Best Airline

[Pat]

hi
im flying hopefully to mexico city economy in august - the 2 airlines im am looking at for cost and convince are
KLM from humberside and via schipol
or
iberia from heathrow via madrid
as i have only flown ba, eastern airways and thia airways as well as most of the charter ones before what is the level of comfort and inflight entertainment like
didnt want to go via the states

 

[Aviador]

Not being much of a world traveller, I was hoping that someone else like wawkrk or TheLocalYokel would respond to your question. I would say your best bet would be via Amsterdam from Humberside. KLM Are not the greatest at getting your baggage there ontime but other than that, they probably provide the least hastle overall. Your alternative option from Heathrow via Madrid sounds like a nightmare to be honest. Finally on a last note, at least flying from Humberside would help your local airport.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

I've never flown Iberia but have used KLM many times from the UK via AMS to travel to the USA and Canada, and even further into Europe in the days before locos began flying direct.

Haven't used KLM for two or three years though so any comments I make have to be taken in that context.

KLM used to be an excellent airline and their fares competitive. However, since around the beginning of the current century I began to notice a levelling down, mainly in the standard of attention and catering in the passenger cabin.

I found the comfort quite good but can't comment on the inflight entertainment because I never watch it. I either read or look out the window.

Prior to their partnership (read takeover) with Air France, KLM's main partner was the US airline Northwest and when a codeshare meant travel was on a NW aircraft I always cringed. They were dreadful: uncaring and rude cabin staff; poor food and older aircraft, at least on the transatlantic routes I flew.

Finally, as Aviador, has touched on, KLM, or rather Amsterdam Airport, can be a black hole for baggage.
On three separate occasions my wife and I arrived home in the UK without our hold baggage. Fortunately, it eventually turned up on each occasion and once was the fault of the check-in clerk at Phoenix, Arizona who incorrectly entered BRU instead of BRS as final destination on our luggage labels. I only noticed it when the luggage was delivered to our home and anyway most passengers wouldn't have a clue about IATA and ICAO codes.

I'm sorry I can't be more helpful than this. However, if I wanted to go long haul again I would certainly do so from my local airport and if this meant using a continental hub such as AMS with KLM I would do so.

My flights with KLM were all leisure flights and always in economy.

 

[Pat]

MY SON WHO HAS FLOWN TO THE STATES SEVERAL TIMES DOES NOT LIKE USING THE AMERICAN AIRLINES BECAUSE OF THE ATTITUDE OF THE CABIN STAFF TOWARDS THEIR PASSENGERS
.
THE ONLY TIMES IVE GONE SCHEDULEDHAS BEEN WITH THAI AND THEY COULDNT DO ENOUGH FOR YOU
.
THANKS FOR THE ABOVE INFORMATION.

 

[wawkrk]

Hi rip,

I would go for KLM to be honest. Iberia are ok but the KLM crew are great and they make you feel comfortable and,they have an English style sense of humour. Probably because they all watch UK TV in the Netherlands.
I have never been long haul in economy but it always looks ok to me.
If the connections screw up they should take care of you ok.I would say you are in safe hands.
The baggage usually turns up quickly if lost and things have improved quite a lot at AMS so most bags arrive as normal these days.
Many lost bags in the past were not actually the fault of KLM Amsterdam.

 

[Pat]

THANKS FOR THE REPLY WAWKRK
IM STILL LOOKING AS THE PRICE DIFFERENCE IS ABOUT £130 - THE LUGGAGE COMMENT IS VERY IMPORTANT AS IM ONLY GOING FOR A FEW DAYS

 

[Pat]

HI WAWKRK
thanks for yout advice Ihave now booked my tickets to mexico city with klm from humberside hope they dont loose any of my families bags as we are only over there for a few day
The price of the tickets eventually came down by over £80!

 

[Aviador]

Have a good time 'rip' but on one last note I would suggest taking a full change of clothes on flights where connections are involved just to be on the safe side. If the bags do missing, don't despair, KLM are generally quite good at reuniting you with your bags.

 

[Pat]

I know this is a bit late - The KLM flight went ok no problems with luggage everything arrived at mexico and on our return to Humberside
Other members of our party who flew Heathrow Paris mexico with Air France or Manchester States(can not remember where) Mexico with an american airline (again cannot remember which one)all had at least one piece of luggage missing for at least 24 hours.

Since then we have used the BA flight to MEXICO CITY from HEATHROW due to the price up to £300 cheaper and found the flight and crew excellent. No problems with the luggage.

Termnal 5 was so easy to get to by car.