Best and worst of *A
 

Thought I'd kick of this thread based on my relatively limited exposure to *A carriers - in each cabin class - to provoke some discussion about what you think about each of the member airlines: both in the ground and in the air.

Here's some suggestions...

The best and worst:

Lounges
Reservations
Loyalty program
Y / J / F cabins incl. seating
Food / drink
Customer service
Baggage handling
Routes on own metal
In-flight entertainment / communications

Just a list to prompt comment (and no, I don't work for a marketing outfit)

From my experience...

Lounges
Best - Silver Kris Lounge (Singapore)
Worst - Premier Lounge (Singapore)
Almost Nonexistant - Los Angeles International

Reservations
Best - United (well for Premier Executive at least)

Loyalty Program
For Regular J/F - Singapore Airlines PPS Club
For Mere Mortals - United Airlines Mileage Plus

Y / J / F Cabins and Seating
Best First - Singapore Airlines
Best Business - Singapore Airlines (though Air New Zealand might trump it later this fall)
Best Economy - Singapore Airlines (on A345s)

Food / Drink
Best - Singapore Airlines
Improving - United Airlines

Customer Service
No one really stand out. Maybe United because of my status.

Baggage Handling
No one stands out.

Routes on own Metal
Best - Singapore Airlines

In-flight Entertainment / Communications
Best - Singapore Airlines (hands down)

Strictly speaking I don't think this qualifies, as the Silver Kris lounge, while operated by a *A airline, is not a *A lounge...?

I agree with you on pretty much all other nominations, but for best *A lounge I'll cast my vote for the 2-level Thai lounge in BKK near gate 4X. 2nd prize goes to the SAS lounges at CPH thanks to the dayrooms & showers.

Baggage handling

Priority Handling on SQ ^

The best


Lounges : Silverkris
Reservations : SQ
Loyalty program : UA
Y / J / F cabins incl. seating : SQ / SQ / SQ
Food / drink : SQ
Customer service : SQ
Baggage handling : SQ
Routes on own metal : LH
In-flight entertainment / communications: SQ


^ ^ ^

I actually prefer ANA food over SQ...

Lounges

Not having had the pleasure of the SKL, I'd have to plump for The London Lounge, which I think is an excellent concept.

Reservations

Never use them directly.

Loyalty program

Best: BD Diamond Club, if only for Miles + Cash.
Worst: Don't really know.

Y / J / F cabins incl. seating

Best Y: NZ. The seat design and pitch make up for the worse IFE, and the cabin crew are fantastic.
Worst Y: LO. The cabin crew try hard, but the seats are awful.

Best J and F: SQ (although I'd like to try BD in J). The incline in Raffles is slightly annoying, but the seats are nicely designed. F is amazing.
Worst J and F: LO for J, they're just not in the same league as the other carriers. F, I don't know, I've only ever had the pleasure of SQ.

Food / drink

Best: OS (specifically NG). Although SQ had wonderful food, the Do&Co catering on OS is second to none. It's the closest to restaurant quality I've had on a plane.
Worst: UA/US. Where is it?!

Customer service

I can't say I've had particularly difficult dealings with any *A airline, so it's hard to judge.

Baggage handling

Best: SQ, easily.
Worst: No negative experience.

Routes on own metal

Best: LH has an excellent, expansive network for those based in Europe.
Worst: BD for its schizophrenic route strategy. And a slap to OS for using a 737 on VIE-DXB (and still selling C as a long-haul fare...)

In-flight entertainment / communications

Best: SQ by a country mile.
Worst: LO.

The best

Lounges : Silverkris
Reservations : UA
Loyalty program : SQ (f/j) / UA
Y / J / F cabins incl. seating : SQ / SQ / SQ
Food / drink : SQ
Customer service : SQ
Baggage handling : SQ
Routes on own metal : LH
In-flight entertainment / communications: SQ

Best:

Lounges SQ/NZ
Reservations
Loyalty program
Y / J / F cabins incl. seating TG/SQ,LH(New)/LH
Food / drink NG
Customer service
Baggage handling LH/SQ
Routes on own metal
In-flight entertainment / communications Y SQ/ C and F SQ/LH

Worst:
Lounges UA
Reservations SQ
Loyalty program M&M
Y / J / F cabins incl. seating SQ/?/UA
Food / drink UA
Customer service SQ
Baggage handling UA
Routes on own metal
In-flight entertainment / communications Y LH

BEST:

Lounges:
for * Gold access: TG BKK
Otherwise: LH HON lounge/terminal

Reservations: LH SEN Line

Loyalty program: BD Diamond Club

Y / J / F cabins incl. seating:
F: NH
J: NH/SQ
Y: SQ

Food / drink: LH

Customer service: TG
Baggage handling: SQ/TG

Routes on own metal: LH

In-flight entertainment / communications: SQ

My Best

Lounges - Silverkris F lounge, and of those for * Gold mortals, the London Lounge
Reservations - LH Senator line
Loyalty program - LH M&M still pretty good, but BD Diamond Club has some great awards. If you are N America based I can see the appeal of MP.
Y / J / F cabins incl. seating Y - TG though UA's E+ is rather nice, J - tie between NH and SQ, F - tie between NH and SQ
Food / drink - BD's The Business, followed by NZ
Customer service - OS
Baggage handling - SQ by a country mile
Routes on own metal - LH
In-flight entertainment / communications - SQ by a country mile again

BEST:

Lounges:
for * Gold access: TG BKK
Otherwise: LH HON lounge/terminal

Reservations: Nothing good!

Loyalty program: SQ PPS Club, Miles and More

Y / J / F cabins incl. seating:
F: SQ
J: SQ
Y: SQ

Food / drink: SQ

Customer service: SQ
Baggage handling: SQ

Routes on own metal: LH

In-flight entertainment / communications: SQ


Worst:

Lounges: CAI for LH flight

Reservations: LH, UA

Loyalty program: SK Eurobonus

Y / J / F cabins incl. seating:
F: UA old on B763
J: LH old, TG
Y: LH, Varig

Food / drink: UA

Customer service: LH
Baggage handling: LH

Routes on own metal: TAP Portugal

In-flight entertainment / communications: LH

Count yourself lucky, the one next door for BA is even worse!!!

BEST
Lounges
SK *G lounge CPH

Y / J / F cabins incl. seating
NZ, SQ, SQ

Food / drink
SQ or BMI (both in C)

Baggage handling
SQ

In-flight entertainment / communications
SQ


WORST
Lounges
UA RCC lounges

Y / J / F cabins incl. seating
LO, LO

Baggage handling
SK

Lounges: SKL, NZ lounge in Sydney
Reservations: never used
Y / J / F cabins incl. seating:
F: SQ (NH?)
C: SQ (NZ later this year???)
Y: SQ
Food / drink: NH
Customer service: SQ
Baggage handling: SQ
Routes on own metal: SQ
In-flight entertainment / communications: SQ