7 BEST AND AFFORDABLE AIRLINES | AIRLINE LISTICLE
I’ve finally had the experiences of flying with multiple different airlines over the years. Some good, some bad, but nevertheless, I’ve managed to get to each destination safe and sound.
So, counting backwards, here are my top 7 airlines to fly with, based on my experiences.
7) Air France. It’s no surprise that Air France is my least favourite. I’ve booked with them twice, and the first time we received our luggage 5 days late, and when it was returned to us, it was destroyed beyond repair. We were offered a cheaper alternative which we weren’t happy with, bearing in mind our Large suitcase was an Antler brand. The second time around, our flight was cancelled and reschedule for 18 hours later, and we were only notified when we were already en route to the airport. It just wasn’t meant to be.
6) British Airways. This used to be a firm favourite of mine, but since I’ve continued to explore, British Airways has so much competition and I don’t believe they can keep up. To be fair, my last BA flight was in 2019 to Antigua, and although they used to be my favourite, the ongoing problems were always with the food… (or the lack of it there of.) The flight and communications have generally been up to scratch but the food has always been a problem for me. We were supposed to fly with British Airways again in 2024 to Sri Lanka, but our flight was cancelled. Thankfully they told us in good timing, and rebooked us on to another flight which was with Qatar.
5) Ethiopian Airlines – I must admit, I was very skeptical to fly with Ethiopian Airlines due to their mixed reviews and fairly cheap prices, not forgetting the fact they had a crash a few years prior. So when Air France rebooked us with Ethiopian Airlines, I was very disappointed. However, after landing safe and sound, I was pleasantly surprised.
The Ethiopian Airlines check-in was smooth sailing. I dropped off my bags and waited at our departure gate for boarding. The staff was very friendly, helpful and polite. The plane was cleaned well, the flight was smooth, and we were also fed very well.
Overall, Ethiopian Airlines definitely exceeded my expectations, and they definitely come neck to neck with Kenya Airways.
4) Kenya Airways. My first time flying with Kenya Airways was a good experience. I must admit, I didn’t have much expectations, as I was just eager to travel with a new airline. I can only judge this position based on my experience of multiple one hour flights. During our hour long flight, Kenya Airways seated us together, without me choosing a seating selection, so I felt that was very kind.
We were offered snacks and drinks, when our flight was delayed by only an hour. I’d have to fly with Kenya Airways for a longer flight, to do a full length review, but the only reason I’ve placed them at number 4 is because our flight was short. Overall I was pretty much impressed with the flight, timings, and how accommodating the airline were.
3) KLM comes extremely close. I’ve listed them 3rd, but in my heart it’s a fair joint 2nd place (with Qatar!) The KLM flight was smooth, the staff was friendly, and the birthday surprise really sold it for me. All flights ran on time, and the staff were polite and friendly.
Next time, I look forward to flying with KLM business class!
2) Qatar – Flying with Qatar was something I definitely couldn’t wait to do, so when I booked my holiday to Sri Lanka, I specifically chose Qatar over British Airways and I was glad I made that decision. Qatar flights were smooth, staff was friendly, planes were cleaned well and the food was good.
Prices were costly, but we managed to grab a great bargain. Although I loved flying with Qatar, nothing has taken the number one spot (YET)…
- Emirates takes the number one spot for me. Although it’s been a long time since i’ve flown with them, I had the best experience flying with Emirates. The food, the service, the friendliness, and they even gave us a voucher to purchase additional food during our short layover in Dubai, which was a nice surprise. This position is based solely on my experience with the airline, not the prices, as I do find Emirates fairly expensive.
Thank you for taking the time to read my listicle, let me know in the comments who you’ve flown with and how your experience was. I’m still saving up to try Virgin and Cathay Pacific!
If you enjoyed reading this listicle, Check out my full review for KLM!
What a flight!
With Love,
Siobhan Patrina
