JetBlue. Can't beat the price or the entertainment options (TV). Plus, their terminal at JFK is pretty nice, too. And they're coming to Houston next month!
Emirates Air is so sweet. Every coach seat feels like a business seat. Every business seats feels like first class. Never sat in first class, but it must feel like I'm sitting on a golden toilet. Locally, I like Continental the best. Its straightforward, and allows electronic check in at most airports regardless of how big the airport is. Continental also seems to have cleaner airplanes than most. I've heard that most planes these days are infested with dust mites. I'm allergic to this, and I have a terrible time on most planes. But I havent had a problem with Continental most of the time I fly.
Beware of Singapore Airlines. This happened a couple of times. The recent one was I lost my second laptop that was kept in my checked in luggage. The first one I lost hidden cash in my bag. And this only happened with Singapore Airlines and in Singapore.. Take Cathay instead.. Non-stop meal, guaranteed.
The baggage thing is endemic to virtually all airlines in asia. They don't have the luggage restrictions like American based airlines have. You'll see people carrying out 10 pieces of luggage and half of them consist of poorly packaged, abnormally shaped, creations of god knows what. There's so much random crap that those airlines carry, that they end up messing everything up all the time. I've had them screw up luggage multiple times on multiple airlines. (And yes one of thsoe was Cathay Pacific) If you ever travel on an Asian airline, MAKE SURE you keep important stuff in your carry-in luggage. Singapore Airlines is still top-notch in terms of Asian airlines but the gap has shrunk. (partially because Singapore used to be the only airline that offered in flight tvs to every seat in coach, nowadays all new planes have this)
I've gotten upgraded to business class in Emirates because they overbooked. It was great. Lots of champagne, something like 8 course meals that was close to decent (which is a step up from the garbage that any airline gives you in coach), and a sweet movie collection to choose from. I caught up on 4 or 5 movies that I had wanted to see but never got around to. I peeked into first class, and good god, those seats practically turn into beds, they recline so far backwards. Two obese people could probably fit in those it was so wide and comfortable looking.
My mom works for Continental, so I get to fly Business First pretty much everywhere international. Business First on domestic flights gets full from One Pass upgrades. I love Continental's Business First, and I have flown Emirates, British Ariways, and Cathay Pacific, all business class. Never have flown "first" class though before. Too bad I turn 25 next summer and my Continental benefits will end!!!
I second that. Emirates service and price wise kicks @ss over every other airline I've flown. Too bad they don't have many flights and I think the only place you can fly them from the US is out of NY. Another airline that's pretty good for price and service is Eva air. They are the passenger division of Taiwan shipping company Evergreen. The only drawback is long layovers stuck in a windowless room in Taipei. Also I've found anytime you fly over seas, especially to Asia, fly a foreign carrier. US carriers service is terrible compared to foreign carriers. I've found flying even Garuda (Indonesian Airlines) to be more comfortable than Northworst or United.
I prefer Southwest and Continental. The Southwest cattle call doesn't bother me because if I am flying solo, who cares. I have young children so I always pre-board when the whole family goes.
I've flow a lot and I got to tell you, if money is no object, then Frist Class on American is the best...I've done Cathay, Continental, etc...I hear Singapore Air is really good, but haven't flown it... They're all good, but man, having an airport buggy pick you up at the gate so you don't have to walk is pretty cool...lazy, but cool...Plus the seats are sooo comfortable and didn't have to do anything but eat and watch movies and eat some more...Man, benefits end at 25...man that sucks...get in all your travel while you can...
Yep, I haven't had too many problems with luggage but I never keep valuables in them. Singapore Airline's planes are really nice and like I said, they have pretty hot attendants. Cathay Pacific's new planes are quite nice as well.
Agreed...That's why I believe they'll have to do more to have people stay there...Doesn't in run out in 2009?
Lufthansa and Brittish Airways for International flights fa sho! I got a couple free drinks when I flew
I haven't flown many airlines (flying out of Nashville, we are somewhat limited), but I'll take Southwest by a mile, especially compared to American, US Airways, and the chumps at Delta.
From everything I've ever seen, I'd go with Virgin Atlantic for best first class comfort. You get free limousine pickups, supposedly good food, a sit-down bar on 747s, the seats turn into freaking beds (yes full bed with sheets and everything), tvs that come with something like 40 or 50 movies and lots of tv shows, great service, access to the big lounges that are on par with the old concorde lounges, and best of all, on board massages.
Malaysia Airlines, BA, Virgin Atlantic are my favorites. Cathay is good but their coach is crap compared to Malaysia. Thai used to be really sweet but has degraded a bit unfortunately. I took Virgin "club" (first) class back and forth from London a few times - pretty nice but at least twice the electronic entertainment set-ups on the planes sometimes fizzle in first class which caused the whole flight to be delayed (I'm sure the folks in economy loved that...) The Bar is too small and really jsut for show, and the "beauty treatments" (massages) are hard to get becuase everybody wants one. The movie/book/music slection is pretty good though and the Clubhouse is pretty sweet at JFK/Htr. On balance however I think BA is just as good and maybe give them a slight edge because the hipness of VA gets a little forced at times.
