Hi www
Okay so..
I have never flown First Class or Business Class, I have flown Economy, but mostly Economy Premium, if I make it up or get it wrong please excuse me.
Economy Premium which I will dub 'Third Class' you get :
40 kilos baggage allowance up from 28 kilos in Economy. (I only have carry on usually so.. never use it)
As much tea coffee pepsi coke as you like, but you are I *think* limited to 4 or 5 hard drinks, in economy they ask you to pay for these.
Same deal with snacks, free peanuts and crisps, Economy you pay.
3 meals of your choice.
more leg room. (which is why I NEED this, I'm 6 foot 5 inches, I don't fit in an economy seat, designed for 5 foot something). I usually ask for the 'emergency seat' because I am so huge.
I have flown, economy with Continental & IcelandAir and 3rd Class with Emirates, Qatar & China Southern.
How did you find it?
Well plusses and minuses on both sides;
Continental gave me a premium like experience, except the seats were so *hard* it was hurting my spine, the Staff, one blonde flight attendant was great helping me lots, I think she was scandinavian or german, I told her about how sore I was getting and it was upsetting my stomach also (stress) and she asked if I'd like something and I said 'yes, a whisky' she brought me a whisky, I finished it promptly she poured me another and said 'if you want another just ask!'.. she also brought me snacks free of charge. I eventually fell asleep.
I flew with Qatar airlines, Economy Premium, they provided snacks but one flight did not provide the larger seat.
(..but I have to big it up for Qatar for the time I was stranded at Clark in the Philippines, the staff were amazing, one lady in particular, a huge help!)
They seem to keep bumping my seat, I should refuse, but when the staff lead the mother and child that need the seat over to me.. :(
twice they bumped me now, one time when I had food poisoning from chinese coke.
I told her I don't fit into the economy seats.. I asked her if she could upgrade me to first class, she said no, I should have also.
Emirates have never bumped me.. in fact, they upgraded me for free when one flight attendant saw how sore I was and how I didn't even fit in the seat. VERY happy with Emirates!
China Southern are a bit of a mixed bag to be honest, when they actually GIVE you 3rd Class, then yes great airline! but when they don't and stick you in economy (I flew both economy and 3rd class with them) then no.. their Economy's AWFUL.
For my last flight with them, they bumped me to Economy, which I was pretty mad about, but the entire staff didn't really speak much English and the plane was fully packed. I will try to avoid flying with them again. same with Qatar.. don't like getting bumped down, especially with my size.
IcelandAir are my favorite 'economy' airline hehe.. just for one reason, the staff don't mind if no one is in the seat next to you and you go for a sleep! fantabulous!.. they are; often late, connections take ages, staff are OK, but I was pushy with the pilot about being 4 HOURS over the stopover time and he was mad right back at me. about the IcelandAir pilots.. man, we had a doozy one time, he was all over the place! idk if he was being amrous in the cockpit or something but wow (not really, probably very tired or new). I DO like reykjavik airport .. hmm, wish I could go back, but I don't go to the states anymore so..
I said to the pilot.. 'we've been here for 6 HOURS' he said 'No we haven't!' and I said 'oh yeh, 5 hours and 40 minutes!' and he looked at his watch like he didn't have a clue we had been there so long :/ .. he said 'we will be departing shortly.. hopefully soon, please be patient'.. 'shouting at me will not get your there quicker..' to which I said 'fair enough.. I hope you are paying my connection fee's if I miss my flight..' which I DID miss my connecting flight and they didn't pay for, but I did not notify them, but they wouldn't have paid anyway.
I flew 3rd class with KLM few times now, they have never bumped me, always gave me what I asked for (snacks drinks)..but maan, the staff are snippy!.. one woman in particular, I was booked to leave in the morning, but for *some reason* my flight had been re-scheduled for 12 hours later, I told her I just flew a 40 hour flight, I can't wait around here for another 12 hours.. it took *some cajoling* but I got her to move the flight.. she was very mad about it though.
I really don't like Schiphol airport. it's huge, confusing and tiring. and they only have ONE place to smoke.. its tiny. I vape now, but I hear you have to vape with smokers internationally.
I like Guangzhou airport, when I'm going to see Ruthy.. the carpet smells like Chinese restaurants did when I was a kid.. the toilets are an embarrassment though, last time I was there they *did* have toilet roll, next to the sinks which weren't working. down stairs is a 'hot house' they need aircon to flush out all the heat, they have a tiny booth for smokers it is ROASTING, like cooking people. The layout is easy to understand though, which I like.they were doing work last time I was there, seemingly making it more complicated to get around. DON'T DRINK THE COKE! it gave me food poisoning.
BUT if you are there on a cool day, you have brought your own drinks, it's quite pleasant. huge ceiling with many many seats right next to your departure desk..
Anyhoo.. I've written enough.
toodles!
Dava
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update kinda, quick story..
I was travelling to the Philippines to see Ruthy iirc via China Southern.. all their meals upto that point had been excellent! thoroughly enjoyed the chinese food, then this weird thing happened..
The stewardess comes over and asks me 'Chicken or Fish?' I say 'chicken thanks.' she stares at me blankly, I say 'chicken'.. again stares at me blankly .. then I said 'okay.. ill have the fish' to which she smiles and nods.
An hour later and I was STARVING I could see other passengers getting their food which looked nice.. then.. sadly mine came. I took the tin foil wrapping off and unturned the bowl..'WHA?' .?????!
It was a grey almost translucent block about 3 inches high and 3 inches wide..I was like 'oookkayy.. well i'm wanting to try new things..? okay!' I sniffed it and it smelt bland.. man that was nothing until I tasted it.. I had never experienced anything so bland in all my life! NEVER AGAIN! I was a bit embarrassed to say anything in case this was the fish.. but since then I have learnt this was NOT the fish and was some weird disgusting block of grey tofu.
So lesson is: Don't send the Chinese only speaking staff to do the menus. Send a English speaker.
Update:
It must be tempting for governmental staff to hire fancy airport architects..but honestly the second that architect says 'lets do something interesting!' .. FIRED!
airports NEED to be as simple as possible.. the big L shaped ones are the best.. easy to understand, easy to get about, even if you have been flying for 40 hours and are tired out of your mind..
Dubai airport is the OPPOSITE of this, seemingly trying to test and confuse you, up stairs down stairs labyrinth, change where things are.. when looking at a tiny model its easy to forget these airports are miles long.. going the wrong way is a human mistake and having to traverse the equal distance back.. well, that's not acceptable when it can be avoided with a clean L shaped layout.
In Hong Kong airport, it is a similar deal to Dubai, front desks are much easier to understand though, but each airport assumes that you know its layout very well.. which flip no! it is not my hobby to study airports and I shouldn't be expected to!
airports are becoming more and more like Malls.. have you ever been to a new Mall and instantly knew you way around?.. then that was a well designed Mall! have you ever been to a new mall after 40 hours long haul and instantly knew your way around?
I suggest.. do the L shape or die in the circle of hell set aside for sadistic architects.
