Perhaps annoyance number 1 for us tall Dutchmen: too little legroom in the Economy class of an airplane.
Folded into a flight of about 12 hours to Bangkok and then broken into Thailand arrive. That is not a pleasant prospect. There are not many alternatives. A Business class ticket is not for many people. Fortunately, a number of airlines have an intermediate class such as EVA Air with 'Evergreen de Luxe', which is now called 'Elite Class'.
Select an airline by legroom
Our type: For the tall people among us, it can be useful to consult a number of websites before booking a flight ticket to Thailand. On websites like Seatguru en Airline quality you can easily check the legroom of airlines. Those who find legroom important can compare the legroom per airline. Please note, 'seat pitch' does not represent the legroom, but the distance between one seat in relation to the other.
What is new is that you can access Seat Guru and on SeatExpert can search for the best seats on your flight. You fill in the company, the flight number and your departure date on the website. You will then see a map of the plane. It indicates the best seats. The worst seats are also indicated and the reason for this. Usually because they are located close to the toilets or pantry. Another reason is, for example, that the backrest cannot be adjusted. With many airlines you can check in online and choose your own seat, on Seat Expert you can easily see which seat is the best and which seat is the worst.
Thai Airways scores high
The national airline of Thailand: THAI (Thai Airways International), scores very well on several fronts. On long-haul flights and in Economy class, Thai Airways appears to offer the most seat space: 36 inches or 91,44 centimeters between one seat and the other. Airberlin offers the least space with 29 inches or 73,66 centimeters. That's almost 18 centimeters difference!
Also when it comes to quality and legroom (Airline quality) scores THAI well. On long haul flights, Thai Airways, third in the ranking, offers the best legroom in Economy class. Number 1 is Qatar Airways and second is Kingfisher Airline from India. The top 10 has been compiled based on the many passenger reviews. You can read them on the Airline Quality website Airline quality.
I did once with Thai airway consequences from Dusseldorf and it was really great. Aside from the service being excellent, the legroom was also fine. Highly recommended.
Downside is of course the price tag compared to Air Berlin, but you do get value for money. And another downside is the transfer in Frankfurt or Munich with the associated waiting times and extra checks of the bags. The latter turned out to be opened upon arrival in Düsseldorf and things had disappeared without any notification.
Have good experience with evaair, especially the middle class, indeed a bit more expensive but a world of difference. Evaair has good departure times (for me that is) and flies direct ams-bkk
Evergreen/Elite from EVA is also my favorite on AMS, but is about 400 euros more expensive off BKK. I'd rather spend that on other things. Problem with China Airlines and EVA in economy is the 3-4-3 setup. With a window seat you have to climb over 2 neighbors in case of an emergency. Air Berlin flies in the Airbus with the configuration 2-4-2. for an additional payment of 60 euros per flight, you can buy aisle seats with more legroom. Then you are at one of the exits. 14C is the best choice; 14A has the bump of the slide in front of you. Never take the XL seat in row 36. Then you pay for more legroom, but that is constantly occupied by people who want to go to the toilet.
china airlines is no longer 3-4-3 but 2-3-2
You will mean 2-4-2 flown last week with China air
In economy class, Asian airlines, such as Thai, Singapore and Malaysian, have the most legroom.
Nonsense to put it that way. There is quite a lot of difference between the Asian companies, and this is also very dependent on the type of aircraft. You can say that the airlines you mention generally have more legroom than the low-cost airlines such as Air Berlin and Air Asia, but then again… the type of aircraft is often more decisive than the company.
KLM is very poor in terms of legroom in the 747
But KLM has not been flying to Bangkok with a 747 for a long time, but with a 777-300ER. It is a pity that there are still people who write negatively about KLM in advance, while they do not deserve it.
You are responding to a comment from about 2 years ago, in that time things can change, of course. Incidentally, KLM crams a seat more in width than many other airlines in that 777, namely 10 instead of 9.
That is not nonsense, Robert, every airline can determine the distance between the seats (pitch) itself.
See the link: http://www.airlinequality.com/Product/seats_europe.htm
So Hansy is right that the Asians offer more legroom with Thai Airways even as a positive outlier with 33 inches.
In Europe, KLM is on the low side with 31 inches.
The study you cite says the following: 'Dimensions represent typical seat pitch offered by an airline on international flights – this may NOT be available on all of an airline's fleet of aircraft, and in some cases the dimensions shown illustrate the latest seat introductions by each airline.'
See the term 'typical seat pitch' instead of 'guaranteed seat pitch' and 'may NOT be available on all of an airline's fleet of aircraft'.
Seat pitch is simply often used as a marketing trick Bert. Anyway, let's say that company AND type of aircraft are decisive (I actually already said that, but okay). Everyone happy.
I maintain that you really cannot say that one airline has more legroom than the other. Maybe on paper, but not in practice.
Aircraft type means nothing to me.
Even within one type of aircraft within one company, different layouts can be found, such as for the B-777 at SA.
Planes of the planes can be found on seatguru.
Not one aircraft is the same in terms of layout, every airline has a different layout.
And you can't compare low-cost carriers with the other airlines.
That's right, you only have a reasonable idea of legroom if you know the combination of airline and type of aircraft.
Often it also depends a bit on where you are. And with the older generation of aircraft where inflight entertainment was built in later, you often find yourself with such an annoying box at your feet. Then the seat pitch makes little difference.
When designing an interior, the airlines follow their own policy regarding minimum legroom for each class.
This is applied throughout their fleet.
And obstacles under the seats are encountered in every airline. Therefore, it can be extremely useful to book a good seat in advance using the description of SearGuru. These obstacles are described there.
Does anyone have experience with airline ,,Jetairfly,, Bangkok-Brussels and Brussels-Bangkok via Pukhet. Legroom, service, etc. I would like to see your reaction,
MVG
Francky
Fortunately no experience with it.
Pitch 30 inch, at KLM 31, at China Airlines 32.
You have to go to and from Brussels.
Stopover in Phuket on the outward journey.
Only 1 meal on board.
All alcoholic drinks must be paid for.
No entertainment system in seats. Separate device against payment.
I didn't think flying every day.
And hefty surcharges if you do not exactly adhere to the rules, for example hand luggage of which L+W+H may be a maximum of 110 cm. They don't look very closely at things like that at KLM or CA, but I'm always afraid that those low-cost airlines try to squeeze it out.
In short: When are you going to fly and how much is the price difference?
Take a look for example for a flight from 29/8 to 20/9:
China Airlines: EUR 696.74 (direct).
KLM: EUR 768.74 (direct).
Jetairfly: No flights available on both days.
Alternative: 1 September outward (with a stopover in Phuket), 23 September back.
EUR: 629.98.
The price difference with China Airlines is approximately 3 euros per flight hour. Count your winnings. 🙂
Just booked with Thai, BKK – Brussels return for THB 39,000…not the cheapest but still a great price for a flight without intermediate stops/transfers etc.
Franky,
You can count on being crammed into the plane like a sardine.
http://www.vliegschemas.nl/jetairfly.htm
It's over with Thai's 34″ pitch!
The new 777-300ER and the "old" 777-200 after the retrofit will only have 32″ pitch with new seats.
The old 747 will be refurbished and retained 34″
http://www.thaiairways.com.cn/en/index.php/About/detail/id/255
In recent years we have been flying with Emirates from Düsseldorf with a stopover in Dubai. From Düsseldorf to Dubai with a Boeing 777 with plenty of legroom and from Dubai with an Airbus 380, a true luxury; plenty of legroom and, moreover, you are, as it were, sitting in a recliner, the seat of which slides forward when you lower the backrest. And all that Economy without extra payment. From 2013 we fly from Schiphol, we fly all the way with the A380. And these are not the only advantages, the price is also good and ... you can take 30 kg of luggage pp + 10 kg of hand luggage. It is best to book at Vliegwinkel.nl, they are the cheapest, even cheaper than booking directly with Emirates.
In December 2011 we flew with Emirates from SPL via Dubai to BKK. From SPL to Dubai with the Boeing 777 (triple seven) and further with the Airbus 380. The 777 has 2 seats on the window side, the 380 indeed 3, so you always have to scramble with your 1.93 meter height. The seats on the 777 are much more comfortable than the seats on the 380. The top of the 380's back rests half way through your shoulder blade for at least 6 hours. The legroom in the 380 is also much more limited than in the 777. From Dubai to BKK in row 45, dramatic. Back was better, row 41. This is the 1st row on the lower deck. Service is also not as great as eg at EVA. This is because they think at Emirates, so after 6 hours we will be in Dubai, so then you can continue looking for entertainment at Dubai airport. Well that airport is pretty disappointing. Many shops that come back in the same order after every 300 meters. Too few luggage carts for hand luggage, when you get off the plane and you have to go through a whole security check on your next flight, ridiculous. Waiting 4 to 5 hours at Dubai airport is certainly no fun.
Advice; nice and straight from Amsterdam with EVA Elite class.
We always fly with Eva air Elite Class' really great there is enough legroom but of course it also depends on how long your legs are.
A response to the question traveling with jetairfly.
If you book with comfort class you will have no problem with this flight.
legroom is sufficient. the other comfort is also sufficient.
Chairs offer sufficient comfort, but if the neighbor immediately puts his chair in sleep mode, it is a drama when he also regularly gets out of his chair and plops back into it.
then sometimes you are really stuck.
Especially when he is also too miserable to fold his table when he gets out of his chair. The double row of seats then moves quite a bit backwards.
Please note that they are somewhat older aircraft, but the price quality is good.
However, the prices for 2013 can no longer be called low, which means that it is now again necessary to look for companies with lower prices.
Traveling to Brussels airport with the freya is also more expensive than before.
all in all, it can again be cheaper to travel from Schiphol again.
Another advantage was the favorable travel times from Brussels. And no stopover.
I have now flown about 4 times with Jetairfly and with varying friendly staff on board.
The guidance when transferring in Phuket is poor. Unclear where to check in again.
No stopover', you write, and then you talk about the transfer in Phuket. Then there is no question of a direct flight, is it? Incidentally, I personally see little in a budget airline where you apparently have to book in a higher class in order to have a bit of comfort at the level of a 'regular' scheduled service anyway.
KLM also has comfort class for a fee. More legroom and the seat can recline further. Sometimes a flight with KLM is much cheaper if you depart from Brussels. You will first fly back to Amsterdam, no idea why they do that.
I've done that before, but then got a train ticket. Had to show stamped ticket when checking in at Schiphol. And why they do that? How about attracting customers?
Dear people, I often fly with China Airlines. In economy class, the legroom is more than enough for my 1,92 m. but the pitch, the width of the seat, is a much bigger problem. Always a fight with your neighbor / wife about the chair back and too close to each other. With a lovely girlfriend next to you, this problem is of course less.
Have now booked the front row (at the partition, say) with China Airlines for the first time, so no one in front of you throwing the seat back. In itself nice I think with my 1.90.
Oh yeah and always aisle, that's nice too.