Simple Flying - Trip Reports

Flight Review: Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 787 Dreamliner Business Class From Addis Ababa To Johannesburg

Tatenda Karuwa — Sat, 05 Aug 2023 18:59:39 GMT

While traveling on a round trip between my home city Johannesburg and Addis Ababa, I chose to review Ethiopian Airlines' business class product onboard one of its Boeing 787 Dreamliners. I chose the return leg to get an excellent feel of what it is like flying out of the airline's hub at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport (ADD). I've also included some images and remarks from my JNB-ADD trip.

4 Years On: Looking Back At British Airways' Inaugural Airbus A350 Flight

Tom Boon — Sat, 05 Aug 2023 09:30:24 GMT

Four years ago, British Airways hosted us onboard their inaugural Airbus A350 flight. The flight from London Heathrow Airport to Madrid Barajas Airport took place on August 5th, 2019, also marking the launch of the airline's current Club Suite business class product. Here's a look back at how it was to be on that first flight four years on.

Flight Review: Etihad Airways' (Re)Inaugural Airbus A380 Flight From London Heathrow In Business Class

Tom Boon — Thu, 03 Aug 2023 09:16:25 GMT

Any regular listener of the Simple Flying Podcast will know how big a fan of the Airbus A380 I am. With this in mind, when Etihad offered me a seat onboard the (re)inaugural London Heathrow Airport (LHR) to Abu Dhabi (AUH) service with the giant of the skies, it was an offer I couldn’t resist. Here’s what went down on the flight:

Flight Review: Emirates A380 Business Class Dubai To Mauritius

Abid Habib — Mon, 31 Jul 2023 14:00:24 GMT

Last week, on my roundtrip between Dubai and Mauritius with Emirates, I chose to review the business class product onboard the airline's world-famous Airbus A380. My outbound flight was EK-703 to Port Louis Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolan Airport (MRU) in Mauritius.

What's It Like Flying In & Out Of Ireland West Knock Airport?

Luke Peters — Mon, 24 Jul 2023 08:31:24 GMT

Ireland West Knock Airport may be small compared to other Irish airports such as Dublin, Shannon, or Cork. Still, with an impressive network of destinations combined with an efficient and welcoming terminal, the airport has much to offer to air passengers.

Review: International VIP Lounge At Nursultan Nazarbayev Airport

Tom Boon — Sat, 15 Jul 2023 12:00:20 GMT

Flying back from visiting Air Astana in Kazakhstan, I had a two-hour 45-minute connection at Nursultan Nazarbayev International Airport in the capital city of Astana. Traveling on a business class ticket, I was eligible to access the international terminal's VIP lounge.

Review: American Airlines Domestic First Class From San Diego To Miami

Arturo Weiss — Wed, 05 Jul 2023 12:30:18 GMT

While returning from a business trip to California, I opted to book a first-class seat on a non-stop ‘redeye’ flight from San Diego to Miami. A few days earlier, I had flown Main Cabin Extra with the perk of an exit-row seat. Since that seat on the outbound non-stop flight was somewhat comfortable, I wondered how different a domestic first-class seat on my return trip would be.

Rex Flight Review Boeing 737 Melbourne-Adelaide Service

Michael Doran — Sun, 02 Jul 2023 05:20:19 GMT

For decades Australia's domestic aviation sector was dominated by two airlines, Trans Australia Airlines and Ansett Airlines, which were pale imitations of each other. Today there are four domestic airlines to choose from, and each one is carving out its place in the ecosystem quite differently. Today is a chance to look at domestic and regional carrier Rex.

Review: SkyTeam Alliance Lounge at Dubai International Airport

Abid Habib — Mon, 26 Jun 2023 09:45:59 GMT

During my recent trip from Dubai to Kochi, India, I had the chance to check out the SkyTeam Alliance lounge at Dubai International Airport (DXB). Though DXB is primarily home to Dubai-based flag carrier Emirates (EK), there are still multiple lounge options for passengers not traveling with EK or any of its partnering airlines.

Trip Review: British Airways Airbus A320 From Berlin Brandenburg To London Heathrow

Justin Hayward — Sat, 24 Jun 2023 20:30:18 GMT

The new Berlin Brandenburg finally opened in 2020 after repeated delays. It is now the only airport serving Berlin, with all airlines moving there. As a regular user of the old Tegel Airport, I had been keen to try its replacement - and I recently had the chance with a British Airways flight to London Heathrow.

Flight Review: Airlink Embraer E190 Economy Class From Johannesburg To Narobi

Tatenda Karuwa — Sat, 24 Jun 2023 10:00:19 GMT

Airlink, South Africa's privately owned airline, recently launched a route between Johannesburg and Nairobi. The airline now flies to over 45 destinations in 15 countries, and last week I got to fly on one of its latest routes.

Flight Review: Flying First Class Aboard Alaska Airlines "Our Commitment" 737-900ER

Joe Kunzler — Wed, 21 Jun 2023 12:15:19 GMT

On May 19, I flew from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA Airport) to Portland International Airport (PDX) on Alaska Airlines. The flight was aboard the Alaska Airlines “Our Commitment” Boeing 737-900ER, N492AS, so I will give you both my experience onboard and a bit about the special "Our Commitment" livery.

Flight Review: Widerøe Dash 8 Aberdeen to Bergen

Justin Hayward — Sat, 17 Jun 2023 04:30:20 GMT

The Scandinavian regional airline, Widerøe, operates twice daily between Aberdeen, UK, and Bergen, Norway, with a Dash 8 aircraft. This is a route I had wanted to try out for a while - and I recently had the chance. Overall, it was a great experience, with an interesting aircraft to fly on, comfortable seating, and excellent service for such a short flight.

Flight Review: TAP Air Portugal Airbus A320 From Milan To Lisbon

Pranjal Pande — Fri, 02 Jun 2023 02:30:18 GMT

Last week, I had the chance to fly with TAP Air Portugal to New York onboard its Airbus A321LR fleet. However, before commencing the long-haul leg, I had a quick hop from Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP) to Lisbon Airport (LIS) onboard an A320-200, carrying flight number TP829. However, as we'll see, this two-and-a-half-hour-hop quickly turned into a much longer journey thanks to weather delays and a lack of communication.

Flight Review: Condor Airlines Airbus A330neo Business Class From Seattle To Frankfurt

Lukas Souza — Tue, 30 May 2023 02:00:19 GMT

Earlier this year, in preparation for the launch of its Airbus A330neo flights, Condor Airlines invited Simple Flying to fly on the inaugural Seattle to Frankfurt flight. While my ticket was provided, I would like to point out that all opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

Lounge Review: Alaska Airlines Lounge At Seattle Tacoma International Airport

Joe Kunzler — Sat, 27 May 2023 10:31:19 GMT

Alaska Airlines lounges are affordable with good ambiance and amenities such as a pancake machine, as per last year's guide. In my latest travels, I visited the recently renovated Seattle/Tacoma Airport (SEA) Concourse C and found the airline lounge just right.

Flight Review: Emirates Airbus A380 Economy From Dubai To Mumbai

Devansh Mehta — Sat, 27 May 2023 05:00:19 GMT

This article will go over the second and final leg of my 19-hour journey from Boston, United States to Mumbai, India with Emirates. I will continue sharing my experience from where I left off in the review of my first flight. I was particularly looking forward to this flight because it meant getting another chance to travel onboard the mighty Airbus A380.

Bonza's 737 MAX Is A Ripper Ride With Great Tucker And Legendary Service

Michael Doran — Mon, 22 May 2023 08:35:19 GMT

Tomorrow Australia's newest airline, Bonza, will complete the first phase of its rollout, with flights on 27 routes to 17 destinations all launched, bookable and in full operation. In the space of just over three months, the airline that some senior industry figures said would never get off the ground has done so much more than that.

Flight Review: Emirates Boeing 777 Economy Boston To Dubai

Devansh Mehta — Sun, 21 May 2023 03:00:21 GMT

I am no frequent flyer, but having tried Emirates’ economy product on previous long-haul international flights, I decided to stick with it for this trip home. It also helped that I was getting a decent enough deal when using my leftover Skywards miles. Additionally, I got a free upgrade to Business Class the last time I traveled with this Emirati carrier and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t hoping for it to happen again (spoiler alert: it didn’t ☹)

Vistara Boeing 787-9 Business Class To Paris: Up With The Best?

Pranjal Pande — Sun, 30 Apr 2023 10:00:17 GMT

Last week, Simple Flying was invited to fly Vistara's Boeing 787-9 business class from New Delhi to Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG). Now operating five times weekly, the airline is competing against flag carriers Air India and Air France, who have been operating the route for decades. However, with the youngest fleet and demand soaring, let's review the experience, from check-in to touchdown, to see how Vistara stacks up.

The One-Stop Transatlantic Hop: Flying PLAY From London To New York

Luke Peters — Wed, 26 Apr 2023 08:00:17 GMT

Having always flown across the Atlantic non-stop by legacy carrier on widebodied aircraft, I recently took a different approach to travel from London to New York.

Virgin Atlantic Boeing 787 Business Class Review Las Vegas to London and Johannesburg

Simple Flying Staff — Sun, 23 Apr 2023 16:06:16 GMT

I was considering a trip to South Africa for the New Year and eventually settled on Virgin Atlantic for its great connections and my good experiences with the airline a few years ago.

Review: Comparing Transatlantic Business Class & Premium Economy On American Airlines

Arturo Weiss — Thu, 20 Apr 2023 10:30:17 GMT

I often travel for business, and as most people do, fly the same seating class on outbound and inbound flights. However, a recent international trip allowed me to fly different classes. My Scotland-based client provided a budget to fly at least part of the trip via business class and the rest in premium economy. Because I wanted to arrive well-rested for a full day of coaching, I opted to book my outbound travel from Miami to Edinburgh via Heathrow in business class. This left me with an option to reserve a premium economy seat on the return trip from Glasgow to Miami, again via Heathrow.

Flight Review: Malaysia Airlines A350 Business Class London-Kuala Lumpur

Luke Bodell — Fri, 31 Mar 2023 17:00:17 GMT

I recently had the chance to experience Malaysia Airlines' A350 business class cabin on the carrier's flagship long-haul service from London Heathrow to Kuala Lumpur, and it didn't disappoint.

A Hidden Gem: British Airways' Terminal 5B Lounge At London Heathrow Airport

Justin Hayward — Fri, 31 Mar 2023 14:31:17 GMT

British Airways has several lounges in its home base at Terminal 5. These are generally great lounges with good seating, views, and food and drink offerings. One problem is that the main lounges can be very busy at peak times. However, British Airways has another lounge with the same offerings, located in the B gate area. This is designed for flights departing from the B and C gates, but any eligible passenger can use it.

Review: Is Premium Economy Worth The Upgrade On Cathay Pacific's Regional Routes?

Justin Hayward — Thu, 23 Mar 2023 20:30:16 GMT

Premium economy is a regular offering on many routes with full-service airlines in Asia these days. A number of airlines utilize widebody aircraft on both long-haul and short-haul routes, and selling the premium economy cabin on shorter routes is increasingly common. Simple Flying’s Justin Hayward tried out the Cathay Pacific premium economy cabin on the A350 on a relatively short flight from Bangkok to Hong Kong, and was impressed.

Flight Review: Hong Kong to London In Premium Economy On British Airways' Boeing 787-9

Justin Hayward — Sun, 12 Mar 2023 10:30:17 GMT

There is currently just one daily British Airways flight from Hong Kong. This is operated with a Boeing 787-9 aircraft - with all four cabins of service. Increasing demand means it is generally now a busy route. And ongoing route diversions away from Russia and Ukraine make it a much longer flight than before. Simple Flying's Justin Hayward tried out this long and busy overnight flight in premium economy class (known as World Traveller Plus with British Airways) and found improvements over economy class, but nothing luxurious.

Trip Review: Icelandair's Boeing 737 MAX 8 Trip From London Heathrow To Keflavik International

Daniel Martínez Garbuno — Wed, 08 Mar 2023 19:00:17 GMT

Last month, I had the opportunity to fly onboard Icelandair’s Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft on a trip from London Heathrow International Airport (LHR) to Keflavik International Airport (KEF) near Reykjavik. The flight was smooth and was accompanied by one of the best airport approximations in my life, as we were received with clear winter blue skies and a fantastic snowy view of southern Iceland. This is my trip review.

Review: Hong Kong To Bangkok In Business Class On Cathay Pacific's Airbus A350

Justin Hayward — Mon, 06 Mar 2023 19:30:16 GMT

Cathay Pacific has quickly increased its regional flight operations as restrictions have been lifted, and passenger numbers have increased. The airline now flies up to six times daily between Hong Kong and Bangkok. This is a busy route, currently operated mainly using the Airbus A350. Simple Flying's Justin Hayward tried out business class on this route recently.

Lounge Review: Cathay Pacific The Deck Lounge in Hong Kong

Justin Hayward — Fri, 03 Mar 2023 11:31:16 GMT

Cathay Pacific's lounge offering in Hong Kong continues to expand. Before the pandemic, the airline had up to seven business and first class lounges at the airport. It has just re-opened The Deck business class lounge, taking available options now up to three (two business class lounges and one first class lounge). The Deck is smaller than the other lounges but offers a nice space with open decking looking over the departure gate area.

Flight Review: Iberia ATR-72 From Malaga To Tangier

James Pearson — Mon, 27 Feb 2023 15:00:17 GMT

I always love to fly a turboprop. The older and noisier, the better. And if it's an unusual airline or country, it's even more exciting. Of the more ubiquitous types, the ATR-72 is my favorite. On February 21st, I got to fly another – my 73rd sector on one. This time, it was an Iberia Regional ATR-72-600 from Malaga to Tangier, the second-shortest route between Europe and Africa. It was to attend the CONNECT Route Development Forum.

Flight Review: Alaska Airlines First Class From San Jose To Los Angeles

Nabeel Shaikh — Mon, 27 Feb 2023 04:30:17 GMT

Alaska Airlines operates the Embraer E175 as flight AS2453 between San Jose Mineta International Airport (SJC) and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). The aircraft has a seat capacity of 76 across first, premium, and economy class.

Flight Review: KLM Economy From Amsterdam To Vancouver

Dr. Omar Memon — Fri, 24 Feb 2023 10:00:17 GMT

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines flies the Airbus A330-200 aircraft as flight KL681 between Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS) and Vancouver International Airport (YVR). The aircraft offers a passenger capacity of 268 in a three-class configuration.

Trip Review: Horizon Air E175 Premium Class vs. First Class

Joe Kunzler — Fri, 24 Feb 2023 02:00:16 GMT

To help cover the Alaska Airlines’ regional subsidiary Horizon Air’s retirement of the de Haviland of Canada Dash 8-400 (aka Q400) on January 26, 2023, I had to take two Embraer E175 flights. Being that part of the rationale of slimming down the Horizon Air to be a single fleet of E175 jets is due to the E175 having premium class and first class seating options, now was the time to test and report back to Simple Flying readers.

Flight Review: Icelandair Dash 8 Q400 From Akureyri To Reykjavík

Sumit Singh — Mon, 20 Feb 2023 12:23:48 GMT

Last month, I was told that I would have the opportunity to fly on an Icelandair Dash 8. Having written about the type over the years, I was ecstatic about the chance to actually fly on one!

Non-Reclining Seats? Reviewing Finnair's A350 Business Class

Chris Loh — Sun, 19 Feb 2023 06:01:16 GMT

Unveiled in early 2022, Finnair’s flagship AirLounge business class seat onboard its widebody Airbus jets is a unique offering across the aviation industry. Indeed, its perhaps the only long-haul business class product on the market that doesn’t recline! Designed in collaboration with Collins Aerospace, the seat’s lack of reclining ability is most often what you’ll read first in any review of the product. This eyebrow-raising feature is one of a few noteworthy things you’ll experience with Finnair’s new signature premium product.

Flight Review: Finnair's Airbus A350 To Singapore In Economy Class

Chris Loh — Sat, 18 Feb 2023 06:00:16 GMT

Today, we’ll go over the long-haul economy class flight experience onboard an Airbus A350-900 from Helsinki to Singapore. This article will first go over some trip background and how I chose Finnair over competing airlines. I’ll then move on to reviewing the actual flight before wrapping things up by offering some thoughts and opinions on the Finnair long-haul experience in this particular cabin class.

Flight Review: KLM Economy Class From Berlin To Amsterdam

Dr. Omar Memon — Tue, 14 Feb 2023 14:30:16 GMT

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines flies the Boeing 737-800 aircraft as Flight KL1822 between Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) and Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS). The aircraft offers a capacity of 162 passengers in a two-class configuration. There are 12 seats in the business class cabin in a 2-2 configuration and 150 in economy class in a 3-3 configuration.

Onboard Experience On Ryanair's Boeing 737-800 & MAX 8-200 Compared

Mark Finlay — Sun, 12 Feb 2023 11:30:16 GMT

Having just returned home after a quick trip to the English Lake District, I thought it would be the perfect time to talk about the differences between Ryanair's Boeing 737-800 and the Boeing 737 MAX. Before I get into it, though, I would like to say a little bit about Ryanair in case you are not familiar with the airline or how it operates.

Review: Kuala Lumpur To Denpasar In Business Class On Malaysia Airlines' Boeing 737-800

Justin Hayward — Sat, 11 Feb 2023 21:30:17 GMT

Malaysia Airlines operates a large fleet of Boeing 737-800 aircraft on regional routes. Pre-COVID, I used to fly regularly on regional flights in Asia – largely with oneworld airlines. I was keen to try out Malaysia Airlines once again, flying in business class on the Boeing 737-800. This was a good flight, but unfortunately, the new seats and cabin design seem like a step back.

Review: Hong Kong To Kuala Lumpur In Business Class On Cathay Pacific's Airbus A330

Justin Hayward — Sat, 11 Feb 2023 00:31:16 GMT

Cathay Pacific operates regional flights using a mixed Airbus narrowbody and widebody fleet. Many short and medium-haul flights on the Airbus A330 and A350 are operated with decent long-haul style business seating. Simple Flying’s Justin Hayward tried this out on an A330-300 flight from Hong Kong to Kuala Lumpur.

Flight Review: BA Cityflyer London City-Prague In Economy

Justin Hayward — Tue, 07 Feb 2023 10:30:16 GMT

British Airways flights from London City to European destinations are operated by subsidiary Cityflyer with the Embraer E190 aircraft. This can be a much less stressful and more comfortable way to fly, as Simple Flying’s Justin Hayward recently found out.

Trip Report: British Airways Boeing 787-9 London Heathrow To Hong Kong In Club World

Justin Hayward — Sat, 04 Feb 2023 07:31:16 GMT

British Airways currently operates flights to Hong Kong using its old-style Club World on the Boeing 787-9. This is not as great as the new Club Suite but is a long-standing and still important part of the airline’s premium cabin offering. Simple Flying’s Justin Hayward tried this out on a recent flight to the Chinese city - just shortly after COVID restrictions were mostly lifted.

Flight Review: Asiana Airlines' Airbus A380 To Sydney In Economy Class

Jonathan E. Hendry — Thu, 02 Feb 2023 23:01:15 GMT

For my recent flight to Australia, I was determined to fly the Airbus A380 on a new route option. Having previously flown with both Emirates and Qatar Airways, I looked at Simple Flying's list of the ten carriers flying the super jumbo this year for inspiration.

Flight Review: Amsterdam To Hanover In KLM Cityhopper Economy

Dr. Omar Memon — Tue, 31 Jan 2023 10:30:16 GMT

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines flies the Embraer 190 (sometimes the shorter Embraer 175) aircraft as Flight KL1911 between Amsterdam (AMS) and Hanover (HAJ). The aircraft offers a capacity of 100 passengers in a two-class configuration.

Flight Review: The Last Dash 8 Q400 Revenue Flight For Alaska Airlines

Joe Kunzler — Mon, 30 Jan 2023 18:31:17 GMT

On January 26, 2023 – the 22-year anniversary of Horizon Air’s first revenue flight with the Bombardier Q400, now the de Haviland of Canada Dash 8-400 – the author was invited to go along for what would be the last revenue flight for the regional subsidiary of Alaska Airlines. Of course, after planespotting to watch the mighty Q400 take off to Wenatchee, the author would race ahead and watch the penultimate revenue landing at Spokane International Airport (GEG).

Flight Review: KLM World Business From Vancouver To Amsterdam

Dr. Omar Memon — Tue, 24 Jan 2023 11:30:16 GMT

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines flies the Airbus A330-200 aircraft as flight KL682 between Vancouver (YVR) and Amsterdam (AMS). The aircraft offers a passenger capacity of 264 in a two-class configuration.

Iberia Business Class Review: São Paulo To Madrid

Lukas Souza — Tue, 03 Jan 2023 20:35:29 GMT

Late last month, Simple Flying was invited by Iberia to go to Madrid and see the updated cabins on their Airbus A350 Next aircraft, the first of its kind in the world. I flew from Brazil to Spain on Iberia's Airbus A330-300 from Aeroporto Internacional de Guarulhos in São Paulo to Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport in business class.

Lounge Review: Iberia Premium Lounge Velázquez At Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport

Lukas Souza — Mon, 26 Dec 2022 21:09:32 GMT

Last week, Simple Flying flew to Spain as a guest of Iberia to see the new cabins on its Airbus A350 Next aircraft, the first of its kind. The roundtrip was booked in business class, and on the way home, I visited Iberia's Premium Lounge Velázquez in Terminal 4 Satellite at Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport.

Flight Review: Virgin Atlantic's Boeing 787 Economy To London Heathrow

Chris Loh — Sun, 25 Dec 2022 11:00:15 GMT

Depending on how often you travel, being a member of multiple airline loyalty programs can make it challenging to redeem any hard-earned points and miles. Sometimes points can only be used for certain flights, and they are usually only applied to just part of the airfare. However, for today’s flight review, I was determined to finally put my Air France-KLM “Flying Blue” points to good use after accumulating them over the past four years. This is what prompted me to book a one-way flight from Vancouver to London via Seattle. This review will examine the long-haul portion of the journey: A Virgin Atlantic Boeing 787-9 service from Seattle to London in economy class.

Iberia Business Class Review: Flight 6827 From Madrid To São Paulo

Lukas Souza — Fri, 23 Dec 2022 21:41:40 GMT

This week, Simple Flying was invited by Iberia to go to Madrid for the first look at its new Airbus A350 Next, with redesigned interiors. I flew as a guest of Iberia from São Paulo to Madrid and back on the airline’s Airbus A330-300 aircraft. The review below is in no way influenced by the airline and is solely my experience onboard the return flight, IB6827.

Final Score: Flying To The World Cup In Qatar Airways' Boeing 777 Business Class

Sumit Singh — Sat, 17 Dec 2022 18:11:15 GMT

Earlier this week, we had the chance to fly from London to Doha for the FIFA World Cup Semi Final between Argentina and Croatia. With Qatar Airways carrying us to the highly-anticipated event, we took the opportunity to share our key takeaways from the experience.

London Stansted Snow Stoppage: A Passenger’s Perspective

Tom Boon — Tue, 13 Dec 2022 12:30:16 GMT

On Sunday, Stansted Airport was forced to close its runway due to heavy snowfall in the East of England. I was booked to fly into Stansted during this time and found my flight canceled. Here's everything that happened in the immediate aftermath.

Flight Review: Arajet Boeing 737 Economy Class From Mexico City To Santo Domingo

Daniel Martínez Garbuno — Sun, 11 Dec 2022 03:01:15 GMT

Arajet is a low-cost carrier based in Santo Domingo’s Las Américas International Airport (SDQ) in the Dominican Republic. On Monday, Simple Flying had the opportunity to travel with Arajet onboard its flight DM4341 from Mexico City to Santo Domingo. We traveled onboard the airline’s Boeing 737 MAX 8 registration HI1026. This is our trip report.

Flight Review: Delta Connection Embraer E175 To Seattle

Chris Loh — Sat, 10 Dec 2022 08:00:16 GMT

As part of a reward miles redemption booking flying from Vancouver to London Heathrow, the first leg of my journey included a short hop from Vancouver International Airport (YVR) to Seattle-Tacoma (SeaTac) International Airport. This flight was with Delta Air Lines - or Delta Connection to be more accurate - and was actually operated by SkyWest Airlines using an Embraer E175. Let's examine the economy class experience for this short, 30-minute journey.

9 Months In: What It's Like To Travel From Mexico City's New International Airport

Daniel Martínez Garbuno — Wed, 07 Dec 2022 22:00:16 GMT

On Monday, Simple Flying had the opportunity to travel internationally, departing from Mexico City’s new Felipe Ángeles International Airport (NLU). We were onboard Arajet’s flight DM4341 to Santo Domingo Las Américas International (SDQ) in the Dominican Republic. This is the second time this year that we have been onboard a flight departing from this hub, inaugurated on March 21, 2022.

Flight Review: Etihad Boeing 787 In Business Class From Abu Dhabi To London Heathrow

Sumit Singh — Fri, 25 Nov 2022 16:30:16 GMT

I made a short trip to Abu Dhabi with Etihad in late October, flying from London Heathrow on an Airbus A350 and heading back on a Boeing 787 Dreamliner. We’ve previously covered the business class experience on the A350 this year. So, I thought I’d take the opportunity to focus on what the 787’s offering.

Airbus A321LR Flight Review: Air Transat From London To Montreal

Chris Loh — Sun, 20 Nov 2022 11:01:14 GMT

It’s no secret that the transatlantic aviation market is quite competitive. And it’s not just flights between New York and London. Indeed, flights from a number of major North American cities will bring up competitive fairs from numerous carriers. This is the reason why I decided to take a cheap Ryanair service to London, and then book a flight from London to Vancouver with Air Transat. This also afforded me the opportunity to try a different airline with different aircraft than I normally would with a complete itinerary from my home city of Vilnius, Lithuania.

Lounge Review: London Gatwick Plaza Premium North Terminal

Chris Loh — Sat, 19 Nov 2022 06:00:14 GMT

In mid-November, I found myself on a flight from London Gatwick to Montreal's Trudeau International Airport. Having breezed through London Gatwick's airport security in possibly record time, there was more than enough time remaining to justify accessing a lounge. On this particular day, I decided to check out the Plaza Premium departure lounge at Gatwick's North Terminal.

Dublin Terminal One Lounge Review

Jonathan E. Hendry — Thu, 03 Nov 2022 21:00:15 GMT

Dublin Airport has quite a few lounges for departing guests. The lounge in Terminal 1, known as the "T1 Lounge", features an expansive selection of desks, several distinct seating areas, light snacks, and a full bar.

Flight Review: Air Mauritius Airbus A350 Johannesburg To Mauritius

Simple Flying Staff — Sat, 22 Oct 2022 05:00:15 GMT

I decided to write a review on this flight as it represented a number of firsts for me. My first visit to Mauritius, and thereby my first flight with Air Mauritius. My first flight aboard an A350-900. My first international visit after the pandemic.

Lufthansa Unbanned AirTags... So We Put Them In Our Luggage

Tom Boon — Fri, 21 Oct 2022 10:30:16 GMT

The last couple of weeks has been confusing for owners of AirTags who like to travel with them. Lufthansa appeared to ban them from checked luggage. However, following regulatory advice, they unbanned them, saying they posed no risk to aircraft. With this in mind, Simple Flying decided to put them to the test, tracking our baggage on a connecting itinerary through the airline's Munich hub.

Flight Review: Lufthansa's Inaugural Boeing 787-9 Flight

Tom Boon — Wed, 19 Oct 2022 12:15:26 GMT

Simple Flying was onboard the inaugural Lufthansa Boeing 787 flight this morning to report on the experience for our readers.

Flight Review: Ryanair's Boeing 737 MAX 8-200 To Vilnius

Chris Loh — Sun, 16 Oct 2022 11:00:15 GMT

As part of the tail-end of a vacation, the final flight home from Dublin to Vilnius was aboard a Ryanair Boeing 737 MAX 8-200. The prospect of stepping aboard a fairly new aircraft (and something rare like the 737-8-200) should be quite exciting. However, with Ryanair's rather basic cabin and featureless seating, there really wasn't too much to be excited about.

Flight Review: easyJet's Airbus A320 From Edinburgh To Belfast

Chris Loh — Sun, 09 Oct 2022 11:00:14 GMT

Of the European low-cost carriers, easyJet seems to have a better reputation than its competitors. More comfortable seats and better customer service are a few of the points mentioned by travelers - particularly when making a comparison with Irish low-cost giant Ryanair. At the very end of September, I took a very short flight with easyJet from Edinburgh to Belfast and had the chance to experience the airline's offerings for myself, after last flying with them in 2019. This will be a review of the flight while also discussing the departures experience at Edinburgh airport and arrival at Belfast International.

Flight Review: Aeromexico Clase Premier On A Boeing 787-9 From São Paulo To Ciudad De Mexico

Lukas Souza — Sat, 08 Oct 2022 03:39:14 GMT

A few weeks ago, I flew roundtrip from São Paulo - Aeroporto Internacional de Guarulhos (GRU) to Miami International Airport (MIA) via Aeropuerto Internacional Ciudad de Mexico (MEX) on Aeromexico. I purchased an economy fare, but the wonderful Aeromexico staff at GRU upgraded me to their Clase Premier (business class) after I had boarded. I had never flown Aeromexico before, so my trip was off to a great start.

Emirates First Class Lounge Review: Dubai International Airport - Concourse C

Tom Boon — Wed, 05 Oct 2022 08:00:14 GMT

Having attended the Altitude 22 conference hosted by Amadeus in Dubai, it was time to fly back to Frankfurt. I was booked to fly with Emirates in business class but was able to review the first class lounge in Concourse C of Terminal 3 at Dubai International Airport as a guest of Emirates.

Flight Review: KLM Boeing 737-800 Intra-Europe Economy Class

Chris Loh — Sun, 02 Oct 2022 11:00:14 GMT

On Monday, September 26th, I flew from Vilnius (Lithuania) to Edinburgh (UK) via Amsterdam Schiphol Airport in the Netherlands. As previous articles have reviewed the airBaltic A220 experience, the focus of today’s article will exclude the first leg of the journey and start with the transfer experience at Amsterdam airport, as well as a review of the economy class flight aboard a KLM Boeing 737-800. So, let’s get started!

Flight Review: Iberia Express Vs British Airways Milan to London

Giacomo Amati — Wed, 28 Sep 2022 09:31:15 GMT

British Airways is one of the leading carriers connecting Milan, the economic heart of Italy, to the UK's capital, London. More specifically, the Official Airline Guide (OAG) indicates that British Airways is the carrier deploying the most significant number of seats on the Milan-London route, for a total of 410,917 in 2022. A few weeks back, I had the chance to try out the product, a review of which will be offered in this article.

Flight Review: Azul Linhas Aéreas Embraer E195 With Full Inflight Service

Lukas Souza — Thu, 22 Sep 2022 19:49:02 GMT

A few hours ago, I was on Azul Linhas Aéreas flight 2868 from Aeroporto de Goiania Santa Genoveva to Aeroporto Internacional de Confins in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. Here's how it went.

Review: A Connecting European Itinerary In KLM Cityhopper's Economy Comfort Seats

Jake Hardiman — Mon, 19 Sep 2022 19:30:14 GMT

Bremen (BRE) in northern Germany and Norwich (NWI) in the UK's East Anglia region are two airports where passengers rely heavily on KLM Cityhopper services to Amsterdam (AMS) to enable longer onward connections. However, despite both having multiple flights a day to and from AMS, traffic between the two is limited.

Flight Review: Turkish Airlines' Boeing 777 In Domestic Economy

Chris Loh — Sun, 11 Sep 2022 11:00:14 GMT

At the end of August, I flew with Turkish Airlines from Vilnius to Bodrum via Istanbul. This article will be a review of the connection experience at the new Istanbul airport and the short, one-hour, Boeing 777 service from Istanbul to Bodrum-Milas airport. This article is a continuation from the first flight review, which covered the Turkish Airlines economy class, Boeing 737 MAX 8 experience, from Vilnius (Lithuania) to Istanbul.

Flight Review: Turkish Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 8 In Economy Class

Chris Loh — Sun, 04 Sep 2022 11:00:13 GMT

Living in Vilnius, Lithuania has its pros and cons. While it's a beautiful city, one major downside is that the airport lacks any regularly scheduled long-haul services. As a result, Lithuania-based travelers will need to connect through another hub airport to access long-distance flights. One airline stepping in to fill the need is Turkish Airlines, which connects the world through its Istanbul hub. In this review, we will go over the economy class flight experience, traveling from Vilnius to Istanbul in a Boeing 737 MAX 8. So, let's get started.

Review: The Primeclass Domestic Lounge At Milas Bodrum Airport

Chris Loh — Sat, 03 Sep 2022 06:00:14 GMT

Recently ( at the start of September), I had the chance to visit the Primeclass lounge in the domestic terminal of Milas Bodrum airport. With this facility being a major gateway to Turkey’s southwestern coast and the warm and sunny vacation spots scattered throughout, many travelers from around the world may just find themselves passing through and using this lounge. While the airport does have an international terminal, those traveling on Turkish Airlines would more likely be traveling through the domestic side as they connect through Istanbul. Let’s take a look at what the Primeclass lounge had to offer.

Flight Review: Condor's Airbus A321 Short Haul Economy From Dusseldorf To Corfu

Tom Boon — Sun, 28 Aug 2022 08:00:14 GMT

During the peak summer season, tens of flights operate between Germany and Corfu each day. As the industry sees a strong recovery, these flights have been in high demand, meaning prices were driven high early. As the most cost-effective way to reach the island, I opted to book Condor's early morning flight from Dusseldorf. Here's what I found.

Flight Review: Norse Atlantic's Very 1st Gatwick To New York JFK Service

James Pearson — Mon, 15 Aug 2022 11:00:14 GMT

Airlines often overpromise and under-deliver, the reality of their products not matching pledges and expectations. Not so Norse Atlantic and its premium offering, which I flew for the first time last week on its inaugural from London to the USA.

ANA Boeing 787 Business Class Review Manila (MNL) To San Francisco (SFO) Via Tokyo (NRT)

Simple Flying Staff — Sun, 14 Aug 2022 16:30:14 GMT

I had not been on ANA in years and had fond memories of their Boeing 787s (ANA was a launch customer of the 787 when they first became available). I was looking forward to enjoying Japanese hospitality and perfection for my flight.

Flight Review: JetBlue Airbus A321LR Mint Suite London Gatwick To Boston

James Pearson — Wed, 10 Aug 2022 15:00:14 GMT

I was excited to experience JetBlue's Mint suite on a long-haul route last week. It was doubly meaningful because it was on the carrier's first-ever London to Boston service.

Philippine Airlines Business Class Review A321neo Kuala Lumpur (KUL) To Manila (MNL)

Simple Flying Staff — Sun, 07 Aug 2022 16:30:15 GMT

Philippine Airlines has received a number of Airbus A321s just before the pandemic, and the plan was/is to use them for their high-margin business class network to/from the Australian East Coast.

JetBlue Operates Its 1st Boston Transatlantic Airbus A321LR Flight

James Pearson — Fri, 05 Aug 2022 15:02:46 GMT

Thanks to JetBlue's new service, six airlines again fly nonstop between Boston and London. Its 1x daily flight took off from Boston to London Gatwick on August 4th, a bit later than initially anticipated due to a delay in receiving more A321LRs. It marks the first time the airport pair has been served since Norwegian ceased it, and all other long-haul routes, at the start of the pandemic.

Oman Air Business Class Review: Airbus A330 Doha to Colombo

Simple Flying Staff — Mon, 01 Aug 2022 12:46:28 GMT

While, technically, this was a Qatar flight (with a Qatar flight number) all but the catering menu was Oman Air (i.e. this was a 'wet lease'). For reasons beyond my knowledge, the Doha to Colombo service is the ‘test track’ for Qatar Airways. I have flown this route many times but always get a different plane and configuration. I have seen the 777 with and without QSuites, two different A330 configurations, the A350s leased from LATAM, and now Oman Air!

Biplane Adventure: Flying On A 1929 New Standard D-25

Sumit Singh — Sat, 30 Jul 2022 00:00:15 GMT

From gliders to jetliners, we’ve covered a vast range of historic aircraft here at Simple Flying. This summer, we had the opportunity to actually fly on a near-century-old plane. Here, we share our experience on a 1929 New Standard D-25.

Flight Review: Qatar Airways Airbus A350 Qsuites Business Class Los Angeles To Doha

Simple Flying Staff — Mon, 25 Jul 2022 11:53:45 GMT

Whenever I fly, I try to make an effort to be on Qatar business class QSuites (route permitting) - that’s how much the product has grown on me. I was looking forward to another ‘much above average’ business class flight that day from Los Angeles.

On Board The 1st Ever Embraer E195-E2 Flight To London City Airport

Sumit Singh — Fri, 22 Jul 2022 13:05:15 GMT

With a robust presence at London City Airport, it was only a matter of time before Embraer’s E195-E2 would fly to the center of the United Kingdom’s capital. The moment finally came today, and Simple Flying was onboard the pioneering flight.

Flight Review: Vistara Boeing 787-9 From Paris To Delhi In Premium Economy

Pranjal Pande — Sun, 10 Jul 2022 11:05:17 GMT

On a recent trip from Paris to New Delhi, Simple Flying was invited to try Vistara's premium economy offering on the Boeing 787. As India's only carrier offering the cabin, we were excited to see how it stacks up to the global competitors Vistara is hoping to rival. Here's a detailed look at the ground experience, service, food, and more.

Trip Report: American Airlines Airbus A321T Business Class New York JFK to San Francisco

Justin Hayward — Mon, 04 Jul 2022 23:30:14 GMT

American Airlines offers a premium service on some transcontinental domestic flights. Flagship Business and Flagship First are a vastly improved offering, with seats and service similar to that of long-haul premium cabins but flown by a narrowbody Airbus A321 aircraft. I tried this out on a recent trip from Europe to California and was impressed, but with some reservations.

Flight Review: Lufthansa Business Class - Airbus A350 - San Francisco (SFO) to Munich (MUC)

Simple Flying Staff — Mon, 04 Jul 2022 14:30:13 GMT

For my flight to Europe, I have had a number of Star Alliance options to choose from. I settled on Lufthansa just for one thing - I was able to book a ticket directly to my final destination which neither Skyteam or oneworld offered.

Trip Report: British Airways Boeing 777 Club Suite New York JFK to London Heathrow

Justin Hayward — Sun, 03 Jul 2022 04:30:13 GMT

I recently flew from London Heathrow to New York JFK in British Airways' new Club Suite cabin. To complete the experience, I chose to fly back the same way (rather than take American Airlines Flagship Business), and check out the British Airways set up in JFK and the Club Suite overnight service. This was a great product for a day flight, but how does it work out overnight?

Trip Report: British Airways Airbus A319 Club Europe Madrid to London Heathrow

Justin Hayward — Fri, 01 Jul 2022 22:30:14 GMT

Like many people, I have always been unsure about flying Club Europe with British Airways (or most European airlines). For a normally much higher price, you get the same seating with the middle seat left empty. Yes, there is an improved level of service and catering – but is this essential on a short flight?

Trip Report: British Airways Boeing 777 Club Suite London Heathrow to New York JFK

Justin Hayward — Fri, 01 Jul 2022 17:30:14 GMT

British Airways finally launched its new Club Suite business class product in 2019. This was a long-awaited upgrade to its Club World product – revolutionary when it was launched, but now very dated. The only route where you are (almost) guaranteed Club Suite currently is London Heathrow to JFK (with all flights served by a renovated Boeing 777-200 or 777-300 aircraft). On a recent trip to California, I made sure to route this way to try out the new Club Suite offering for the first time.

Superb: Qatar Airways' Al Mourjan Business Lounge Review

Andrew Curran — Thu, 30 Jun 2022 03:30:15 GMT

Business class lounges are generally fairly ordinary spaces in which to spend time, with many airlines reserving their firepower for top-tier first class lounges. But there are exceptions, and Qatar Airway's cavernous but superb Al Mourjan Business Lounge at Doha's Hamad International Airport is a case in point. Unlike many airport lounges, spending a few hours in the Al Mourjan lounge is a pleasure.

Flight Review: AirAsia A330-300 Economy Class Kuala Lumpur To Kota Kinabalu

Andrew Curran — Tue, 28 Jun 2022 06:30:14 GMT

AirAsia is one of the best-known low-cost airline brands in the world, and its planes are a common sight at many airports around Southeast Asia, offering an affordable and convenient option for short-haul hops. Earlier this month, I flew AirAsia on a flight between Kuala Lumpur (KUL) and Kota Kinabalu (BKI) in northern Borneo. Here's how it went.

Transatlantic Narrowbody: PLAY Airbus A321neo Iceland-New York Flight Review

Sumit Singh — Mon, 27 Jun 2022 12:55:58 GMT

On June 9th, PLAY inaugurated its highly anticipated service to New York Stewart International (SWF) From Keflavik International (KEF). I was honored to be a special guest on this transatlantic flight operated by the Icelandic low-cost carrier.

Review: Qatar Airways' Doha Al-Maha Meet & Assist Arrivals Service

Andrew Curran — Mon, 27 Jun 2022 05:30:14 GMT

Except for true VIPs, coming off an international flight is a great equalizing experience. It doesn't matter whether you parked yourself in seat 1A or seat 51B; once you've landed and are trying to exit the terminal, the experience is much the same. Airlines put a lot of thought into the airport pre-departure experience but rarely put much thought into the airport arrivals experience. But occasionally, some airlines do step back and rethink the passenger arrival process.

Trip Report: Norse Atlantic Boeing 787-9 To New York In Premium

Pranjal Pande — Tue, 21 Jun 2022 09:00:14 GMT

Last week Simple Flying was invited to fly on Norse Atlantic's first-ever flight from Oslo to New York JFK. The Norwegian carrier operates the route using a fleet of Boeing 787s and is hoping to succeed in the notoriously tough low-cost long-haul segment. Let's take a look at the new kid on the block's Premium offering.

Trip Report: Upper Class On Virgin Atlantic's Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner

Jake Hardiman — Thu, 16 Jun 2022 17:30:14 GMT

As part of a visit to Boeing's facilities in Washington State, Simple Flying recently had the opportunity to fly in Virgin Atlantic's Upper Class cabin on a Boeing 787-operated flight from London Heathrow (LHR) to Seattle Tacoma (SEA). Here's a look at what we made of the 31-passenger, flatbed-configured business cabin.

Flight Review: The Soon-To-Be Retired Dash 8 Q400 With Alaska Airlines

Joe Kunzler — Wed, 15 Jun 2022 12:17:14 GMT

Here is a trip review of my May 22 Alaska Airlines flight from Portland International Airport (PDX) to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA). I decided to take a flight with a De Havilland of Canada Dash 8-400. Although the aircraft was once known as the Bombardier Q400 when manufactured by the Canadian corporation Bombardier, the shorthand will be Dash 8-400 as the aircraft is now a De Havilland of Canada product.

Air Nostrum Orders A Fleet of HAV Airlander 10 Airships

Joanna Bailey — Wed, 15 Jun 2022 10:38:20 GMT

Air Nostrum has become the first airline to express an interest in the Hybrid Air Vehicles (HAV) Airlander 10 airship. The firm has ‘reserved’ a fleet of 10 of the airships, and will become the launch customer of the technology.

Flight Review: Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-700 Bellingham To Oakland

Joe Kunzler — Mon, 13 Jun 2022 20:00:14 GMT

I decided, for multiple reasons, to try something different from my usual Alaska Airlines fare. Southwest Airlines seemed to be a good fit for my adventurism fix, so I booked a flight from Bellingham International Airport to Oakland International Airport and got to fly on the small, sporty member of the Boeing 737 Next Generation family: The 737-700.

Flight Review: Dakar To Cap Skirring On Air Senegal's ATR 72-600

Steven Walker — Wed, 08 Jun 2022 20:00:14 GMT

During a recent trip to Senegal, I had the opportunity to visit the Casamance region in the south of the country, close to the border with Guinea-Bissau. This would involve flying on Air Senegal’s ATR 72-600 aircraft on the short flight from Dakar’s Blaise Diagne International Airport (DSS) to Cap Skirring (CSK).