The best airline in Y

[harvyk]

Talking with Dad last weekend, we got onto the subject of airlines and the airlines we wish to fly. One of the things which we both commented on was airline rankings are almost exclusively done based on J or F products and their lounges / FF programs.

So for those of us who are not lucky enough to have a corp travel policy which is J \ F every flight, and \ or who don't have enough FF points to ensure that the furthest back on the plane we'd be sitting is the last row of J, what airlines would you rate up there as the best and which airlines would you rate as the worst.

There should probably also be some proviso that you can't include any benefit you'd gain from status in your reasoning either. We're talking non FF comparisons here.

 

[Mwenenzi]

Best Y depends a lot on the route and aircraft type

 

[lovestotravel]

Totally depends on the route/equipment

 

[harvyk]

Ok, lets define it a bit more, which airline would one get the most consistent level of service regardless of what route was flown. If it makes it easier we could split it into 3 categories, short, medium and long haul.

Short is less than 4 hours,
Medium is greater than 4 hours but less than 8 hours,
Long is anything greater than 8 hours.

 

[dajop]

As well as route/equipment it also depends on time of day and how full the flight is. If the flight is only 35-40% full in Y the experience on just about any airline is going to better than the best airline in Y when 100% full!

 

[midcoast1]

For myself . Best Y short domestic is Qantas . With a disabled wife they were excellent on the ground and in the air .
Best long distance to date has to be Vaustralia .

 

[TonyHancock]

QF for me in all cases.*^ :shock:

*This would not be the case if I wasn't a P1
^Virgin does not figure domestically because thanks to flexi fares, points and complimentary upgrades I only fly in J with them.

The reality for me is that it is based upon my status with an airline. Sorry another variable to add into the equation!

 

[smit0847]

How longs a piece of string!

Depends on aircraft, route, staff, loads etc.

I would assume the usual players of SQ and EK would be up there.

 

[k3nnis]

MH is not bad in Y in terms of seat pitch

 

[QF1]

SQ will definitely be my number one followed by MH/EK...keeping FF status/miles out.

 

[eastwest101]

MH is not bad in Y in terms of seat pitch

Agree with others - (if Y and excluding status benefits etc) then whatever the best seat pitch and width is generally the winner, plus bonus brownie points for wide-body over narrow body aircraft. This is usually a factor of airline and particular equipment.

 

[Paddy55]

SQ for medium haul, and QF for long haul... Although I'm hoping it will be awhile till I have to brave whY internationally thanks to QF and AA

 

[richie9x]

It also comes down to the type of aircraft as well. Down the back of a Qantas A380 is quite a different experience than down the back of a Qantas 767.

 

[k_sheep]

EK for consistency. QF for IFE. MH for food

 

[harvyk]

Well they seem to manage to do ratings of various airlines based on J and F class. Having experienced both J on a B737-400 and J on a B747-400 I can assure you that there is no comparison between the two types, but still airline rating companies still manage rate airlines with different qualities of service and different aircraft types between each other.

 

[Must...Fly!]

QF for me in all cases.*^ :shock:

*This would not be the case if I wasn't a P1
^Virgin does not figure domestically because thanks to flexi fares, points and complimentary upgrades I only fly in J with them.

The reality for me is that it is based upon my status with an airline. Sorry another variable to add into the equation!

Yes I have to say from what I have flown it is a QF triple threat...

Then again I've never flown QF3/4

 

[browski]

1. Asiana (medium haul)
2. Qatar (long haul)
3. Silk air (short haul)

 

[Alanslegal]

1. Med-long haul: CX shell Y (yes alot of folks dislike them passionately but I am one of the few who enjoys them alot!)
2. Med-long haul: QF Y 388 (71D, 80A/K) also great IFE
3. Any Y seat 388 plane
3. Short haul - Virgin 738's and JetBlue

 

[mannej]

EK for consistency. QF for IFE. MH for food

How can you say EK for consistency? In terms of their hard product it is hardly consistent. And this is not only for their Y product.

You have some Y seats with 32 inches of pitch versus 34 inches on others (You have 777's with both these pitches), I know the 330 had loop based IFE compared the ICE on the other types.

MH food has gone downhill really. It used to be ok, but when you have the same breakfast out of KUL to both HKG and PER many many times, it is hardly something to get excited about.


I guess people do remember the best of something. Domestically the 330-200 IFE is great for QF, yet you have the lack of IFE on the 767's for one on QF. There are a lot of variables to this question...

 

[k_sheep]

How can you say EK for consistency? In terms of their hard product it is hardly consistent. And this is not only for their Y product.

You have some Y seats with 32 inches of pitch versus 34 inches on others (You have 777's with both these pitches), I know the 330 had loop based IFE compared the ICE on the other types.

MH food has gone downhill really. It used to be ok, but when you have the same breakfast out of KUL to both HKG and PER many many times, it is hardly something to get excited about.


I guess people do remember the best of something. Domestically the 330-200 IFE is great for QF, yet you have the lack of IFE on the 767's for one on QF. There are a lot of variables to this question...

Okay I'll clarify. By consistency, I mean they're consistently good with the things that matter to me (price, comfort, IFE, food).

I've never had breakfast on MH I'll admit.

I base those thoughts on flights from BNE/MEL to KUL/SIN as they are the main hops I do