Yellowstone From United States of America, joined Aug 2006, 3071 posts, RR: 7 Posted (3 years 2 weeks 1 day 22 hours ago) and read 2180 times:
I'm going to be traveling to Ireland and the UK this September, and I'm getting close to booking my flights. I had posted a thread asking for advice on flights a while ago, but ticket bookings being what they are, the fares I talked about then aren't available anymore. The ones that are available now (economy class):
Outbound: Los Angeles to Dublin.
1) Air Canada. LAX to YYZ on A320, YYZ to DUB on 767-300.
2) United Airlines/Aer Lingus. LAX to BOS, ORD, or JFK on UA narrowbody, then on to DUB on EI A330.
3) United Airlines/Aer Lingus. LAX to LHR on UA 777-200, then to DUB on EI A320.
4) Continental. LAX to EWR on 757-300, then to DUB on 757-200.
Return: London to Los Angeles.
1) Air Canada(/United Airlines). LHR to YVR on 777-300, then to LAX on AC E190 or UA CRJ700.
2) Air Canada. LHR to YYZ on 777-300, then to LAX on A320.
3) Continental. LHR to IAH on 777-200, then to LAX on 737-800.
4) Continental. LHR to EWR on 777-200, then to LAX on 757-200.
Any suggestions? I've never flown on Aer Lingus before, so it might be nice to try them out on the outbound. On the other hand, I've only been on 2 longhaul trips in my life (BA in 1999, UA in 2004), so pretty much any of the choices would be something I haven't done before. The LAX to JFK leg in outbound choice #2 is on United's p.s. service, but I don't know if that's any different from normal in Economy class. I'd probably like to avoid outbound choice #4, since it's on a narrowbody, but if international service on 757s is noticeably better than domestic service, that might be fine. As for the return, I've never flown on a 773 before.
Hydrogen is an odorless, colorless gas which, given enough time, turns into people.
DutchBoeing From Netherlands, joined Apr 2010, 95 posts, RR: 0 Reply 1, posted (3 years 2 weeks 1 day 17 hours ago) and read 2138 times:
Hi Yellowstone!
Might I suggest something else? I don't know whether it would be an option for you, but... why not LAX-CDG-DUB / LHR-CDG-LAX on AF? I always prefer AF over other carriers, as it has a bit more style and class in my opinion: elegant interiors / cabin staff (attitude is something else... ), good food generally and AVOD + PTV in Y, probably on B773 ex LAX. CDG-DUB is likely on ARJ-85 from CityJet, also nice. Would this be much more expensive or not fit in your plans? Perhaps you can combine with KL through AMS on outbound or return journey (they usually allow that in one ticket, with more or less the same price). Then you get to fly EI to/from DUB to AMS on a codeshare with KLM: AF + CityJet + EI + KL, interesting?
Otherwise I'd take both options 4: CO is the best airline of them all I think, although, again, no match for AF (and even KLM with great AVOD + PTV in Y)!
02hilliert From United Kingdom, joined Feb 2007, 467 posts, RR: 0 Reply 2, posted (3 years 2 weeks 1 day 16 hours ago) and read 2125 times:
Hi,
I flew with Air Canada last month, and it was by far and away the best economy product I've ever experienced. The crews were friendly, and the AVOD was decent. The food was good, the seats comfortable, and the flights on time. I couldn't fault them, and I will be using them again.
I would recommend them, as the service you'd receive would be far superior than anything an American carrier could muster.
In addition to that, the connections at YYZ were extremely quick and well signed, and very politely staffed.
PI4EVER From United States of America, joined May 2009, 599 posts, RR: 2 Reply 3, posted (3 years 2 weeks 1 day 11 hours ago) and read 2101 times:
I join 02hilliert's opinion.....fly AC if you're not going to price and consider the suggested AF option. AC service is excellent in Y and surpasses the service on UA, EI and CO. The A320 to/from LAX and YYZ is fine, and you'll enjoy the 763 and 777 for the long ride. Comfort, entertainment, food and people service is very good on AC.
I am not slighting my loyalty to any US based carrier; specific to what you're considering, I would choose AC for the overall travel experience. Nothing wrong with all your choices - I've flown they all I just think AC is a notch above.
Let us know (and why) what you book,
Thomas
sw733 From United States of America, joined Feb 2004, 6072 posts, RR: 10 Reply 4, posted (3 years 2 weeks 1 day 11 hours ago) and read 2094 times:
Quoting Yellowstone (Thread starter): 2) United Airlines/Aer Lingus. LAX to BOS, ORD, or JFK on UA narrowbody, then on to DUB on EI A330.
3) United Airlines/Aer Lingus. LAX to LHR on UA 777-200, then to DUB on EI A320.
Either of these, paired with
Quoting Yellowstone (Thread starter): 1) Air Canada(/United Airlines). LHR to YVR on 777-300, then to LAX on AC E190 or UA CRJ700.
Viscount724 From Switzerland, joined Oct 2006, 21498 posts, RR: 24 Reply 9, posted (3 years 2 weeks 1 day 4 hours ago) and read 2007 times:
Quoting DutchBoeing (Reply 1): CDG-DUB is likely on ARJ-85 from CityJet, also nice.
You consider a 6-abreast Avro RJ/BAe146 as "nice"? That would be the worst part of the trip. I go out of my way to avoid 6-abreast Avros/146s. On the other hand, those with spacious 5-abreast seating like LX and SN are excellent. Otherwise I agree with the comments that AF service is generally good in Y class. The only negative is connecting at CDG which I consider the least convenient major hub in Europe after LHR. The best in my experience are MUC, ZRH, AMS.
I concur with other suggestions that any of the AC options would be my first choice. In my experience, AC Y class service, both international and domestic, is better than US carriers. And connecting at any Canadian airport is much more pleasant than at JFK or other major US hub. AC on-time performance is also generally good.
DutchBoeing From Netherlands, joined Apr 2010, 95 posts, RR: 0 Reply 10, posted (3 years 2 weeks 17 hours ago) and read 1952 times:
Of course a 6-abreast Avro RJ is a bit tight, but rarely flights are 100% full these days, so if you have an empty seat next to you it's totally fine. It's just a 1h20min or so flight.
My point was more that flying an Avro RJ is a bit more special than your standard boring B737 or A320. Esp. in California / West USA where Yellowstone is from, I'm sure he doesn't get to 'ride' many ARJ's. Personally I find them fun, as they flying experience does differ a bit from a B737 / A320. Sounds (flaps! + engines) are def. different. And isn't that what an airplane nut tries to do? Get new experiences???
Just a note about this flight: it is operated on one of AC's 3 old-cabin 8-exit 763s. There are no PTVs (just overhead video and 9 channels of audio) and I believe they are still cloth seats. I don't know if this will affect your plans, personally I would want to go more because I'd be flying an odder aircraft, but that's just me. Of course, if you want you can also upgrade to the premium Y seating in these 763s (no business class). Looks like 6-across and 38" pitch for $250, plus an upgrade to a preferred seat on your connecting flight (ie. emergency exit). If you don't want the above flight, I'd recommend:
Quoting Yellowstone (Thread starter): 2) United Airlines/Aer Lingus. LAX to BOS, ORD, or JFK on UA narrowbody, then on to DUB on EI A330.
Quoting Yellowstone (Thread starter): 1) Air Canada(/United Airlines). LHR to YVR on 777-300, then to LAX on AC E190 or UA CRJ700.
If whoever you are booking with allows you to pair up these flights.
Radial engines don't leak oil, they are just marking their territory!
Viscount724 From Switzerland, joined Oct 2006, 21498 posts, RR: 24 Reply 13, posted (3 years 1 week 6 days 7 hours ago) and read 1801 times:
Quoting YXD172 (Reply 11): Just a note about this flight: it is operated on one of AC's 3 old-cabin 8-exit 763s. There are no PTVs (just overhead video and 9 channels of audio) and I believe they are still cloth seats.
I believe they renovated the interiors on those 3 763s and may have installed new seats (not sure about that).
What are you referring to re "still cloth seats"? All AC mainline aircraft have cloth seats as far as I know, and rightly so in my opiniion. Cloth is more comfortable than leather, especially on longhaul flights where few carriers use leather seats.
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From United States of America, joined Aug 2006, 3071 posts, 
From Netherlands, joined Apr 2010, 95 posts, 
), good food generally and AVOD + PTV in Y, probably on B773 ex LAX. CDG-DUB is likely on ARJ-85 from CityJet, also nice. Would this be much more expensive or not fit in your plans? Perhaps you can combine with KL through AMS on outbound or return journey (they usually allow that in one ticket, with more or less the same price). Then you get to fly EI to/from DUB to AMS on a codeshare with KLM: AF + CityJet + EI + KL, interesting? 
From United Kingdom, joined Feb 2007, 467 posts, 
Those bad boys are 6 wide, so nice isn't how I would describe it. 5 wide is a different story.
From Switzerland, joined Oct 2006, 21498 posts, 
From Canada, joined Feb 2008, 427 posts, 
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