FOH Travel Warrior: Your best International Flights/Airlines of 2024?

[El Presidente]

FOH Travel Warrior: Your best International Flights/Airlines of 2024?

Many of us travel Internationally for business of pleasure...or both. 

It doesn't matter whether you are travelling coach/business or first. 

Your best experiences of 2024. 

 

For me?

1. Japan Airlines Business Class.

Simply superb. Aligned with American Airlines/Qantas (One World) so if you have the opportunity, I wouldn't hesitate. 

2. Qatar Airlines Business. 

Super slick. Doha Airport can be a slight jungle to navigate on time. That may be simply due to tight changeovers. 

3. Singapore Airlines (Business of Economy). 

They just nail the essence of efficiency and a welcoming environment. 

4. Emirates (Business)

The A 380 bar is hard to beat. Still, they are slipping compared to competitors.

 

Worst. 

1. American Airlines (Business). 

What a mix. You can have a great flight followed by one where nobody gives a rats arse. 

2. Qantas

What a fall from grace. From national treasure to national disgrace. 

[westg]

I flew Singapore in July. Previously I thought they had dropped off the pace a little. The new lounge in Perth was very impressive. The new lounge in Singapore was just amazing. Flight crew service and aircraft. Amazing!

Qantas across the board is so D grade. I actually prefer to pay and sit in a bar than to use there Perth lounge. I have to fly Qantas for work it's bloody horrible. Business Class to Melbourne in February was so disappointing and you are right, they are in fact a disgrace. My partner works for Virgin so for the three of us to fly to Sydney return Business goes for 259 notes. Not a single complaint heard. The flights have actually been fun. I remember airports being being a place of fun and excitement. Now I dread them. That said, flying Singapore Airlines always make me feel good. 

[Duxnutz]

Any US domestic business class just feels crap unless you’re on a widebody. AA/UA/DL first class on the 321/737 is just uncomfortable. If you can snag a 777 then it’s a completely different experience. 
 

My best experience was American: LAX - MIA in their flagship first class lay flat suite. 
 

My crap experience was also American: 321neo HNL-LAX Redeye in the most uncomfortable non lay flat first class seat they could come up with. 
 

International: Turkish has been good. Decent food and service. 

[El Hoze]

I flew Qatar from Miami to Doha in the Qsuite which is like business class but was on a plane where the was no “first” so it kind of straddles business/first. It was pretty phenomenal. Food was great, had a nice aged bordeaux they were pouring. Service was very good. Very comfortable sleeping arrangement with a door that closed. The First Class lounge at Doha, the Al Safwa lounge, is also pretty impressive. You know when you’re in an airport club and taking pictures of the food it is a nice place.

Flew back on Emirates Dubai to Miami business. Lounge was big but on par with most international lounges and flight was OK not great. In my mind Qatar blows it away. 

[tbelle7]

Best:

1. Singapore Airlines - Business - I take SFO -> SIN -> HKG monthly. Amazing service. Great seats. Lounges in Asia are top notch

2. Cathay Pacific - Business - ORD -> HKG Really nice seats, great staff, the shared Swissport lounge in ORD is horrendous.

Worst:

1. Delta (International) -  Business - DTW ->PVG. the worst.

2. Vietnam Airlines - Business - SFO -> SGN. Yikes.

[LordAnubis]

Recently flown Emirates and Singapore. All in cattle. Don’t have any gold privileges on either airlines anymore.

Singapore was good. Especially with a kid. They take care of you well. Both during boarding and on the flight. A but if a mix up with our seating but no big deal.

Emirates I’ve not flown in more than 6 years. And it is exacccccttttly the same as it was back then. No changes at all. Maybe it’s just the Perth to Dubai leg. The Dubai to London flights probably have got the best of the newest. However one interesting thing I will note is this. Emirates entire game is consistency. No matter what journey you’re on you will always get one of three configurations. So you know the top and bottom do what you’re getting. I agree the top need to be brought higher to match the top of other airlines, but still consistency is good for travellers I think. With all other airlines there’s a vast gap between the top end and bottom end of what is offered on the same journey. 

[SUP8333]

Singapore Airlines has a class I consider above First Class, it's the Suites. It's still First, but selected flights and cost a little more. Everytime I fly in this class, it is truly a luxury - everything is perfection. From the private check in terminal, the dedicated First Class lounge, the amazing array of wines($2-300 bottles all you can drink), the comfy beds in the rest areas. Up in the air, the sweet Singapore stewardess service, the book the cook Michelin star chef meals, caviar and champagne? C'est super, and finally...the personal sanctuary in the sky. That huge room all to your own, your very own bed to waking up fresh at your destination. If you have a partner, you can request for the middle seats and have a DOUBLE BED in the sky. This is THE BEST. 

Many would mention the Emirates suites but I personally feel at half the size, it lacks in comparison to this. The shower in the middle of a long 13 hour flights is nice but I mean I can shower before boarding and landing at lounge so... 

Worst: Any American airline. Blanket statement but there really is no difference travelling on a bus.