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Why Asian Airlines Reign Supreme {Over American}
Wall Street Journal ^ | 26 Sep 2012 | Jennifer Chen

Posted on 11/14/2012 3:27:03 AM PST by Cronos

..On a recent trip to New York to see family and friends, I was at first pleased to discover that a U.S. carrier had a direct flight from Beijing to Newark International Airport. The fare was reasonable and the schedule suited me perfectly. Thirteen hours on a plane? Perfect time to catch up on Ben Stiller’s oeuvre.

Less than an hour into the flight, I was regretting my choice. Flying coach, I expected uncomfortable seats, lackluster food and surly service, but what I hadn’t counted on was being turned away from the toilet. As I reached out to open the door, a flight attendant preparing a drinks cart two feet away barked, “You can’t go in there. I’m busy. Go to the one in the front.” When the other toilets turned out to be occupied, I turned back to discover the occupied sign was on. “I’m not letting you in,” the flight attendant insisted.

It’s no secret that American carriers lag far behind their Asian counterparts when it comes to service and amenities. None of the big three U.S. airlines — Delta Airlines, United Airlines and American Airlines — cracked the top 50 in airline consultancy Skytrax’s annual poll of the world’s best airlines, which was released this summer.

..Meanwhile, six of the top 10 carriers hailed from Asia, with Asiana earning second place, followed by Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific and All Nippon Airways. Even China’s big carriers fared better than the American big three.

..There is one survey where American airlines beat Asia carriers. A recent study showed airlines raked in $22.64 billion last year in ancillary charges—those annoying fees for checked baggage, food, drink, pillows and blankets. Not a single Asian full-service carrier was mentioned.

(Excerpt) Read more at blogs.wsj.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society
KEYWORDS:
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I can agree that Cathay and Singapore are exceptionally good.
1 posted on 11/14/2012 3:27:14 AM PST by Cronos
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To: Cronos

Why are there still U.S. carriers?


2 posted on 11/14/2012 3:29:25 AM PST by gotribe
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To: Cronos

Korean Airlines (KAL) treats you like a Sultan. And that’s in coach, I can’t imagine what first class is like.


3 posted on 11/14/2012 3:30:14 AM PST by 2ndDivisionVet (You cannot invade the mainland United States. There would be a rifle behind every blade of grass.)
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To: Cronos

Could some of it have to do with the mannish, more aggressive attitude of many modern American women? And let’s not get started on the influx of weird/homo-acting stewards.


4 posted on 11/14/2012 3:38:24 AM PST by Dr. Sivana (There is no salvation in politics.)
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To: Cronos

My flights from Vienna to Cebu were all on Qatar, one of only
six five star carriers. Cathay and Asiana also service Cebu.
They are another two of the six five star airlines.
I do not think any American carrier has over three stars.


5 posted on 11/14/2012 3:41:39 AM PST by AlexW
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To: Cronos

I recently flew United on a 14 hour flight from Asia. I flew coach (in the rear with the infants).

I think what prevented me from going crazy was the movies. I must have watched at least four.


6 posted on 11/14/2012 3:42:05 AM PST by Toadman (To anger a Conservative, tell a lie. To anger a liberal, tell the truth.)
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To: Toadman

Most Americans buy flights based on price. You get what you pay for.


7 posted on 11/14/2012 3:46:01 AM PST by driftdiver (I could eat it raw, but why do that when I have a fire.)
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To: Toadman

Rent Catch Me if You Can sometime. It has a scene where the new Pan Am stewardesses (not “flight attendants”) are selected - classy, beautiful, poised and they had to speak a foreign language. Seemed like another world, compared to the nasty bats (female and male) we encounter on flights today.


8 posted on 11/14/2012 3:49:34 AM PST by laconic
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Have never flown Korean. Cathay and Singapore were business class and those were worlds better than Lufthansa or British Air or Air France (forget about Continental) — most of my US flights have been coach.


9 posted on 11/14/2012 3:57:07 AM PST by Cronos (**Marriage is about commitment, cohabitation is about convenience.**)
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To: Cronos

The best flight I ever took was on Japan A/L. Singapore A/L and Malaysia A/L were also good.

Article is dead on—US airlines suck big time. Much of that is due to heavy union involvement.


10 posted on 11/14/2012 3:57:38 AM PST by GnL
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To: Cronos

I don’t fly much so this may not mean much, but I’ve never seen the staff be anything but professional (Delta and American)

Some of the passengers on the other hand.....

Watched a little old lady physically assault a man for letting his feet wander into the aisle while he was asleep.


11 posted on 11/14/2012 4:11:16 AM PST by JoeDetweiler
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To: Cronos

Recentlly used KLM to Tanzania, Africa. They are exceptionally good.


12 posted on 11/14/2012 4:27:33 AM PST by astounded (Barack Obama is a clear and present danger to the USA)
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To: All

everything unions touch gets destroyed.


13 posted on 11/14/2012 4:30:20 AM PST by newnhdad (Our new motto: USA, it was fun while it lasted.)
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To: Dr. Sivana

Faggies are huge in the flight attendant ranks and often show attitude toward hetero couples. My wife & I were on a flight where the male flight attendant was treating us with such courtesy & pleasantries that we asked how does he deal with being separated from his own wife on long flights.

He replied, “I’m not married!” We pointed to the wedding band on his left hand.

He laughed & said, “That’s my `fag deflector’. Lots of fags work in the airlines and this keeps me from getting hit on.”


14 posted on 11/14/2012 4:48:17 AM PST by elcid1970 ("The Second Amendment is more important than Islam.")
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To: newnhdad
everything unions touch gets destroyed.

Yeah! Just look at Detroit!


15 posted on 11/14/2012 4:52:18 AM PST by Bon mots (Abu Ghraib: 47 Times on the front page of the NY Times | Benghazi: 2 Times)
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To: gotribe
They have more routes than everybody else and bigger fleets. They are sorry though.

Flew with an infant lately and US Airways they did not have any baby seat belts, they said to just hold the child on your lap. This is not safe and should not be allowed. I'm still contemplating filing a complaint with the FAA but they owe me a refund for bag fees so I'll wait until that plays out first.

On the second leg of the journey we switched to Lufthansa (original carrier but flight was canceled) and they had baby seat belts plus bassinets.

I was allowed two bags for my flight but when we were re booked on US Airways they made us pay and said to get the money back from Lufthansa.

I avoid US carriers, sorry service and too many fees.

16 posted on 11/14/2012 5:06:31 AM PST by USAF80
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Singapore is top luxury and quality food.
Us airlines are now looking at getting rid of seatbelts to offer standing areas.
Fly Asian and middle east airline you will refuse to fly any other .


17 posted on 11/14/2012 5:17:50 AM PST by Morris70
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To: Morris70
Wife and I flew Mexicana Airlines from Mexico City to Ixtapa on New Years Day. The attendants fired champagne corks down the isle and poured drinks nearly continuously. We were handed a nearly full bottle when we got off the plane. I think everybody on board was plastered...
18 posted on 11/14/2012 5:24:53 AM PST by Eric in the Ozarks (In the game of life, there are no betting limits)
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To: JoeDetweiler
Could be -- and Some of the passengers on the other hand..... Watched a little old lady physically assault a man for letting his feet wander into the aisle while he was asleep. wow!
19 posted on 11/14/2012 5:26:19 AM PST by Cronos (**Marriage is about commitment, cohabitation is about convenience.**)
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To: Dr. Sivana
Could some of it have to do with the mannish, more aggressive attitude of many modern American women? And let’s not get started on the influx of weird/homo-acting stewards.

Or just due to the fact they're union workers, and simply don't have to give a damn.

Mark

20 posted on 11/14/2012 5:31:36 AM PST by MarkL (Do I really look like a guy with a plan?)
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