AFF Decides: Best airlines by cabin class

[esseeeayeenn]

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).

You're right the bed was comfortable, and I selected a bulkhead seat which gave a little extra privacy and extra space for my feet.
I had to put up with all the Y pax gawking as they walked past me from L2 to Y but after boarding it was great.
I know I have been spoiled forever by my experiences in EY first.

 

[Mattg]

I think it's fair to say that everyone who planned to vote has already done so. With that in mind, I have tallied up the results.

The winners in each category are as follows:

First Class: Etihad Airways




Business Class: Cathay Pacific



Premium Economy: Qantas



Economy: Qantas




Thanks to everyone that voted. I found it quite interesting reading the responses, and in particular the justifications for choosing certain airlines. Some people wrote things like "I've tried 5 different airlines and this is my favourite because of x and y", while others would say things like "Airline x as it's the only one I've flown". I still counted those votes, and I'm not saying that any vote or justification is invalid, but I do think it calls into question how these kind of airline rankings that we see in the media from time to time are judged.

 

[samh004]

Thanks for the results!

 

[Cool Cat Phil]

Certainly a large enough number of votes obtained to gauge a frequent flyers perspective

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I note [the legendary] Carfield has given the thumbs up to EY F. So it must be good. Although I can't recall him reviewing LH F.

im out on which one is better!

 

[esseeeayeenn]

Thanks for compiling the results.
Apart from the fact that everyone voting has a different range of experience, it is also complicated by the fact that the product can vary across one carrier.
Especially on different aircraft types.

 

[clazman]

What is a surprise to me is how poorly Emirates polled

 

[Mattg]

What is a surprise to me is how poorly Emirates polled

That was one of quite a few surprises for me. There were a number of comments about how, while Emirates has on-board bars and showers, the soft product is poor. By comparison, airlines like Singapore and Lufthansa have an impeccable soft product.

The lack of votes for Virgin Australia, as well as the lack of votes for Qantas in the Business class category were also things I found surprising. Qantas managed just 2 votes for best business class, while Cathay Pacific picked up 19! I wonder if this partly explains why Qantas is focusing more and more attention on the USA, and less on the European market? Of the airlines flying direct from Australia to the USA, Qantas has arguably the best product. But of the airlines that fly to Europe, there are about half a dozen that rated better than Qantas in Business/First.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

That was one of quite a few surprises for me. There were a number of comments about how, while Emirates has on-board bars and showers, the soft product is poor. By comparison, airlines like Singapore and Lufthansa have an impeccable soft product.

The lack of votes for Virgin Australia, as well as the lack of votes for Qantas in the Business class category were also things I found surprising. Qantas managed just 2 votes for best business class, while Cathay Pacific picked up 19! I wonder if this partly explains why Qantas is focusing more and more attention on the USA, and less on the European market? Of the airlines flying direct from Australia to the USA, Qantas has arguably the best product. But of the airlines that fly to Europe, there are about half a dozen that rated better than Qantas in Business/First.

The other thing, perhaps, is that Emirates seems to lack on the 'innovation' stakes. Their product may be solid, may have been 'wow' when suites were introduced, but perhaps hasn't moved with the times. SQ for example is already refreshing its suites. And business class is now on a major refit.

 

[JohnK]

What is a surprise to me is how poorly Emirates polled

Why is that surprising? The reports we hear on AFF are generally expect the economy product to be average at best and only a few people have nice things to say about business class.

In saying that I am planning 2 return trips to New Zealand on Emirates in economy. Need to find out for myself.

 

[dajop]

That was one of quite a few surprises for me. .

One of the surprises for me was how highly rated QF was in economy. But I guess my most recent experiences on QF (some time ago now) have been A330 services between SIN & MEL, which I rate as sub-par, certainly felt a lot better about QF when they flew the A380 on the route. I guess this comes into play:

it is also complicated by the fact that the product can vary across one carrier.
Especially on different aircraft types.