Originally Posted by
headinclouds
MA-1 daily North American flight to BUD and 3 times per week BUD-BKK flight. If you don’t originate in either NYC or Toronto, one is better off going thru London or Madrid to European destinations. It is still 2 or more connections to get anywhere in Europe. The business class cabin appears to be equivalent to what Aer Lingus offered. I believe that it is priced accordingly..
They provide increased access to Eastern Europe, which is experiencing substantial economic growth. They add new destinations not reached from London or Madrid.
Originally Posted by
headinclouds
RJ- 1 daily North American flight to AMM and the schedule is so bad that in most cases one must overnight in Jordan to go to any onward RJ destination in the Middle East, India, etc. Plus their improved Crown class is not even an angled flat-bed in business class. According to the RJ website, they are still using A-310 wide bodied aircraft. Definitely not up-to-date..
Actually, the equivalent of 16 flights per week to North America (daily to Chicago, 5xwk to New York, 2xwk to Detroit and 2xwk to Montreal). All North America flights, the longest in RJ's network, are operated by Airbus 340 aircraft, that feature sleeper seats in Business/Crown Class with an 83-inch seat pitch. RJ are pressed for long-haul aircraft, though their long-haul fleet will consist of 12 Boeing 787 aircraft in the future, which will allow for further route expansion (possibly Hong Kong, Shanghai and Miami). Connections are being improved, particularly short-haul (3 a day to Beirut, 2 a day to Cairo, Aqaba, Tel Aviv for example). They are not CX, BA or QF, but they are a good addition to oneworld imo, and will be of even greater value in future years.
Originally Posted by
headinclouds
JL – Much better long-haul options from Europe and USA. Plus JL has destinations in China that are currently not reachable on OW (until Dragonair joins OW). Again, the schedule is not favorable to connections, as most flights from the USA arrive in the late afternoon, while the flights to Asia usually have departed for the day.
At least the business class cabin from the USA has the new flat beds, though within Asia it is more like CX’s regional business class. But JL is still suffering from OW integration problems. I wonder if that is not a harbinger of future problems.
There will always be some teething issues, but these will be overcome. JAL is one of the biggest airlines in the world and they bring a lot to the alliance, including unparalleled access to Japan, one of the world's most important economies. USA flights connect well....JAL even operate domestic flights from Narita for the purpose of connecting to these USA flights (albeit only to Nagoya, Osaka, Sapporo and Fukuoka). It is possible to fly JFK-PEK, LAX-PVG via NRT with decent connections. AA recently has been marketing Narita as a hub for Asian connections together with JAL. JAL imo is a valuble addition to oneworld.
I personally would like to see Jet Airways and a mainland Chinese carrier added to oneworld. This will allow for convenient access into the world's two largest growing economies, which must be a focus for oneworld, being the premium alliance afterall.