Various euro airlines - thoughts and opinions

[Mark Grima]

Hey guys,

Off to Europe again in October and will be flying a number of airlines that I have not flown before so I was wondering if I can hear some thoughts on opinions from those who have.

Am flying Emirates from Australia
EK415 SYDDXB 773
EK5 DXBLHR A380

EK108 MLADXB A343
EK412 DXBSYD A380

I didn't even know EK had A340-300s. Are they up to the same standard as the rest of the fleet?

In and around Europe we'll be flying SAS from London to Stockholm and Gothenburg to Paris. Lufthansa from Geneva to Frankfurt and finally Air Malta from Frankfurt to Malta.

I have flown with Air Malta about 11 years ago on 733, however they now have A320s.

Will be interested in anything anyone can say.

Cheers

M

[Bernie P]

Hi Mark,

Having flown a lot on EK, primarily on A380/B77W and A332, I can throughly recommend them! I am not sure as to the condition of the hard product though on the A343, but I recall reading somewhere recently, that they may well be up for sale/wet lease in the not to distant future (c. 2015?) so maybe the hard product in these birds may be somewhat different/out dated when compared to the B77W/A380 you would have flown out of Aust on.

SAS, I have flown both Long Haul (NRT-CPH-NRT) and short haul (LHR-CPH-LHR and CPH-MAN AND LHR-CPH), and they were not too bad. The trolley dollies maybe on the slightly older side, but when compared to my experience on IB SCL-MAD, the SAS crew were infants! Service was very good, but I think they now have a buy-on-board for inter Europe flights. I also flew on SK Mad Dogs, but fleet renewal I think only a few (c. 5?) remain in the fleet!

Lufthansa and Air Malta, I know nothing about - sorry!!

Will look forward to seeing a trip report when you return!

[Radi K]

The EK A343 and A332 product is sub par to the rest of the fleet.

The whole EK experience isnt as great as it once was in my opinion.

The B777W is uncomfortable down the back due to the 3x4x3 config. Most B777s operators have 3x3x3

[Justin L]

I have flown LH long-haul (FRA-NRT, NRT-MUC, FRA-BKK), short-haul (LHR-FRA, FRA-LIN, LIN-FRA, BUD-FRA) and regional (MUC-SOF) and have found their service to be efficient and slick, if not a little sterile. I consider them the European version of CX. FRA and MUC airports were also slick and efficient. I wouldn't hesitate to fly with them again.

[Michael Arentz]

The B777W is uncomfortable down the back due to the 3x4x3 config. Most B777s operators have 3x3x3

Uncomfortable? Pure luxury if you're a veteran of AirAsiaX

You do rub shoulders with the people next to you but the service and IFE have always offset that for me. I must admit though you sure notice the difference when you transfer off the 777 and jump in a A380.

[Matt D]

I've flown SAS intraEurope many times in the last couple of years... my only tip: if you do get an MD82, sit up the front. Those engines are loud!

[George G]

Hi Mark,

I always fly Emirates when heading to Europe. I'm a fan!!

In 2008 i flew A340-500 Sydney to Dubai. Was a bit uncomfortable due to poor seating. I had the seat in front of the toilet and didn't have as much recline as the other seats.

I then flew to London on a B777 and was fine.

Other flights i have been on:

2010...Auckland to Sydney...A380. Awesome!

2011...Sydney to Dubai...A380. Awesome! Was so comfortable and better than my A340 flight in 2008.

2011...Dubai to Larnaca...A330. This must have been the oldest plane on the Emirates fleet. It still had the ash trays on the seat handles. The overhead lockers were shaking like hell on takeoff and landing....but overall smooth flight.

2011...Athens to Dubai...A330. Awesome!

2011...Dubai to Sydney...A380. Awesome!...when i arrived in Sydney it was so foggy couldn't see anything on the on board camera..then the runway just appeared out of no where for a nice smooth landing. I should really post the video of this..

[A McLaughlin]

LH short hall in Europe is pretty spartan and cramped. I flown a few legs on A320/A321s and CRJ70s, Most recent was on an RJ70 from MUC to TLS last year, and it was a lot noiser than I expected and the service was pretty sparse. Crews are efficient but not terribly friendly.

EK is the benchmark long haul airline for me, along with EY and SQ.

Haven't flown SAS or Air Malta.

[Mark Grima]

Thanks very much for your replies guys.

I am very much looking forward to this trip. Obviously a month of catching up with family and freinds but three airlines that I have never flown before and one that has changed a lot since I last flown them.

I have never written a trip report before but I may just for this trip.

Bring on October!

Cheers

M

[Mark Grima]

Hi all,

I have been home from my trip for a week now. It was a great month away with a fare amount of flights in the end.

Having asked for some opinions prior to my trip, I thought I might re-open this thread and give some of my own.

I don't intend for this to turn into a trip report though.

International flights all on Emirates
SYD DXB EK415 773ER A6EGC
DXB LHR EK005 A388 A6EDW (at the time, their newest)
MLA DXB EK108 A343 A6ERR
DXB SYD A388 A6EDN

I guess many on the board have flown Emirates, these were my first flights with them. My synopsis; the ICE entertainment system on the 777 and A380 is the best IFE I have come across.

The service was impeccable. So much food! Leaving Sydney at 0600 I didn't even try to sleep on that flight and I don't recall a time where I didn't see a crew member, for longer then about 15-20 minutes.

One thing that was strange on EK415 was the use of the mood lighting. Shortly after departing we were served breaky and then only a couple hours into the flights were told to draw our shades and up come the stars....I was a bit confused because our body clocks were at 0800 and the flight was arriving in DXB around 1500....why did they want us to think it was night, but they did for about 11 hours!!!! That was the only strange use of mood lighting. Everything else was appropriate to the actual time of day.

The A343 was different, and I guess this is a matter of perspective. If you are used to flying budget carriers, then the aircraft would probably be close to the best you have been on. If you mainly fly full service airlines then not so much. The IFE was a different, non-AVOD system. The interior was older, and dirtier. In my opinion this aircraft is not worthy of being in the EK fleet. I presume all the A330's and A340's are the same.

Although this was my first flight on an A340 of any type, I've flown on plenty of A330's and I don't like them, so there could be an element of bias in my opinions.

LHR ARN SK1530 736
GOT CPH SK430 CRJ900
CPH CDG SK559 A321

All the flights on SK were smooth sailing. Cabin crew were pretty young and all the aircraft were clean and well presented. Our 736 did not show its age (c.1998).

Comfortable seats, good leg room.

I don't recall any IFE on any of the flights, even the longer sector LHR ARN. I was busy reading QF32 anyway!

For economy pax its a pay on board for meals. Tea, coffee and water all FOC.

GVA FRA LH1217 735
I was very surprised with this flight. Don't know why but I was not expecting much from Lufty. I really liked the slimline, leather (faux???) seats. Their was ample leg room on an aircraft that defied its 21 years. In fact when I looked up its age I didn't believe it.

Even on the short flight (< 1 hour) we were served with a snack, tea, coffee and water in Y. All FOC.

FRA MLA KM329 A319
I was looking forward to this flight. I am a patriotic person and, even with all their grief I just feel much better when I step on board a QF aircraft. As I am also a Maltese citizen, for the reason I felt pretty good when I stepped on board my Air Malta flight....until I sat down.

The seat pitch was by far the worst I've experienced and with a flight time of over 2.5 hours I thought I was going to have sore knees by the end of the flight.

That said, the service was good, we were served with a hot meal and there were drop down screens however no earphones provided. I guessed you could ask for them though.

Overall, all flights were very enjoyable, I have now flown on all types of 737, excluding the 9's that are currently flying and first flights on A321, CRJ900 and A340.

Third flight on an A380. I think this is fast becoming my favorite aircraft. Will be interesting to see how they age.

Cheers

M