What would you be happy with in the real world ??

[Gold60]

Hi All,

just a question if i may. What would you be happy with, as a flying experience, assuming you had a reasonable choice of options - and knowing that you and the airline do NOT have a bottomless bucket of $$$ and options to play with?

For example, in my case, i have been/am/and will continue to be a very occasional flyer - maybe two domestic flights per year - BNE to Tassie/Vic, and then one or two SE ASIA flights per year - in a good year.

i am tall and currently carrying a little bit of extra weight and have a problem back. Therefore i would be happy with a reasonable amount of legroom in a reasonably comfortable seat (think P/Econ level), on a basically safe, air conditioned airline/r, with averagely polite and interested staff, with reasonably priced fares.

i don't care too much about the rest of it - i would be happy to eat cheese and tomatoe sangers on even the longest flights, drink bottled water; be the last one on the aircraft and the last one off, bring my own entertainment etc, etc

what about you ?? what you keep you happy ?

 

[kermatu]

When I was younger, and poorer, simply a seat was enough. That's still the case for almost all domestic flights. But for anything like SE Asia, now I like room (not so much legroom, but as most often a solo traveller, I don't want to be brushing up against someone else); quality food and wine; lounge access at all points; and polite and friendly service!

 

[wanderer_au]

Like you, I'd like to think I was a fairly low-maintenance passenger. Some people here appear to be really, really into all the details whereas I'm happy to roll with it. Mind you, we all have things in our life that we are particular about, and this forum is partly for those who are about the details of air travel.

What keeps me happy is: passengers that don't smell or sweat too much, clean loos that I have easy access to, and food that doesn't belong in a hospital ward. Yes all the rest is lovely - the French fizz on arrival, the nice beds - but for me, in the end, provided I reach the other end safe, in one place, well rested and ready to roll, I'm fine.

 

[Melburnian1]

Others who look after personal hygiene is a huge plus, as is a working, comprehensible and reasonably broad (in English!) seatback IFE. However sometimes I'll forego the latter (such as on PR) because the airline concerned flies nonstop and hence saves hours plus the sometimes enjoyable, sometime hassle of changing planes.

Published media reports are by and large suggesting that for the great majority who 'travel down the back of the bus", air travel has become a commodity. Apart from safety, many other aspects of a possible experience are thrown out the window by passengers if they can find a cheaper flight.

AFFers are unlikely to be representative of the broader community in that more AFFers may travel in J or F than is true for the general population.

 

[JohnK]

The answer is very simple.

A767 for domestic operations and 747 for international operations.

Economy bulkhead in either is great. Don't need to fly premium cabins.

 

[Hvr]

All the way down to the basics:

Quick and painless check in.
A seat that is wide and long enough to spend time in comfort. Lay flat for night flights and >10 hours , very good recline for shorter flights.
A power point so I can use my lap top.


While I can I will continue to fly J/F with the benefits that accrue from said cabins.

 

[clazman]

A seat where my knees don't touch the seat in front

 

[Dr_Fliptop]

The answer is very simple.

A767 for domestic operations and 747 for international operations.

Economy bulkhead in either is great. Don't need to fly premium cabins.

Older planes in economy used to be "better" than today. By better - I mean more room between me and the person in front. Bring back the old seat pitch and I'd be happy. I'm not a fan of having someone else's head 30cm from my face.

There's a school of thought I heard that says airlines can't make the Y product too good/comfortable - because then a lot of customers would never pay for J...

 

[footy99]

On short flights under say 5 hours, I'm after the cheapest price. That's pretty much it. The rest is just troubleshooting - I don't want to wait 4 hours at check-in/security or end up sitting next to crying kids but that's mostly luck of the draw.

On longer flights say 9 hours or more, the seat needs to be comfortable enough to sleep in. While on the short flights I am searching for the cheapest price and only willing to pay slightly extra for a better seat, now I'm searching the better seats and only willing to sacrifice one if the cost difference is too much to bear.

On the mid-range flights say 5-9 hours - day flights I tend to favour lowest price as most important and night flights I tend to be more inclined to pay a fair bit extra for the better seat as a general rule, though it depends on pre and post flight plans.

The rest - lounge access, fast check-in/security, nice food and drink, IFE, attentive service - are non-essential bonuses for me. Worth paying a little extra but not a lot.

 

[OzEire]

A strong, competitive airline marketplace servicing a large population free of cartel behavior ought to give sufficient choice to cater for most pax.

In simple terms, depending on how much you are willing to spend the options range from catching the bus through to a private jet. The availability of options on this spectrum depends on how much the public demands/buys each product.

In Australia, not so much. Over regulated, small population geographically located at the end of many logical routes (rather than an ideal hub location).

 

[MEL_Traveller]

A strong, competitive airline marketplace servicing a large population free of cartel behavior ought to give sufficient choice to cater for most pax.

In simple terms, depending on how much you are willing to spend the options range from catching the bus through to a private jet. The availability of options on this spectrum depends on how much the public demands/buys each product.

In Australia, not so much. Over regulated, small population geographically located at the end of many logical routes (rather than an ideal hub location).

yeah! Qatar Airways global sale has Europe (AMS) to PER for AUD2900 return in business class. We just get screwed here in Oz.

 

[clazman]

More redemption flight availability

 

[codash1099]

Real world??? There's no such thing!

 

[Alanslegal]

For flights; a horizontal lay flat seat, preferably on an airline that provides a turndown service

For hotels; rooms that offer at least 40sqm and a stand in shower

 

[samh004]

Am I happy with economy? Not sure. But I certainly can deal with it and it's about all I'm prepared to pay for unless a ludicrously good deal comes along. But I still look at things with SC-glasses on, such that mere comfort is not enough for it to be valuable, I also need it to help earn/retain an FF level. I think this will perhaps change if I ever become LTG, and then I can finally relax, but I couldn't tell you for certain until I've experienced that.

 

[mikenz]

Qatar Airways global sale has Europe (AMS) to PER for AUD2900 return in business class. .

Really? where/when did you see that? Thanks

 

[mikenz]

I'm lucky enough to be able to pay a little more for the comforts that I like (in economy - I'm not that lucky!). A few years ago I would have (and did) fly at horrible hours to horrible airports to save a few dollars.

For domestic, I generally choose my airline of choice because I can use the lounge, express security etc especially if travelling with others. I know that I'll be looked after if there's a problem and I don't need to worry about paying for food, entertainment etc. I'd love to see a USB port in each seat but it's not usually an issue.

For Trans-Tasman and SE Asia, I like to know that I'll be able to choose my seat, arrive at a decent hour that helps with any jetlag and have access to power/entertainment and food. All being equal I'd fly with an airline where I could use the lounge.

For long haul to Europe / USA all of the above come into consideration, but I'll also check things like aircraft type (A380 is quieter, roomier but you'll wait a while to board, get luggage), seating configuration (how many seats per row, and things like pitch, and connection times/destinations.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Really? where/when did you see that? Thanks

Qatar Airways website (on the main page, select Netherlands 'english' and then look for the list of specials. MEL/SYD is also on the list, but about $1000 more). Fare is valid for departures June-December (not christmas peak). Book in the next few days or so.

 

[mikenz]

Qatar Airways website (on the main page, select Netherlands 'english' and then look for the list of specials. MEL/SYD is also on the list, but about $1000 more). Fare is valid for departures June-December (not christmas peak). Book in the next few days or so.

Awesome, thanks so much.

 

[footy99]

Qatar Airways website (on the main page, select Netherlands 'english' and then look for the list of specials. MEL/SYD is also on the list, but about $1000 more). Fare is valid for departures June-December (not christmas peak). Book in the next few days or so.

Did you manage to get this the other way (PER-AMS-PER)?

I'm getting big prices for anything not originating in AMS.