No free drinks on flights?

[2triky]

Most American carriers fly primarily domestic routes. Sure they're out in the international market, but obviously they don't have the presence of the carriers on the top list.

Given the size of the United States that's certainly true, but one might guess that certain US airlines such as United, American, Delta, Continental, or Northwest would love the recognition of being on such a top 10 list....just an observation.

[GuyJean]

To follow up on unkosando's incisive comments about American carriers....here's a Top 10 list from Travel+Leisure magaszine


Top 10 International Airlines
Rank, Last Year's Rank, Name, 2006 Score

1 1 Singapore Airlines 89.25
2 2 Emirates 81.01
3 3 Cathay Pacific Airways 80.62
4 6 Virgin Atlantic Airways 78.71
5 4 Thai Airways International 77.66
6 8 Japan Airlines 76.94
7 5 Malaysia Airlines 76.80
8 7 Qantas Airways 76.77
9 10 SilkAir 76.56
10 9 Air New Zealand 74.99


Notice the preponderance of Asian carriers in this list....not a single American carrier made the top 10. I guess it's no surprise

SQ all the way. A little more expensive, but the uniforms are worth it..

Always wanted to try Thai Airways.. for the ladyboy shows between movies. ]http://www.seatguru.com/charts/intl_economy.php[/url]

GJ

[dimwit]

Emirates is way up on the list, but do they even serve booze on their flights? If not, then the rating suck ass.

I notice JAL is up on the list and I could believe it if it weren't minor little problem of flight safety.

[2triky]

Emirates is way up on the list, but do they even serve booze on their flights? If not, then the rating suck ass.

I checked...they serve alcohol.

[2triky]

Okay here's the 2007 top ten list from Travel+Leisure magazine...sorry I didn't post this first...the list is slightly different

Top 10 International Airlines

Rank 2006 rank, Name, Score

1 1 Singapore Airlines 88.22
2 n/a MAXjet Airways 86.67
3 2 Emirates 82.68
4 3 Cathay Pacific Airways 79.26
5 5 Thai Airways International 79.24
6 4 Virgin Atlantic Airways 78.36
7 8 Qantas Airways 75.82
8 6 Japan Airlines 75.77
9 9 SilkAir 74.97
10 n/a Asiana Airlines 74.44

[Taro Toporific]

I notice JAL is up on the list and I could believe it if it weren't minor little problem of flight safety

The other problem with JAL (and ANA) is that their economy seat "pitch" (legroom) and width is the least among all carriers.

[2triky]

http://www.seatguru.com/charts/intl_economy.php

GJ

cool site. thanks.

[GuyJean]

I have to give credit to Kuang Grade.. I found it in one of his threads way back when..

GJ

[prolly]

business class gets me all the free booze i could want when i fly out there.

[GuyJean]

business class gets me all the free booze i could want when i fly out there.

Yeah, but would pay for business if your company didn't?

As my friend once said][/URL]

Just repeat 'fat lines and blowjobs' and you can endure anything.

GJ

[2triky]

Yeah, but would pay for business if your company didn't?

As my friend once said][/URL]

Just repeat 'fat lines and blowjobs' and you can endure anything.

GJ

LOL...fuggin' hilarious and oh so true.

[kusai Jijii]

business class gets me all the free booze i could want when i fly out there.

Gee, you must have a really important "real" job to fly buisness class - unlike the vast majority of us Fucked Gaijin.

[American Oyaji]

Honda flies all of its people business class.

[Mike Oxlong]

Doesn't the JET Program bring all it's newbies in on biz class?

[kusai Jijii]

Doesn't the JET Program bring all it's newbies in on biz class?

Not anymore. Fortunately that complete and utter waste of taxpayers' money ended in 2001.

[IkemenTommy]

Now I'm more inclined to go to Roberto's No 11, Ocean Beach. That is, if I were going back home to San Diego.. However, this time around, I'm going to SF.

Any recommendations??

If you said San Diego, I would have mentioned Santana's (open 24 hours) and the one up the street from there on Claremont Mesa.. It's been over 6 years so I've forgotten the name.

[prolly]

petty jealousy on the internet? say it ain't so!!

Gee, you must have a really important "real" job to fly buisness class - unlike the vast majority of us Fucked Gaijin.

[kusai Jijii]

petty jealousy on the internet? say it ain't so!!

Oh its so! Thats why I wrote it.

[Mr Doricar]

The other problem with JAL (and ANA) is that their economy seat "pitch" (legroom) and width is the least among all carriers.

True, but I always go with ANA and they are velly velly nice to you if you have one of their ANA Mileage Cards and you're a tall gaijin. Just pray that it's a quiet flight, moan about your sprained/broken knee and they upgrade everytime. 4 times now I've paid economy and flown in business. Also they usually just let you help yourself to snacks and booze after the dinner when the staff are having a break. I love ANA. If you get stuck in a regular seat though it fucking sucks. I'm 6 foot 3 and literally cannot fit!

[kusai Jijii]

True, but I always go with ANA and they are velly velly nice to you if you have one of their ANA Mileage Cards and you're a tall gaijin. Just pray that it's a quiet flight, moan about your sprained/broken knee and they upgrade everytime. 4 times now I've paid economy and flown in business. Also they usually just let you help yourself to snacks and booze after the dinner when the staff are having a break.!

Mmm...Good to know. Thanks for the tip:D

[halfnip]

If you said San Diego, I would have mentioned Santana's (open 24 hours) and the one up the street from there on Claremont Mesa.. It's been over 6 years so I've forgotten the name.

Or Balboa? Gotta go to Roberto's/Alberto's for a 1.99 carne asada burrito just off of Balboa and Convoy St.... Hahaha...

[IkemenTommy]

Or Balboa? Gotta go to Roberto's/Alberto's for a 1.99 carne asada burrito just off of Balboa and Convoy St.... Hahaha...

Ding ding! That's it.
Yep, having some Carne asada munchies with that guacamole sauce late at night just rips El Torito in a complete shame, any day.

[ramchop]

So what's the best airline to cross the north pacific on? I've never encountered an international carrier that didn't serve free alcohol (and don't intend to).

I'm hoping to return to Japan for a 2 month stint in Hakodate next year, broken by a conference in Seattle. Northwest fly Tokyo-Seattle direct, is there a better option?

[GomiGirl]

RAMCHOP!!! Long time no see!!

[ramchop]

RAMCHOP!!! Long time no see!!

hi GomiGirl. Yeah it has been a while. But doesn't seem too long ago that a bunch of Aussies (followed a week later by Poms) were doing some serious gloating at the Clubhouse in Shinjuku. There's another World Cup on so it must be 4 years. Time flies.

[privileged]

bringing booze on is hit or miss in my experience. usually at narita there's a combini within walking distance of your gate, maybe right next to it depending on where you are, almost begging you to buy booze and bring it on.

i suggest not buying more than you can chug.

i usually have a drink or 2 while waiting for boarding and keep 1 or 2 in the bottom of my bag. 2 flights ago getting on they were final-checking everyone before boarding and took it out tried to take it away. i politely took it back and opened it. the pilot walked by at this moment and suggested not chugging it before getting on the plane. i said ok, and "drank it quickly" as he walked on the plane.

last time then i was expecting that kind of shakedown so i put it in the opening flap of my bag that doesn't really look like anything and approached boarding w/ the flap turned over so if they searched my bag they wouldn't find the beer.

of course that time they did nothing and i walked on with my beer unmolested.

i've been flying american and didn't know it was just them skimping out on the booze. i'd avoid them but feel roped in w/ the miles i have now.

[oyajikun]

Or Balboa? Gotta go to Roberto's/Alberto's for a 1.99 carne asada burrito just off of Balboa and Convoy St.... Hahaha...

Well, some good news. United still offers complementary alcoholic beverages on the flight from Osaka to the US, however all connecting domestic flights afterwards charged me $5.00 a pop. (my direct flight from KIX to SFO was rerouted though HNL...) On the flight that did have freebies, I was offered 3 choices of beer; MGD, Miller Light, and Kirin. But when I did ask for Kirin, I was told that they had run out. Funny thing though, the Kirin magically reappeared and flowed like water after I purchased the bottle of 'Duty Free' Blue Label for my Dad...

My Mexican food experience in SF was good, but not on par with my San Diegan taste buds. The Carne Asada Burrito was more like a bean and rice burrito, and the Chicken Torta lacked the sloppy zest of it's Roberto's no. 5 counterpart. Too bready.. and rolled taco's were nowhere to be had. It could just be the place we went to though (I forget the name, but apparently it's the only place in the Mission open very late)

The low point was when my wife and I tried a bowl of Shoyu Ramen at a 'Japanese Noodle Shop' called Hotei. We were sickened when we were served a bowl of instant noodles by what we believe to be, a very pretentious Korean woman.

Chinese however was a different story. We ended up having Chinese every day we were there. I can honestly say that I've never had such delicious Chinese food before anywhere in my life. I'm seriously looking forward to returning next year for the Chinese food alone.

All in all, we had a great time. I didn't realize how much I took for granted the beauty of California, or the customer service of Japan.

[2triky]

Japanese food in the Bay Area is wack, especially coming from Japan. Granted that would be true for almost any American city but comparing the Japanese food in Soutern California and the Bay Area, illustrates the S.F. area is particularly deficient in this regard. But like you said the Chinese food is much better up there....I recommend going to the Hong Kong Flower Lounge in Millbrae, the food is a bit pricey but good. Koi Palace is also amazing for the quality of their food especially their dim sum on weekends.