Simple Flying - Trip Reports

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).

Flight Review: Singapore Airlines A350-900 Medium Haul Business Class

Andrew Curran — Mon, 06 Jun 2022 05:00:14 GMT

It was the first day of winter with a cold front and rain pushing through Australia's southeast, making it a perfect day to leave town and head somewhere warmer. A Singapore Airlines Airbus A350-900 was my ticket to ride, and after two and a half years of international travel downtime, I was very happy to buckle up and go.

Flight Review: Domestic Malaysia Airlines' Boeing 737 Business Class

Sumit Singh — Sat, 28 May 2022 17:53:51 GMT

After 13 hours in the air flying with Malaysia Airlines from London Heathrow (LHR) to Kuala Lumpur (KUL) on an Airbus A350, it was time to switch over to a Boeing 737 to head to my final destination of Kota Kinabalu (BKI), in the region of Sabah.

"Bump Review": Voluntary Lufthansa Flight Re-Accommodation At Frankfurt

Chris Loh — Sat, 14 May 2022 08:00:13 GMT

While flight reviews are quite common, this trip report will offer something a little different: A review of the bumping process as experienced in early May 2022 at Frankfurt Airport. While traveling from Naples (Italy) to Vilnius (Lithuania) via Frankfurt, the second leg of our journey was overbooked, forcing Lufthansa gate agents to seek volunteers to take the next flight. This will be an account of what happened and a review of the experience.

Flight Review: Norwegian Airlines Boeing 737 To Tromsø

Tom Boon — Fri, 13 May 2022 13:15:10 GMT

For the second part of my vacation, it was necessary to fly north from Oslo to the coastal settlement of Tromsø. Several carriers offered the route, with Flyr being my preferred option. After calls of “you shouldn’t pick the flight because of the airline” from my partner, we instead opted to book the early morning Norwegian Airlines service.

Flight Review: Malaysia Airlines' Airbus A350 In Business Class

Sumit Singh — Mon, 09 May 2022 12:42:25 GMT

I was invited by Malaysia Airlines to explore its home after the government of Malaysia announced that the country is open for tourism. I was keen to jump on board the airline’s Airbus A350 after writing about it for so long.

Lounge Review: Lufthansa's Frankfurt Business Lounge A26

Chris Loh — Sat, 07 May 2022 06:00:13 GMT

Flying from Naples to Vilnius and transferring at Frankfurt, my travel companion and I had the opportunity for an extended visit at Lufthansa’s Business Lounge at A26. With more than three hours spent at the facility, this will be a comprehensive review of what’s on offer. If you’re interested in the Lufthansa intra-European in-flight experience associated with this lounge visit, a review on the trip was also completed.

Flight Review: airBaltic's Airbus A220-300 In Business Class

Chris Loh — Wed, 04 May 2022 10:19:15 GMT

Simple Flying was presented with an excellent opportunity to fly with airBaltic on their inaugural flight from Vilnius, Lithuania to Hamburg, Germany. This new service launched on May 3rd and connects Lithuania’s capital city to one of Germany’s largest cities and a major industrial center. Indeed, on the outskirts of Hamburg are Airbus’ facilities where various widebody and narrowbody jets are assembled. While you may never fly this exact route, this article will show you a little bit of Vilnius Airport as well as the airBaltic business class experience.

Flight Review: Lufthansa Business Class - Boeing 747-8i - San Francisco (SFO) to Frankfurt (FRA)

Simple Flying Staff — Sun, 01 May 2022 16:01:13 GMT

I was originally booked to fly the Lufthansa A350 from San Francisco to Munich in business class, with a late-night departure. Luckily I received an email from Lufthansa that my flight had changed and I was rebooked on a routing via Frankfurt, leaving almost eight hours earlier! A pleasant surprise.

Flight Review: Intra-Europe Lufthansa A319 & A321 Economy

Chris Loh — Sat, 30 Apr 2022 06:00:13 GMT

As the saying goes, there’s a first time for everything. Not only was this my first time visiting Naples, but it was also my first experience of Lufthansa and Frankfurt Airport. I was definitely looking forward to experiencing this Star Alliance airline, considering the fact that my new home base of Vilnius (Lithuania) is mainly served by Star Alliance carriers. Here, Lufthansa offers higher frequencies to its hub than its competitors. Combine this with its long list of international destinations, and I was certainly hoping to have a good inflight experience to justify my future loyalty to the carrier.

Trip Review: Alaska Airlines' Boeing 737 MAX In Premium Class

Joe Kunzler — Fri, 29 Apr 2022 03:00:14 GMT

I wrote about the first class experience on Alaska Airlines' Boeing 737-9 MAX (MAX 9) in my last trip report. In that review, I found the experience very comfortable. But I felt that I should try out Alaska Airlines' Premium Class for my trip back from the Bay Area, partly because I wanted to save money and deboard early to transit connections back home, but also to compare and contrast the experience. I did, though, have to get up at 3 AM for a 3:30 AM Lyft to San Francisco International Airport (SFO), so I could board the available MAX 9 flight home to review.

Flight Review: Azul Conecta's Cessna Grand Caravan

Lukas Souza — Thu, 28 Apr 2022 15:30:14 GMT

Azul Conecta is a subsidiary of Azul Linhas Aéreas Brasileiras, and operates a fleet of Cessna 208B Grand Caravan Aircraft. Launched in 2020, the airline's goal is to connect passengers from underserved destinations in Brazil to larger cities. Last week, Conecta took delivery of its 5th Cessna Grand Caravan EX and now operates a total of 22 aircraft to 57 destinations in the largest country in South America. I was invited by Azul to fly on its Azul Conecta product and was able to try it out on Monday.

You Can Fly On A Fokker 100 In 2022 Without Leaving The Ground

Lukas Souza — Tue, 26 Apr 2022 12:30:12 GMT

Do you remember what it was like to fly first class in the early days of aviation? Some would even call it the ‘golden age', back when all passengers were served great meals, smoking was allowed onboard, and flying sometimes became a party in the air.

Flight Review: Swiss Business Class -Boeing 777 From Zurich To San Francisco

Simple Flying Staff — Mon, 25 Apr 2022 14:30:14 GMT

I have had the opportunity of flying Swiss business class from Prague to San Francisco three different times in the last 12 months.

Trip Review: Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 9 In First Class

Joe Kunzler — Fri, 22 Apr 2022 08:30:24 GMT

I decided no time like the present for reasons I’ll explain to review the Alaska Airlines' 737 MAX experience as the carrier's MAX experience is the future, here and now. Therefore, I easily rescheduled a recent flight out of Seattle to the Bay Area to a flight having a 737 MAX airframe.

Trip Review: Virgin Atlantic's Boeing 787-9 In Premium Economy

Jonathan E. Hendry — Thu, 21 Apr 2022 20:47:54 GMT

As part of an ongoing series of flight reviews, Simple Flying gives its take on Virgin Atlantic’s Boeing 787 Dreamliner service from London Heathrow to San Francisco International.

Lounge Review: Heathrow Terminal 3's No 1 Lounge

Jonathan E. Hendry — Thu, 21 Apr 2022 17:25:14 GMT

The No 1 lounge is located in Terminal 3 of London’s Heathrow Airport. The terminal is home to eight lounges which are located relatively close together after the duty-free section of the terminal.

PLAY Operates Its Inaugural Transatlantic Flight

James Pearson — Wed, 20 Apr 2022 23:05:14 GMT

Four months after PLAY revealed US routes, the first flight – from Keflavik to Baltimore Washington – took off on Wednesday, April 20th. I was delighted to be aboard to be part of the new entrant’s historic day, just as I was last week for the launch of the new Flybe.

Review: Inside The Escape Lounge At London Stansted Airport

Jonathan E. Hendry — Sun, 17 Apr 2022 09:58:43 GMT

London is a city served by no less than six airports. The primary airports of London Heathrow and London Gatwick do the majority of long-haul traffic. The town, which is often the most connected in the world, is served by London Luton, a hub for Wizz Air; London City Airport, which is famed for its short runway and spectacular city views; and both London Southend and Stansted (STN) airports in Essex.

Flight Review: Virgin Atlantic A350 Premium Economy - Not The Winner

Pranjal Pande — Sat, 16 Apr 2022 03:00:14 GMT

In April, Simple Flying had the chance to fly Virgin Atlantic's flagship Airbus A350-1000 from London to New Delhi. Given past trips with Virgin in premium economy, I was hopeful that the A350 would set the benchmark in this competitive market. However, this may not hold true. Here's a review of the product.

Trip Review: Royal Air Maroc's Boeing 737 Business Class

Tom Boon — Thu, 14 Apr 2022 16:30:14 GMT

Having attended a celebration of Royal Air Maroc’s membership in the oneworld alliance, it was time to fly back home. As I was traveling as a guest of Royal Air Maroc, I flew in business class on a Boeing 737-800 via Casablanca.

Flybe Returns To The Skies With First Flight In Over 2 Years

James Pearson — Wed, 13 Apr 2022 11:00:14 GMT

The UK has a new airline, of sorts. On a gloomy and damp April 13th morning, the new Flybe took to the sky on its inaugural flight.

Trip Review: Flying LATAM's Boeing 787 In Economy

Daniel Martínez Garbuno — Fri, 08 Apr 2022 19:00:15 GMT

Earlier this week, Simple Flying had the opportunity to fly between Mexico City and Santiago de Chile onboard LATAM’s flight LA620 and a Boeing 787-8 registration CC-BBA. This is a trip report of the flight and the current requirements one has to fulfill before flying to Chile.

Lounge Review: Salon Paul Maxence At Paris Charles De Gaulle

Joanna Bailey — Wed, 06 Apr 2022 14:45:14 GMT

On my recent business class trip with Etihad Airways, we were directed to this lounge in Paris Charles de Gaulle at Terminal 2A. Etihad does have its own first and business class lounge at the airport, located in the connector building between terminals 2A and 2C, but it is temporarily closed.

Flight Review: Vienna-London Heathrow In British Airways' Club Europe Cabin

Jake Hardiman — Wed, 06 Apr 2022 13:31:13 GMT

Earlier in the week, I returned from a short trip to Vienna on British Airways flight BA701, one of several daily flights between the Austrian and British capitals. Having initially booked a basic economy ticket using a voucher from a previous canceled trip, I opted to take up the limited-time offer of a €108 ($118.50) upgrade via the BA app to experience the Club Europe cabin. Let's see what it was like.

Flight Review: Etihad’s Airbus A350 Business Class Abu Dhabi To Paris

Joanna Bailey — Tue, 05 Apr 2022 17:31:56 GMT

Etihad’s first A350-1000 to enter revenue service took off today from Abu Dhabi bound for Paris. Onboard was the airline’s CEO, along with other VIPs and select media, as well as a good number of regular, paying passengers.

Review: A Visit To Vienna International Airport's New 'Vienna Lounge'

Jake Hardiman — Tue, 05 Apr 2022 11:30:14 GMT

A week ago, on March 29th, Vienna International Airport (VIE) opened its new 'Vienna Lounge.' While returning from a trip to the Austrian capital yesterday, I took the opportunity to check out the facility. I was impressed by its atmosphere, extensive seating and food and drink options, and, of course, its runway views.

Flight Review: American Airlines Business Class Boeing 787 Miami to Quito

Simple Flying Staff — Sun, 03 Apr 2022 16:00:14 GMT

Because of my prior flight from Los Angeles to Miami, I had the option to use the American Airlines Flagship Lounge Miami including the First Class section. The lounge attendants had trouble validating it, and it took a small team of them to go through all the rules.

Trip Review: Onboard Azul's Embraer E195-E2 In Economy

Lukas Souza — Wed, 30 Mar 2022 15:45:14 GMT

Yesterday, I took a flight with Azul Linhas Aéreas Brasileiras from Goiânia (GYN) to Campinas (VCP), Brazil. The flight was onboard a new Embraer E195-E2, which had only been in service for one year. It was a pleasant surprise when I learned that the aircraft I would be flying on was one of Azul's special liveries, the Ararinha Azul (Tropical Spix's Macaw Livery). As always, I had a great experience on Azul. Its service is exceptionally professional, most of its fleet is new, and the aircraft are always clean.

Flight Review: Vistara 787-9 Business Class From Delhi To London

Pranjal Pande — Mon, 28 Mar 2022 22:00:14 GMT

Vistara is India's newest widebody operator, with a fleet of two Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners. The airline took delivery of its first 787 in February 2020, with another one following in August that year.

Onboard A Royal Air Maroc Embraer E190 In Business Class

Tom Boon — Mon, 28 Mar 2022 13:30:13 GMT

As a guest of Royal Air Maroc, Simple Flying flew from Frankfurt to Lagos and back via the airline’s main Casablanca hub. The first leg of this journey took place onboard an Embraer E190. The aircraft has two cabins, with Simple Flying traveling in the business class cabin.

Lounge Review: W Premium Lounge, São Paulo Guarulhos Airport

Lukas Souza — Fri, 25 Mar 2022 15:30:02 GMT

The São Paulo - Guarulhos International (GRU) airport has no shortage of lounge options. However, Terminal 1 only has one lounge, which is brand new. The W Premium Lounge at GRU opened its doors at the end of January.

Qatar Airways Business Class QSuites A350 Review San Francisco to Doha SFO Lounges

Simple Flying Staff — Sun, 20 Mar 2022 17:00:14 GMT

At the time of my flight, Qatar Airways only used the Air France Business Class lounge at San Francisco International Airport. Amazingly this lounge has stayed open almost through the whole pandemic - quite an achievement. However, the rather sparse pre-pandemic food spread and drinks service had been reduced to an even smaller offering.

Flight Review: Economy On Lufthansa's Airbus A321 To Oslo

Tom Boon — Tue, 08 Mar 2022 15:30:14 GMT

Having arrived from Frankfurt, we needed to first transit in Munich before boarding our onward connection to Oslo (LH2452). Our connecting itinerary gave us just 40 minutes from arrival to departure. The inbound flight had been scheduled to arrive at 08:10, while my onward boarding pass showed that the next flight's boarding started at 08:10.

Flight Review: Riga To Helsinki On A NORRA (Finnair) ATR72

Jakov Fabinger — Mon, 07 Mar 2022 20:00:14 GMT

Recently I took a Finnair flight from Riga (RIX) to Helsinki (HEL) operated by N°RRA with an ATR72-500. The experience was efficient, and the service was professional, but I was also lucky to be on a flight that was only half full.

United Boeing 787-9 Economy Review: Chicago To LA

Pranjal Pande — Sun, 06 Mar 2022 23:00:13 GMT

On a recent flight from Chicago to Los Angeles, I had the chance to try out United's flagship Boeing 787-9. While usually found on long-haul flights, this busy route between two major cities supports the high-density plane on morning departures. Here's a look at the economy cabin and what you can expect from this service!

Review: American Airlines 777 Miami to Los Angeles In Lie Flat First Class

Simple Flying Staff — Sun, 06 Mar 2022 16:00:13 GMT

American Airlines, thankfully, has used the pandemic to realign its capacity and has put many widebodies on its domestic network. One route that has seen a large amount of widebody planes is Los Angeles to Miami.

Flight Review: Virgin Australia's Boeing 737-800 Business Class

Andrew Curran — Sun, 06 Mar 2022 04:00:14 GMT

There's a lot to like about the reinvented Virgin Australia, including their superbly priced business class fares and very solid business class cabin product. But does the reality live up to the hype? This review road tests the current Boeing 737-800 Virgin Australia business class offering on a recent mid-morning flight from Adelaide to Sydney.