Kuwait Airways

It was like taking a trip back in time. Imagine a decent flight in the 1970s. Seats looked old (had ashtrays in seat arms) but comfy enough. Seat-back TV screens didn't work on 1/3 of the seats. 3 video channels (western middle eastern indian) and very old-fashioned VGA graphics on the video system menu. Food was satisfactory. Service from FAs seemed fine - courteous polite etc. But the ticket was cheap.

I travelled business class to New York - never again even it was offered free. The plane was three hours late boarding a regular occurrence ground staff told me. Boarding was a free for all. The plane was like something out of the 1960's my seat had masking tape holding the ashtray metal in place. The seat was I would say smaller than a premium economy seat. It reclined about 4 inches ie a slight lean. The footrest was a push out at the bottom of your seat plate thing. TV broke down twice. There is no alcohol not really an issue but you don't get given bottles of water - I think I was given two glasses through the flight and had to ask each time. The staff were miserable. The final insult was after arriving some 4 hours behind schedule my lower body was covered in bug bites I assume from the less than clean seat. Not to mention the chap who decided to lock himself in the loo on take off and when the door was pulled open refused to come out so they left him to his own devices luckily enough he was genuinely having a pee. It was the most dismal flying experience I have ever had in all categories from economy to first class on any airline. Its a disgrace. Don't consider doing it unless you are desperate or mad.

Planes could do with a cosmetic refit but I've flown worse. The plane was clean food was fine service efficient and staff were the usual mix of very nice and helpful and very offhand. I would fly with them again as the price was ridiculously low. Considering you get food and beverages and earphones at no extra cost whereas other cheap airlines charge you pretty much to do anything but breathe I can't complain. Just think of it as a budget airline and you'll be happy!

LHR-JFK return Business Class. All staff were charming helpful and polite. The purser allowed my wife's wheelchair to be stored in an on board cupboard. Although my vegetarian meal option was not ordered the purser managed to ruster up an appetizing meal. Would recommend this airline for Business Class travel value for money. The batteries on my in flight entertainment system failed on each leg but were replaced by attendants.

LHR to JFK return B777-200. The staff were rude IFE system did not work for at least half the people on the aircraft (in both directions) and the Cabin looked like it had not been refitted since the aircraft entered service in 1999. Other issues with staff included the guy sitting in the row behind me going off for a quick smoke in the toilet getting caught by the cabin crew and being let off because they could not be bothered to deal with him. This airline is terrible.

Heathrow to JFK New York. The staff were friendly food gorgeous hot towels pillows and blankets and free headphones. On the downside the planes are old and look a little jaded but I saved £800 on the fare between three of us to New York!

JFK-LHR Business. I flew this airline because it was cheap. Experienced the first unpleasantness at check-in when the ground crew sternly reminded me of the limit of hand- luggage weight - it was only supposed to be 6kg! This could have been said in a more polite and friendly manner. My travel agent said the flight was supposed to be B777 but it turned out to be a tired A340 - seat not comfortable. FA service decent enough.

London to Kuala Lumpur via Kuwait in Economy. The baggage allowance at 32kg fairly generous if you need that much. We booked this after reading other reviews on this website and were prepared for a poor experience it lived up to the billing! The first experience on boarding was of a filthy plane chewing gum on the floor and trays dirty from tea/coffee etc - it was obvious the plane had not been cleaned. The planes are old and much of the inflight entertainment either didn't work or was unwatchable (no sound no picture or if you are fortunate neither) - so prepare some entertainment for yourself. I had ordered a dairy-free meal and was on each occasion given either butter/cheese/yogurt and this gave me no confidence in the rest of the meal being dairy-free. The flight crew were not helpful and in one instance when tea/coffee was being served the attendant serving tea said that he would return to me with coffee (and a biscuit). However he forgot and though when reminded he did return minus the biscuit - when I asked for a biscuit he said he'd already given me one! The food was generally budget quality though water/drinks could be more frequently given out. I found the seats uncomfortable. Some would argue that you get what you pay for - we didn't think it was value for money we will not be flying Kuwait Airways again. We feel it is worth paying more to save the 5-6 hour stopover in Kuwait (perhaps 7-8 hours on overall travel time) and getting a better level of service.

Disgusting service throughout the volcanic ash period. We were due to fly back on 17 April from Manila and were told by a Kuwait Airways spokesman flight cancelled. He said natural disaster not our problem and walked away we were not even offered a drink of water never mind a hotel food or drinks. We tried telephoning all next day they would not even pick up the telephone. We traveled the next day to and from Kuwait Airways at great expense and were told we would be contacted when a flight was available. Eventually we were given a flight with Etihad Airways on 4 May - we will never fly with Kuwait Airways again after being treated this way. It has cost us an absolute fortune.

Ridiculously cheap fare LHR-KWI-KOC returning TRV-KWI-LHR. Connection time in Kuwait was reasonable and all flights on time. Flights full in economy but staff were pleasant enough and food was standard economy fare. The aircraft interiors were clean and seemed fairly modern. I noticed a few seats that did not recline properly and was aware that some people had problems with their in-flight entertainment systems. Maybe I was lucky? If you want to take a lot of baggage the baggage allowance is 40kg! I have never travelled with Kuwait Airways before but the trip was remarkable value for money over the Easter period. No alcohol served on board it being a Muslim airline.