Endured two extended economy flights; merely one airline managed to impress me significantly
A Long Haul Flight Tale: Qatar Airways vs Ethiopian Airlines
Journeying to East Africa offered a 13-hour sojourn with Ethiopian Airlines and a 16-hour odyssey with Qatar Airways. Both long-haul trips saw me ensconced in economy class, usually in the rear window seats. And when it comes to future bookings, I'm swayed by the smallest of details.
On a long-haul flight, minor differences make all the difference – an extra centimeter of legroom, a snack service between meals, a clean restroom, or a free eye mask. These trinkets were crucial during my longest flight yet, as I trekked to East Africa via Ethiopian Airlines and returned home aboard Qatar Airways.
The Airbus A350-900 vs Boeing 777-200LR
For the 13-hour flight, I boarded an Airbus A350-900 that initially seemed somewhat outdated. But the window seat felt roomier than my previous short-haul seats, and I had a screen with media options and a USB port to charge my phone. Dinner and breakfast were served during the flight, and the bathrooms seemed standard, compared to most airlines.
Three weeks later, I embarked on an even longer 16-hour flight with Qatar Airways. The aircraft was a Boeing 777-200LR, and I sat once more in a window seat towards the rear of the plane. The entertainment system seemed outdated, and regrettably, I'd accidentally labeled my meal preference as "raw-vegetarian" instead of "vegetarian." The toilet, as you might suspect, felt similar to the one on my Ethiopian Airlines flight.
A Contest of Comfort
Despite the similarities, there's a reason I'd book with Qatar Airways again—if the prices were the same. Without a doubt, small differences in seat width, cabin ambiance, food quality, service, aircraft maintenance, and entertainment can tip the scales in favor of one airline over the other. And for long-haul flights, those details are what make travel delightful or dreadful.
[1] https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/airlines/ethiopian-airlines/ethiopian-airlines-economy-class-review/[2] https://www.thepointsguy.com/guide/qatar-airways-777-business-class-review/[3] https://www.thepointsguy.com/guide/ethiopian-airlines-boeing-787-economy-class-review/[4] https://www.thepointsguy.com/guide/ethiopian-airlines-airbus-a350-business-class-review/
In the quest for a comfortable long-haul travel experience, small lifestyle differences can significantly transform the journey - be it an extra inch of legroom, a mid-flight snack service, or a cleaner restroom. During my 13-hour journey with Ethiopian Airlines on an Airbus A350-900 and my return trip on Qatar Airways' Boeing 777-200LR, these minor elements were key factors that left an impact.
