Which option would you choose?

[rlarosa]

Hi everyone

I'm heading to Europe in March (for leisure) and first stop is Hamburg. From there I need to get to Manchester UK. There are no direct options on the day. So, my options are:

BA via LHR
LH via FRA or MUC
LX via ZRH
SK via CPH
AF via CDG

I'm leaning towards one particular option but interested in what others would do! For further context I'll purchase a business ticket (yes, yes, I know, Euro business......) I'm also someone who (usually) enjoys the journey so I don't need to just 'get there' quickly.

Cheers

 

[AIRwin]

Via DXB or DOH?

 

[rlarosa]

Via DXB or DOH?

Thanks for the suggestion! Ok so I have some time but not that much time!!

 

[luxury-lizard]

My only suggestions are avoid very short layovers particularly if you check luggage and very long layovers as euro lounges are pretty grim.

 

[stm1sydney]

Train?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Hi everyone

I'm heading to Europe in March (for leisure) and first stop is Hamburg. From there I need to get to Manchester UK. There are no direct options on the day. So, my options are:

BA via LHR
LH via FRA or MUC
LX via ZRH
SK via CPH
AF via CDG

I'm leaning towards one particular option but interested in what others would do! For further context I'll purchase a business ticket (yes, yes, I know, Euro business......) I'm also someone who (usually) enjoys the journey so I don't need to just 'get there' quickly.

Cheers

I like all of those carriers except SK.

I know SK has recently re-introduced euro business class, but my experiences on SAS Plus mean I’m not in a hurry back!

Out of the remaining, Air France has great catering, on board and in the lounges. BA also has good food, and great service, but Heathrow is a bit ‘meh’.

LH and LX are good food wise, but their lunges only ‘so-so’.

Another thing to consider…. if any flights are on E jets (or similar a narrow body like the CRJs or a220), BA doesn’t block the seat beside you. Don’t know about SK, but AF, LX and LH do. Making for a very comfortable ride

I would prolly take the paris option, for the food!

 

[TheRealTMA]

I like all of those carriers except SK.

I know SK has recently re-introduced euro business class, but my experiences on SAS Plus mean I’m not in a hurry back!

Out of the remaining, Air France has great catering, on board and in the lounges. BA also has good food, and great service, but Heathrow is a bit ‘meh’.

LH and LX are good food wise, but their lunges only ‘so-so’.

Another thing to consider…. if any flights are on E jets (or similar a narrow body like the CRJs or a220), BA doesn’t block the seat beside you. Don’t know about SK, but AF, LX and LH do. Making for a very comfortable ride

I would prolly take the paris option, for the food!

I’d take LH via FRA and chose your days carefully for best fares. Wednesday is often good. Avoid LHR at all costs.

 

[SYD]

I’d take LH via FRA and chose your days carefully for best fares. Wednesday is often good. Avoid LHR at all costs.

That’s not something you see very often - recommending FRA over LHR.

I loathe FRA but quite happy to go to LHR.

BA in and out of T5 is fine (Oz PP holders can use eGates and luggage will be checked thru to MAN).

 

[dajop]

For some reason I find LX good and quite enjoy the LX non-Schengen E lounge at ZRH, especially if the terrace is open, nice to have a drink r two on the deck overlooking the airport (although the better lounge is for star gold, not biz pax). However the UK flights seem to go more often from the D gates, thus you need a long layover at ZRH to make the trek out to the E gates and back.

 

[TheRealTMA]

That’s not something you see very often - recommending FRA over LHR.

I loathe FRA but quite happy to go to LHR.

BA in and out of T5 is fine (Oz PP holders can use eGates and luggage will be checked thru to MAN).

Remember if you go BA though, you’ve got a good chance your luggage won’t travel with you.

 

[AIRwin]

Remember if you go BA though, you’ve got a good chance your luggage won’t travel with you.

BA = Bag Absent?

 

[jase05]

I’m in the BA camp and I actually don’t mind LHR. and would choose LHR over FRA and CDG every day of the week.
Recent experiences I think the food on BA has actually improved and the staff were top notch.
Not a fan of SK so they would be last on my list.
I find LH pretty ordinary on the short routes but don’t mind LX although the lounges aren’t fantastic. AF is usually a good trip but I’m not a fan of their catering as far too often they have served up foods I don’t eat
For me I’d personally go
BA
LX
AF
LH
SK

 

[drcam]

I reckon SK via CPH would be the most painless.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I reckon SK via CPH would be the most painless.

In terms of transfer, probably. But they’re not re-introducing their euro-business until October 2025… and who know how awful that’s gonna be!

Their ‘SAS Plus’ was pretty bad… no blocked middle seats and catering that was minimal (even if you could supposedly select from the BOB menu for free).

I’d like to see how the new service is rolled out by SK!

 

[Tiki]

If you live in MEL or SYD, I would go TK via IST with a stopover or at least a visit to their posh lounge.

 

[rlarosa]

I’d take LH via FRA and chose your days carefully for best fares. Wednesday is often good. Avoid LHR at all costs.

Yes thanks for this. I've had pleasant on board experiences with BA J within Europe but last year just on a domestic run from MAN to LHR I waited over an hour for by bag. I'd have no confidence that my bag would make it with me transferring through LHR!

If you live in MEL or SYD, I would go TK via IST with a stopover or at least a visit to their posh lounge.

Thanks. I'm flying to HAM with SQ, and back from LHR. But I'm keen to try TK one of these days

I’m in the BA camp and I actually don’t mind LHR. and would choose LHR over FRA and CDG every day of the week.
Recent experiences I think the food on BA has actually improved and the staff were top notch.
Not a fan of SK so they would be last on my list.
I find LH pretty ordinary on the short routes but don’t mind LX although the lounges aren’t fantastic. AF is usually a good trip but I’m not a fan of their catering as far too often they have served up foods I don’t eat
For me I’d personally go
BA
LX
AF
LH
SK

I was ready to choose LX but the lounge in ZRH looks appalling!!

 

[rlarosa]

BA = Bag Absent?

Wow so true. Couple of years back boarded a flight from LHR to LYS. After boarding and doors closed pilot announces that there's too much fuel, aircraft too heavy and so the only way we can land at Lyon is to NOT load any bags!

That’s not something you see very often - recommending FRA over LHR.

I loathe FRA but quite happy to go to LHR.

BA in and out of T5 is fine (Oz PP holders can use eGates and luggage will be checked thru to MAN).

I''m transiting through FRA on the way to HAM from SIN. I've never been to FRA but have heard all the horror stories!!

 

[rlarosa]

Train?

I'd love to take the train but DB are having a terrible time at the moment and on time performance is bad and cancelations high. I don't fancy paying for a seat on a 5 hour train ride, only to have the train cancelled and then sitting on the floor on another. Has happened to me before!

 

[rlarosa]

Thanks for all of the input!! I'm leaning towards AF. Both flights are on the newer A220 (which I haven't yet flow on) with a 2-3 layout in J. Adjacent/middle seat blocked. Recent reviews look good!

 

[dajop]

I was ready to choose LX but the lounge in ZRH looks appalling!!

There are actually three lounges that can be accessed by someone transiting from HAM to UK.

The first, in the A gates accessible after arriving is in the Schengen area and is average at best and wouldn’t recommend it - probably the lounge that many would consider “appalling”.

However, afree arrival you need to go through immigration which then gives you a choice of two lounge D and E. D is better than A but E is the best as it has an outdoor terrace with views over some of the airport - if the weather is good enough for it to be open. If the flight is going from D you need to time to take a train to E and back and the re-clear security (5 mins each way + a few mins for security). Unfortunately the best lounge (apart from the two First lounges) is only accessible for Star gold passengers - it has a neat whisky bar and big glass jars full of Swiss chocolate if you like those sorts of things