Airplanetire From United States of America, joined May 2001, 1809 posts, RR: 3 Posted (6 years 4 months 1 week 1 day 17 hours ago) and read 3453 times:
Soon I need to buy a ticket to fly from ATL to TLV, leaving in late May and returning in late June. Delta's non-stop flight is way too expensive, so I'm looking at some other options. Here they are:
ATL-YYZ Air Canada EMB-175
YYZ-FRA Air Canada A333 or Lufthansa A346
FRA-TLV Lufthansa 744
TLV-YYZ Air Canada 763
YYZ-ATL CRJ-200
The Alitalia flights are about $175 cheaper than the next cheapest flights, which are the Air Canada and Lufthansa flights. I may have to pick the Air Canada flights because of the schedules, but assuming I get to choose, what would you recommend?
How is Air Canada for longhaul? I've flown Lufthansa longhaul, but never on an A346. I would have a choice between the A346 and the Air Canada A333. Which would you recommend? I've never flown either type, though I have flown A343s and A332s.
How is Alitalia for longhaul? I've heard a lot of bad things about the airline, so I'm trying to figure out if the $175 savings is worth it. Also, I've flown 763s tons of times and I've been in both BOS and MXP. I've never been to YYZ, I've never flown many of the types on that routing, including the 744, and I've never flown Air Canada. However, I've never flown Alitalia either.
Thank you so much for all of your comments! I'm having a really hard time deciding what to do for these flights.
FighterPilot From Canada, joined Jun 2005, 1324 posts, RR: 24 Reply 2, posted (6 years 4 months 1 week 7 hours ago) and read 3411 times:
Personally I would go with the AC/LH combo. The AC longhaul would be far superior to Alitalia. Also it will give you a chance to come see YYZ, fly on a 747, and fly AC as well. I would also fly on LH's A346. Ultimately it is up to you, but hopefully you will make an educated decision and choose whats best for you.
LHRBFSTrident From UK - Northern Ireland, joined Nov 2006, 629 posts, RR: 0 Reply 3, posted (6 years 4 months 1 week 6 hours ago) and read 3407 times:
FWIW, my first long-haul experience with AC was YYZ-LHR-YVR in December and the 763 was ratty and decrepit, not to mention dirty and fitted out with CP seating (how long ago was that?!)
The crew was great tho'
I love to fly but I couldn't wait to get off that 763 all the way back to the west coast...
Next up: LAX-LHR NZ002 Y SkyCouch! LHR-LAX NZ001 Y
Boeing744 From Canada, joined Jun 2005, 1769 posts, RR: 25 Reply 4, posted (6 years 4 months 1 week 5 hours ago) and read 3403 times:
Quoting LHRBFSTrident (Reply 3): I love to fly but I couldn't wait to get off that 763 all the way back to the west coast...
But right now 4 of the 763's have the brand new interior, with AVOD, etc. Come May there will be even more. The new interior is a joy to fly on (I experienced it on an A320), but even without, both the AC 763's I have been on were tolerable (and always a great crew). The E175 ATL-YYZ would also have AVOD.
I can't speak for Alitalia, but I have flown both AC and LH. AC has never disappointed me (except for with my bags) and I always find their crew to be above and beyond. LH was generally good, but sometimes the crew wasn't as friendly I found (not always the case though, some were great).
LHRBFSTrident From UK - Northern Ireland, joined Nov 2006, 629 posts, RR: 0 Reply 5, posted (6 years 4 months 6 days 13 hours ago) and read 3373 times:
Quoting Boeing744 (Reply 4): interior is a joy to fly on (I experienced it on an A320)
Totally agree with that - I had it on LAX-YYZ A320 and it was great!
The LH/AC combination has better, IMO, range of different a/c types - getting a new interior 763 will be a craps-shoot at best unless they are for sure assigned to the YYZ-TLV route.
and let's not forget you'll wear down your cervical vertebrae trying to look out of the window on the CRJ-200
but then I haven't flown AZ since the late 90's and all I remember was very stylish and cool crew and interior - the pax went into uproar when the f/a announced our destination as 'Roma' and everybody stood up at once to get off the plane and get their carry-ons (we were holding short of the runway, 2nd in line for t/o!) because we were actually heading to Milan!
Next up: LAX-LHR NZ002 Y SkyCouch! LHR-LAX NZ001 Y
Boeing744 From Canada, joined Jun 2005, 1769 posts, RR: 25 Reply 6, posted (6 years 4 months 6 days 9 hours ago) and read 3368 times:
Quoting LHRBFSTrident (Reply 5): getting a new interior 763 will be a craps-shoot at best unless they are for sure assigned to the YYZ-TLV route.
True that AC doesn't have that many XM'ed 763's yet, but as one of their longest 763 flights, I think the odds of getting one on YYZ-TLV aren't too bad. I got on the AVOD A320 when only 3 aircraft had the new interiors (YVR-YOW).
Quoting LHRBFSTrident (Reply 5): the pax went into uproar when the f/a announced our destination as 'Roma' and everybody stood up at once to get off the plane and get their carry-ons (we were holding short of the runway, 2nd in line for t/o!) because we were actually heading to Milan!
I've had that happen myself, on an AC Jazz (Dash 8) flight. We were taxiing to the runway when the first officer came on the PA and announced our destination as Vancouver. Only problem was that we were already in Vancouver, supposed to be going to Victoria. I think she had a long day!
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From United States of America, joined May 2001, 1809 posts, 
From Venezuela, joined Jan 2005, 5857 posts, 
From Canada, joined Jun 2005, 1324 posts, 
From UK - Northern Ireland, joined Nov 2006, 629 posts, 
I've had that happen myself, on an AC Jazz (Dash 8) flight. We were taxiing to the runway when the first officer came on the PA and announced our destination as Vancouver. Only problem was that we were already in Vancouver, supposed to be going to Victoria. I think she had a long day! 
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