REVIEW 2018: My year in review – and a year of improvements

I’m taking a look back at my travels this year and asking myself questions about Passenger Experience Highs and Lows.

Because I seem to have picked up some interesting experiences both in the front and the back of the plane this year.

Let’s do the numbers and a map:

Maps generated by the Great Circle Mapper – copyright © Karl L. Swartz

• Total distance: 43,078 miles
• Sectors: 28 (two train segments)
• Class sectors:
  • Business Class 6
  • Premium Economy 2
  • Economy/Single Class 21
• All flights bar 1, window seat
• 2 Eurostar segments
  • 1 Standard Premier
  • 1 Standard
• Longest Segment: ORD-HEL (4,436 miles)
• Shortest Segment: BHX<>DUB (200 miles)

The Highs

• It may had been one segment – but once again, Finnair set the bar high in economy class  between Helsinki and London. The crew was on-point,and offered great customer service.
• American Airlines showed some flashes of brilliance on their three-class transatlantic service
• Lufthansa Systems showed off what is possible aboard one of their planes with their Flying Lab.

The Good

• American Airlines have shown a constant level of customer service in the segments I’ve tried them on this year. A uniform service every flight which is welcome to see.
• British Airways has… improved. Yes. I’ve said it. Not just in Club World and Club Europe, but in World Traveller with an improved second service
• Finnair provided an interesting long haul experience – even though they were being subbed by Air Italy. Or was it Qatar Airways. I guess I’m still I’m working that one out.
• Ryanair continued to deliver what it promises – providing you play by their rules (translation. Buy priority boarding if you want to take your big bag aboard the plane).
• Aer Lingus – constant service delivery

The Could Do Better

• Lufthansa Premium Economy. I honestly don’t know where to begin – but I know that they need to reposition their product better in terms of ground service and the soft product in the air. And throw out those ZIM seats please.
• Ryanair gets dinged for changing its hand-luggage policies twice in one year. But they give you adequate warning which is welcome.
• FlyBe. A lack of on-line check-in, crappy delays and some questionable choices make Flybe the wooden spoon carrier of the year.

What does 2019 promise?

• The re-definition of seat space. This is going to be big in 2019, as we move into three-dimensional measurements. And I can tell you for toffee that no one will agree a standard.
• The transatlantic bloodbath will continue – With Primera Air fallen, and WOW Air looking awfully wobbly, there’s room for more carriers to fail this coming year. The fight over the pond isn’t done – by a long stretch. 
• More Efficient business class seats – Whilst reverse herringbone seats are the in-thing, space efficiencies will come to the fore in my estimation, and the use of more dense business class seats might come. How it will – we’ll see.
• More Connectivity – If there’s one thing I’ve noted in 2018, there is more connectivity in the air – with lots of different options and technologies. Expect this to explode next year as more technologies and bandwidth comes on stream.

As for me?

• I’m on my traditional downtime period until March – where it all goes to heck unless I find the bargain of all fares.
• Chicago in March is being lined up, followed straight by Aircraft Interiors Expo in Hamburg  in April
• And June? I might be spending time with my Irish friends.
• I’m looking towards Asia for Summer 2019

Thank you again for spending time at my blog this year. I hope to inform and entertain you as we head into what is shaping up to be yet another interesting year in the Aviation and Passenger Experience worlds.

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