trying to decide between KLM, Northwest and Continental

[disneyholic family]

DS and I may pop over to WDW the week after next. We usually fly a different airline, but i have a ton of old KLM miles to use up, so i was thinking of buying economy tickets and upgrading them (or using all the miles for business if i have enough).

Anyway, the question is, does anyone know how the business classes compare on those three airlines (on their trans-atlantic planes)? I can use the miles on all of them, so I'd like to know if one is preferable over the other. If anyone has an opinion on any of those airlines, i'd very much appreciate hearing it.

The one major problem for us with flying KLM/NWA is the need to fly via Amsterdam, which will add a full day to the trip. So that alone might convince me to go with Continental. Has anyone flown their business/first class on their 777 planes?

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

Yes, I have.
I like continental, its no Virgin Upper Class in terms of the seats, but is fine, the seats recline back quite far and are all leather, the IFE is like Virgins, films looping on seperate channels, the food is great.
The Presidents clubs are OK, but no food, and the staff on board are efficient.
Better than American and Northwest.
If you are lucky, get the Continental/Virgin Codeshare flights and then you can get use of the VS clubhouse and UCS
Only thing you don't get is if the flight is back to heathrow, you get use of the Continental freshen up rooms instead of the Virgin revivals
Can't remember which flights are codeshare, have a look on their website...

 

[disneyholic family]

thanks Obi....
i've been looking at the continental, nwa and klm websites (as well as seatguru.com)...
it really looks like the NWA 747-400 is a great plane (with flat business seats)...continental's don't look nearly as comfortable......
but for us, continental is the most convenient, since it's a non-stop that doesn't even stop in europe....saves about a day in layovers.....

but i really hate continental.....for that matter i hate northworst....klm is usually nice service but they have that same layover problem (waiting a full day in amsterdam for the connecting flight!! - which wouldn't be bad in the summer, since we could sightsee, but in the winter we'd freeze to death)...

too bad we can't use the miles on virgin....we could combine london and WDW....that would be fun....

anyway, thanks Obi.....it might end up being whatever i can get us seats on.....business class on continental tends to be fully booked (all those business commuters)....

one nice thing, the nwa plane has VOD.....i hate the looping movies...that's what we have on the airline we typically use...although they're upgrading their fleet now to the flatbeds and VOD....but i need to use those KLM miles sooner rather than later....they're already very old.....

 

[gilld]

We've flown Business First with Continental. It was a 777 and although the seats weren't beds, the seats were very comfotable and the service was second to none with true silver service.

 

[disneyholic family]

We've flown Business First with Continental. It was a 777 and although the seats weren't beds, the seats were very comfotable and the service was second to none with true silver service.

thanks....yes it would definitely be the business first on their 777.......my sister also raved about their service.....i suppose i should try for that....even though DS is itching to try a plane with flatbed seats......we only have about a week to spare before DS has to be back and he won't be able to leave again for at least a full year.........so if he wants to take a run at EE, this will have to be it....hopefully we'll be able to get on it....or rather, he'll be able to get on it...