The Airlines
LONDON-NAIROBI
The first 7 airlines mentioned are the ones I’ve travelled with to Kenya. One has now changed names and has since merged with another one and they now use the others airline. I will put them in the order of preference as before with a very quick summary. The ones further down with no numbering are airlines that I/we might well use in the future in getting to Kenya.
1] Kenya Airways (KQ)
The more I think about this the more I come to the conclusion that of those used so far despite the ignorant chauvinistic male steward and that they should come in first, Only just though due to excellent food and service on board with the noted exception. The films were very good too and watched 3 from NBO-AMS
Overall - Just Below Excellent.
Use Again - Yes
2] Swiss International Airlines (LX)
I flew with Swiss on the LHR-ZRH leg on the outward trip and on both legs for the return journey NBO-ZRH and ZRH-LHR. At all times we were well fed and watered, though I don’t remember any of the films standing out, but the general customer service was very good. The reason not in 1st place is the intentional lack of information regarding ZRH-NBO being on Hapag Lloyd.
Overall – Very Good.
Use Again – Yes.
3] British Airways (BA)
I used BA for my 1st flight to Kenya (LHR–NBO) and also the return of (NBO-LHR). Very helpful Check-In and although I don’t remember any outstanding films I do remember that the radio stations offered kept me entertained and that I like the map to keep you informed where you were on your journey, what height you were at and how long before arrival and the weather at both where we were going and coming from. The food was excellent. Only just below Swiss because of their (Swiss’) superior customer service.
Overall – Very Good.
Use Again – Yes.
4] Hapag Lloyd (HF)
Despite the late departure and the fact that there was NO in-flight entertainment or map to inform us how the flight was progressing, the food and customer care was second to none. The food was excellent, even the wine was better than average and a second bottle of wine was no extra charge and this from a Charter Company who had been hired by the company who owned the airline that were doing this leg of the outward journey to Kenya. (ZRH-NBO)
Overall – Just and ONLY Just Below Very Good.
Use Again – Yes. Words 430
5] KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (KL)
I used KLM to get to my wedding and flew with them on 3 of the 4 legs (LHR-AMS, AMS-NBO & AMS-LHR). For the short haul legs they were very good but as for the important bit (AMS-NBO) the films were average, the customer care was average as was the food. In fact the whole flight was average even the descent into NBO Airport which is usually quite exciting at night was average and rather boring.
Overall – Distinctly Average
Use Again – Would Rather Not But Suspect I Will Have To So Yes
The following airlines I haven’t used yet but am sure at some time in the future we will use most of them as the family will go back and forward between our family’s two home countries
A] Virgin Atlantic Airways & B] Kenya Airways
Although I have flown with KQ from AMS-NBO I understand that the LHR-NBO is a better different experience and I know we will use Virgin although they have a tendency to cancel a flight on alternate days at the moment (allegedly),
OVERALL-BOTH USUALLY HAVE GOOD REVIEWS BUT OCCASIONALLY VIRGIN GET A POOR ONE
USE-DEFINATELY
C] Ethiopian Airlines (ET)
Have an improved reputation and a new terminal @ Addis Ababa which is apparently very good and the customer service apparently is excellent unless you are Ethiopian (in which case (allegedly) you are treated like dirt). The upside is the weight allowance which is more than most other airlines which I feel is why we are likely to use them at sometime in the future as well as very occasionally they turn up the cheapest fare.
Overall-Usually pretty good, Occasionally awful
USE-ALMOST CERTAINLY
UNLIKELY POSSIBITIES
D] Qatar Airways (QR)
I feel disinclined to use this airline as QR appear have a tendency to lose luggage and the saving you might make will be lost in time at Doha would be lost in time and trouble to getting a transit visa.
E] Emirates (EK)
I have a similar problem with EK and although they have a good reputation for their service on the airline their security at Dubai apparently takes itself too seriously and arrests people on really spurious details like a poppy seed from a roll on someone’s jumper.
NOT A CHANCE IN HELL
SUDAN AIRWAYS
F] Recently a palne crashed on their runway and at Khartoum and it was suggested itn was down to the pilots. It has since been suggested that it might have been the traffic controls fault. So despite it being on one of the more direct routes for us to get to Nairobi,We wont be risking this route just yet.
ANOTHER OUTSIDE POSSIBILITY
G] AIR ITALY [I9]
This company, it appears are part of the Alitalia Family(I'm still not sure whether this is good or not. Although at the moment they don't appear to fly to Kenya I have been in contact with them recently and they will be probably be flying to Nairobi from Rome Fiumcino and Milan Malpensa but not till October. As both of these airports are easy for most Brits to get to it makes sense that at some point we are most likely to use them even though the ONLY review I could find on them was a bad one, fortunately it wasn't on any of the routes they fly from for ITALY TO KENYA, either Nairobi or Mombasa