Kuwait Airways - KAC

...less hideous food (tho' the Kuwait airlines stuff is no worse than most - tho' it's all halal so you can forget about pork). For putting up with this you can, as I said, slice a good $100 off your fare, so make sure when you're booking to specify that you don't necessarily want a direct flight.

Right, that's all I can think of to say about them right now, I'll add more if it occurs to me later or if anyone points out any major omissions.... ... more

- that's on a budget and looking to fly somewhere, obviously. Doh.

I had never even heard of this lot (come on, be honest, had you?) until I called up STA (see review elsewhere) to find out about cheap flights to Indonesia. I'm accustomed to flying there via the Middle East since - and this is worth knowing - that's where a lot of the cheapest flights to south east Asia are routed. I was quoted a fare about $100 below the nearest competitor and obviously said yes.

I am now reporting to you fresh off the flight, so excuse brevity as I'm now in Jakarta and paying (albeit a small amount) to use the internet. I can tell you that both my flights (I flew via Kuwait) left on time and arrived on time and didn't crash. Which is always a good place to start with an airline. I can also tell you - and this may be a good or a bad thing - that this is one of the last remaining airlines to allow smoking on board. SO if you're a smoker this is a plus. If like me you're not, don't worry - if you ask to be seated as far from the smoking area as possible then you won't notice a thing. At least i didn't and I was concerned because I have a cold, which usually makes me hypersensitive to cigarette smoke. So, good thing both ways. I can also tell you that the service was excellent, the airhostesses very helpful: when my little headset thing and personal screen did not work they offered me the chance to move to another seat where they did (but alas, it wasn't in first class).There were also a lot of people on board with babies and the staff were universally charming and helpful to them too, which makes a bit difference when you're travelling with young children.

The bad news, I guess, is that they are a dry airline, being Arabic: now I never drink alcohol when flying anyhow cos it makes you feel so terrible when you arrive, but I can see this might be a drawback. I did think I saw someone drinking beer at some point, but I very much doubt if they have anything stronger.

The other drawback is that you have to change planes. Now personally I think this is a plus, I have no problem with kicking around in a random airport or transit lounge for a couple of hours and with the DVT scare having the chance of a proper walkabout is probably no bad thing. You also get an extra duty free stop (tho' the middle east is EXPENSIVE) and a chance to have some less hideous food (tho' the Kuwait airlines stuff is no worse than most - tho' it's all halal so you can forget about pork). For putting up with this you can, as I said, slice a good $100 off your fare, so make sure when you're booking to specify that you don't necessarily want a direct flight.

Right, that's all I can think of to say about them right now, I'll add more if it occurs to me later or if anyone points out any major omissions.... so there's your cue to do so. 

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