AFF Decides: Best airlines by cabin class

[Albert_Thurgood]

Lots of good opinion here but not a lot of variety in the airlines named. Are all the others so bad they don't even deserve a mention?

My rating list:

First - not flown in first. Is it on the same plane?

Business - I have had some nice flights on both QF and BA, but here is one from left field - Jetstar! OK they don't have lay flat seats, but the J section at the front of their A330's is a world away from the cattle with plenty of room, attentive service and good food served on plates plus wine served from a bottle.

Premium Economy - only with BA which was ok but food was from Y as was the service.

Economy - my vote goes to LAN Chile because they are still using the A340 where the Y seating is only two abreast along the sides of the aircraft. Best service vote goes to SQ because the lovely FA's really go the extra mile. Worst service vote goes to EK where if you want coffee you get it yourself, you cant interrupt the crew party time in the rear galley.

This is SO True! I have flown First on EK - the hardware was fantastic, but the service was worse than anything I have ever had on Qantas economy. The crew demonstrated that they thought it extremely irritating that I would interrupt their extended discussions - even though I was their only passenger awake! (And only made a rare request).

 

[Duffa]

My personal experiences are:
First Class. SQ without a doubt !!!.,
Business. SQ again by far the best
Economy. Air NZ

EK in Business and First is " cough" they don't even deserve reporting any further.

Thanks for joining and sharing Rod. Do you do TripAdvisor?

 

[Rod H]

No Duffa, I have no interest in Trip Advisor . My comments were short and not overly critical as I did not want anyone to think I did not like my flights with EK were all that bad !!!!!!!! Perish the thought . One should keep others guessing a bit in ones description of such Airlines.

 

[pugwombat]

I used to fly long haul Y and the best was, was, was.... dunno, it was all awful. QF, OZ (not as awful as the others), Finnair, CX, MH, TG, BA, LH.

Recent J class flights

EY MEL - AUH 777 - pretty comfy, but a bit cramped A-
EY AUH - LHR A380 - luxurious (and there was the chauffeur trip into London). The seat/bed was a bit hard, but I brought my own airbed, which made it pretty comfy. The lounges in AUH and LHR were crowded, unfortunately. The lounge in MEL was OK, as far as I remember. A++
UA LAX - SYD 777 - you're kidding. You call this Business Class??? Probably better than in the sardine can down the back. C-
VA SYD - LAX 777 - very, very nice. Comfy mattress toppers, classy PJs. Would be happy to try again. A+
AC SYD - YVR 777 - alright, but not great. Food was passable, but the seats were uncomfy. Next time (January) I'll be taking my airbed. A-

Dunno about any of other airlines, but if they don't have flatbed J class seats, they don't rate.

 

[ashleyn]

As for other posters, my experience is a bit limited but
F - Still waiting
J - Qatar
Y+ - Qantas
Y - Qantas

 

[spudseamus]

F --- Ey
J --- Ey
Y --- Qf

 

[MEL_Traveller]

UA LAX - SYD 777 - you're kidding. You call this Business Class??? Probably better than in the sardine can down the back. C-

UA and BA share this liking for 8 abreast business class

UA's Fcl on the other hand - one of the most comfortable out there.

 

[JohnK]

Rod - why don't you tell us what you really think? Don't hold back mate!

I have only ever had 1 X QF F and 1 X EK F exps - if I said SQ slaughters both of these I'd be accused of just being a SQ lover - but I will add I think my one and only TK F exp on 380 was substantially better than both of those - but of course MHO only.

He did.

You could have 100 flights and never have an issue but someone else has 1 flight and they encounter bad service. Their point is just as valid.

I love economy. Fantastic value for money. I have tried business class on a number of carriers. It is OK. Don't quite understand why people rave on about it.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I have tried business class on a number of carriers. It is OK. Don't quite understand why people rave on about it.

I don't think many people do. Business class is basically a flat bed. But with 30, 40, 50 or even 100 people in the cabin, 'exclusive' it ain't.

Sleep is the key. Food and service... well, that's just a bonus if they happen to be good.

If you don't sleep, perhaps no need. Until you have no status. Then you get the perks of status based on class of service.

 

[lastrow]

Sleep is the key. Food and service... well, that's just a bonus if they happen to be good.
Try being woken up at 2 am by a woman across the aisle starting up a movie on her lap top with the speaker on loud.

 

[JohnK]

If you don't sleep, perhaps no need. Until you have no status. Then you get the perks of status based on class of service.

I slept for the majority of yesterday's SYD-BNE flight in 4D on VA 737. If I am tired I will sleep. The seat or the mode of transport are irrelevant.

 

[RooFlyer]

F never flown in F and think it's a waste of money. I can use my cash for better things.
<snip>

Ah, but the trick is not to pay cash for F (except for occasional YQ or cash at extremely discounted rates, such as 2 year old bonus AA miles on EY First)

My personal experiences are:
First Class. SQ without a doubt !!!.,
Business. SQ again by far the best
Economy. Air NZ

EK in Business and First is " cough" they don't even deserve reporting any further.

I must disagree about EK First, but then it wasn't my first pick for the class (out of 5 airlines tried).

 

[drron]

Have tried F on BA,QF,CX,AA,and now JAL.
JAL definitely the best but number 2 would surprise many-AA.I am talking longhaul.Usually NRT-DFW-NRT.Have had the same DFW crew on 5 flights.Their service was great even to remembering which wines I liked.

PS-Have never paid for F but a couple of opups-CX,BA.Some points or SWU upgrades but most awards.

 

[CaptBob]

I do a lot of flying, however not on ALL airlines. My observations as follows.
First - No experience
Business - the New Korean product
Premium - The Air New Zealand new product
Economy - any 380 seat to date

 

[Foreigner]

I expect poll results to make news headlines around the globe.

 

[RobJ]

My favourites out of Oz are Cathay business and Qantas PE - I don't use many other airlines but there seems to be a consensus that QF is the best PE on offer - usually the most expensive, of course.

 

[jackthomas]

First class: One day....
Business Class: Singapore Airlines
Domestic Business Class: Virgin Australia
Premium Economy: Air New Zealand 777-300.
Economy: QANTAS

 

[esseeeayeenn]

Update - have now tried the much hyped Cathay Pacific J product.
I really don't know what you are all fussing over. It was pleasant, but not a stand out.
The hard product is a good concept but fails on many details.
The aisle side arm rests need to be down for take off and landing - which is very odd.
This leaves you with nowhere to put one arm.
Further, the other arm rest curves upwards to become the top of the table compartment.
This curve means you can't rest your arm fully on the arm rest, only your elbow.
The combination of the two left me twisting to try to find a comfortable position to sit in for take off and landing.
There is no stowage in the suite for a small bag during take off and landing, only the overhead lockers.
Finally the table swings out into a position very close to your body and can't be pushed further away, only swung back towards its compartment.
So you can't shift the table to stand up to go to the bathroom without clearing it.
Although it folds in half the fold is lengthwise, so this doesn't help either.
The soft product was nice but very much trolleys and trays.
I really prefer the personal service with linen and tableware separate to the meals.
That said the staff were lovely and helpful.
I did have a very pleasant flight, maybe I was expecting too much.

 

[blu]

for J my pick is Qatar but only on A350/A380/B787. best food and service by a mile and a great seat on those aircraft.

^

J: QR - with 17" screen size and Krug served in the A380 bar. The QR Premium Lounges are excellent (DOH, LHR) , but the OW business lounge (DOH) is only a token effort.
Y: QR - the seats, although similar, don't seem to cause tailbone discomfort as quick as QF's on longhaul.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Update - have now tried the much hyped Cathay Pacific J product.
I really don't know what you are all fussing over. It was pleasant, but not a stand out.
The hard product is a good concept but fails on many details.
The aisle side arm rests need to be down for take off and landing - which is very odd.
This leaves you with nowhere to put one arm.
Further, the other arm rest curves upwards to become the top of the table compartment.
This curve means you can't rest your arm fully on the arm rest, only your elbow.
The combination of the two left me twisting to try to find a comfortable position to sit in for take off and landing.
There is no stowage in the suite for a small bag during take off and landing, only the overhead lockers.
Finally the table swings out into a position very close to your body and can't be pushed further away, only swung back towards its compartment.
So you can't shift the table to stand up to go to the bathroom without clearing it.
Although it folds in half the fold is lengthwise, so this doesn't help either.
The soft product was nice but very much trolleys and trays.
I really prefer the personal service with linen and tableware separate to the meals.
That said the staff were lovely and helpful.
I did have a very pleasant flight, maybe I was expecting too much.

This is exactly why business class is hard to judge. CX is not the best a business class can be. But I don't know if any one individual airline has such a product. Each has their pros and cons. Space is a big issue - getting a flat bed in as little footprint as possible. I think the CX bed is a good example, and it's sturdy... no droop, the slot for your feet isn't too restrictive, the bed is long (some flat business class beds are as little as 72 inches... too short for someone tall).