I occasionally get asked to pick a best airline because of all the traveling I do (60 flights so far this year, and over 70 days out of the country). I haven’t really thought of it before. I tend to be more concerned with airports than airlines. It may be because most of my flying is short haul. I probably spend as much time in airports as airplanes.

If I was ranking airports my favorites would be Amsterdam/Schipol or Copenhagen. At the bottom of the pit has to be Heathrow. By universal agreement in my office full of seasoned travelers it is the worst airport in the developed world. If I die and go to hell, then I will be sent to Heathrow to endlessly try and make a connecting flight during a warm spell, in the middle of the holiday season as airlines experience strikes and technical difficulties.

Going back to airlines, on my recent trip to Asia I got to try three different airlines for long distance flights. I took Air France from Paris to Bangkok, British Airways from Bangkok to Sydney, Quantas from Melbourne to Singapore and then Air France back to Europe. As always I was traveling in steerage. Glamorous jet setting consulting isn’t exactly the life of luxury. Those days ended back at the end of the 90′s. Ironically, just when I was getting into the industry. All I have ever had is stories of golden times from old timers *sigh*

Anyway Air France wasn’t too bad. As you would expect from the French the food was good. I don’t think I have ever had a post dinner cognac in steerage before. I like the nose camera view they give on the TV as well as the usual moving map display. The best thing about them has to be the seats. They go back further than any other Economy seat I have been in. I slept pretty well on each of my long distance flights. Much better than I usually do. For that alone they get a big recommendation.

I can’t be as generous with British Airways. Of the three airlines they felt the poorest. The food was so so. The staff were efficient but cool. And the seats were just not big or comfortable enough to sleep well. If had to use a single word to describe BA, it would be competent. Not exactly a ringing endorsement.

The last of the trio was Quantas. Laura and I used them to get to Australia at Christmas. With five long distance flights with them now, I have to say they were the best of the lot. The food was excellent and the standard of service was brilliant. They come around after dinner with ice cream, which to be frank I would prefer to cognac. The great service wasn’t just from the cabin staff and the pilots. As we flew over the centre of Australia the pilot turned the plane to give everyone a better view of Uluru (Ayers Rock). What other airline would do the same?

With these three airlines, the ranking has to be Quantas, Air France and then British Airways.

There is possibly one minor gripe with Air France. Just after leaving Charles de Gaulle I asked the person on the drinks service for a beer. She served me a Budweiser!?!? I was disgusted. Even more so when I saw the French people on board were getting 1664! I had to be very careful when I ordered my second one later.

Now two weeks ago I was telling this story to a French man. We were enjoying some wine on a friend’s boat after we had done miserably in the day’s racing at the Bray regatta. When I told him the story he gave me the famous gaullic shrug and smiled. Then he asked, “what is ze difference between beer and pizz”
“I don’t know, tell me”, I asked.

“About 15 minutes” he said :-)