Best Airlines for Long-haul Economy Class Flights

In what comes as perhaps no surprise, airlines from the Middle East have been named the best carriers for long-haul economy class flights.

Carriers out of the Middle East are known for setting the standards in luxury travel. But according to experts at travel site Skift, they don’t forsake their economy class passengers either.

After looking at factors such as seat width, pitch, in-flight entertainment, menus, design and technology, analysts named Etihad and Qatar the best airlines for long-haul economy class flights, with 61 points.

The pair topped Emirates, ANA (All Nippon Airways) and Turkish Airways, which were bumped to second place by a razor-thin margin of a single point, scoring a mark of 60.

When it comes to North American carriers, American Airlines was the top performer, scoring 50 points, while Air Canada was the poorest performer, at 39 points.

Here are the top scoring carriers according to Skift:

Etihad and Qatar, 61 points
Emirates, All Nippon Airways, Turkish Airways, 60
Japan Airlines, 58
Avianca, Air China, 57
Saudi Airlines, 56. 

http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/travel/article/best-airlines-for-long-haul-economy-class-flights

Weekly Hot Pick for Bangkok, Thailand

Grand Millennium Hotel Sukhumvit Bangkok – 4.5 Star

What’s nearby

Ø     Sukhumvit MRT Train Station (62m)

Ø     Suwannaphumi Airport Railway Link (1.5km)

Ø     Soi Cowboy (200m)

Ø     Terminal 21 Shopping Mall (250m)

Ø     Asok BTS Station (350m)

*Awarded Certificate of Excellence 2014.

* Currently offers the ‘Book now, Pay at hotel’ option to travelers travelling in mid March.

Weekly Hot Pick for Limassol, Cyprus

 Kapetanios Odyssia – 3 Star

 What’s nearby

·                                 Limassol District Archaeological Museum 0.6 km / 0.4 mi

·                                 Zoo Garden Limassol 0.7 km / 0.5 mi

·                                 Limassol Municipal Gardens 0.8 km / 0.5 mi

·                                 Heroes Square 1.6 km / 1 mi

·                                 Cyprus University of Technology 1.8 km / 1.1 mi

·                                 Dasoudi Beach 2.1 km / 1.3 mi

·                                 Limassol Castle 2.4 km / 1.5 mi

·                                 Agios Athanasios Town Hall 2.7 km / 1.7 mi

·                                 Limassol Municipal Park 2.9 km / 1.8 mi

·                                 Frederick University 4.4 km / 2.7 mi

·                                 Amathus Beach 6.4 km / 4 mi

·                                 Amathus Ruins 8.1 km / 5 mi

·                                 Ladies Mile Beach 8.7 km / 5.4 mi

·                                 Fasouri Watermania Waterpark 9 km / 5.6 mi

·                                 Panagia Chrysopolitissa Church 9.3 km / 5.8 mi

     The preferred airport for Kapetanios Odyssia is Larnaca (LCA Larnaca Intl.) 

     56 km / 34.8 mi.

• Awarded Certificate of Excellence 2014.
• Free breakfast and wi-fi.

Weekly Hot Pick for Sapporo, Japan

Hotel Keihan Sapporo – 3 Star

What’s nearby

·                                 Sapporo JR Tower 0.4 km / 0.3 mi

·                                 Former Hokkaido Government Office Building 0.5 km / 0.3 mi

·                                 Hokkaido University Botanic Garden 0.6 km / 0.3 mi

·                                 Hokkaido University Museum 0.6 km / 0.4 mi

·                                 JR Sapporo Hospital 0.9 km / 0.5 mi

·                                 Clock Tower 0.9 km / 0.5 mi

·                                 Odori Park 0.9 km / 0.6 mi

·                                 Hokkaido University 1.1 km / 0.7 mi

·                                 Sapporo TV Tower 1.2 km / 0.7 mi

·                                 Nijo Market 1.5 km / 0.9 mi

·                                 Ramen Yokocho 1.6 km / 1 mi

·                                 Hokkaido Museum of Modern Art 1.6 km / 1 mi

·                                 Sapporo Beer Museum 1.8 km / 1.1 mi

·                                 Sapporo Racecourse 1.9 km / 1.2 mi

·                                 Sapporo Concert Hall 2.7 km / 1.7 mi

     The nearest airports are:

·                                 Sapporo (OKD Okadama) 5.6 km / 3.5 mi

·                                 Sapporo (CTS New Chitose) 41.5 km / 25.8 mi

     The preferred airport for Hotel Keihan Sapporo is Sapporo (CTS New Chitose).

• Awarded Certificate of Excellence 2014.
• Conveniently situated near the Sapporo JR train station.

Top Euro Destinations

Lonely Planet’s picks of top European destinations 2014.

EDITORS of travel guide Lonely Planet are predicting that Greece will be the top travel destination in Europe this year, as the country shows strong signs of bouncing back from a turbulent few years marked by political instability and anti-austerity protests.

Destinations in the Best in Europe Top 10 list are chosen for being either “under-the-radar”, generating buzz, or for being perennial favourites with reasons to visit in 2014.

Last year, Greece received a record 20 million visitors, and officials are predicting that 2014 will be another bumper year for tourists – welcome news for residents who are still struggling to find work amid the sluggigh economy.

Now that the country has stabilized, Greece has returned as top of mind for visitors looking for a sun-soaked holiday.

Here are Lonely Planet’s picks of top European destinations 2014:

1. Greece

2. Ljubljana, Slovenia

3. Southwest England, Britain

4. Italy

5. Viking Denmark

6. Seville, Spain

7. Outer Hebrides, Scotland

8. Plzen, Czech Republic

9. Stavanger, Norway

10. Toulouse, France

For comparison, here’s a look at Europeanbestdestinations.org ‘s (www.europeanbestdestinations.org/top/europe-best-destinations-2014 ) list of top 10 cities in Europe for 2014, as decided by online voters.

1. Porto, Portugal

2. Zagreb, Croatia

3. Vienna, Austria

4. Nicosia, Cyprus

5. Budapest, Hungary

6. Madeira, Portugal

7. Milan, Italy

8. Madrid, Spain

9. Berlin, Germany

10. Rome, Italy

http://www.thestar.com.my/Travel/Europe/2014/08/04/Top-Euro-destinations/