AFF Decides: Best airlines by cabin class

Status
Not open for further replies.
I believe there's a strong "familiarity bias" to any such list. ie. We prefer those carriers we are most used to and travel with the most, unless they are diabolically bad. Just that we get used to the routines on the airline we travel with the most.

Also aircraft type can influence things a lot, for example I used to enjoy flying MEL/SIN on QF A380 in Y but really don't like travelling on the A330 now. And same with EK A80 should be good on the route next year but the 77W is bad..

My ratings:
F: not enough experience
J: NZ or SQ
PE: not enough experience
Y: SQ
 
International Travel

F: Flew AA, but wouldn't rate them
J: CX
PE: Never experienced
Y: Never experienced

Most improved AC in J, negative IFE
 
As pointed out above these things can be very subjective. But my list:

F: CX Have only flown them and loved every second of it :)
J: CX
PE: Never experiened.
Y: QF/SQ both have excellent IFE
 
What's the bet David Flynn sources an article from this thread in the coming weeks.
 
Economy - Qantas (having done most of my flying in Y)
Premium Economy - I'm going to go Air New Zealand, having not tried it, but having seen/read about it.
Business - I don't like Skybed... I haven't experienced too much else, the new QF A330 product looks good but I also haven't experienced that, so I'll just leave this blank.
First - It's got to be Etihad, right?
 
I believe there's a strong "familiarity bias" to any such list. ie. We prefer those carriers we are most used to and travel with the most, unless they are diabolically bad. Just that we get used to the routines on the airline we travel with the most.

Also aircraft type can influence things a lot, for example I used to enjoy flying MEL/SIN on QF A380 in Y but really don't like travelling on the A330 now. And same with EK A80 should be good on the route next year but the 77W is bad..

My ratings:
F: not enough experience
J: NZ or SQ
PE: not enough experience
Y: SQ

A "familiarity bias" isn't a problem for this kind of survery as it is unashamedly subjective to begin with.
However, it would be trite to point out that you can only judge what you've experienced.
Also to look at it another way, if you fly frequently with a particular carrier then either you like it or you're a masochis_!
(In a competitive international context of course - let's exclude (virtual) monopolies before you flood me with replies on that basis.)
 
However, it would be trite to point out that you can only judge what you've experienced.

True, but many of us have travelled on various carriers, but when we get back on our "home" or "everyday" carrier, it's just the familiar surrounds, familiar routine that makes us appreciate it even more. I feel that way about SQ now. Fly on TG, GA, MH, EK, QR, KL, VN or QF in Y (which I have in the last two years), it just feels wrong compared to what I'm used to on SQ even though objectively the difference is marginal. But it is also why I believe QF is so highly rated in economy by many AFF'ers, even though many I am sure have experienced other carriers.
 
I agree it's relevant, my point was only that it doesn't invalidate it, as this doeesn't pretend to be objective research.
I was aware of it when I did my list and that's why QF didn't get a mention, although their new J suites are a contender.
 
First: -
Business: - Singapore
Prem Economy: - AirNZ
Economy: - Qantas/Singapore, too close to call
 
Australia's highest-earning Velocity Frequent Flyer credit card: Offer expires: 21 Jan 2025
- Earn 60,000 bonus Velocity Points
- Get unlimited Virgin Australia Lounge access
- Enjoy a complimentary return Virgin Australia domestic flight each year

AFF Supporters can remove this and all advertisements

A vote is invalid without some criteria. EG. Price.

I think for this kind of survey we should just assume that all prices are the same/irrelevant. (Yes, I understand this isn't actually the case.) It's really more about the product and overall experience.
 
I have been lucky enough to fly first with both Thai and Qatar. Thai was so much better, their customer service was excellent. The qr service was a bit average
 
First class - Still waiting to find out
Business class - Cathay Pacific
Premium economy - QANTAS
Economy - Singapore (the A380 upstairs cabin if it still exists)

I'm pretty much with you.

Just my 2 cents worth :

Whilst not having a tremendous amount of experience travelling with a huge variety of airlines on Long- haul ( I've Mostly travelled QF/BA/EK in my lifetime of long-haul flying) I can only go by solid feedback from friends, family and those in the know, such as reading reviews written up here on AFF or decent travel review publications.

Despite being a self proclaimed Qantas Fan Boy, What I will say is that, the one and only time I travelled on SQ in 2011( MAN > MUC > SIN> BNE) I travelled as a lowly red VS frequent flyer ( I don't have a VA FF account yet .... But that's another story ) .
Reflecting back at the experience on SQ now, I felt I was given the same level of service onboard those flights as what I now experience as a QF WP ( which is always "over and beyond" by the way) .
Maybe I was lucky on those flights with great crew, but I firmly believe that SQ were simply outstanding in Y especially considering I had entry level status with a partner airline.

The SQ soft product was legendary and its no wonder why I know of plenty of airline passengers in the UK for example, who are prepared to pay up to £100 more ( in excess of $200 AUD) to fly on SQ Y to Australia than other carriers.
( The Hard Product in Y, for most of the large flag carriers, I feel doesn't differ too much)

Next year I will get to travel for the first time on three new carriers which I have never traveled on before , which I'm greatly looking forward to :
- AY ( only in Y but on their new A350)
- CX (In their legendary J product, long-haul )
- AA ( domestic F..... I have set the bar low on that one :) )

Hopefully I will be a bit more rounded with my opinions of the various airlines by then.
 
Last edited:
Business Class - Cathay. (I'd put our SQ J class flight below the rest. Awful)
Premium Economy - Qantas
Economy - SQ (go figure)

Only had 2 F flights - both on Emirates. Will be testing Qantas F A380 in January.
 
F long haul: EY
F short haul: AA
J long haul: CX
J short haul: UL
PE: QF
Y long haul: QF
Y short: SB
 
Economy - Swiss

This is an outside the box one. Haven't done longhaul in Y on LX (have in J, and it was quite acceptable), only shorthaul Y, and well I like the chocolate they hand out (!). They often have good Y fares ex-SIN, and am curious what elevates them to the top of your list for Y travel, and whether worth considering?
 
My family all prefer J SQ with EY a close second evened up with their limo service making the choice purely down to availability and scheduling. Where scheduling suits, all happy to fly either VA or QF (except overnight Asia return flights) closely followed in no particular order by CX, EK and BA. Vietnam Airlines (no choice) and DL with direct aisle access have some merit with IB to be avoided over BA.
In F, SQ well ahead of BA with MH years ago also very good. Haven't tried F in EY though would have to at least the equal of SQ suites and well ahead of standard F with their limo service.
 
J short haul: UL

This is an interesting one. May I ask what you liked about UL short-haul J? I have a flight coming up with them (J in the A320) and am curious to know what I can expect.
 
This is an interesting one. May I ask what you liked about UL short-haul J? I have a flight coming up with them (J in the A320) and am curious to know what I can expect.

The A320 J cabin (with 4 rows) has the most leg room I have ever seen for recliner seat. The FA are always smiling and very attentive. I like the spicy food. I also think that the "Silk route" checkin at CMB is great. I don't think the IFE is very good, but I usually read anyway. I guess I should have said best J for single aisle aircraft.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Become an AFF member!

Join Australian Frequent Flyer (AFF) for free and unlock insider tips, exclusive deals, and global meetups with 65,000+ frequent flyers.

AFF members can also access our Frequent Flyer Training courses, and upgrade to Fast-track your way to expert traveller status and unlock even more exclusive discounts!

AFF forum abbreviations

Wondering about Y, J or any of the other abbreviations used on our forum?

Check out our guide to common AFF acronyms & abbreviations.
Back
Top