The managing editor of the popular travel website The Points Guy recently flew with Kuwait Airways to JFK in First Class and wrote about his experience. Overall for the price he paid the experience was pretty decent, but the terrible airport and transit visa runaround were negatives that were too big to ignore.
Other issues included First Class not being up to First Class standards when it came to food (cellophane wrapped biscuits, cheese, and butter in supermarket wrappers etc). Check out his full post [Here]
Update: Turns out the managing editor and not the CEO of “The Points Guy” traveled with Kuwait Airways. Post was updated to reflect that.
22 replies on “First-Class Weirdness: Kuwait Airways”
His feedback on the airport is 100% on point and I completely agree. Hopefully with T4, all of this will get fixed and will no longer be an issue
The feedback on the airlines itself is also understandable, but considering the price it would not be that big of a deal for me personally and most casual flyers
He flies quite a bit so it is easy for him to notice all these small things
stopover customs at ireland…. nightmare… i have travelled emirates n qatar airways – kuwait to jfk…. the best in class..
nothing beats these 2 airlines…. noone in their right mind wud travel kuwait airays but then atleast u can lay flat n travel to jfk if u r ok with skipping the beverages menu….
pick any airline and its the true reflection of the country they orginate from….
The reviewer failed to point out that the inflight entertainment is annoyingly censored. Last time, when I was flying from Dubai to Kuwait, I watched Victoria & Abdul, and the name, “gonorreah” was censored! One can easily find this name in a medical textbook, it’s not like it was a swear word! I couldn’t believe what I just saw, so I ended up not finishing the movie because of this lunacy!
I enjoyed the economy class, the leg room beats any airline and the food is generous and tasty. The entertainment may lack but now a days we all have a tablet and you can download films on Netflix to watch offline. But of course it’s much easier to see the bad than the good some how. The new staff are efficient and nice. The airport really needs work but when you really think about it an airport’s job is to get you to and from a plane if passports and luggage were updated then I’d be fine with it, not like I live in that building to care about it’s lay out or interior. Personally I see nothing wrong with Kuwait Airways other than the entertainment, as much as I enjoy alcohol (I have cognac for breakfast) it’s much worse for you while flying because you are dehydrated. Kuwait Airways gets you from point A to B well fed, relaxed (legroom) and for a reasonable price, don’t get me wrong it needs work but it’s a step in the right direction.
Btw Kuwait Airways baggage limit is crazy 2 23 kg bags plus a massive “handbag” which I couldn’t carry. I had only one bag at 26 kg I expected them to make me pay extra for it which is what some airlines do, some airlines allow u two bags but at lower weights even if u board with only one bang and it’s over weight they would make you pay for it which is why some people buy boxes to distribute the weight but Kuwait airlines were really nice about it. I find it unfair that he judged Kuwait airlines by the airport, they aren’t linked, it’s like complaining about a hotel in London and writing a bad review because the london train station wasn’t clean or the Uber driver to the hotel wasn’t friendly (London train stations are actually extremely nice especially Paddington station). This person isn’t a professional (the name points guy kinda shows it), your review starts and ends on the plane you are in full stop.
You’re using the wrong analogy … It would be more like someone writing about a review of a trip he took on a train but complaining about the service and staff at the train station. Its totally justified since they relate to one another. You can talk about the food at the restaurant when writing a review but you also mention the service you get.
That is a good point and I agree but he’s point would be valid if he was complaining about the airline lounge or airline staff in the airport. Immigration and the airport are beyond the airline’s control, you can’t penalise them for something that they cannot control. Imagine if he was traveling from new York to Ireland.
I recently had a return flight from Bangkok on one of KU’s new planes. I was flying economy and there was large space between each row, which made it very comfortable for taller people or individuals who love to cross their legs while sitting down, like me. The plan was clean, the staff was friendly and it was a smooth ride after-all.
The in-flight entertainment options, however, is a different story. A complete disappointment. Limited options. By limited, I mean in the documentary section they only had three films, 1 about Oman’s natural habitat, 1 about free-entry sites and landmarks in Japan, and 1 about candy in Japan. They had 1 episode of Big Bang Theory, 1 of Fresh Prince, 1 of family matters, and .. well, you get the picture.
I could write you more about they’re in-flight sh!tshow, but I already relieved some of that stress on their online survey 🙂
That’s not so bad, on Oman Air flight to Muscat we were treated with the recording of the ear plastic surgery as a part of the entertainment. At least now I have a story to tell.
Brian Kelly wasn’t the reviewer – it was Alberto Riva.
oops
And the actual flight was back in NOVEMBER 2017 and not two days ago……
the article was published 2 days ago
Did you bother to read the COMMENTS section???
1) I didn’t say the guy flew 2 days ago, I said the guy flew recently
2) The article was published 2 days ago
3) What is the point you’re trying to make?
I think it’s a protocol to wait before publishing some kinds of reviews… to prevent being sued
He checked his bags all the way to JFK, but decided to retrieve his bags at KWI for the hotel stay, and KU honored his request. Overall the crew were friendly, he received an amenity kit, he is happy with the price he paid for the Royal Class, yet he is still complaining?
Really?
The worst I have found in Kuwait Airways (apart from unfriendly staff, at least on the Indian sector) is the quality of their cutlery (plastic of course). It is unbelievably poor quality and I wonder where they get it from. Anything you see in the supermarket is definitely better. Completing the meal (which too is bad) without the spoon/ fork breaking is a real challenge.
What airline are you flying? Kuwait airlines always uses metal cutlery. I arrived yesterday and it was metal except the tea spoon which when through an over cooked cake with ease.
Kuwait Airways in the Indian sector. Maybe they are different elsewhere. Direct flight is the main reason people still fly with them.
I don’t know, I fly in Kuwait Airways frequently (Faster than taking Qatar/Emirates/Etihad etc..)
I always received fancy pants plates and silverware whenever I flew business. Also, the economy class is incredibly roomy, beats whatever the hell the guys that designed Etihad and other airway’s seats. I’m an incredibly tall person, and knowing I won’t be cramped in economy in Kuwait Airways always makes me feel a bit more comfortable.
Kuwait airways is decent, And a good bargain for the price, That said don’t expect 5 star service! KU isn’t a 5 Star Airline where you get the finest cheese & wine presented in 5 star hotel way! The current airport is bad and everyone knows that it, Traveling on KU will become more comfortable as T4 will open shortly and its 100% compliant with TSA so direct flights to the US should resume shortly. And KU has one of best economy class cabinsits very specious.