Best airline to/from the U.S.

Of all the airlines you’ve flown between the U.S. and a foreign country in the last three years, which airline’s flight(s) did you most appreciate? That’s what we asked readers to write about, using the following parameters.

Compare only the airlines’ flights on which you traveled in the same class of service. Rate only the in-flight experience. Do not consider ground personnel or processes, the on-time record, delays due to mechanical problems, etc. Name the airline(s) and where (cities) and when you flew.

Following are responses received. To share your views, write to Best Airline From/To the U.S., c/o ITN, 2116 28th St., Sacramento, CA 95818, or e-mail editor@intltravelnews.com (include the address at which you receive ITN).

The very best flight I took was one in Upper (first) Class on Virgin Atlantic Airways from Los Angeles to London’s Heathrow in June 2005.

Rating from 1 to 10, with 10 being the highest, I’d give the service a 10; comfort, 10; routine, 9; cleanliness, 10; entertainment, 8; food, 7; massage, 10, and privacy, bed and pjs, 10. It was an unforgettable round trip, with the club at Heathrow spectacular!

I have flown to the UK almost yearly since 1977, so I am comparing that flight to those of Delta, American, Wardair, Continental, United and British Air. All of these were in business class, although on five flights I was boosted to first class.

Marian Tonjes

Albuquerque, NM

The best airline I’ve used in the last three years is TACA. I have flown with them six times recently to Nicaragua and never had a late flight or lost baggage (the connection in San Salvador is 30 minutes).

TACA’s fleet is very young and well maintained. They seem to never have trouble with broken seats, etc. The seats always looked new.

Service was friendly. And although there was no free food, the sandwiches were the best I’ve had on any flights recently.

I have also flown American and Delta in the past three years internationally, mostly to Latin America, with service as expected.

Carl Boyer III

Santa Clarita, CA

I travel out of the country four times a year, and after two extremely unpleasant experiences I have adopted a rule: never fly abroad on a domestic airline.

On March 29, 2006, I flew Delta Air Lines from Atlanta to London. The temperature in the plane was so frigid! Several times I asked the stewardesses to please ask whoever was in charge of such a matter to change the temperature. Very simply, my request was ignored. The stewardesses’ general treatment of the passengers was at best disdainful and at worst bordering on rude. On the return flight I experienced the same discomfort and the same disdainful treatment.

In addition, the food was quite bad, in my opinion.

On July 15, 2007, I flew to Russia on Lufthansa. The cabin was comfortable, the steward and stewardess were kind, pleasant and good-natured, and the food was very good.

Why do our domestic flights have to be so miserable? If other countries can offer to the passengers good service and courtesy, why can’t ours?

Jane Williamson

Mobile, AL

In economy class, Lufthansa is surprising. I flew from Frankfurt to Los Angeles in July ’07.

The Airbus was immaculate. All lavatories but one were located on the lower level. No more blocking aisles waiting to use the lavatories!

Between meals, the flight attendants were surprisingly visible in the aisles passing out drinks or some sort of packaged snack.

Before the lunch service, there was a separate cocktail service. And their pasta chefs need to be praised; the pasta entrées were restaurant quality. The meal service offered approximately two hours before landing in Los Angeles was almost another hot lunch.

American Airlines should be embarrassed by the service they provide internationally. I flew round trip on American Airlines from New York’s JFK to Paris in June ’06.

The seating in economy class was uncomfortable, with little legroom and narrow seats. Three hours into the flight the lavatories were smelly and messy. Apparently, the flight attendants did not feel it was their job to tidy up.

The meal tray was half the size of the tray table. The food, which could hardly be called a meal, was tasteless, I felt.

Flight attendants were invisible unless you went to the galley to search for one, and there they were sitting, reading magazines and chatting among themselves.

As one flight attendant mentioned to me, “Our fares are among the most inexpensive.” He was right, and that was why I flew American Airlines. After sampling their food, comfort and service, however, I prefer to pay a bit more on foreign carriers.

Deanna Palic

Woodland Hills, CA

For people who are diabetic or hypoglycemic, eating enough food every few hours is essential. Airlines seem to forget that one consumes more food during the day than at night, so while a small dinner and breakfast might be fine going to Europe overnight, the same amount of food during the day is inadequate.

I flew Continental Airlines from Newark, New Jersey, to Geneva, Switzerland, in September ’05 and ’06. I had a good gluten-free dinner and breakfast going, but, on returning, lunch was served too soon after takeoff, and only a nibble was provided after that. Not enough!

On an American Airlines day flight from London in May ’06, we got a surprisingly full breakfast and more food later, so I arrived feeling safe. (I don’t remember any problems coming back.)

Jon Lafleur

Kent, CT

I flew Northwest Airlines round trip from Minneapolis/St. Paul to London a few years ago.

In business class, the seats were very comfortable, each with an armrest TV with a good selection.

The flight attendants very attentive and friendly.

The food was at least equal to that of other international business-class travel. (We have used a number of other airlines.)

Kent Shamblin

Afton, MN

The best airline on which I have traveled abroad in the past three years is Lufthansa in September-October ’07. I flew Chicago-Munich-Tirana (Albania)-Munich-Denver (my domestic connectors, out of and back to San Francisco, were on United).

I was in economy class, and the in-flight experience was outstanding. The comfort was excellent also, and there seemed to be more legroom than on other airlines on which I’ve traveled recently, including Delta (Atlanta-Madrid-New York) and Alitalia (New York-Rome) as well as, for domestic flights, US Air, Iberia Airlines and Air China.

The Lufthansa flight attendants were well dressed, cheerful, polite and attentive and their service was crisp and speedy. The food service in economy class surpassed what I had experienced on a domestic United Airlines flight in business class in spring 2007 (San Francisco-Chicago-Manchester, NH). Aboard Lufthansa, drinks were available throughout the long flights as were snacks, if desired.

Lufthansa utilized Airbus 340-600s. These models featured five or six toilets downstairs, so there was no lining up for their use in the rear. Not only were the toilet facilities larger than those on United’s Boeing aircraft, there were at least twice the number available to those of us flying economy class. They were kept immaculately clean throughout the flights.

Even on the short flights from and to Tirana, a large sandwich, fruit, yogurt and crackers with a spread and cheese were served. This would not occur on an American airline traveling across the country unless it was paid for as an extra.

In summation, my economy-class flights on Lufthansa surpassed flying in first class on domestic United flights (in 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007) except for the size of the seat. Finnair, American Airlines and Alitalia, with whom I’ve also flown lately, were excellent, but I thought Lufthansa was better, mainly due to the enhanced rest room facilities and great meal service.

Edward Lifset

Oceanside, CA

My wife and I live and work in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. We used to fly Malaysian Airlines when we went back home to Los Angeles but not anymore. For the past two years we have been flying the best airline in the world, Singapore Airlines.

Sure, we have to go through Singapore to get home, but it’s worth the extra stop. Twice each year, at Christmas and in June, we make this trip, and there are many reasons why we appreciate this airline so much.

First of all, it’s the flight crew. On most — perhaps all — airlines they will greet you warmly as you enter the plane, but how do they treat you during the flight, especially after 10 to 12 hours in the air? That’s what makes Singapore Airlines so special. Besides being young, attractive and charming, these folks actually are helpful and efficient as they do their jobs, both at the beginning and the end of their shift.

Then there’s the food — good, and lots of it. How many times have you been given a printed menu in economy with several choices of entrées? How many times have you been able to get a snack anytime you asked for one? How about free alcoholic drinks?! How many times have you said to your seatmate, “Hey, that wasn’t a bad meal, and we’re flying economy!”

Next, the facilities. I’ve flown on long-haul airlines whose toilets are allowed to get messy and dirty halfway through the flight, and they’re almost impossible to use by the end of the journey. But not on Singapore. The flight attendants keep them clean and well stocked throughout the flight.

And the blankets and pillows are thick, not those flimsy things you get most often. Also, the reading material is up-to-date and plentiful.

Since Singapore has a young fleet and is constantly upgrading its equipment, most of our flights have been on newer aircraft with a personal TV set in the back of the seat in front of each of us. On our last flight the screens were at least nine inches wide, like small computers.

The seats all have “wings,” those neck rests that pull up and down, making sleep more pleasant. Along with good legroom and wide seats, it’s possible to have a relatively comfortable experience in the air, even for 19 to 20 hours!

All in all, this airline is the best I’ve ever flown, and, having visited over 80 countries around the world, I’ve been in the air a lot.

Three cheers and more for Singapore Air!

Robert Carrelli

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia