Which first class?

[rioter]

If money was no object. Europe was your destination. Which first class cabin would you travel in and why?

Looking to do that once in a lifetime trip later this year and the choices are all so hard. So getting some feedback from some real world experiences seems to be the best way forward!

 

[Orca]

If you wanted to do a comparison why not QF outbound and EK inbound??

 

[rioter]

That is actually an idea that had not crossed my mind. Was also hoping for a comparison on things like SQ suites vs QF etc.

 

[zainman]

Singapore Airlines.

 

[knightman7]

SQ F is my fav by far. EK F is decent. I would rather fly CX J to HKG and F onwards to Europe rather then fly the QF F but I'm not sure I'm in the majority there.

 

[Princess Fiona]

No expert on F travel but here are my views on what I have experienced:
I have been on CX, QF, BA, JL. I'd really like to try EY, SQ, EK. I wouldn't fly CX J to HKG as that's cutting out a fair chunk of the "daylight" hours of the F flight to Europe IMHO.
Of the those I have flown CX is the best overall but as a choice to LHR I'd pick QF out of those due to superior F&B and I also like their mini-suite in bed mode esp with the sheepskin mattress as it's supremely comfy.

 

[Paddy55]

In recent times I've travelled QF, EK and AA in F.
A while ago there was SQ, JL, UA, BA, IB and SA - the hard product has changed quite a bit since I was last on them, but SQ's soft product was excellent.

I give QF the nod simply because I find the staff in F exceptional and personable, although I wish QF had the F Showers Emirates have

 

[Princess Fiona]

In recent times I've travelled QF, EK and AA in F.
A while ago there was SQ, JL, UA, BA, IB and SA - the hard product has changed quite a bit since I was last on them, but SQ's soft product was excellent.

I give QF the nod simply because I find the staff in F exceptional and personable, although I wish QF had the F Showers Emirates have

I forgot the lovely staff and yes I think a shower suite would be fab.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

If money was no object. Europe was your destination. Which first class cabin would you travel in and why?

Looking to do that once in a lifetime trip later this year and the choices are all so hard. So getting some feedback from some real world experiences seems to be the best way forward!

I think there are three absolute 'top tier' first classes... (in no particular order): Lufthansa, Cathay, Singapore Airlines.

There are then a bunch of first classes just behind those: British Airways, Qantas, Asiana, Japan Airlines, ANA, Emirates, Swiss

Then Thai, American, Malaysia, United.

I haven't tried: Oman Air, Qatar, Jet Airways, Eitihad.

Flying to Europe I would take a star alliance Singapore Airlines/Lufthansa combination fare. SQ suites to Singapore followed by Lufthansa F to Europe.

No first class is perfect... some have better ground handling than others, some have better service on board. But between LH/SQ I think you get the best you can.

Qantas can be great, but if you get a grumpy crew it can ruin the flight.

 

[Nizar]

I have never flown F before this year yet in the past month I have flown it four times. Thanks to the people on this forum and all I have learnt in the past year.
The airlines were QF, EK and EY twice the former two from DXB and the latter from AUH, to either SYD or MEL. So a nice long 13-14 hour flight.

So my sample size is not huge but here are my observations.

*Each had their pros and cons. Overall I found EY and EK on par and QF a touch behind, possibly because I took the lounge experience into consideration and I didn't try QF "home" lounge.
*I think EK's bathroom made a huge difference. Not only the shower but the amount of space. I mean on the 388 at least. QF's bathroom was a joke, no bigger than their Y bathroom I don't think. EY's bathroom was somewhere in between but closer in size to the QF bathroom than the EK one. The one on EY 346 was bigger than the 77W even though generally the latter is a newer plane at least it is newer to the EY fleet (seats have less wear, etc).
*EY's lounge at AUH is pure class. Could do with a bit more capacity (especially in the mornings) but I think the showers and the massage just does it for me. Especially the shower suites. Just amazing. I don't think I've ever seen a showerhead that huge. And I think that's what you're looking for in F. Something a bit special. The smells the soothing music and just the sheer size of the bathroom suite makes the EY lounge a winner. The EK F showers were disappointing. There was no noticeable difference between the showers there are something you'd find at the SIN lounge or say in the QF MEL domestic J lounge for example. And that's not acceptable, not in F, and not in DXB their home port.
*EY offered me to iron my shirt whilst I showered. EK I had to ask and then I was turned away saying they don't offer such a service. Disappointing.
*The food on board was on par with all three airlines.
*Soft product on QF was a bit iffy though due to an epic game of chess with a friend of mine I didn't get a chance to sleep until maybe halfway through the flight. One of the flight attendants then asked if I would like to be woken up for breakfast. I asked what time and she said two hours before. I said well how about if I wake up an hour before and she was like ummmm well then you can only have pastries etc coz we cook the eggs all together and we only do that once so if you miss it then that's it. Not the answer I was expecting in F !! Then I woke up about an hour before landing and quickly pressed the attendant call button and the other flight attendant said oh don't stress you can have eggs and breakfast and any food any time you like even half an hour before landing once we've started to descend ! So I was thinking wow that's a major difference.
*EK a winner on their leather Bvlgari amenities kit. EY's handmade one looks like something my 4 year old neice put together at kinder lol.
*EY's entertainment system is a joke and far far behind compared to EK and QF. QF's screen size considerably smaller than EK and EY.
*A major disappointment for EK was the fact that me and my wife were 4kg over at checkin and were made to pay. I mean we are flying F. Not 4kg each. 4kg in total lol. I've actually don't recall ever being asked to pay anything when <5kg over not even in Y in over 15-20 years of flying. I was a similar amount over at EY (not on purpose lol) and all I got were smiles. That's pure class. That's first class. And that's how it should be.

So overall EK/EY and then QF. Also this is just a personal thing but I prefer the "private" suites more than the "open" suites that QF has. But I'd be more than happy to fly either again. Of course lol. Just writing about the 4kg thing makes me so angry lol. First world problem I suppose.

 

[rioter]

I have never flown F before this year yet in the past month I have flown it four times. Thanks to the people on this forum and all I have learnt in the past year.
The airlines were QF, EK and EY twice the former two from DXB and the latter from AUH, to either SYD or MEL. So a nice long 13-14 hour flight.

So my sample size is not huge but here are my observations.

*Each had their pros and cons. Overall I found EY and EK on par and QF a touch behind, possibly because I took the lounge experience into consideration and I didn't try QF "home" lounge.
*I think EK's bathroom made a huge difference. Not only the shower but the amount of space. I mean on the 388 at least. QF's bathroom was a joke, no bigger than their Y bathroom I don't think. EY's bathroom was somewhere in between but closer in size to the QF bathroom than the EK one. The one on EY 346 was bigger than the 77W even though generally the latter is a newer plane at least it is newer to the EY fleet (seats have less wear, etc).
*EY's lounge at AUH is pure class. Could do with a bit more capacity (especially in the mornings) but I think the showers and the massage just does it for me. Especially the shower suites. Just amazing. I don't think I've ever seen a showerhead that huge. And I think that's what you're looking for in F. Something a bit special. The smells the soothing music and just the sheer size of the bathroom suite makes the EY lounge a winner. The EK F showers were disappointing. There was no noticeable difference between the showers there are something you'd find at the SIN lounge or say in the QF MEL domestic J lounge for example. And that's not acceptable, not in F, and not in DXB their home port.
*EY offered me to iron my shirt whilst I showered. EK I had to ask and then I was turned away saying they don't offer such a service. Disappointing.
*The food on board was on par with all three airlines.
*Soft product on QF was a bit iffy though due to an epic game of chess with a friend of mine I didn't get a chance to sleep until maybe halfway through the flight. One of the flight attendants then asked if I would like to be woken up for breakfast. I asked what time and she said two hours before. I said well how about if I wake up an hour before and she was like ummmm well then you can only have pastries etc coz we cook the eggs all together and we only do that once so if you miss it then that's it. Not the answer I was expecting in F !! Then I woke up about an hour before landing and quickly pressed the attendant call button and the other flight attendant said oh don't stress you can have eggs and breakfast and any food any time you like even half an hour before landing once we've started to descend ! So I was thinking wow that's a major difference.
*EK a winner on their leather Bvlgari amenities kit. EY's handmade one looks like something my 4 year old neice put together at kinder lol.
*EY's entertainment system is a joke and far far behind compared to EK and QF. QF's screen size considerably smaller than EK and EY.
*A major disappointment for EK was the fact that me and my wife were 4kg over at checkin and were made to pay. I mean we are flying F. Not 4kg each. 4kg in total lol. I've actually don't recall ever being asked to pay anything when <5kg over not even in Y in over 15-20 years of flying. I was a similar amount over at EY (not on purpose lol) and all I got were smiles. That's pure class. That's first class. And that's how it should be.

So overall EK/EY and then QF. Also this is just a personal thing but I prefer the "private" suites more than the "open" suites that QF has. But I'd be more than happy to fly either again. Of course lol. Just writing about the 4kg thing makes me so angry lol. First world problem I suppose.

Wow! thanks for an amazingly detailed reply.
Seems the ultimate way to do it would be to fly EK there and EY back

 

[rickylee]

My personal preferences, having done that trip on a few airlines, would be to fly QF from SYD to DXB, then EK from DXB to LHR, return QF from LHR to DXB and EK from DXB to SYD. I prefer the QF f suites when I am awake as it feels less claustrophobic, more room to stretch out and work, and better food. On the sectors I tend to sleep I prefer the EK f suites because they give more privacy (though the QF beds are more comfortable), and having a shower on the plane just before I land and launch into a full day of work is priceless.

 

[Paddy55]

My personal preferences, having done that trip on a few airlines, would be to fly QF from SYD to DXB, then EK from DXB to LHR, return QF from LHR to DXB and EK from DXB to SYD. I prefer the QF f suites when I am awake as it feels less claustrophobic, more room to stretch out and work, and better food. On the sectors I tend to sleep I prefer the EK f suites because they give more privacy (though the QF beds are more comfortable), and having a shower on the plane just before I land and launch into a full day of work is priceless.

Paddy Jnr & I flew QF SYD-DXB and EK DXB-LHR and it was very good indeed... firstly allowing a comparison of the two F products, but especially being able to take advantage of the shower on EK - just excellent

 

[rioter]

Paddy Jnr & I flew QF SYD-DXB and EK DXB-LHR and it was very good indeed... firstly allowing a comparison of the two F products, but especially being able to take advantage of the shower on EK - just excellent

I have to admit the shower is a huge draw card at this stage.

As a virgin WP i am a little disappointed that EY was not even mentioned in this thread.

 

[Princess Fiona]

I have to admit the shower is a huge draw card at this stage.

As a virgin WP i am a little disappointed that EY was not even mentioned in this thread.

It was .....
Post 10

 

[Nizar]

I have to admit the shower is a huge draw card at this stage.

As a virgin WP i am a little disappointed that EY was not even mentioned in this thread.

I discussed EY at length

 

[rioter]

It was .....
Post 10

Ah yes! Forgot about that well put together post.

By the sounds of things, better to pay for EK/QF then use points for a trip in EY at a later date!

 

[rioter]

I discussed EY at length

You sure did, totally forgot about it! was a great post.
Was this before or after they added the mattress to the seat?

 

[somebol]

Combination of SQ / LH. That way you get to try FCT & TPR as well.

 

[Sprucegoose]

Nothing wrong with QF to Europe in F. Followed by CX or SQ, however no particular order it all gets down to personal preferences. QF for the wine, CX for the HKG experience and SQ for the sin experience and Krug!