pep
Medlem
Er netop kommet hjem fra det vestlige Tanzania og som Jeppe i baronens seng, oplever jeg altid en masse. Holdt som sædvanligt 1 dags "ferie" i loungen i KLIA for at lade op til de sidste ben og få det værste arbejde fra hånden. Havde 6 flights på 4 forskellige biletter - turen varede næsten 3 døgn. Alt er korrekt gengivet på SKYTRAX men findes noget spredt. Nedenfor er anført samlede ratings for hver billet op til max. 10 score. Prisen påvirker, således at en billig billet generelt får højere score. Alle billetter var meget billige (ialt <1800 usd) - deraf de høje ratings:
1. Fastjet Economy 9/10
New airline for me. Went from South-Western Highlands town of Mbeya to the capital Dar es Salaam on 8 August 2018. Easy to buy ticket online, prices fluctuate a lot. Generous hand-luggage (2 pieces) – surprise for an Low Cost Carrier. Two days prior departure they change policy and now open up for everybody holding a ticket to check in 1 full baggage free and to be given snacks/drinks for everybody on board. Thus, you don’t at all get the feeling of an LCC. Homepage and check-in without problems, smooth and generous. The Embraer 190 was very nice, new, narrow body aircraft. Aircraft loaded with approx. 75% of seats. Without requesting I was given a “pay-seat”, no. 12A – a spacious emergency seat. Good announcements from captain. This was a midweek morning on a National Holiday (nane-nane). However, I was scared of any delays or cancellations as the reviews I could find were few, old, and mainly negative or even very negative talking about customers let down in remote areas. As I had international connections in Dar and the transfer time was 7 hours, I eventually accepted the risk of delay as a minor delay would still work. I kept fingers crossed to avoid any cancellation. Location of Mbeya airport is confusing as there are two airports which both claim the IATA code MBI. In reality they use the remote airport of Songwe, 21 km from town. Nice airport in its simplicity and modesty. They have a smooth shuttle service from town to airport. FAs were professional providing soft and hot drinks plus a snack. Inscribed luggage delivered within 5 Minutes. Flight took off 10 Min. before scheduled and landed 30 Minutes earlier than ETA. Can’t fault this airline. Admitted I might have been lucky as approx. 5% of the Mbeya departures says “status unknown”. The reputation that they tend to merge departures could not be verified.
2+3. Ethiopian Business class 08/10
Dar-Addis-Bangkok on 8th August 2018. Checked in online after some difficulties, but was allowed to transit 7 hours prior to departure. Granted 3rd part lounge in Dar is Tanzanite which always gives me problems when entering. Always greedy after money and this time they wanted to charge me 35 USD because I was “2 hours early”. This, despite I had Lounge Invitation printed on my BPs. I had to call ET-manager to access. The lounge is so, so, but they have plenty hot snacks and drinks. Aircraft B787-900 on 1st leg was downgraded to a smaller B737 due to low load in economy. However, that caused 3 biz-passengers to be downgraded. Without being requested, I volunteered to do so and got 250 USD in ET-vouchers as compensation. The check-in staff came to the lounge and were relieved by my decision. I was fine as I still had my special meal and lounge access.
I was treated like a king to Addis: despite travelling economy I almost felt ashamed getting champagne and foods from bz-class brought down discretely to row 17. I even got my special meal (red-snapper) but had to additional dishes, veal and beef, all very tasty. Got the menu from business could choose food and drinks from there. Only downturn was the plastic cutlery. They gave me 3 seats for myself despite economy became 75% full. Cloud Nine Lounge in Addis was OK but no showers neither there not in any other lounge in Addis. Tried to cash my vouchers but failed. Both flights almost on time. The 2nd leg on B787-800 was in 2-2-2 configuration in Biz, which is quite cramped compared to Qatar´s much more spacious 1-2-1. That trip was smooth and punctual. Good IFE, drinks, and foods.
4+5. Malaysian Airlines Economy 8/10
Travelled BKK-KUL-SGN 9 to 10 August 2018 on A330-300 and B737-800, respectively. Checked in on-line to access lounge in Bangkok early. Uses good lounges in Bangkok, I tried JAL, Cathay, and Miracle. Airline skirmished by strict non-alcohol policy for short flights, and at times, FA’s confiscate from people bringing their own drinks/beer on board. Very bad policy that undermines the airline – it is hypocrisy / double moral as they serve alcohol on all longer flights. Very inconstant policy and attitude de facto depends on individual FA’s interpretation also (some are flexible, others are straight). Arrived KLIA late evening and got some sleep in the Golden lounge nap area. Excellent lounges offered in KLIA, dynamic, proactive, young staff. Onboard, IFE is fine. Headphones are of poor quality. Individual screens. Next day continuing to Saigon without any negative remarks: Full flight, good IFE, special meal delivered, arrived on time, airbridge gate boarding and disembarkation in all four instances. Details show that MH is on the rise: signature bread offered, and now also high quality plastic cutlery provided in economy class (the best and strongest plastic cutlery that I have ever seen). Hot meals are good, at times even very good and at times mediocre. Special meals always accommodated and served to perfection. Cheap ticket which rendered extremely high value for money with an FFP elite status in hand. Got a 50 kg baggage allowance even in economy. Hard to fault them - apart from their ridiculous alcohol fear.
6. Vietjetair Economy 07/10
Domestic Vietnam travelled Saigon-Hue on their A320 on 10th August 2018. Ticket bought 5 months in advance due to unique good match of schedules. However, as always, they changed and postpone departure 5 weeks in advance to arrive at midnight instead of evening. Eventually, they kept their revised schedule and the flight was punctual for the new time given. Check-in smooth and quick (late Friday). I had two pcs. of hand-luggage but could not succeed negotiating with station manager to allow both on board. Thus had to re-arrange luggage and inscribe but no pay as I paid already for 20 kg´s as “add-on” when I purchased the ticket. Bus-gating in both ends are not my favourite. But price was cheap, around 40 USD. VJ are not reliable as they do a lot of long and short-time schedule changes and combine low loaded flights. This change was announced so early that I could still accept it. Nothing much to lose but always an element of gambling and the reschedule cost me the chance of taking alternative airline (VN) and to be home 2 hrs. earlier. Unless I would forsake the ticket and that is where I suspect they have a great (major?) income…Onboard they are surprisingly good and effective and prices for consumption are not outrageous. This flight was almost faultless, and once in the air things are good.
1. Fastjet Economy 9/10
New airline for me. Went from South-Western Highlands town of Mbeya to the capital Dar es Salaam on 8 August 2018. Easy to buy ticket online, prices fluctuate a lot. Generous hand-luggage (2 pieces) – surprise for an Low Cost Carrier. Two days prior departure they change policy and now open up for everybody holding a ticket to check in 1 full baggage free and to be given snacks/drinks for everybody on board. Thus, you don’t at all get the feeling of an LCC. Homepage and check-in without problems, smooth and generous. The Embraer 190 was very nice, new, narrow body aircraft. Aircraft loaded with approx. 75% of seats. Without requesting I was given a “pay-seat”, no. 12A – a spacious emergency seat. Good announcements from captain. This was a midweek morning on a National Holiday (nane-nane). However, I was scared of any delays or cancellations as the reviews I could find were few, old, and mainly negative or even very negative talking about customers let down in remote areas. As I had international connections in Dar and the transfer time was 7 hours, I eventually accepted the risk of delay as a minor delay would still work. I kept fingers crossed to avoid any cancellation. Location of Mbeya airport is confusing as there are two airports which both claim the IATA code MBI. In reality they use the remote airport of Songwe, 21 km from town. Nice airport in its simplicity and modesty. They have a smooth shuttle service from town to airport. FAs were professional providing soft and hot drinks plus a snack. Inscribed luggage delivered within 5 Minutes. Flight took off 10 Min. before scheduled and landed 30 Minutes earlier than ETA. Can’t fault this airline. Admitted I might have been lucky as approx. 5% of the Mbeya departures says “status unknown”. The reputation that they tend to merge departures could not be verified.
2+3. Ethiopian Business class 08/10
Dar-Addis-Bangkok on 8th August 2018. Checked in online after some difficulties, but was allowed to transit 7 hours prior to departure. Granted 3rd part lounge in Dar is Tanzanite which always gives me problems when entering. Always greedy after money and this time they wanted to charge me 35 USD because I was “2 hours early”. This, despite I had Lounge Invitation printed on my BPs. I had to call ET-manager to access. The lounge is so, so, but they have plenty hot snacks and drinks. Aircraft B787-900 on 1st leg was downgraded to a smaller B737 due to low load in economy. However, that caused 3 biz-passengers to be downgraded. Without being requested, I volunteered to do so and got 250 USD in ET-vouchers as compensation. The check-in staff came to the lounge and were relieved by my decision. I was fine as I still had my special meal and lounge access.
I was treated like a king to Addis: despite travelling economy I almost felt ashamed getting champagne and foods from bz-class brought down discretely to row 17. I even got my special meal (red-snapper) but had to additional dishes, veal and beef, all very tasty. Got the menu from business could choose food and drinks from there. Only downturn was the plastic cutlery. They gave me 3 seats for myself despite economy became 75% full. Cloud Nine Lounge in Addis was OK but no showers neither there not in any other lounge in Addis. Tried to cash my vouchers but failed. Both flights almost on time. The 2nd leg on B787-800 was in 2-2-2 configuration in Biz, which is quite cramped compared to Qatar´s much more spacious 1-2-1. That trip was smooth and punctual. Good IFE, drinks, and foods.
4+5. Malaysian Airlines Economy 8/10
Travelled BKK-KUL-SGN 9 to 10 August 2018 on A330-300 and B737-800, respectively. Checked in on-line to access lounge in Bangkok early. Uses good lounges in Bangkok, I tried JAL, Cathay, and Miracle. Airline skirmished by strict non-alcohol policy for short flights, and at times, FA’s confiscate from people bringing their own drinks/beer on board. Very bad policy that undermines the airline – it is hypocrisy / double moral as they serve alcohol on all longer flights. Very inconstant policy and attitude de facto depends on individual FA’s interpretation also (some are flexible, others are straight). Arrived KLIA late evening and got some sleep in the Golden lounge nap area. Excellent lounges offered in KLIA, dynamic, proactive, young staff. Onboard, IFE is fine. Headphones are of poor quality. Individual screens. Next day continuing to Saigon without any negative remarks: Full flight, good IFE, special meal delivered, arrived on time, airbridge gate boarding and disembarkation in all four instances. Details show that MH is on the rise: signature bread offered, and now also high quality plastic cutlery provided in economy class (the best and strongest plastic cutlery that I have ever seen). Hot meals are good, at times even very good and at times mediocre. Special meals always accommodated and served to perfection. Cheap ticket which rendered extremely high value for money with an FFP elite status in hand. Got a 50 kg baggage allowance even in economy. Hard to fault them - apart from their ridiculous alcohol fear.
6. Vietjetair Economy 07/10
Domestic Vietnam travelled Saigon-Hue on their A320 on 10th August 2018. Ticket bought 5 months in advance due to unique good match of schedules. However, as always, they changed and postpone departure 5 weeks in advance to arrive at midnight instead of evening. Eventually, they kept their revised schedule and the flight was punctual for the new time given. Check-in smooth and quick (late Friday). I had two pcs. of hand-luggage but could not succeed negotiating with station manager to allow both on board. Thus had to re-arrange luggage and inscribe but no pay as I paid already for 20 kg´s as “add-on” when I purchased the ticket. Bus-gating in both ends are not my favourite. But price was cheap, around 40 USD. VJ are not reliable as they do a lot of long and short-time schedule changes and combine low loaded flights. This change was announced so early that I could still accept it. Nothing much to lose but always an element of gambling and the reschedule cost me the chance of taking alternative airline (VN) and to be home 2 hrs. earlier. Unless I would forsake the ticket and that is where I suspect they have a great (major?) income…Onboard they are surprisingly good and effective and prices for consumption are not outrageous. This flight was almost faultless, and once in the air things are good.
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