Avianca "Lifemiles" - Questions and Discussion

[Flashback]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - New FF program in *A

frankly I'm shocked that anyone would rate CX J meals higher than SQ J meals. Both SQ and QF J meal presentation is leap years ahead of anything CX has put in front of me.

+1 for SQ J meals, but not sure I'd agree on the meals I've had in QF J........

 

[MEL_Traveller]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - New FF program in *A

frankly I'm shocked that anyone would rate CX J meals higher than SQ J meals. Both SQ and QF J meal presentation is leap years ahead of anything CX has put in front of me.

I'm with you on that. CX J meals are... rather dull? And never really push the boat out in terms of originality for flavour. They are pretty middle of the road and 'safe' in terms of appeal.

Having flown CX more times than I care to remember the menu has never really changed or been innovative. I could pretty much recite their entire inventory.

 

[anat0l]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - New FF program in *A

frankly I'm shocked that anyone would rate CX J meals higher than SQ J meals. Both SQ and QF J meal presentation is leap years ahead of anything CX has put in front of me.

I'm with you on that. CX J meals are... rather dull? And never really push the boat out in terms of originality for flavour. They are pretty middle of the road and 'safe' in terms of appeal.

Having flown CX more times than I care to remember the menu has never really changed or been innovative. I could pretty much recite their entire inventory.

Food presentation I'd go SQ and QF for sure. CX J used to do a better job than they do now admittedly (as far as presentation goes anyway). I know there are a few here who will disagree, but I definitely rate taste over presentation. Food presentation does help and it is not something you can simply neglect, but there is no point to food which looks pretty but tastes awful (and there's certainly examples of that!).

CX J food boring? It sounds more interesting frequently than SQ J. I look at a SQ J menu and I'm usually not impressed. And we're talking about an airline whose culinary panel has, what, 8-10 of some of the world's best chefs? I won't even comment on their between-meal refreshments. Probably only thing is that SQ J menus often have more variety (e.g. usually 4 choices; CX J is frequently only 2-3).

In fact, SQ F food at times is pretty boring. If it weren't for caviar, good Champagne and very attentive service, it'd be a pretty average meal in the sky for First Class.

SQ doesn't exactly push the boundaries on flavours either, except for a few of their chef's speciality dishes. Mostly it's classic flavours and combinations, and they can't even get some of them right.

I'd suppose if you fly an airline enough, food doesn't tend to change much (or it feels like that). For CX, especially for shorter flights, I'm prepared to guess this is very much true. One thing I can vouch is that flying CX J I will get food which tastes good, if but repetitive. Have had quite a bit of fish with CX in J and surprisingly it has come out quite satisfactory or better each time. Of course, some recent reports may make me doubt the quality of food in CX J now.

I guess when one has enough alcohol (viz. Champagne), how good something tastes almost becomes immaterial because you can hardly appreciate the food!

QF is probably one of the most adventurous in flavours. It does kick them in the butt a few times (and quite hard), but when they get it right, it's excellent food (apart from the lifeless leaf side salad). LX (and brother-airline LH) is pretty adventurous with flavours, but I find they pull it off very well (Not sure about longhaul LH/LX J but I can vouch for LX F).

 

[drron]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - New FF program in *A

Well here are my 2 CX J meals from Monday-

.

This is a fish dish.

And this an Indian curry.

 

[bcworld]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - New FF program in *A

Well here are my 2 CX J meals from Monday-
.

This is a fish dish.
And this an Indian curry.

I think we have our loser! Game, set and match to SQ!

I'm sticking with my original CX = TG on the food front...I remember thinking this and being surprised about it the first time I flew CX J.

 

[anat0l]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - New FF program in *A

Well here are my 2 CX J meals from Monday-
...

This is a fish dish.
...

And this an Indian curry.

Hoi polloi... hope those dishes at least tasted good, because the presentation is quite amateur.

Aren't there any carriers who care enough to put a good plate of food up in J any more?

 

[Flashback]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - New FF program in *A

Hoi polloi... hope those dishes at least tasted good, because the presentation is quite amateur.

Aren't there any carriers who care enough to put a good plate of food up in J any more?

AF is definitely one of them who doesn't care ..

 

[Major]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - New FF program in *A

AF is definitely one of them who doesn't care ..

I agree...but what about their food ?

 

[HWilliams]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - New FF program in *A

What do you guys think of this find? imgur: the simple image sharer

Going there you get the A380 but are stuck with the 777-200 for part of the flight. Coming back you've for the 77W but again, stuck with the 777-200 for part of it.

Seems like a good find 7 months ahead though!

 

[bcworld]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - New FF program in *A

What do you guys think of this find? imgur: the simple image sharer

Going there you get the A380 but are stuck with the 777-200 for part of the flight. Coming back you've for the 77W but again, stuck with the 777-200 for part of it.

Seems like a good find 7 months ahead though!

Do it. I'm not sure what you mean by 'stuck with the 777-200' but as has already been pointed out the 772ER cabin has been refurbed and has the same seat product as the A380 in 1-2-1 config:

[KVS Availability Tool 7.3.2/Diamond - Seat Map: 03 Aug 2014/SQ 366/SIN-FCO/772/C-Business]

     A   |   D   F   |   K    
11   -       -   +       -    
12   +       +   +       +    
14   +       +   +       +    
15   +       +   +       +    
16   +       +   +       +    
17   +       +   +       +    
18           +   -            [L]


[+] Available     [W] Wing       [L] Lavatory  
[-] Unavailable   [E] Exit Row   [U] Upper Deck
[P] Preferred     [|] Aisle

 

[dajop]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - New FF program in *A

I think we have our loser! Game, set and match to SQ!

I'm sticking with my original CX = TG on the food front...I remember thinking this and being surprised about it the first time I flew CX J.

I'd rate CX slightly ahead of TG, but not in the class of SQ. Did CX last months SIN-HKG-US return in J and can't say the food was that great, just solid fare, acceptable and that is all. Used LM to fly MEL-SIN on Monday on SQ (in J) and had two succulent lamb cutlets (not overdone, not underdone, not dry) accompanied by a pea mash and ricotta gnocchi strips. Was really good, better than any of the CX meals I had on the US trip.

 

[bcworld]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - New FF program in *A

Also worth noting that the combo SQ208/SQ366 and SQ365/SQ207 is probably bookable with USDM as the award chart doesn't exclude 777-200ER.

 

[bcworld]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - New FF program in *A

I haven't noticed CA popping up but best availability out of Australia in F is usually exSYD on Thai.

Found one! If anyone is looking for a last minute trip to Europe for Xmas...and a ride on the LH 747-8 in F!

 

[penegal]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - New FF program in *A

Found one! If anyone is looking for a last minute trip to Europe for Xmas...and a ride on the LH 747-8 in F!

Nice


(extra characters)

 

[casanovawa]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - New FF program in *A

Hoi polloi... hope those dishes at least tasted good, because the presentation is quite amateur.

Aren't there any carriers who care enough to put a good plate of food up in J any more?

The dishes i had on Austrian Airlines in November between VIE and JFK were pretty reasonable i thought, with the chef on board... But i am not some poncy connisuer (sp) either...

 

[Aussie_flyer]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - New FF program in *A

Turkish is one to try if you want a good J meal! They have the flying chef too

 

[Keith009]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - New FF program in *A

Found one! If anyone is looking for a last minute trip to Europe for Xmas...and a ride on the LH 747-8 in F!

Very noice!

 

[anat0l]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - New FF program in *A

Found one! If anyone is looking for a last minute trip to Europe for Xmas...and a ride on the LH 747-8 in F!

Very good.

The fly in the soup is, of course, that the date you have selected is within 14 days. Notwithstanding the novelty that there is actually availability so close to Christmas (in F no less), having to book trips like that require one to take a bit of a risk.

Whilst that's quite acceptable to some people, for others it's not very comforting to plan and fly this way.

I've actually done this before to see if it were possible (MEL_Traveller first inspired me to have a peek), and of course there it was (I think I was searching FRA/NRT). If only I had the time and money, I probably would've burned to do the trip by now. Alas, it shall have to go on the "list"....

 

[bcworld]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - New FF program in *A

Very good.

The fly in the soup is, of course, that the date you have selected is within 14 days. Notwithstanding the novelty that there is actually availability so close to Christmas (in F no less), having to book trips like that require one to take a bit of a risk.

Whilst that's quite acceptable to some people, for others it's not very comforting to plan and fly this way.

I've actually done this before to see if it were possible (MEL_Traveller first inspired me to have a peek), and of course there it was (I think I was searching FRA/NRT). If only I had the time and money, I probably would've burned to do the trip by now. Alas, it shall have to go on the "list"....

But the beauty of LM is the small amount of miles needed to make a booking like this...coupled with the $50 canx fee. I could be sitting on an alternative booking and swap it out for this at t-14.

 

[777]

re: Avianca "Life Miles" - New FF program in *A

But the beauty of LM is the small amount of miles needed to make a booking like this...coupled with the $50 canx fee. I could be sitting on an alternative booking and swap it out for this at t-14.

Exactly... I've booked J on Thai for a trip to Europe in Feb. Will be scanning from a fortnight out for cheap "upgrade opportunities" but if not, well, it would have been a Y trip at almost the same price.

The other beauty of LM is that they do one way redemptions. I will be flying back in EY J while keeping plenty of VA points in reserve for a family trip later next year.