Favourite short haul carriers - EU, US & Asia

[NZflygirl]

I doubt I will ever fly ALL of the carriers available, nor do I want to but was wondering in the above regions which ones are your favourite and why. Just so I can learn from your mistakes I have a slight focus on safety but it's not the pure focus. I'm just after your experiences broken down into EU, US and Asia. And I'm talking economy only.

EU there are so many carriers. You could stick with full service like LH, AF but I have this weird fascination with trying Ryanair and easy jet (brand recognition related partly) and cheap being the other attraction. I can see why the full service carriers are suffering from LCC competition here.

I dont know how I feel about Alitalia. I didn't read many good things safety wise from a quick google
I flew Air Malta which was cheaper and comfy for 1hr25 flight and was happy to read no accidents and LH send them some aircraft for maintenance. I'd put VA and possibly JQ ahead of them for the actual flight experience including seat but I would fly them again.
I read a good review of Aegean recently which seems to have improved.

I know I've flown a few others (LH, BA, BMI, Aer Lingus, Vueling) but don't recall them all but at the time was blissfully ignorant of how they compared to each other. From memory my flights were uneventful and comfortable. Wish I could return to that mind set of not caring who I fly, at least for short haul.

US I've been OK with UA, Alaskan, Southwest.
Keen to try Jet blue and maybe Virgin America. Never flown AA or delta.
I think you can pay a little bit extra with some of these carriers and get quite a bit more comfort?

Asia I think I'd be happy with SQ silk air and it's LCC eg scoot (more med long haul), I've flown tiger. Have flown MH a little. Would fly < 3hr, Ideally 2 or less. I would fly 3K also, good experience last time plus cheap and also hope they keep a similar safety record to QF or maintenance plan (an assumption yes).

I would avoid Air Asia (I think it was only one branch of their operations but for now I'm banning it, despite the fact their premium bed looks quite reasonable).
I don't know much about nok air or Bangkok air.
Garuda seem to have had a previously blemished record but bounced back.

Bit of a broad question but would be keen to hear your experiences with so many choices available.

 

[bryanjones]

For EU shorthaul
- Turkish for great food
- Swiss for chocolate
- BA for oneworld

 

[OATEK]

Another EU contribution:
- Easyjet were ok, in fact better than I expected but only did one leg KRK-LGW
- AB/HG have served me very well as a LCC option on several occasions
- BA, AF, AY and A3 were much of a muchness - the best food I have had was in fact on AF, the best service on A3.

 

[Camohe]

Europe: Turkish and Aegean for their food. Jet2.com surprisingly ok and better than Easyjet. Transavia is horrible in my experience. Wizz Air is just bearable.

Asia: Xiamen is by far the best of the Chinese carriers.

 

[Lemon_Party]

Asia I think I'd be happy with SQ silk air and it's LCC eg scoot (more med long haul), I've flown tiger.

My carrier of choice is usually SQ or CX through asia. SQ is very consistent and Changi painless for transit even if the Kris Gold lounges aren't the greatest. Silk air are fine to be routed onto as a short haul option, I did 5ish hours to HYD a few times and that's really at the limit of tolerance. I'll never fly scoot again though after trying out OOL-SIN when they started up, I'd rather pay more and travel in some degree of comfort, but each to their own.

Dragonair (Cathay Dragon?) I'd assumed would be pretty grim, but perfectly acceptable, similar to VA domestic in seat/service and notch above with catering. No idea on safety record though.

 

[harvyk]

In Asia, CX is my carrier of choice. Similar service to QF dom, with the obvious asian feel.
In the US I fly AA and AS. Both a step above JQ, but only just, however both pretty typical for the non-service you get while fly back of bus in the US.

 

[trentusjuventus]

Asia: Xiamen is by far the best of the Chinese carriers.

Yes, I think you might be right on that!

Asia:
CX - Used to fly almost exclusively CX around Asia, especially as they have some onward legs from TPE.
CI - Really good out of TPE, and usually have very competitive Y fares
Air Asia - Flew once CAN-KUL-TPE and was perfectly fine for the price. Would do it again.

 

[seanpodge]

In Europe, TK has easily been the best short haul Y flight I've been on. Great food. Flew this May IST-DUB in a month old 738 with personal AVOD in every seat. No contest, really. Have flown on some others (LH, LO, SK, BI, EI) and it was much of a muchness between them. Also have flown FR. It wasn't as bad as I feared, but my flight was only for 40 minutes. For longer flights......

Have also flown a few airlines short haul in PR China. Didn't think there was much difference between them either, although I'll have to try Xiamen when the stars align, it seems.

 

[flightobserver]

Ryanair has been a pleasant surprise - their flights have gotten me where I needed to be cheaply and on time, and the legroom in the standard seats seems to be better than other European LCC. The only downside is that you feel like you're sitting through a live enactment of infomericals throughout the flight.

Vueling felt slightly more cramped than FR, but apart from that it was a typical LCC affair. I would still fly with them if they were substantially cheaper.

For flights to Scandinavia, I prefer SAS for their youth fares, which are also eligible for points earn. Service-wise it is almost LCC level except for a complimentary cup of tea/coffee/water.

 

[JohnK]

I like Aegean in Europe. AY are also ok.

In Asia generally use CX and SQ but UL, RJ, MH and PG are also ok.

 

[BAM1748]

I doubt I will ever fly ALL of the carriers available, nor do I want to but was wondering in the above regions which ones are your favourite and why. Just so I can learn from your mistakes I have a slight focus on safety but it's not the pure focus. I'm just after your experiences broken down into EU, US and Asia. And I'm talking economy only.

EU there are so many carriers. You could stick with full service like LH, AF but I have this weird fascination with trying Ryanair and easy jet (brand recognition related partly) and cheap being the other attraction. I can see why the full service carriers are suffering from LCC competition here.

I dont know how I feel about Alitalia. I didn't read many good things safety wise from a quick google

<snipped>

I would avoid Air Asia (I think it was only one branch of their operations but for now I'm banning it, despite the fact their premium bed looks quite reasonable).
I don't know much about nok air or Bangkok air.
Garuda seem to have had a previously blemished record but bounced back.

Alitalia are rubbish and I'm surprised they are still in business considering the Euro choices.

Forget Airasia as well.

I do not have any weird fascination with trying Ryanair or easyjet.

Matt

 

[wanderer_au]

I flew Ryannair once, STN-PMO. A personal highlight was passengers standing up and walking around the jet during landing, and general applause once the plane landed. The (female, Central/Eastern European) flight attendants nearly had a coronary watching it all. It was hilarious.

I do not plan to repeat the occasion.

Easyjet is fine. Flew a few times, LTN-INV return. Unremarkable.

Vueling is bearable.

Alitalia I've only tried once - CAT-FCO. It was a decade ago (and so well before my AFF days), but I think it was in an alliance with QF then.

I have to say, though, that I wouldn't fly any of those airlines now unless I had to. Partly because I have more money these days, and partly because I'm on the lookout for points, thanks to this website!

 

[RoMambai]

For short haul journeys within SEA, I can't go past Air Asia (their Malaysian and Thai franchises). I have travelled with them consistently since 2010 and I've yet to experience a delay. For trips under 4 hours, I'd rather sink my money into better accommodation.

I used to travel a bit with Air Asia Indonesia (as well as other domestic carriers) when I lived there but wouldn't do so now. Anything goes in that country and I'll tell you that for nothing!

 

[JessicaTam]

I have flown U2 and KM and found them both acceptable.

TK is great, but I have only flown them in J so can't answer the OP about them in Y.

 

[NZflygirl]

Awesome replies thank you!

I have some homework to do looking up a few of these airline codes though!! Definitely given me some other carriers to consider that sound very appealing!