BA vs QF Business Class London=>Sydney

[simongr]

Wizzy - have you flown QF J on a 744? Iy would be great to see your thoughts on QF Jon the 744 compared to BA.

 

[Ev1dent]

I've always found this site helpful, so I thought I'd share my experience based on atrip in J from I returned earlier this week. Based on these flights, I can confirm that the order of preference is:

QF A380 > BA 744 > QF 744

The A380 on QF9 from MEL-LHR was wonderful. I had a great sleep since this was the second leg of a 36+ hour journey from my home in CBR to The Hague (CBR-MEL-LHR-AMS-train). QF staff were friendly, good variety of meal choices, very quiet (with my personal in ear noise-cancelling headphones it was almost silent). Long flat bed (I'm 6'0") meant I had enough room to stretch out.

QF302 (codeshare operated by BA) from LHR-BKK was still good, but beds aren't as soft, no PJs (I wore my QF ones), inferior amenity kits and staff weren't as friendly as on the MEL-LHR leg, but still good. I had an aisle seat upstairs, but next time I'll try and get a window seat since there is more privacy.

QF2 was the worst long flight of my trip. My upgrade request to 'F' was unsuccesful and even though I'm WP with upstairs preference, the best I could get was 23F downstairs. I think that the upstairs cabin was reserved for people going all of the way through from LHR-SYD, so moral of the story is don't break your trip if you prefer the upstairs cabin.

Downstairs J was full, there were no PJs or amenity kits since these were all given out on the LHR-BKK leg (according to the flight attendant when I eventually found someone to ask, Qantas don't count BKK-SYD as longhaul, but there'd been a new kit on each of the MEL-SIN and SIN-LHR legs of my A380 flight). Light from galley and overhead no-smoking light were shining directly in my eyes and I didn't have a mask. Staff who became more rude as the flight went on, a crying baby across the aisle, no pre-flight drink for pax on my side of the aircraft (attendent on my side was too busy admiring the baby), difficulty getting an attendent's attention to get a drink to try and help me sleep, very loud engines, sloping bed all combined to stop me getting any sleep and delivered me tired and cranky in Sydney.

Next-time I would definitely try and get on another A380 flight and if that isn't an option, I'd fly BA.

 

[Tooner]

Next-time I would definitely try and get on another A380 flight and if that isn't an option, I'd fly BA.

Or maybe SQ A380

 

[wizzy]

Hi Simon - I don't think I have flown on the 744. I have flown on the QF A380 Syd to Lon and that was really great. I am not a QF fan at all, but really, I believe they are getting better as the food and service are a lot better than what it was a few years ago. Also - those grey pjs even though they look a bit daggy are SOOOOOO comfy!!! I took them with me for the Lon - Syd (via Singapore on a BA 747) flight back. I guess the BA seat does go flat but i think the A380 one does too. Also, I do think the QF seat is slightly wider. To be honest, the seat size doesn't make that much difference to me as I am petite (under 160cm) and I can't sleep on planes, even flatbed ones...but overall I thought the QF seat was way better. I think the big difference with the BA and QF seat is that the QF seat is all mechanical so you can adjust everything at the touch of a button, whereas on the BA seat you have to lift the footrest in front of you if you want the sleeping position. It's a real pain. Also I forgot and stepped on it and thought I had broken it!

Actually I remember once flying back from Singapore to Syd and I got on a funny plane...I don't know what it was. The stewardess said that it was a QF plane that had originated in Frankfurt. Well there was no first class in that plane, only business and economy, but the business class portion that I was sitting in was different to the normal business class (the cocoon type seats you find on the A380). These ones went fully flat and the seating config was 1 - 2 - 1. It was still bus class though. Again this was much preferable to the BA. I didn't like BA because I felt like they had really, really cut costs e.g. the amenities pack was stingy, no pjs, uneven service, felt a bit cramped...in fact exactly how Justin 2906 described it.

Having said this and ranted about BA a bit (I used to think they were a great airline so I was disappointed)...the only way you will know is by trying it yourself and making your own judgement. I for one will always try to fly QF back from London if I can (hard as there are so more codeshare BA flights).

Hope this helps good luck!!

 

[wizzy]

Hi all I remember another reason why I preferred QF J class - they seem to have all these places where you can stash things in e.g. if you sit next to the window the massive storage area, and also in front of your seat you can put your shoes there and also storage areas for water and things like that. That was great. BA had one tiny tray at the bottom.

 

[notzac]

These ones went fully flat and the seating config was 1 - 2 - 1. It was still bus class though.

That would be the QF First seats - they must have subbed a 744 with F hardware on to that route. Nice work to get them

 

[Kefci2000]

Have done MEL-LHR on both QF747 and A380 and will only ever book A380 again (yes I like private feel of upper deck of 747 but managed to get front section on A380 even though only FF Gold)Have only done LHR-BOS in BA Club (6.5 h) but gave me a feel for cabin.I would probably go BA over QF747, but was probably biased by getting last row window seat which has very private feel and don't have to jump over anyone!But it would be QF A380 any day.....preferable in forwad cabin.Hope this helps

 

[gumpy]

I have only ever flown with Qantas long haul in business. What is BA business like - how does service/AV/food compare?? Anyone got some thoughts on this?

Fly BA just purely try something different.

As a hard product, as many have mentioned, I feel BA is better. The time I was in BA long haul J their service was spot on. Food for me is an after thought. I feel the BA amenities pack is better except for the lack of PJ's. So take your QF ones on board =). Both QF and BA don't offer shaver kits now... massive shame.

One of the best sleeps I've ever had was on a BA flight.

 

[gumpy]

Hi all I remember another reason why I preferred QF J class - they seem to have all these places where you can stash things in e.g. if you sit next to the window the massive storage area, and also in front of your seat you can put your shoes there and also storage areas for water and things like that. That was great. BA had one tiny tray at the bottom.

yep they're so good and so many of them I left a pair of headphones on the plane last time.

 

[serfty]

...
One of the best sleeps I've ever had was on a BA flight.

Each to their own; I prefer Sky[Slope]bed MkI to the BA Club seats.

This is due to the narrowness of be BA seat forcing me to sleep in one posiion only.

 

[gumpy]

Each to their own; I prefer Sky[Slope]bed MkI to the BA Club seats.

This is due to the narrowness of be BA seat forcing me to sleep in one posiion only.

yeah ok, i'm not the biggest person so my best two sleeps were CX and BA. I slept better in both than F in the A380 :shock: but i'd like F in the A380 any day.

 

[Kefci2000]

Have done MEL-LHR on both QF747 and A380 and will only ever book A380 again (yes I like private feel of upper deck of 747 but managed to get front section on A380 even though only FF Gold)Have only done LHR-BOS in BA Club (6.5 h) but gave me a feel for cabin.I would probably go BA over QF747, but was probably biased by getting last row window seat which has very private feel and don't have to jump over anyone!But it would be QF A380 any day.....preferable in forward cabin.Hope this helps

Having just done LHR-BOS in seat 62A of BA 747 and 13E of QFA380 I may just have switched to the dark side!!! 62A had none of the claustrophobic feel that same seat on BA777 had.

 

[Princess Fiona]

I'm a convert to 64A, recently did BA10 SYD-BKK in 64A and QF 30 LHR-HKG in 11J. First time I have flown both so closely spaced and therefore able to make a more meaningful comparison.
For me the seat/bed is the most important aspect of a flight. I can put up with indifferent service and food if I can sleep.
The BA bed was IMHO vastly superior to the Sky Bed Mark 1.
Fully flat, great room around the seat. One downside is the headphone connectors seem a bit weird and I was unable to use my QC 15's for the IFE
Perhaps I could have taken off the airline connector and used the single headphone jack ?
By comparison the QF seemed very sloping, uncomfortable and despite my best efforts I kept slipping down.
As a point of reference I am 1.68 cm tall and sized in proportion to height.
I've decided to go back to the A380 again for my next long haul as I think this might be the sweet spot in terms of service and hard product

 

[simongr]

Why 64A rather than 62A? Or even 63B?

I think you are right on regarding the ranking I do vote them the same way - A380, BA744 (63B is my preferred seat but I can survive with 62A) then QF SKB2.

The only issue with the BA 744 is the footrest seems flimsy for my size 10s (although I am generally shoeless in flight).

I have had great crews on the A380 in J despite the mechanical failure...

 

[Princess Fiona]

I used to be a 62 A/K gal, until this trip when I discovered that 64A is even better. more private ( yes I know that sounds impossible) 3 windows, loads of floor space and window storage. It felt a little bit like being in a mini-suite. Awesome seat

 

[TonyHancock]

I used to be a 62 A/K gal, until this trip when I discovered that 64A is even better. more private ( yes I know that sounds impossible) 3 windows, loads of floor space and window storage. It felt a little bit like being in a mini-suite. Awesome seat

I have taken your advice and switched from 62A to 64A for my return flight on BA15 in June 2012.

 

[Kefci2000]

I used to be a 62 A/K gal, until this trip when I discovered that 64A is even better. more private ( yes I know that sounds impossible) 3 windows, loads of floor space and window storage. It felt a little bit like being in a mini-suite. Awesome seat

Plus you get the massage if leaving from a terminal with Elemis Club!!!!
I always think that helps the sleep!

 

[ozmille]

I used to be a 62 A/K gal, until this trip when I discovered that 64A is even better. more private ( yes I know that sounds impossible) 3 windows, loads of floor space and window storage. It felt a little bit like being in a mini-suite. Awesome seat

Really that good? If yes I'll move myself from 62K on my next trip... Is that a bassinet position?

 

[amaroo]

CX for business/single trips & BA when it's a family jaunt.

IMO, another option which will be bloody brilliant is SQ. I imagine big numbers will be lining up to get on board when DJ gets those S/C rolling into those newly minted QF status matched DJ/VA FF accounts

I'm one of them & will be lining up to book F on that A380 with those lovely Singapore Girls

 

[Princess Fiona]

Really that good? If yes I'll move myself from 62K on my next trip... Is that a bassinet position?

Yes it is, hence the oodles of room



hence the risk that you might be asked to move but IMHO its worth it. Put up the privacy screen next to 64B and you think you are the only passenger on the plane