Long Haul Business Class

[neilri2001 42]

Given BA are too expensive i need to choose between Lufthansa, KLM or Air France for a flight to china. All three are similarly priced with KLM being the cheapest by a small margin. My inclination is Lufthansa via munich but on a Lufthansa business flight to Bangkok about 5 years ago i found the staff really unhelpful with regard to seat reservations and ended up on the inside of a very large german who reclined his seat fully and went to sleep for 10 hours. Anyone have ny more recent experiences/

 

 

Neil

[Mescalito 19]

I haven't flown Lufthansa since I was a kid, and it sure wasn't in business class, and I've never flown KLM, but I did take Air France business class on a transatlantic business trip a few years ago. It thought it was very good.

[elef 0]

I've never flown KLM, but the 2 other are equal. AF has better wines (of course) but Lufthansa has better food. If you speak french you'll get very good service from the french stewardesses, else it can be really bad. Lufthansa has good service even if you don't speak german. I speak both so I prefer AF.

[Michelangelo 0]

KLM is a real pain ... bad food and too many delays. LH usually is on time, but service is rude and impolite. Definitely and by far AF! I have used all of them in recent years and have accumulated more than 100.000 miles on both LH and KL/AF, so I know what I am talking about!

[Tengotodo 52]

the less time you can spend in that tight econom seat the better. Take the shortest duration flight possible and justify it by remembering every minute saved is one minute "inside" the place you want to be.

[elef 0]

Just a question Michelangelo, do you speak at least some french? Because I've heard several times the french stewardesses being very rude to american or english passengers, serving wrong dish or drink and just ocmplain with high voice in french of people who think the can go to an other country without learning the language. If they understand you're not american or english they can speak rather good english but to native english speakers - non monsieur.

[ruskiehat 0]

KLM used to be good I was Platinium with their frequent flyer for some time, now try and avoid them. They have beatten Air Asia and Oasis in coming the 1st Long Haul Budget carrier IMO. They are crap. Only nice thing is transiting through Amsterdam. Food and service is just bloody awfull, with old aircraft that desperatly need upgrading. Inflight entertainment system belongs in another era, not this one.

 

Air France and Lufthansa are both good, sadly Lufthansa has pulled the Wifi off their planes as of Jan 2007, it was great passing the time being online at 30000ft. Personally I'd fly Etihad or Emirates, but it all depends on your connections and destination.

 

Because I've heard several times the french stewardesses being very rude to american or english passengers, serving wrong dish or drink and just ocmplain with high voice in french of people who think the can go to an other country without learning the language. If they understand you're not american or english they can speak rather good english but to native english speakers - non monsieur.

 

Yes it's true, that the problem with air France, it is staffed by French People, avoid them. Arogant as hell, think the sun shines out of their arse.

[Shuggy 8]

Just a question Michelangelo, do you speak at least some french? Because I've heard several times the french stewardesses being very rude to american or english passengers, serving wrong dish or drink and just ocmplain with high voice in french of people who think the can go to an other country without learning the language. If they understand you're not american or english they can speak rather good english but to native english speakers - non monsieur.

 

 

I've never flown Air France long haul but did fly with them from Saigon to Bangkok last year. I was expecting snooty, stuck up French cows but was very pleasantly surprised about how polite and friendly they actually were. I speak no French apart from what I learned watching Allo Allo.

 

Considering the bedlam during boarding( Viets sitting where the hell they liked and not bothering with thier allocated seats, leaving hand luggage in the aisles shouting across the aircraft to cousin Nguyen etc) the flighties continued to smile and went about thier duties without a scowl or grimace to be seen.

 

I know this was a short flight so i have no idea what they would be like 9 hours into a flight to Europe.

Edited January 27, 2007 by Shuggy

[Eneukman 1]

What are Charles de Gaulle and Frankfurt Airports like for passengers in transit? I've been to Schipol before and whilst many people rave about it, I didn't particularly like it.

 

Thanks,

 

Alan

[Michelangelo 0]

Just a question Michelangelo, do you speak at least some french? Because I've heard several times the french stewardesses being very rude to american or english passengers, serving wrong dish or drink and just ocmplain with high voice in french of people who think the can go to an other country without learning the language. If they understand you're not american or english they can speak rather good english but to native english speakers - non monsieur.

Oui, monsieur! I am native french speaker!

[Bullfrog 2,224]

I have travelled on all three airlines long haul, in both economy and business class. All cabin crew seem to have gone to the same BA school of ignorance so there is only a small difference between them but I put AF just ahead of the others...KLM is the only airline that has ever refused to serve me any more alchohol...and LH once had a fucking argument with me cos I wanted white wine with my meat dish!!!!

 

 

So my conclusion is choose your airline dependent on price, airport convenience and length of any stopovers...Also check which ones are Star Alliance, this way you will have more choices if things go wrong.

 

 

I would also like to share a word of advice I received from KLM...If you book a special meal you are less likely to be bumped off if the flight is over subscribed.

 

Also if you are travelling cabbage class wear a shirt and ask if you can be SUP'd when you check in.( Suitable for Upgrade)

[neilri2001 42]

Thanks to everyone who took the time to reply. I've actually booked an open jaw on Qatar instead which enables me to spend a few days in Thailand on the way home. never flown Qatar before but some senior board members have posted good reports on them. If you can avoid the easter week they have good deals in first, business and economy from UK to thailand. I booked with www.netflights.com but i think similar prices can be obtained from west east and the other usual suspects

 

 

Neil