tommyleo

My vote goes to LH, which is supposedly so superior to the dreaded United States airlines. Yet with LH, I've discovered woefully overcrowded lounges (which charge for internet, too), lost bags, and robotic customer service.

deltheking

I would vote for Lufthansa LH and British Airways BA !!

mecabq

I find LH's service robotic, but at least staff are competent and knowledgeable -- fits the German cultural stereotype, I suppose.

I will add two nominees:

-- Singapore: Yes, this is an excellent airline. I have limited experience, having flown a handful of times in all three classes on short- and mid-haul routes. But I am not sure that it lives up to the fawning accolades and the hype, and, for the mileage collector, there are some downsides.

-- Qatar: This is a great airline from the time you get to your seat until the time that you get up. However, a lot of other aspects -- ground handling, customer service -- are painful, so that, on balance, it's not always a great total offering if you fly them frequently and inevitably experience problems. I have been much more comfortable with EK in this regard. I find the DOH premium terminal to be overrated. I probably find the Senator lounges in FRA no worse, over-crowded as they are, because they have better amenities -- lots of newspapers, draught beer, self-service alcohol (which is available in the QR F premium terminal but not J), staff who can solve problems, and a better selection of snacks (though inferior selection of meals). I agree that paid internet in LH lounges is a major drawback.

I have been fortunate to avoid any major irregular operations in my travel with QR, but I am sure that their handling would be poor, compared to LH's deftness. As I have said in previous posts on the QR forum, part of the problem lies with the Doha airport, for which one can't totally blame the carrier, and which will hopefully be remedied soon.

scozer99

Qatar the worlds 5* Airline.........really? Cold food and attendants that are passive at best.

GetSetJetSet

I think you need to qualify this with class of service. When I think LH lounges I think of the FCL in MUC, the FCT in FRA or the FCL in JFK, these are hardly "woefully overcrowded." I will agree that many of their SEN lounges are lousy, but I will still take them over US flag carrier lounges any day.

brendog

My encounters with CX have been pretty mediocre, at best, although both experiences were in Y on the ancient 744s flying LAX-HKG.

QF in Y on the 744s from LAX or SFO to SYD isn't much to write home about, either.

mikeef

United.

Mike

brendog

Wouldn't that presuppose that anyone ever rated UA highly?

mikeef

Not necessarily. I've always rated it bottom of the barrel and felt that it was a massive overrating.

Mike

Yoshi212

But they have E+ which solves everything don't you know that?

disgruntled employee encounter?...but they have E+
no AVOD on their longest route to SYD? but they have E+
Planes with paint flaking off and multiple MX delays?...at least you're sitting in E+.

hfly

Overrated full stop, or overrated based on historical "greatness" which has now diminished?

sbbutler93

Delta for both counts! :P

CMK10

Southwest. Hear me out though.

Most Southwest defenders (especially people who don't travel very much) claim they're "always the cheapest" but lately as many many threads will attest to, that hasn't been the case. If their largest defense and reason for being is no longer correct and they're just like everyone else, but without the ability to upgrade/lounge access/choose seats and no ability to get an international award than to me they're the most overrated.

kylesuo

Agreed, agreed, agreed. It seems that most Southwest proponents ARE people who don't travel much, and like you said, they don't always have the lowest fares, and honestly, more often than not these days, they seem to be higher.

Bob'sYourUncle

SQ.

It's perfectly fine, but in my experience not any better than its direct competitors. As a Y flyer, I would even rate them slightly below. Have never understood their aura...