I’ve flown on a dozen major airlines in my trial-and-error quest to find the least painful options for my frequent transoceanic trips abroad.
After four years of exclusively flying economy class and comparing seats, service, entertainment, food, and prices, I’ve found Etihad Airways, Air France, and American Airlines offer the best value on long-haul treks — while China Eastern Airlines wasn’t for me.
When choosing flights, I primarily look for the cheapest seats with the best connections and travel times. I also consider factors like how easily I can preorder a vegetarian meal or how much legroom I’ll have at 5-foot-10, especially on red-eyes when I want to sleep.
I don’t expect premium-cabin perks in economy, particularly as airlines increasingly move away from coach to invest in the front of the plane.
But my top three long-haul airlines offer reasonable fares and are noticeably more comfortable than others in my experience.
Etihad is my top choice.
I flew round-trip on Etihad from Rome to Kuala Lumpur via Abu Dhabi in December for about $600, and it’s now my go-to airline — everything on the UAE-based carrier just feels a bit fancier than any other major airline I’ve flown.
My aisle seat on the Boeing 787 was well cushioned, and the wide winged headrest, soft blanket, and large plush pillow made rest and sleep significantly easier across the four seven-hour legs.
The seat also had a touchscreen remote and extra seatback pockets, while my partner bought WiFi for $9.99 per flight and found it good enough to work. I also appreciated the extensive selection of movies, with hundreds of recent films in multiple languages.
Because the flight was over six hours, I was given a reusable tote with lotion, lip balm, an eye mask, earplugs, and a dental kit — the first time I’ve seen that kind of extra in economy.
The food was also a highlight. I easily preordered a vegetarian meal on Etihad’s website, and the menu was much larger than expected.
I chose an Indian curry with several sides that was better than some restaurant meals. This was a big plus since good airline vegetarian options are hard to find or preorder in my experience.
I liked the small details on Air France.
I flew on Air France from Porto, Portugal, to Bogotá, Colombia, via Paris in 2022, also on a Boeing 787.
I was surprised to find the more upscale carrier — which was named the best in Western Europe by the airline ranking website Skytrax in 2025 — offering competitive prices. I paid about $550.
Everything seemed new and clean from my aisle seat, and the plane had nice touches like a coat hook and a cup holder on the seatback.
I was particularly impressed by the larger portion sizes on the long-haul leg, and the French pastries were flaky and buttery.
As a freelance writer who often works on the go, the free WiFi and seat space in economy were so good that I worked most of the 10-hour flight. Air France consistently makes long travel days easier.
The route now exclusively uses the Airbus A350, offering about an inch more shoulder room and faster Starlink WiFi than the older satellite system on my flight four years ago.
American offers good value on long-haul flights.
I flew American from Tampa to Seoul via Dallas-Fort Worth in February 2025, and it’s now my preferred US-based airline for value on long-haul flights. I paid about $630; the leg to Seoul lasted nearly 15 hours.
From gate to gate, I found the experience easy and comfortable. Boarding the Boeing 777 was smooth, and the food was a step above most other long-haul flights I’ve been on.
The vegetarian meal, which had chickpeas, veggies, and rice and came with bread and dessert, tasted fresh and was easy to preorder. American also serves bibimbap, a South Korean beef dish, as a main meal option on the Seoul service.
As for the coach seat, I found it well-cushioned, and I had plenty of legroom and arm space in my middle seat, despite the 10-abreast seating layout, which is standard for this plane type. It’s one of the few airlines on which I’ve actually slept well.
American is actively upgrading its long-haul 777 and 787 fleets with enhancements like faster WiFi, Bluetooth audio, and more charging options for coach travelers.
China Eastern wasn’t a fit for me.
I flew China Eastern for 13 hours from Osaka, Japan, to Rome via Shanghai in June last year. The flight cost about $500, a few hundred dollars cheaper than most of the comparable options.
The morning flight, which was on an Airbus A350, landed right on time, and I found the cabin crew very kind. My middle seat was fine; it came with linens and a headrest.
However, I was disappointed with the overall flight experience.
The China Eastern website and mobile app appeared to be designed primarily for Mandarin-speaking users, and checking in online took over an hour — the site kept switching between languages and had many broken links.
I also found the WiFi confusing. Basic speeds cost $20, which was too pricey for me. There’s a way to get free internet, but it wasn’t clear at the time of booking and requires passengers to pre-register for a limited pool of first-come, first-served passes before the flight.
I also didn’t like the food or the entertainment.
The broccoli-and-rice dish was overly sweet for my taste, and the veggies in my noodle dish tasted overcooked. It was all very one-note and among my least favorite airplane meals.
Meanwhile, I thought the movie options were lacking, consisting almost exclusively of Chinese films and offering limited subtitle options. I recognize the airline probably serves Chinese customers better, but as an American, it wasn’t enjoyable.
It was also a reminder to always bring my own snacks and movies rather than relying on the airline’s offerings.
China Eastern did not respond to Business Insider for a request for comment.
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