Top 10 airlines 2015

In the modern world of 2015 air travel is perceived as a tedious and unpleasant experience. Common misconceptions exist such as crammed leg space, dirty and unclean aircraft, poor food service, turbulence, unpleasant passengers etcetera. yet, simultaneously air travel can also be closely associated with the traditional picture, 3 course meals, ambient leg space, personal attendants and other luxuries. Generally theses luxuries are heard of more in first class and when air travel was fairly new in society. Despite the common misconceptions of society, air travel can be a pleasant and enjoyable experience. The top 10 airlines, elected by Skytrax 2015 are known and recommended to provide the highest service to customers of modern travel. 

 10. Qantas 

This airline has been known in the past to fluctuate in and out of the top 10. Qantas have the best safety record and active safety features in comparison to other airlines, which has developed in its 95 years (2016) of operation. Additionally, the airline is based in Australia and presents as an important and prestigious company in its country of origin. In recent times Qantas has made numerous prominent changes to its brand such as uniform changes. From my experience in 2015, they provide memorable and high standards of customer service.

Qantas 737

Credit: @Avgeek_Aeronautical (Instagram)

9. EVA AIR

EVA air has a large network expanding to many destinations worldwide. The brand has been spotted around as upholding a high standard of customer service throuought the globe, however it is not the 

most prevalent airline, with many in the west unaware of its existence. The airline is Taiwanese and is 

a current member of Star Alliance. 

EVA air 747

8. Garuda Indonesia

Garuda Indonesia has long been known for its high quality service and useful operations. The airline has improved over time, having a rather high fatality rate in the past. The airline offers operations to a large number of destinations, unlike other national airlines existent in Indinesia. Garuda Indonesia operates a fleet of modern and new aircraft, including Boeing 737s complimentary with the modern sky interior. The airline is based in Indonesia at Jakarta international airport (CGK).

7. ANA (All Nippon airways)

ANA (All Nippon airways) is a national air service based in Japan. The airline was the first to utilise 

the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, an unprecedented aircraft in terms of technological development. The 

airline competes with its other national competitor (Japan Airlines) however has been seen among the top 10 for quite some time. 

6. Etihad Airways

Etihad Airways is just one of the rapidly expanding airlines based in the Middle East. Whilst that particular region of the world has seen a sudden increase in airline luxury and popularity, Etihad is no exception. They are based in Abu Dhabi and operate far and beyond that location, even to Perth! Still, 

they are reowned for their service, particularly the business class cabin. 

5. Emirates 

"I am going to Europe!", 

"What airline are you flying?"

"Emirates!"

We all probaly experience this a lot these days, it's no secret how popular Emirates has become in what appears a short space of time. Empowered with wealth, this airline intends to gradually replace their fleet with more A380 aircraft. They operate many Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, however these are slowly being replaced with A380s, even on service to Perth! The aircraft also provides a luxury to its passengers, with on board bars and other features unprecedented with other airlines!

4. Turkish Airlines

Turkish Airlines commenced as a small opperation with one of the smallest air fleets. Today, it is no secret that they are the airline that serves the most destinations worldwide- over 5 continents! Their development is astonishing, ranking 5th by Skytrax in 2015! Turkish Airways is a member of star 

alliance.

3. Cathay Pacific airways

Cathay Pacific airways, based in Hong Kong is a prestigious, well known airline globally. As a member of One World global alliance they work with many other prestigious world airlines. Cathay Pacific has been reowned in the past for its top of the mill first class cabin. 

2. Singapore Airlines 

Based at Singapore Changi airport, this carrier has never disappointed. They are always providing 

you with unprecedented service. Having flown with them in 2015, they were remarkable. They have a history of ranking in the top 10 and are widely known for their astonishing worldwide service. 

1. Qatar Airways

There you have it! The best airline of 2015; Qatar. This airline is based in Doha and is becoming increasingly popular for travelers. The airline offers remarkable service, and operates a contingency of 787 aircraft. So, if your wanting to travel in 2016, be sure to utilise Qatar!! 

Qantas QF596 Perth (PER) to Brisbane (BNE) review

On August 21, 2015 I was presented the pleasure of traveling to Brisbane on a Qantas 737. I had never tried the airline before (source of shame as I am Australian!) and I was excited to experience such an Australian adventure! The flight departed from Perth (PER) at 0930 and landed in Brisbane (BNE) at approximately 1600 (local time). The total flight duration was around 4 hours. Overall, the flight was impressive and a memorable experience that I highly recommend!

 

Details:

Airline: Qantas

Aircraft: 737-800

Approximate age of aircraft: 2.2 years (time of flight)

Registration: VH-XZH

Airport of departure: Perth International airport (PER), domestic terminal

Airport of arrival: Brisbane International Airport (BNE)

Date of flight: August 21, 2015

Overall experience: Great

 

At the airport

My flight, QF596 departed out of Perth domestic terminal (PER). We were slightly late on arrival to the airport due to traffic congestion in and around Perth. At the domestic terminal, I found check in to be slow and we were waiting for a while. There were also check in counters that were closed. In Perth domestic terminal, there was a range of entertainment prior to the flight including shops, coffee etc. Which I believe is important. There was also abundant opportunity for spotting! Some aircraft I spotted are noted below:

 

Qantas 737, displaying a special lively to represent Australia's indigenous culture. 

Registration: VH-XZJ

 

Qantas 737 which I saw from my window once seated.

Registration: VH-XZI

Prior to  Take off/boarding  

 

The aircraft was late to arrive in Perth as it arrived late from Darwin.The aircraft was fairly new, at 2.2 years and the registration was VH-XZH. It was also a 737-800. The aircraft was clean, modern and appeared to be well treated.

 

My flight, VH-XZH 

The boarding process was prompt and not tedious. The crew upon boarding were presented as polite and friendly, along with the crew onboard. Headsets were distributed once on board the aircraft and in addition you could retrieve them yourself upon boarding. There was a bucket just outside the boarding gate. My seat was 27F, near the rear of the aircraft. As we boarded the aircraft, there was a silent, but funky pop music to relax passengers into the mood. In my opinion, I think it was small but a nice introduction to the flight.

 

 

My seat 27F (window seat)

 

The boarding process.

 

 

Take off

 

Prior to take off it was mandatory for the cabin crew to conduct a safety brief. I appreciated how they employed traditional methods combined with modern ones. The crew physically put on life vests, demonstrated oxygen masks and other elements of a safety briefing. Simultaneously, they displayed a safety briefing video on each PTV. Take off was commenced a little bit later than predicted due to the aircrafts late arrival. At the time the meteorological conditions didn't seem ideal (dark clouds and suspected rain), so I had prepared for a rough take off, and take off was indeed a little bit rough. It didn't take long however to settle into a smooth and enjoyable flight path. At the time of take off the Boeing sky interior was lit blue, which I found relaxing.

 

Entertainment

The entertainment on board the flight was good in terms of easy operation (electronic touch screen), a variety of entertainment was also available. The Screen offered a variety of films, TV shows, flight information and more. It would certainly be impossible to get bored! A PTV was provided to every passenger, and this was a device that was easy to use, as it was touch screen and additionally, it had a remote attached to the seat in order to make adjustments to volume and channel. 

 

 

Home screen of entertainment system.

 

 

My headset.

 

My headset out of the packet

 

My handset for my PTV  

 

Comfort

 

In regards to comfort, the flight ranked sufficiently high. The legroom provided to me was ambient, and as a result there were no issues such as leg cramping. The seats were moderately comfortable. They were also clean and seemed to be new. The seat did have the ability to decline, although for the sake of other passengers I refrained from declining. The Boeing 737-800 has a Boeing sky interior feature, which was evident on this flight. The illumination of the cabin varied between different colours, blue for most of the time. This enhanced the overall comfort of the flight by creating a relaxing atmosphere.

 

 My legroom.

 

 

The cabin in the duration of the flight, note the cool sky interior.

 

Food and beverages

 

The meal service provided on this flight was lunch, which makes sense regarding the flight was between 0900 and 1400 Perth time. In the meal service, a main dish was served which included; pasta, cheese and crackers, water, bread roll and spreads. It also contained cutlery and other additions such as salt, pepper, sugar etc. In addition to all this, desert and a option of tea, coffee and/or a range of beverages such as soft drinks, juice water etc. were also provided. Overall, the food was of a good quality. Desert was my favourite, being a Mars bar ice cream.

 

My meal. Contents included pasta, roll, cheese, crackers, water, napkins, additives and spreading's. It also included desert and a beverage option.

Desert, it was Mars bar ice cream.

Spices such as pepper, salt and sugar.

Tic Tacs, part of the meal!

Cutlery

The pasta provided

Water

Cheese, crackers and butter

 

Conclusion

 

My flight, QF596 was indeed highly enjoyable. The airline provided me with excellent service from the cabin crew, a high quality of food and beverages, comfortable seating and legroom and Qantas ensured the entertainment was of highest quality. From my experiences, I can conclude Qantas is an amazing airline and I recommend them 100% to anyone.

 

If you want to see more details from this flight, please visit some of my IG or watch my YouTube video.

Instagram: @aviationlover19

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0o4GyUopwms

 

Thank you!!

Singapore Airlines SQ226 flight review

On July 16 2015, I received the chance to experience, explore and enjoy a flight. Flight has always intrigued me and having a keen interest in aviation combined with a scarcity of time in the sky, this experience seemed eye opening and exciting. As my opportunity to fly is so limited, I made the decision to review my flight and post about it online.

Flight information:
Flight: SQ226
Airline: Singapore Airlines, based in Singapore.
Airport of departure: Perth international airport, (PER/YPPH)
Airport of arrival: Singapore Changi Airport, (SIN/WSSS)
Aircraft: Boeing 777-200
Aircraft registration: 9V-SRM, This particular aircraft was 12.3 years old and its previous service was to Bangalore to Singapore prior to arriving at Perth.
Class of travel: Economy class
Date: July 16, 2015

At the airport:
I arrived for my flight, SQ226 with an abundance of time. My family and I opted to have a small lunch consisting of pizza and sandwiches in an effort to pass time prior to passing through customs. The ground staff working for Singapore Airlines were indeed very friendly and welcoming. They also worked efficiently. Whilst the airline service was fairly good, the airport service itself was of not as high standard. I felt that Perth international airport (PER) was in limitation of leisure activities and facilities such as restaurants and duty free shopping. On the positive aspect of things, however, I think the viewing terminal was pretty good and provided planespotters with amazing views of aircraft. As a result of this, I opted to pass time via planespotting as this is always a fun activity.

 Qantas Airways Boeing 737 aircraft. registration: VH-XZI

 Air Mauritius A330 aircraft. Registration: 3B-NBL

 Air Asia Indonesia A320 aircraft. Registration: PK-AXE

Virgin Australia Boeing 737 aircraft. Registration: VH-XZI

 

Boarding process and before take-off:

The boarding process was efficient and comfortable. The cabin crew were indeed very warm, friendly and welcoming. I was welcomed aboard the aircraft by numerous members of the cabin. In addition to their vibrant attitude, they were helpful and willing to assist other passengers in locating their seat and placing baggage in the overhead compartments. Prior to take-off, the cabin crew distributed headphones and a hot towel service. In my opinion, the hot towel service is a kind and effective gesture to settle passengers into the flight. The safety video was displayed promptly commencing pushback. The safety video was informative and clear to understand.

 This is the hot towel I received from the crew.

 

 

Take-off and shortly after:

Take-off on-board SQ226 was smooth with a low level of turbulence. Shortly after take-off and the seatbelt sign was disabled, the crew came around serving beverages and peanuts. I think that the distribution of peanuts is a good idea and a welcoming snack. Although I rejected the peanuts due to my brother sitting nearby who had an allergy to nuts. The beverage service was also very nice and I opted for the apple juice.

My apple juice.

 

The inflight entertainment:

Singapore Airlines offered an array of very good entertainment. The airline offered a variety of reading material and programs on the PTV. A PTV was provided to every single passenger in economy class. The inflight PTV was operated via the use of a handset. I found the handset was very sophisticated in its design and functions, along with ease in operation simultaneously. The PTV offered programs including Just for kids which included programs for the specific use of children, Travel information which is a program allowing you to view the aircrafts flight information including position, local time at destination, altitude etc. The PTV also provided an array of movies, TV shows and music. To make utilization easier, these were all divided into distinct categories to make browsing easier. The only function which I felt was missing aboard was inflight Wi-Fi. Singapore Airlines has inflight WI-FI aboard Airbus A380-800 and Boeing 777-300/ER aircraft as these aircraft are operated on long haul routes. As I was traveling in the Boeing 777-200, inflight WI-FI was not available. On the whole, very good job Singapore Airlines!

 

                                                   Headphones for operation of the PTV.

 

 Headphones

 

 Handset for the PTV

 

 Reading material in the seat pocket.

 

 

Meal service:

The general expectation of airline food is low among the public, so regarding this, I think Singapore Airlines has excelled at breaking the boundaries. The options for the food were available in a small booklet handed to each passenger. These small books also provided information in regards to beverages. On board SQ226, a lunch service was provided as the flight departed at about 3:30 in the afternoon and landed in Singapore at approximately 7:30pm. The options that were available consisted of a choice between a pork or chicken main; I opted for the chicken as I am not a fan of pork in general. The airline also offered a tea or coffee along with the meal service, and a complimentary cold beverage! Desert was also offered, and in the case of this flight it was an appetising vanilla ice-cream. On my meal tray, I had a small milk for tea and coffee, a warm bread roll, a seafood salad, my main dish and cheese and crackers. I can say that the timing of meal collection and distribution was accurate and the quality of the food was to die for. Singapore Airlines, you have done this very well!

 

 The meal as a whole

 

 My main dish; Chicken with vegetables.

 

 Toothpick :)

 

 Sugar, salt, pepper etc.

 

 Vanilla ice cream

 

I opted for the tea :)

Seat comfort:

The seat that passengers are provided with in economy class is luxurious and comfortable. The economy seat aboard Singapore Airlines can really compare with business class on some other airlines. Each passenger was provided with their own PTV, pillow and blanket. As it can get cold in the air sometimes, the blanket is really a great resource. The seat had a recline, useful for passengers wanting to relax. I was comfortable during all stages of this flight. The seats provided ample room and plentiful legroom, hence there was no cramping or discomfort.

 Inflight blanket

 

 My seat :)

 

   

Legroom

Staff service

I found that the staff service and attitude can be a highly prominent aspect of making a flight enjoyable. Singapore Airlines, you did not let me down. The ground crew were efficient and kind, whilst the cabin crew carried radiating smiles. The cabin crew were very polite, welcoming and elegant although, they were not overly friendly per se. They made me feel welcome aboard the aircraft at al times.

 

Conclusion:

The flight SQ226 service from Perth to Singapore failed to disappoint me. I was very impressed with all aspects of the flight and commend Singapore Airlines on providing such amazing customer service. The entertainment wasn't just sufficient, it was absolutely astonishing. I was also highly impressed with the politeness of the crew, comfort of my seat and the meal provided by the airline. I recommend Singapore Airlines to everyone!