Best airlines for long-haul in Y
Jun 3, 2012, 4:50 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: South Yorkshire, UK
Programs: A3*G, LH FTL, VS Red, Avis Preferred, Hertz President's Circle, (RIP Diamond Club)
Posts: 2,378
Best airlines for long-haul in Y
OK, so I'm heading to Sydney from my home airport (MAN) in economy and I had a choice of about 7 airlines with reasonable connections. In the end I picked SQ because of their reputation as a 5* airline, and because I am *G. I found the product so far (I've just done the short hop to MUC) to be reasonable (I'm not squashed even though I'm 6'2") but not 5*. It looks like the Skytrax ratings are top-heavy based on the F and J product. Does that sound fair?
Anyway, what airlines would FT Y-flyers prefer to fly with on long haul and why?
What surprises and/or disappointments has everyone had?
Anyway, what airlines would FT Y-flyers prefer to fly with on long haul and why?
What surprises and/or disappointments has everyone had?
Jun 3, 2012, 6:30 am
#2
Join Date: Nov 2000
Programs: AA Plat, Alaska MVP, HHonors Gold, IHG Plat, Hertz PC, National Executive Elite, UA Kettle
Posts: 897
Best airlines for long-haul in Y
I flew EK for the first time earlier this year. Went LAX-DXB and DXB-SEA on flights that were comfortable and had decent food. Seats reclined quite far. The only issue I had was that reclined seats in the forward row left little room to maneuver when entering or exiting.
The crews were great in both directions, but some passengers (especially on DXB-SEA) were pretty savage. That being said I was pleased overall and wouldn't hesitate to fly EK again.
The crews were great in both directions, but some passengers (especially on DXB-SEA) were pretty savage. That being said I was pleased overall and wouldn't hesitate to fly EK again.
Last edited by rwinn; Jun 3, 2012 at 10:30 am Reason: More grammer and spelling. (Apparently I should be careful when posting from my phone.)
Jun 3, 2012, 8:41 am
#3
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: NYC
Programs: No longer loyal "over-entitled" 1K
Posts: 3,822
Are you strictly flying Y or Y+ is good for you as well?
IF you can fly Y+, then CX or QF should be your best bet.
If you are strictly Y flyer, then I'd choose TG for extra legroom.
IF you can fly Y+, then CX or QF should be your best bet.
If you are strictly Y flyer, then I'd choose TG for extra legroom.
Jun 3, 2012, 9:12 am
#4
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Del Ray, Alexandria, Virginia
Programs: KE Skypass, Morning Calm
Posts: 1,655
Transpacific Y on Korean Airlines has been working out fine for me the last few years. The service I've experienced on roughly a dozen IAD-ICN-BKK rountrips has been, as a rule, attentive and friendly. IFE is great, 34" pitch, and in-seat power for most seats. These days I hardly miss the premium economy on the discontinued JFK-BKK Thai Air nonstop. Even better, the Y fare on KE is quite reasonable when compared to other major Asian airlines.
Jun 3, 2012, 11:44 am
#5
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Dalat, Vietnam
Programs: Vietnam, Asiana, Singapore, EVA, Southwest
Posts: 934
Asiana Airlines, no question. Why, because they simply have the best economy product! They do not service Manchester, sorry (LHR in the UK).
(Asiana and Korean, both based in Seoul, ROK are both excellent - Asiana is 5* and Korean is 4*)
(Asiana and Korean, both based in Seoul, ROK are both excellent - Asiana is 5* and Korean is 4*)
Jun 3, 2012, 4:53 pm
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: South Yorkshire, UK
Programs: A3*G, LH FTL, VS Red, Avis Preferred, Hertz President's Circle, (RIP Diamond Club)
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I agree that Asiana is pretty good! I have no problem with driving down to LHR to get a good connection on a good airline, but as I'm only 35 miles from MAN it would have to be pretty damn good.
Jun 3, 2012, 4:58 pm
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: South Yorkshire, UK
Programs: A3*G, LH FTL, VS Red, Avis Preferred, Hertz President's Circle, (RIP Diamond Club)
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A major positive is that I'd also have to say that the cabin crew were the best I've ever had. Fast service when I pressed the call bell and nothing was too much trouble - none of this sighing in passive-aggressive way you get with BA...
Biggest downside? The food. It was atrocious. Thank god I pigged out in the MUC SEN lounge...
Jun 3, 2012, 5:00 pm
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: South Yorkshire, UK
Programs: A3*G, LH FTL, VS Red, Avis Preferred, Hertz President's Circle, (RIP Diamond Club)
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TG is Thai, right? I'd never even considered them! I honestly don't think it came up in my Expedia search...
Jun 3, 2012, 5:10 pm
#10
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 3,614
I was pretty happy with my SQ flight in Y. It had the advantage of being a pretty new A380 and on the upper deck no less. But the service was friendly and helpful, the food was quite edible and ample, there were self-serve snacks, there were hot towels and an amenity kit. Not sure what else I could have expected in Y.
I would recommend ordering the Asian noodle dish and not the English breakfast though.
I would recommend ordering the Asian noodle dish and not the English breakfast though.
Jun 3, 2012, 5:16 pm
#11
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: South Yorkshire, UK
Programs: A3*G, LH FTL, VS Red, Avis Preferred, Hertz President's Circle, (RIP Diamond Club)
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Oh yes... I suppose the metal is quite important. I was on a B777-300 to SIN where I am now. My onward journey is on the same type. It will be interesting to see what the difference between the 777 and the A380 will be when I head home.
Jun 3, 2012, 6:51 pm
#12
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: SYD
Programs: VA WP, UA 1k, QR G, AZ WP
Posts: 358
I've only had older TG planes and found it a bit cramped (6'1", solid build) - though better than Air China, shoulders jammed going through the galley section.
QF flight in Y on A380 SIN-SYD last week and it seemed modern and with leg room, it felt very claustrophobic when the seat in front was reclined. (747 QF flights in the other direction felt very old and worn out)
SQ and EK have been my favourites for Y (I've never used Asiana or Korean)
QF flight in Y on A380 SIN-SYD last week and it seemed modern and with leg room, it felt very claustrophobic when the seat in front was reclined. (747 QF flights in the other direction felt very old and worn out)
SQ and EK have been my favourites for Y (I've never used Asiana or Korean)
Jun 4, 2012, 7:08 am
#15
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: NYC
Programs: No longer loyal "over-entitled" 1K
Posts: 3,822
I didn't even think about KE or OZ because I was the under the impression that the routing will be much longer than CX/MH/SQ/TG (MAN-LHR/FRA/etc-BKK/HKG/KUL/SIN-SYD compared to MAN-LHR/FRA/etc-ICN-SYD).
But after checking the great circle mapper, at least the distance isn't that different (not so sure about how well timed the connection is, though).
So, both KE and OZ should be a good choice as well.