AlitaliaMD11 From Spain, joined Dec 2003, 4068 posts, RR: 15 Posted (7 years 7 months 1 week 6 days 12 hours ago) and read 4167 times:
I just wanted to ask your opinions on which airline you would fly to Spain from New York.
My choices are Northwest, KLM, or Air France. Northwest LGA-DTW (B757-200), DTW-AMS (A330-300), and AMS-MAD (B737). KLM JFK-AMS (B777-200), and AMS-MAD (B737). Air France JFK-CDG (B773), CDG-MAD (A318).
I have already flown on KLMs B777-200 from JFK-AMS and then the B737 onto Madrid. I have flown Air France 18 times but never on the B777-300ER, and I have never flown Northwest.
The price range is generally the same. I know how the service, IFE, and food is on Air France and KLM, I have experienced Air Frances new tempo class before on the A330-200. So basically hows NWAs service, IFE, and food on the A330-300 flights?
WhiskeyHotel From United Kingdom, joined Aug 2004, 224 posts, RR: 0 Reply 1, posted (7 years 7 months 1 week 6 days 10 hours ago) and read 4153 times:
Have you considered the nonstop option at all, CO EWR-MAD? I have flown each of the airlines you mentioned TATL in the last year, and the only one I would rate higher than CO in Y class is AF. If you care about free drinks internationally, then CO in Y is not the way to go. I have flown AF in J, and CO in BusinessFirst as well (have not flown NW or KL in J), and must say that between AF J (I flew the old J, not the NEV seat) and CO BF, CO's is the superior product. Also, CO is a SkyTeam carrier, and from the sound of it, it looks as if you're set on flying a SkyTeam airline.
If KL, AF and NW are your only considerations...amongst the three I would choose AF, KL and NW...in that order. I have had varying degrees of enjoyment when flying KL or NW TATL. At times the KL flight attendants can be downright surly, and prone to hiding in the galleys for 6 hour stretches (have experienced this several times on IAH-AMS on a KL 744). NW's Y class service on TATL flights is consistently average (not bad, not good, but appropriate to what you pay). AF, on the other hand, has Y seats which feel like they recline farther than KL, NW or CO's coach product (don't know if it's actually true, but I rack up about 20 TATL segments per year and it seems like it to me), and the meal service and FA's are consistently good.
Work is the curse of the drinking classes - Oscar Wilde
SK601 From Belgium, joined Jun 2005, 975 posts, RR: 4 Reply 2, posted (7 years 7 months 1 week 6 days 10 hours ago) and read 4151 times:
I just returned from my trip to the US. I flew KL (B767 and B747). On my way to NY I was in C-class, the WBC seats in the B767 were OK, dated IFE, certainly not the best around. My return was in y-class B747, very cramped, this a/c still had the old style seats (without the moveable headrest), no PTV. So no points here for KLMs hardware!! But.....all in all I had a very enjoyable trip due to the really good catering (also in y) and the best cabincrew I ever had on a flight (LAX-AMS), even better than the world famous SQ girls. (off topic- the sq girls deliver outstanding service and smile all the time, but they are not into a chat, or don't dare to ask them something, they just keep smiling and say, yes yes, and keep smiling again)
But KL can be a hit or a miss with the crew, out of JFK KL flies the B777. I didn't like the plane at all! I flew AMS-SFO. Again seating cramped, PTV?? Yes, many channels, movies and so on, but I wasn't able to see it because the person I front of me reclined his seat completly and you cannot flip the screen far enough to see anything. The crew on this flight was outstanding as well BTW.
I have no experience on AF longhaul, I only flew them on the AMS-CDG sectors. I found them not good but also not bad, just average.
I would go for NW. Mainly because of the A330. It's a very nice plane. The crew on the DTW-AMS flights is usually somewhat older, from my own experience I can tell you that the crew is nicer from the US to Europe than Europe to US (tired?).
The KL B737 AMS-MAD flights are nothing special. No IFE, limited (no) catering, flights are usually packed and IMO not comfortable.
AlitaliaMD11 From Spain, joined Dec 2003, 4068 posts, RR: 15 Reply 3, posted (7 years 7 months 1 week 6 days 10 hours ago) and read 4147 times:
Thanks for your guys opinions
I have already flown KLM on the B777-200, B747-400, B737-800 and 400 so I figure I won't go with them this time.
I considered CO EWR-MAD but the price is much higher then what Air France and Northwest are offering. Air France is offering $193 each way!
The one reason I considered flying Air France is because I enjoy them a lot, I have flown them 18 times, and because I would be able to fly on the B777-300ER which I have not gotten a chance to do so far!
So basically now Air France and Northwest. A330-300 vs B777-300ER.
Mindscape From United States of America, joined Apr 2004, 314 posts, RR: 0 Reply 4, posted (7 years 7 months 1 week 6 days 4 hours ago) and read 4127 times:
Hello AlitaliaMD11,
I share WhiskeyHotel opinion regarding KLM, AF and CO except may be the J class comparison. I've just flown lat monday AMS-JFK on KLM, and once again was disapointed by the product quality, the food, the service even if flight attendent were indeed very smiley.
I have never flown NW, and as they are using the A333 for TATL, it is indeed a tempting choice.
Now, depend on what is your priority for this trip !
- aircraft : B773ER vs A333 ? good dilemma, now you should also consider the short haul part. With AF you will fly on a A318 between CDG and MAD. With NW, you will fly on B752, A333, B737 (btw a KLM flight). Considering that both B773ER and A318 are rare birds, you will have the opportunity to fly on them during the same trip.
- trip : 1 stop with AF vs 2 stops with NW...
- miles : more miles on NW than on AF flight...
MH017 From Netherlands, joined Apr 2005, 1633 posts, RR: 34 Reply 5, posted (7 years 7 months 1 week 5 days 18 hours ago) and read 4111 times:
AlitaliaMD11,
Why are you making the "detour" via DTW, if I may ask: just to fly the A330 ?
You can also fly the newest A330's of KLM by flying the EWR-AMS v.v. stretch, i.s.o. departing from JFK: did you ever consider this ?
Like SK601 said: the AMS-MAD flights are nothing special, catering-wise, but can be a joy if you've never flown on the 737 -800 or -900 series...
Whatever your SkyTeam choice is: enjoy your flights and do share with us a trip-report
AlitaliaMD11 From Spain, joined Dec 2003, 4068 posts, RR: 15 Reply 8, posted (7 years 7 months 1 week 5 days 8 hours ago) and read 4078 times:
I think I am going to go with Air France.
The reason why I was considering the detour to DTW was because of the low fare and also because I have never flown the A330-300 before, I figured they would be the best airline to fly the A330-300 on.
I have already flown KLM from JFK-AMS-MAD-AMS-JFK on the B777-200, B747-400, and B737-400/800.
I am going to go with Air France for a couple of reasons. I have flown them 18 times and every time they have been so great. I would be able to fly on the B777-300ER both ways, a plane that I have yet had a change to fly along with the A318. I have experienced the new Tempo Class when flying CDG-EWR on the A330-200 back in 2003 which was a really nice experience except for when the IFE failed in the middle of the flight, I figure that flying the B777-300ER would give me another chance to experience their new AVOD which I hear is pretty nice. My last reason is because I know CDG so well that I could change from terminal 2C where the flight from JFK usually lands to 2F where the flights to Madrid usually leave from.
Thanks for all of your guys opinions!
I will surely be visiting Spain many times in the future so that gives me a change to try new things like maybe the KLM A330-200 and the NWA A330-300 as well as finally flying on the direct CO EWR-MAD route! And in the end I will probably fly Iberia one last time just for kicks!
So, has anybody flown on the B777-300ER with Air France yet? Can anyone suggest a seat in Y?
Mindscape From United States of America, joined Apr 2004, 314 posts, RR: 0 Reply 9, posted (7 years 7 months 1 week 5 days 3 hours ago) and read 4066 times:
AlitaliaMD11,
It is not possible to reserve emergency exit seats in advance (have to check-in early), but rows 18 and 35 have great legrooms. if you are traveling with someone, I would advice you to book row 31 seats K and L. Indeed, it is the only row with 2 seats in the first "tempo" compartment !
Rmcf From Spain, joined Oct 2005, 202 posts, RR: 0 Reply 11, posted (7 years 7 months 1 week 4 days 16 hours ago) and read 4052 times:
Personally I think you have taken the right option: Air France is a great airline, plus flying the B777-300 and the little A318 is a great opportunity you shouldn't miss!
Enjoy your stay in Madrid!
bye! rmcf
AlitaliaMD11 From Spain, joined Dec 2003, 4068 posts, RR: 15 Reply 12, posted (7 years 7 months 1 week 4 days 12 hours ago) and read 4035 times:
My mom is now considering Iberia since its cheaper
Northwest is also now cheaper then flying Air France but my mom doesn't want to go to DTW!
Northwest is actually cheaper then Iberia as well and it would be on the A330-300 going and the B777-200 back (direct to JFK from AMS) but its the connectiong in DTW that shes not buying
Rmcf From Spain, joined Oct 2005, 202 posts, RR: 0 Reply 13, posted (7 years 7 months 1 week 4 days 11 hours ago) and read 4030 times:
C'mon, if you fly Iberia you will probably go in a brand new A340-600! OK the service won't be as good as AF but it would give you the opportunity of flying on this looong plane! Plus it's a direct flight!
bye! rmcf
AlitaliaMD11 From Spain, joined Dec 2003, 4068 posts, RR: 15 Reply 14, posted (7 years 7 months 1 week 4 days 11 hours ago) and read 4028 times:
Quoting Rmcf (Reply 13): C'mon, if you fly Iberia you will probably go in a brand new A340-600! OK the service won't be as good as AF but it would give you the opportunity of flying on this looong plane! Plus it's a direct flight!
bye! rmcf
I would by flying on Iberia 6252 which will be operated by the A340-300 on November 17th and I would fly back on Iberia 6253 which would also be flown by the A340-300 on November 23rd.
If it was on the A340-600 I would say yes in an instat since I have already experienced it before with Iberia and found the product to be much nicer then the A340-300 product that Iberia offers, the FAs where even more pleasant on the A340-600 then on the A340-300 which surprised me because they have to walk more on the A340-600!
Hjulicher From Liechtenstein, joined Feb 2005, 847 posts, RR: 2 Reply 16, posted (7 years 7 months 1 week 5 hours ago) and read 3992 times:
conecting in DTW is really easy. It's a new terminal and very friendly. It's really a nice experience, plus you get to fly through AMS which is a better airport than CDG. CDG is no fun to connect in, especially if your flight is late. The french aren't very accomodating to passengers who need to be rebooked, whereas groundcrew in AMS are much more pleasant.
AlitaliaMD11 From Spain, joined Dec 2003, 4068 posts, RR: 15 Reply 17, posted (7 years 7 months 1 week 4 hours ago) and read 3991 times:
Quoting Hjulicher (Reply 16): The french aren't very accomodating to passengers who need to be rebooked,
I have experienced the oppisite when flying Air France. Twice before when my connecting flight from Madrid to New York was delayed Air France staff met my family at the gate and rushed us through customs, took us in an Air France van to 2C and then rushed through security, sent us running down to our gate where we boarded into a bus which took us to our plane, we got in and the doors where closed and we began taxiing to the active runway!
CPH757 From Denmark, joined Sep 2005, 684 posts, RR: 2 Reply 18, posted (7 years 7 months 6 days 21 hours ago) and read 3989 times:
Quoting AlitaliaMD11 (Reply 8): So, has anybody flown on the B777-300ER with Air France yet?
Yup, PEK-CDG 14/02/05. And i was quite surprised that it did not have AVOD, despite the inflight magazine staing that(can anybody comment on this, did they miss AVOD on the first 773ER or what). In addition to the 772ER it has camera view, but it didn't work for the entire flight.
However, i really really liked the aircraft, although the seats are a bit hard, but I guess that's the case with brand new seats?
The Air France FA's are very polite and caring, the food are superior to other airliners i have flown, and you get a small amenity kit even in Y.
Last flight: SAW-CPH on H9 on 02/11/09 - Next Flights: 23/12/09 CPH-AAL on QI, 30/12/09 CPH-LHR on SK, 19/01/10 CPH-CDG-
TP777 From Portugal, joined Oct 2005, 59 posts, RR: 0 Reply 19, posted (7 years 7 months 6 days 13 hours ago) and read 3971 times:
You can also try something different, you could fly TP from EWR to LIS and then connect to MAD, you can experience flying in a "exotic" A310.
TP have a lot of flights to MAD daily.
You can also delay your stopover and visit Lisbon as the airport is near the city center (15 min Bus trip)
AlitaliaMD11 From Spain, joined Dec 2003, 4068 posts, RR: 15 Reply 20, posted (7 years 7 months 6 days 5 hours ago) and read 3963 times:
Quoting TP777 (Reply 19): You can also try something different, you could fly TP from EWR to LIS and then connect to MAD, you can experience flying in a "exotic" A310.
TP have a lot of flights to MAD daily.
You can also delay your stopover and visit Lisbon as the airport is near the city center (15 min Bus trip)
I would have considered that since I really love Portugal, I spent two weeks driving all over the country, but TAP is pretty expensive.
The best choice you could make!!! I know you are a KLM fan just like me, so I wish you a great flight (which I know you will have since you are flying KLM) and once again, EXCELENT choice.
Regards,
Adam
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