And yes, to Hong Kong I would always prefer to fly Cathay pacific over united. The American carriers are just so much more unpleasant.
While I’ve experienced constant hassles over carryon luggage weight on BUDGET asian carriers, I’ve never had a problem w a flagship asian carrier.
With pain-in-the-butt BUDGET asian carriers, what I do to skirt the issue is I leave my rollaboard on a luggage cart and leave the cart parked next to some random seated people. Then I go check in without my rollaboard next to me. Sometimes the checkin agent will put a “cabin baggage” sticker or tag on my backpack, indicating that the weight is approved for cabin baggage.
Once I get my boarding pass, I go back to pick up my rollaboard, transfer the “cabin baggage” sticker or tag to my rollaboard, then go to the departure gate with it. The bag goes thru security screening, so the only “contraband” is the weight.
If the the departure gate staff look at my rollaboard and see the “cabin baggage” sticker or tag, then they just wave it thru. Mostly, they’re just too busy managing the cattle drive to get the flight out on time to even care.
No issues with theft (or worse) when your bag is unattended?
Check the weight limits. I swear some of my daughters baggage limits were 40 pounds.
That being said…she had a rather heavy internal from backpack with her last time…as a carryon…and had no trouble. I think that was Cathay.
I think I need to rebook him. I’m kind of nervous having him fly through Doha, Qatar. Of course every minute I waste seems to cost me more. Singapore airlines may be great, but the flight is over 2K. I’m hesitant to book United because I’ve heard bad things about their service. Tough choice.
United service is what you’d expect from a US flag carrier. It’s slightly better than US domestic service. It’s just that the top foreign flag carriers are a better experience in service for about the same price. Safety wise, they’re pretty much equal. I’ve flown United overseas and it’s okay.
I would stay away from Korean Air Lines, they have major safety issues and despite all the training and such, their pilots have serious issues with how the cockpit is run. It was only a couple of years ago that a Korean Air plane crashed in SF, and the root cause was cockpit dynamics. After the incident with the Macademia nut looniness, I also question how Korean industries are run, the whole culture of them is one where they don’t seem to care much about things like safety, and their regulatory structure is quite frankly a joke. Cathay Pacific, Singapore Air, The Taiwanese airline are all pretty decent on the other hand.
I dislike transiting in the Middle East. I’ll do it if my company is routing me thru there, because I can’t control which airline gets booked, and I know my company is responsible if I have any problems. But I will NOT route my kids thru there when they’re traveling solo, because they are minors and I don’t want them ever to be potentially stranded alone in a country where I am not confident about the Rule of Law.
I know how everyone lauds the Middle Eastern carriers for their service, but it bothers me that they are driving Western carriers into the ground with unfair direct government subsidies and onerous work rules. The reason the middle eastern carriers have young & hot flight attendants is that they exploit women from poor developing countries and fire them if they get pregnant. You ever see a niqab-wearing arab female flight attendant aboat one of their planes??? No.
I find the exploitation & hypocrisy repugnant. The asian carriers at least employ their own countrymen and countrywomen and offer them a viable career.
I would only do this in singapore or japan. I’d worry about theft in other countries.
U.S. carrier overseas service is nothing like domestic service.
The last 2 crashes had European pilots flying the plane.
The Air Asia plane that crashed between Indonesia & Singapore in January was being flown by a French dude. Then there’s GermanWings…
ANA is fine. It is in the Star Alliance with United so if you collect United miles you can apply those ANA miles.
Post #68, I’m afraid of those French dudes flying aircraft, this is why I cancelled my trip to Bora Bora after researching Air Tahini Nuir. I checked the safety record but was still not convinced.
In the news recently, maybe March time frame, there was a rich Chinese billionaire that was killed when some French dude was flying him to see a vineyard he just bought. It kind of make you question the training the pilots received in France. Maybe the weather was bad, if it was then don’t fly.
Is ANA the same as Asiana Airline?
ANA = All Nippon Airways, is Japanese
Asiana is Korean
OP here. I have now booked on United. I can cancel until this time tomorrow. This flight goes through Japan, but he doesn’t get off the plane. I’ve spent less time planning vacations for our. Entire family than I’ve spent on this effort.
Thanks for everyone’s help.
I’m fairly certain EVERYONE has to get off the plane in japan & go thru security again, even if it’s a “direct” flight. I’ve had to do this.
Look at the ticket. Is it the same aircraft type for both segments?
If it turns out he doesn’t have to get off the plane, please do report back for our learning.
united will be fine. And he could start his frequent flyer plan with this trip if he doesn’t have one already.
“I would stay away from Korean Air Lines, they have major safety issues and despite all the training and such, their pilots have serious issues with how the cockpit is run. It was only a couple of years ago that a Korean Air plane crashed in SF, and the root cause was cockpit dynamics.”
That crash was Asiana Airlines, not KAL. My wife, who is quite critical, just flew KAL to Asia with a stopover in Incheon. She was very impressed with the entire experience and would do it again.
Let’s remember that the worst airline disaster of all time, the crash at Tenerife, was also caused by bad cockpit dynamics and the respect for seniority. I didn’t see anybody say let’s stop flying KLM or Pan Am after that.
I wouldn’t hesitate to book United overseas. In fact, next Paris trip - forget strike prone AirFrance. It’s United for me. I agree with those who have had better experiences with international service from US based carrriers than with their domestic service.
Forgot to express my empathy for you, mom1214. Somehow when doing something like this for our kids I also question and revise every little detail. He will be fine and have a great time. Lucky kid and great mom!
I agree with @GMTplus7 I’ve transited through NRT on a “direct” flight and had to exit the aircraft.