happiest_at_40000

Hi all I have an upcoming trip from CAI to LAX and I was planning on and looking forward to flying ITA for the first time. A350 with reverse herrirngbone, my fav plane and my fav style of seats. I found a pretty good fare too.

However, today I was getting ready to buy it and I see Swiss & Austrian have matched the fare, well within $45 basically all 3 options are.

I have never flown any of the 3 actually. Have heard the soft product on Austrian is really good. I also feel there is something iconic about LX. And I assume LX would win in the lounge department. All fights have a 3 to 4 hour layover at the hub airport. Times are all good too.

Was hoping maybe some people who have flown all 3 on long haul to the US can offer some thoughts. I wanted to post this in a more generic section to attract anyone but it made me choose a FF airline so posting here in ITA. I am leaning still towards ticking with ITA but curious to hear what folks have to say.

Thanks

TATLTAIL

Everyone will have a different opinion, but were it me (based on mountains of experience with ITA, some with LX and not much with OS), I would go with LX. When ITA is good, it's quite good, but they are relatively small and under-supported for when issues arise: not really part of Skyteam and not yet purchased by the LH groupe; a small fleet and troublesome relations with airports at which they have but one flight a day (ergo, LAX). Transiting FCO has become better in recent years, but still ZHR is much nicer. Cannot say much about VIE, as I have only had as origin/destination. As for the soft product, I think LX easily wins this in C/J class. This all said, you are covered by EU regulations regardless and, as you're in C/J, you'll not be in bad shape with any three. (Definitely all are better than KL or LH, in my experiences)

happiest_at_40000

Thank you that was very helpful. I had seen some bloggers saying how good OS was for food and I love food so was considering them. However, hard product is important on a long flight and I think OS would be last of the 3 in that category.

LHSEN

LX uses 77W for the ZRH-LAX route, cabin interior is relatively new and it’s better than OS and ITA in my opinion. Airport as well the transit experience is nicer in ZRH than in VIE. Service concept and professionalism on both LX and OS are both similar and consistent. For my taste, catering is consistently better in OS than LX in C.

fransknorge

The difference in hard product for OS and LX is minor, those are practically the same seats. I would choose OS for the superior soft product.

tobegold

Anything but ITA. They have changed my flights 3 times in the last week. This morning they changed my 9/22 departure to 06:35, even though the 3rd reiteration departing at 10:20 was still showing for sale, had enough and cancelled for refund.

behuman

If it's for food, go with OS eyes closed. Planes are older and have no WIFI, but the hard product is identical to LX.

ITA is uncharted terrain for me and the only thing iconic about LX is the souvenir of Swissair (SR).

VIE is better than ZRH (except for the lounge) which is better. FCO is Italy with everything that can mean, creative "casino".

Kacee

The LX hard product in J is outdated and subpar. It's the Thompson Vantage, coffin style lie flat. That said, we choose LX for TATLs frequently based on reliability and overall experience, including ZRH, which is in many ways the easiest major airport in Europe.

Have not flown ITA long haul but were impressed with the airline on a couple intra-Italy flights this year. The hard product will be far superior to LX or OS (which also uses the Thompson Vantage seat). I also think FCO is perhaps the most underrated major airport in Europe - with the updating it is actually quite efficient and user friendly, especially the no-hassle security.

To me this would be a difficult choice between LX's Swiss reliability and ITA's better overall product, qualified by concerns about IRROPS handling.

trooper

If you like coffee... go with OS (If they still have the full "Coffee menu" these days)