Which airline do you prefer to fly with?

[janewaystv]

I'm flying to Auckland with Emirates in 10 days time. I've flown Qantas, Air NZ, Freedom, Thai, BA and United, I personally rate Emirates the top with Air NZ coming 2nd. I've paid $700 Sydney return (per person) which is quite cheap & good value where food is concerned , Thai airways SYD to AKL return came in at a massive $1,700 with Qantas and Air NZ around $900 (Australian dollars).

[Fujita Phil]

I flew Emirates to Europe and back last year. Apart from being in Cattle Class they were great to fly with. Great entertainment (on the personal lcd screens) and good food, though there is something to be said about the quality of food as you get further away from NZ. I just love when they run through all the lanuages the flight attendants speak

[RWood]

We like Lan Chile best - very friendly and professional. We have flown (mainly) Air NZ and Qantas.

[tgsnoopy]

Haven't flown LAN Chile yet, but have heard good stories of them & their pricing. Prefer AirNZ to QANTAS, have found Emirates excellent (although expensive most times I looked). Must admit to using Pacific Blue based on price between Auckland and Gold Coast & Auckland and Sydney. Surprisingly the last minute flights out from Sydney for Christmas I just bought were cheapest (and best choices of flight times) with Air NZ.

You really do have to look numerous times over several days. Make sure your cookies are turned on. I've formed an opinion that the cookies track your multiple visits and they trigger special pricing at off peak times. By looking multiple times I've often noticed price drops of 30-40% on Pacific Blue flights.

[gllitz]

I had a really pleasant experience with the following airlines on international flights:

1) Singapore Airlines
2) Air New Zealand
3) Lufthansa
4) All Nippon Airways (ANA)
5) Gulf Air

The bottom 3 of the above are very close and not that far off from Air NZ...

In the domestic US market, about 15 years ago Alaska Airlines used to rock (used them and Northwest to fly back home from Chicago to Alaska every xmas and summer)...but now they are terrible...service has gone down big time...I suppose to match all the price wars going on...oh well.

And as far as AirNZ vs Qantas, I would take AirNZ any day...

[squid]

vergin blue does me just fine

[tgsnoopy]

Awesum deals on Emirates earlier in the week. Booked a few flights. Sydney & Gold Coast in May.

Even going to go to Brisbane in September oops, sorry late August this year for Riverfire! Most Kiwi's would have never heard of it, in fact lots of Australians outside of Queensland have never heard of it.

Riverfire marks the start of the Brisbane River Festival. Two RAAF F1-11's fly buy just after dusk doing a fuel dump & burn. this is followed by a half hour long intense fireworks display from the three main bridges over the river, barges on the river and off the roofs of the major skyscapers. At the end the RAAF F1-11's do another fly buy dump & burn. Of course there are plenty of other events, but Riverfire is the main drawcard.

I've never been there yet but was blown away by the video I saw of last year. The planes were only at about 400 feet and the heat was incredibly intense from the fuel burning.

Accomodation is nearly full there, still cheap flights from Sydney with Virgin Blue, and to Sydney with various airlines. The hotel I'm booked with (on Tuesday) Medina Executive Brisbane is now full. Staff said it was their busiest night of the year. Cheapest room there for the Saturday night was $275, ouch. At least the other nights were cheaper at $175.

Can't wait.

I had the money to go to the USA this year, but again I can only get one week off. Sigh. One day, I hope.

[Brassnz]

Slightly off topic, but if you want to see two RAAF F-111s dump and burn just head for Ohakea Air Force Base this Sunday 16th March.

On topic, Virgin Blue and Emirates for me, and Qantas over AirNZ is just fine thanks...

[Willoughby]

I had the money to go to the USA this year, but again I can only get one week off. Sigh. One day, I hope.

Isn't the law 4 weeks annual leave? Your employers sound pretty tough on you snoopy!

At the moment I have 210 annual leave hours and 22 statutory days in lieu owing to me... hence the 6 week break in May.

I'll be flying Qantas, US Airways, American Airlines and Northwest Airlines.. have yet to fly them!

Singapore Airlines are super at their job, and found Pacific Blue to be really nice.

[tgsnoopy]

Isn't the law 4 weeks annual leave? Your employers sound pretty tough on you snoopy!

Hi Will,

Yep, it's 4 weeks. But we closed for 3 weeks and I had an extra day on top of that to go up to Auckland to fly my partner back to Sydney. Then there is the equipment we are having ongoing trouble with and have just started servicing, so far I'm the only one to have received the training on it so they need me around.

I only started working for the company in October, so legally I'm not owed any leave, I've taken some anticipated leave so far.

Still it's better money and less stress than my prior 2 jobs

[tgsnoopy]

Emirates flights booked online via House of Travel have been the best priced fares for a while between Auckland & Sydney. I'm off again tomorrow for the Australian Queens Birthday weekend. Return is only NZ$420.00

It certainly pays to shop around before buying those flights.

I still feel that Emirates is the best, but will admit I haven't yet tried Singapore Airlines.

[jamie]

Flying to Sydney at the end of the month with Argentina airlines which were by far cheapest at the time i brought the ticket. Have never flowen with them so will find out what they are like soon enough. Was only $160 each way with house of travel. Then a couple of days later Emirates put a sale on and have flights for $130 each way lol.

I dont really mind what airline it is as long as its fair on price, has leg room, and good service. oh and gets me to my destination

Ive used Air NZ, United, American, Southwest i think it was, and Quantis

[Manukau heads obs]

they do have advantages...they own their own oil wells!

[tgsnoopy]

they do have advantages...they own their own oil wells!

Yes they do, but they buy the same processed fuel from the same people at the same prices as everyone else.

What would be interesting to know is if they actually make a profit?

It's no secret that UAE wants to be a tourist destination when their oil runs out

[jamie]

Well i was ment to have flowen out of auckland at 6am. So muh for that...now dont fly out till 4pm. They knew the plane was going to be 12 hours late at 3pm yesterday but didnt inform anyone of this. No compensation or anything. So even though i have not flowen with aerolinas argentinas as yet i give them a 0/10. I know of many other incidents like this one from friends using them. Never will i be using this airline again.

[tgsnoopy]

Well i was ment to have flowen out of auckland at 6am. So muh for that...now dont fly out till 4pm. They knew the plane was going to be 12 hours late at 3pm yesterday but didnt inform anyone of this. No compensation or anything. So even though i have not flowen with aerolinas argentinas as yet i give them a 0/10. I know of many other incidents like this one from friends using them. Never will i be using this airline again.

Doh, Sorry, I could have warned you about that.