Most Commercial Airlines Flown and Dodgiest Airline Flown
#1
In memoriam
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2008
Location: AKL
Programs: QF WP & AA EXP
Posts: 5,233
Most Commercial Airlines Flown and Dodgiest Airline Flown
Just wondering how many commercial airlines everyone has flown in their lives (a realistic approximate guess if you don't know the exact number is fine )
Also, what's the dodgiest airline you've ever flown (in terms of safety, reputation, etc)
Also, what's the dodgiest airline you've ever flown (in terms of safety, reputation, etc)
#3
In memoriam
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2008
Location: AKL
Programs: QF WP & AA EXP
Posts: 5,233
I knew someone would ask that (Un)fortunately I've generally stuck to the main carriers - so mine is around 15 commercial airlines flown.
The worst out of all of those would have to be Thai Airways - on all of my flights with them I have had bad experiences with things falling apart inside the cabin! Hate to know what's falling off on the outside...
And where are your answers, Kiwi Flyer?
The worst out of all of those would have to be Thai Airways - on all of my flights with them I have had bad experiences with things falling apart inside the cabin! Hate to know what's falling off on the outside...
And where are your answers, Kiwi Flyer?
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Pittsburgh
Programs: MR/SPG LT Titanium, AA LT PLT, UA SLV, Avis PreferredPlus
Posts: 30,986
I'm close to 3M BIS miles now, but I bet I couldn't get past 12-14 airlines (not counting Republic, Mesa, etc as different airlines when operating as USAir Express, etc.). I guess all my flying is boring, domestic, mainline carriers.
The fact that the dodgiest I can come up with is USAir tells you I haven't been very adventurous.
The fact that the dodgiest I can come up with is USAir tells you I haven't been very adventurous.
#5
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Under one roof in Chicago
Programs: UA 2MM, DL MM
Posts: 3,141
Don't know the total number, but the dodgiest has to be a charter flight we took years ago from CVG to Jamaica where they collected an extra cash payment for fuel before departure from each passenger.
#6
In memoriam
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2008
Location: AKL
Programs: QF WP & AA EXP
Posts: 5,233
Did they stop off at the local gas station to pickup the fuel and get pies for everyone's in-flight meal?
#7
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: bay area, ca
Programs: AS 100K, AA Gold, IC Diamond AMB, HH Diamond
Posts: 1,840
How many airlines? -- probably under 10. Not overly adventurous, and usually try to stick to "known quantities" when possible.
But when NOT possible is when the dodginess comes in!
Dodgiest? -- Air Koryo, with Yangon Airways and Mandalay Air probably close seconds (airlines run by juntas and maniacs generally can be considered as dodgy in my book). However, all flights on said airlines were completely uneventful. The Air Koryo plane did look like it was sure to fall apart midair though.
But when NOT possible is when the dodginess comes in!
Dodgiest? -- Air Koryo, with Yangon Airways and Mandalay Air probably close seconds (airlines run by juntas and maniacs generally can be considered as dodgy in my book). However, all flights on said airlines were completely uneventful. The Air Koryo plane did look like it was sure to fall apart midair though.
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Under the Liberty Visual to 27L at PHL. Stranger in a strange land - a Devils fan in Flyers country.
Programs: PWP Le Chancelier des Clefs d'Or || Sarcasm, Anti-Stupidity, Obscure References top tier member.
Posts: 24,061
According to my FM, I've set foot on 15 different airlines. Dodgiest for me would so far have to be Spirit. Living where I do, for a long time they were a good choice. I took my last Spirit flight in May of 2007 and probably wouldn't fly them again without a gun to my head, because I believe that they caused or enabled most of the problems that the domestic airline industry is facing.
#9
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Orangevale, CA USA
Programs: UA Premier, BA, AA, HHonors Gold
Posts: 391
A look at FightMemory shows I have flown on 24 different commercial airlines. Incidentally it shows the airlines I have flown on the third and fourth most are both long out of business (TWA and Pan Am). Guess that shows I'm not as young as I once was I'd say the "dodgiest" airline I've flown on is Air Rwanda (BJM-KGL) although thanks to the low altitude of the flight, it was quite a scenic trip. Second place would go to Avensa on CCS-CAJ.
Last edited by daveinsf; Dec 9, 2008 at 7:58 pm
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Canada
Programs: UA*1K MM
Posts: 23,293
FM says 45 airlines.
here is a list: CO/NW/KL/MH/UA/AC/AZ/DL/LH/LO/VS/MT/QF/C0/NH/5J/AK/PR/US/WN/NZ/AA/DJ/NE/U2/BY/W6/EK/0B/KM/BG/UP/W6/BT/XG/Y0/FD/PG/QO/BL/AB/VY/FT/QV/ABA (from my spreadsheet listed by miles flown, subsidiaries and regionals not included)
This would all be within the last 7 years in my 20s
Dodgiest, probably Blue Air from OTP to BCN. A plane without any livery, an old MD-8x. Broken seats, for some reason flying very low at all times...
Another one is Abaco Air, which isnt even registered with IATA, when I lived in MHH. The memories of waiting for takeoff at NAS, sitting next to the pilot in a BN42, when he was having an apple and a coffee between his knees as a 737 rolled right past us....
here is a list: CO/NW/KL/MH/UA/AC/AZ/DL/LH/LO/VS/MT/QF/C0/NH/5J/AK/PR/US/WN/NZ/AA/DJ/NE/U2/BY/W6/EK/0B/KM/BG/UP/W6/BT/XG/Y0/FD/PG/QO/BL/AB/VY/FT/QV/ABA (from my spreadsheet listed by miles flown, subsidiaries and regionals not included)
This would all be within the last 7 years in my 20s
Dodgiest, probably Blue Air from OTP to BCN. A plane without any livery, an old MD-8x. Broken seats, for some reason flying very low at all times...
Another one is Abaco Air, which isnt even registered with IATA, when I lived in MHH. The memories of waiting for takeoff at NAS, sitting next to the pilot in a BN42, when he was having an apple and a coffee between his knees as a 737 rolled right past us....
#11
Moderator, Hilton Honors
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: on a short leash
Programs: some
Posts: 71,419
flugstatistiks.de says 49 airlines, but I haven't entered my oldest flights so will be over 50.
I'm not sure if this is my dodgiest flight, but one that sticks in mind (because of the hijacking attempt while I waited for my flight), is an Air Chathams Metroliner. Old aircraft with interior in shocking condition. That the flight was over 2 hours over water, near the limit of the range, with no alternative airports and it was a stormy day, did not help.
I'm not sure if this is my dodgiest flight, but one that sticks in mind (because of the hijacking attempt while I waited for my flight), is an Air Chathams Metroliner. Old aircraft with interior in shocking condition. That the flight was over 2 hours over water, near the limit of the range, with no alternative airports and it was a stormy day, did not help.
#14
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Portland
Programs: HH Gold, Alaska MVP Gold
Posts: 4,074
I'd guesstimate 20 airlines in 25 years. Dodgiest was AeroCalifornia..DC-9's looked like they were gonna shake themselves apart in mid-air. That was interesting. I still vividly recall the flight and it had to be 15 years ago.
#15
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Point Place, Wisconsin
Programs: LH HON, BA Gold, EK Gold
Posts: 14,505