Iberia / Lufthansa / KLM / BA to Mexico City. Which one?

cherdt · Post by **cherdt** » 10 Nov 2006, 01:37

Hi!

I want to fly to Mexico City from Brussels in March 2007. I've checked prices with Iberia / Lufthansa / British Airways / KLM but the prices are allmost identical. So now I question which one gives the best service or is the nicest to fly? Any of you frequent flyers can give me advice?
Iberia says that it's reurn flight to Brussels from Madrid is in an AR8? What plaine is that?

Thanks in advance!

Koenie666 · Post by **Koenie666** » 10 Nov 2006, 12:28

The AR8 is one of the avro's of code share partner (SN) Brussels Airlines

I went to latin america once with IB (Panama) and once with KLM (Ecuador) and I prefer the latter. IB offers sub-par service.

Did you check Air France and the american carriers?

b720 · Post by **b720** » 10 Nov 2006, 12:42

Indeed you must check Air France. I flew with them to latin Americe, excellent service, besides Aeromexico is a member of Skyteam..hence Mexico (many destinations in mexico) are very well connected from CDG.

Post by **airbuske** » 10 Nov 2006, 13:10

Don't choose for Iberia if you can choose an other carrier.

sab319 · Post by **sab319** » 10 Nov 2006, 13:16

Best ones in terms of Service are BA, KL and LH, avoid IB they are horrible

TWA · Post by **TWA** » 10 Nov 2006, 16:46

I took BA to MEX and they offered a superb service (better than KL,IB and LH together).
O/B flights with smooth connections (2 hours layover), but I/B flights with 4 to 5 hours layover at LHR airport terminal 4. That's a long waitingtime after such a long MEXLHR flight.

But I would still choose BA anyway.

PNC · Post by **PNC** » 10 Nov 2006, 18:17

Try AF, very nice service and very easy connections with thalys

cherdt · Post by **cherdt** » 10 Nov 2006, 20:46

OK, thx guys! One thing is sure....I will try to avoid IB and check-out air france instead...
Thx for the reply !

cherdt · Post by **cherdt** » 10 Nov 2006, 21:01

Ow! Air france is a not so interesting for me since they only offer thalys connections to CDG. But for me it's more interesting to depart from BRU by plane since I live like nextdoor to the airport + I can park my car for free there. The ticket price is by the way allmost identical to LH/IB/BA & KLM

So that only leaves LH/BA & KLM.
Anyone a suggestion....?
thx!

sab319 · Post by **sab319** » 10 Nov 2006, 21:13

BA offers the best in-flight entertainment in Economy class on long-haul, PTV's in every seat.

cherdt · Post by **cherdt** » 10 Nov 2006, 21:21

Are you serious?!?! In economy on every long haul flight?
BA It'll be then

Unless anyone has better arguments;-)

Koenie666 · Post by **Koenie666** » 12 Nov 2006, 12:52

But BA flies probably over LHR which means a bigger chance in loosing your bag....

FedEx · Post by **FedEx** » 13 Nov 2006, 18:29

For me personally, i would choose BA, great service and great inflight entertainment

Never lost my bags at Heathrow

chunk · Post by **chunk** » 16 Nov 2006, 10:50

Well I avoid BA like the plague cos I had one incident a few years back where their attitude stunk. Not been on them internationally since. Another reason though is Heathrow, which is one of the worst airports in Europe IMHO. Awful place.

Air France has PTV's in every seat and they are good though CDG is crap. KLMs 744's dont have PTV's but for me they have the best service and friendliest staff as well as the best airport to transfer in so I would go for one of those two. I am biased of course with PLatinum Flying Blue!

Iberia I don't know about but heard nothing good. Ever. Lufthansa are ok I believe but again I dont know.

You could try Continental or one of the other US carriers from BRU but I wouldn't recommend them either. One because the service on CO (which is the best one apparently) was shite AND two, you have to clear immigration in the US. Not a pleasent experience at the best of times.

cherdt · Post by **cherdt** » 06 Dec 2006, 12:35

Hey Chunk thx for the reply....it was very usefull to me. I didn't know that London Hthrw is such a terrible place? The thing is that I've never transferred in a big airport, and I'll be traveling alone. So maybe it's better to fly KLM and transfer in AMS then?!?! KLM also has the best connection times. (BRU-MEX).
And indeed I want to do my transfer in Europe, because I don't think it's a good idea doing my first transfer in the U.S.! --> Clearing immigration. That's why I look for EU carriers.

Thx!

OO-TUC · Post by **OO-TUC** » 06 Dec 2006, 17:03

KLM is updating its IFE in their widebody's. If im right their MD-11 gets PTV and the B747 gets new big LCD screens (not per seat unfortunately, but hanging through the cabin) instead of the old tv monitors. The inflight service is also updated, with better food & drinks.

Hope this will help.

http://www.klm.com/travel/corporate_nl/ ... m?id=52740

http://www.klm.com/travel/corporate_nl/ ... m?id=51486

cherdt · Post by **cherdt** » 07 Dec 2006, 14:51

Indeed this helps oo-tuc, I didn't know about this! Thx all you guys for your replies!
Anybody has more info on how a transfer like this works. Do you have to recollect your baggage and go to the check-in again? Or is your baggae transfered to the new plane direct? What about the persons? Do they have to check in again at AMS?

Thx!

chunk · Post by **chunk** » 07 Dec 2006, 14:51

cherdt wrote:Hey Chunk thx for the reply....it was very usefull to me. I didn't know that London Hthrw is such a terrible place? The thing is that I've never transferred in a big airport, and I'll be traveling alone. So maybe it's better to fly KLM and transfer in AMS then?!?! KLM also has the best connection times. (BRU-MEX).
And indeed I want to do my transfer in Europe, because I don't think it's a good idea doing my first transfer in the U.S.! --> Clearing immigration. That's why I look for EU carriers.

Thx!

Hey no problem. LHR is not good - maybe it will improve when T5 opens but I can't see it. The other four existing terminals are terrible and only BA and Qantas will be using T5 anyway from what I undertstand. And its so busy there are frequent annoying delays due to too much traffic.

Like i say the only issue with KLM to MEX (I have done the trip, but in business so it was cheating) is the IFE. It is tv's throughout the cabin in Economy on the 744 but they usually have something on throughout the flight. To be honest on the return leg you will probably sleep anyway - i know i did on a similar length trip from LAX this summer in Economy. Its a pity the flights not T7 because then it would be the number one choice for me without question. Other than the IFE on the B767, MD11 and B744 I always find KLM the best with the T7's and especially 330's are just great.

CCK · Post by **CCK** » 08 Dec 2006, 16:39

Aviod Iberia or air miseria. I prefere KL or BA. KL has a good connection only the service in Y-class is not good as 2 years ago.

chunk · Post by **chunk** » 09 Dec 2006, 12:44

interesting. I would have said service on KLM in Y has imporved greatly in the last two years! It reached a real low a few years ago when it was losing sh*tloads of money but has improved steadily since.