What asian airlines are best - flying to Thailand?
Oct 24, 2015, 9:52 pm
#1
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What asian airlines are best - flying to Thailand?
I'm looking for flight in March and prices are roughly similar between airlines.
Which of the airlines offer a better experience for economy travelers? (meals, space, entertainment, power outlets)
(Air China, China Southern Airlines, China Airlines, Eva Airways, China Eastern Airlines, Asiana Airlines
Philippine Airlines, Etihad Airways)
Also I've been told that ordering the special meals gets you better food in-flight
Please share your experiences.
Which of the airlines offer a better experience for economy travelers? (meals, space, entertainment, power outlets)
(Air China, China Southern Airlines, China Airlines, Eva Airways, China Eastern Airlines, Asiana Airlines
Philippine Airlines, Etihad Airways)
Also I've been told that ordering the special meals gets you better food in-flight
Please share your experiences.
Oct 29, 2015, 3:20 am
#2
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Ordering special meal prevents any op-up consideration, fwiw. Food quality for special meals is rarely better these days (was maybe a decade ago). I don't fly much in economy so can't compare these airlines, but interesting that you omit the home airline (Thai). I've heard good things about Asiana for their economy service but you should check seating density as some of these airlines squeeze an extra seat per row into economy.
Oct 29, 2015, 9:48 pm
#4
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Which are rather low for native fliers, so pretty much not an issue.
Since they no longer fly to US, not so much.
But since there is NO nonstop service to Thailand, you HAVE to connect somewhere @:-)
Thai is good, but you have to get to Asia (or Europe) in order to connect to them. Many sites will let you book flights that involve more than one airline.
Since they no longer fly to US, not so much.
But since there is NO nonstop service to Thailand, you HAVE to connect somewhere @:-)
Thai is good, but you have to get to Asia (or Europe) in order to connect to them. Many sites will let you book flights that involve more than one airline.
Oct 29, 2015, 9:55 pm
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Out of that list, I would avoid any of the mainland Chinese carriers. Connecting in China isn't fun and as seamless as on EVA (Taipei) or Asiana (Seoul).
Where are you leaving from?
Where are you leaving from?
Oct 29, 2015, 10:06 pm
#6
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China Air also connects in Taipei, and has very good reputation.
When flying to BKK via China, I took advantage of TWOV to stay for day or two, BUT on my last trip wanted to just change planes on the way back to US.
OVER FOUR HOUR connection, and I came close to missing my flight, because I had to ENTER China, EXIT China AND catch my plane.
WITHOUT ever exiting the airport
AND used up TWO pages of my passport for stamps, so had to renew my passport a year early because I ran out of pages
But you decide ....
Oct 30, 2015, 1:27 am
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Not sure which carrier you had in mind. If you are referring to China Airlines, that is NOT any mainland Chinese carrier. IceTrojan suggested to avoid "any of the mainland Chinese carriers." Air China, on the other hand, is one of the major airlines of the People's Republic of China (aka PRC), but they don't connect in TPE.
China Airlines is a Taiwanese airline and the flag carrier of the Republic of China, aka R.O.C., & just as EVA, doesn't connect in China, since both are Taiwan-based.
Oct 30, 2015, 1:34 am
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Notice I also didn't include PR or EY, neither of which connect in mainland China either
In any case, my statement of "avoid mainland Chinese carriers" still stands.
Oct 30, 2015, 1:40 am
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Nov 1, 2015, 1:34 am
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You don't list Cathay Pacific...are they more expensive than the rest. I don't fly economy so can't really comment on the specifics on that but if your departure point has Cathay service or you can connect easily to it that would probably be my first recommendation as the connection in Hong Kong will be nice. Of your list, my choice would be EVA, I have flown them in business class many times and service is good. Taipei airport is a little long in the tooth but small and easy to navigate and has some decent food and beverage outlets.
Nov 7, 2015, 3:54 pm
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we flew with Delta last year, with a stop over in Japan. It went really smooth and the stop over wasn't bad. Mind you, we flew to Singapore and from there we took Air Asia to BKK, Chiang Mai and Krabi (and back to Singapore)
Nov 7, 2015, 4:09 pm
#12
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I'm surprised that SQ isn't also on the list, but it's likely to be more expensive than the mainland Chinese carriers as well as some of the others on the list (ME3 or Philippine Airlines).
Nov 7, 2015, 11:55 pm
#13
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Yes, meant China Air which has a very good reputation.
Air China, OTOH, connecting in China, is reportedly hit or miss. I've flown them on regional PVG-KIX (thanks to UA cancelling my PVG-SFO flight
) and they were fine there.I've flown EVA in Premium Economy longhaul, and would (and likely will) repeat that.
Nov 8, 2015, 12:32 pm
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A very easy question to answer - Asiana and Singapore are the 5* best. I would avoid any mainland Chinese carriers, but the Taiwanese carriers (EVA and China Airlines) are very good too. Of the Japanese carriers, ANA is considered better than Japan Airlines.
Asiana gives me a free hotel room and lunch when my transit time at Seoul exceeds 8 hours (on request only). I am not overly fond of Asiana's website - I've booked my next trip on Orbitz ($736. SEA-HAN-SEA).
Of the Asian transit airports, you can't beat Seoul ICN or Singapore SIN!
Asiana gives me a free hotel room and lunch when my transit time at Seoul exceeds 8 hours (on request only). I am not overly fond of Asiana's website - I've booked my next trip on Orbitz ($736. SEA-HAN-SEA).
Of the Asian transit airports, you can't beat Seoul ICN or Singapore SIN!
Nov 10, 2015, 11:27 pm
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You have Etihad on the list - are you flying from Europe or North America?
From the carriers on your list, I'd rank:
Asiana
Eva
Philippine Airlines
China Air
There are significant differences based on where you are flying from and what planes they use on those routes with regards to comfort!
As others have said, I'd avoid connections via mainland China. All the carriers ranked above should be much easier connections!
From the carriers on your list, I'd rank:
Asiana
Eva
Philippine Airlines
China Air
There are significant differences based on where you are flying from and what planes they use on those routes with regards to comfort!
As others have said, I'd avoid connections via mainland China. All the carriers ranked above should be much easier connections!