. OS (good seat, great food, attentive longhaul service)
5. SK (great value for money in C, good food/wine, satellite Internet)

I predict SK will jump to number 2 or 3 in my rankings, unless UA comes up with a "P.S. like" product for international longhaul.

Do you find LH female FAs attractive? :confused:
To me they are more like three large male camels.
I just can't wait for my next SU flight to SVO. :D

Well, I'm on LH453 right now, sitting in 2A. I have already gotten dozens of smiles, even from the blond and blue-eyed FAs. Surprisingly, the purser also found out about by recent birthday (LH/M&M now transmits FF pax data to the cockpit right before deprature) and they just surprised me a large box of their really good FC chocolates signed by all 13 crew members. Having another great time on LH.

I prefer SQ's Spacebed to New Style Club ANA , which I found very narrow in comparison, similar to new LH & MH J seat.

Service definitely SQ but the food I would say NH is better.

I do like NH New Style seats over SQ Spacebed. LH new C comes in third. Problem is, there are still very few NH planes with New Style. For me they are the most solid lie flat C seats you can find on any *A carrier, mechanically sound and good looking.

For me service is on par with SQ and I also like NH food better.