u/Effective_Theme_5739

looking to book MXP-ICN via HKG this summer in Aria. it’s scheduled as a 777-300ER route with Aria three times weekly, but this is my first time with Cathay and I’m afraid I’ll get “qatared“ and end up with the old config. Is connecting through FRA and aria suite from there safer?

This is my personal opinion based on about 5 years worth of flights as a UM between Norway, Italy and the US

1. KLM: super nice and attentive, good food, good UM lounge in Schiphol international area with a decent selection. you’ll be taken into the international zone even on Schengen to Schengen connections so make sure to have a passport instead of ID
2. SAS: they bring you to the regular business class lounge at CPH, enough said. Also if flying YPTA you do have lounge access which is great
3. Air France: really nice onboard, the 2E UM lounge at CDG is a lot bigger than the 2F one which is literally just a room. food offering is limited to instant noodles and soft drinks. Sidenote: if flying YPTA instead of UM you will not be allowed into their regular lounges even in business class. if flying out of or into 2G they take you to/from the plane by car which is nice
4. Finnair: no UM lounge available so you just wait at the gate for hours which is annoying but they let you buy food and stuff. Onboard pretty mid in Econ but they let me have extra food for free which was nice. Cabin crew is the best
5. emirates: Insanely overrated. really crowded UM lounge at DXB, they ran out of food when I was there so they just had water. Onboard they basically forget about you, not too fun, not a “tell us if you need anything”, nothing. They didnt have time to cater Premium Economy so we had the economy food, which was pretty meh

Curious if people have had similar experiences!

About to book OSL-DOH-ICN and back in late July for 2.7K on a business saver fare... does anyone know how expensive seat selection is? OSL-DOH-OSL is 6-6.5hr in 787-9 business suites and DOH-ICN-DOH is 9-10hr in a351 qsuites