Best Business Class?

[Old Dynamite]

Re: Best Business Class? Or Worst?

Just experienced the Jetstar Business Class. Almost Cattle Class. Maybe prize cattle class, but definitely not Business. Very poor seats, closely spaced. Food ordinary, and videos only available via mobile sets - which no-one mentions until they are collecting at end of flight. No prioro=ity baggage tagginfg either!

In your opinion, what airline has the world's best Business class product?

I would personally think Cathay Pacific's new product would be pretty high on the list, reminds me of slightly smaller Qantas First Class!

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[xt_20]

Malaysian BC was also very good in an out of KL to Jo'burg (out of Captown return saved getting back to Jo'burg) but not so good the KL-Perth return legs - but two BC tickets for cost of one deal meant it was only a little more than economy Qantas/SAA Perth- Jo'burg direct!

MH flies 3 aircraft types from KUL to PER - A333 (OLD), A333 (NEW) and B772.

The A333 (OLD) is just like QF's 763. Not a good modern business class experience.
The A333 (NEW) are brand new planes but is regionally configured only, not for long haul but Perth - KL flights are only 5 hrs anyway. Good AVOD system.
The B772 are a bit old but are configured for long haul. I find them the most comfortable although the AVOD isn't as good as the new ones.

 

[Dalescott]

Flew EK out of Mel, was old plane (not happy) poor service, and only 6 people on flight from Singapore. Flew China Southern, is was far better than EK. Flew China Eastern was like flying 25 years ago, the plane was that old. Flew Qantas staff were horrible, and disinterested at best. But the best was SQ my GOD it ws heaven.

 

[Dalescott]

re: What is the best business class airline in terms of quality & price

I flew China Southern and was very happy, also flew China Eastern but poor plane out of Mel to Shanghai. EK out of Mel the plane is a 777, and I was not happy with the service, or the staff. The best is Singapore Airlines, by far. We used to fly twice a year to Europe with EK, but have stopped using them. They have dropped the ball in planes (Sydney get an A380), service is not as good as it used to be.(I think because of the increased use of Asian staff). Not lie flat beds, and most of all they are now expensive. Try booking a flight on there web site, and see the price you will get. I mean no disrespect to others on this forum, but EK is not worth the money. Go China Southern, or Vietnam for the price they are much better.

 

[mannej]

MH flies 3 aircraft types from KUL to PER - A333 (OLD), A333 (NEW) and B772.

The A333 (OLD) is just like QF's 763. Not a good modern business class experience.
The A333 (NEW) are brand new planes but is regionally configured only, not for long haul but Perth - KL flights are only 5 hrs anyway. Good AVOD system.
The B772 are a bit old but are configured for long haul. I find them the most comfortable although the AVOD isn't as good as the new ones.

I believe that MH are looking at replacing most of the old 333 and 772 flights with the new 333 product by some time early next year.

In regards to the JQ, I wonder if you were on one of the newer 332's are they have the same product that QF introduced onto their 332's domestically to a lot of negative feedback.

 

[Wainza 1]

I believe that MH are looking at replacing most of the old 333 and 772 flights with the new 333 product by some time early next year.

In regards to the JQ, I wonder if you were on one of the newer 332's are they have the same product that QF introduced onto their 332's domestically to a lot of negative feedback.

Just wait until MH gets it`s A380`s

 

[CMak]

Just returned from BNE-SIN-MXP-SIN-BNE SQ flight in J in A320 and 777.
We enjoyed the service and the food and drinks and the lounge in Singapore.
Really enjoyed the overall Singapore experience and both agree that it was better then the last trip to Europe in J with QF and BA.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Just returned from BNE-SIN-MXP-SIN-BNE SQ flight in J in A320 and 777.
We enjoyed the service and the food and drinks and the lounge in Singapore.
Really enjoyed the overall Singapore experience and both agree that it was better then the last trip to Europe in J with QF and BA.

Did MEL-SIN-MXP / AMS-SIN-MEL with Cruiserette in July.

77W SIN-MXP and SIN-MEL - new regional class MEL-SIN and space beds AMS-SIN - Cruiserette MUCH preferred the new regional fitout and the space beds over 77W big seats as she said travelling together we were like so far removed on the 77W there was almost no interaction compared to other seat types - and she is correct - almost impossible to lean across and have quiet chat or do the lovey dovey look into the eyes thingy that females seem to love on the 380 or 77W in J.

But IMHO SQ still the BEST J product in terms of quality of product delivery - I just love them.

 

[CMak]

Yes, I agree about the saparation - couples are quite far apart but the configuration ensures that there is plenty of room for each seat.
Awesome set up if you are a single traveller and want to hide in your own space.

 

[sydunipete]

Yes, I agree about the saparation - couples are quite far apart

and that's a bad thing?

I look forward to 9 hours of noise cancelling headphones, some distance and a drink or two to lower the volume of the nagging machine. SQ 380 business class is heaven to me.

 

[ozmille]

almost impossible to lean across and have quiet chat or do the lovey dovey look into the eyes thingy that females seem to love

SWMBO loves the BA lay out for this...

and that's a bad thing?
I look forward to 9 hours of noise cancelling headphones, some distance and a drink or two to lower the volume of the nagging machine. SQ 380 business class is heaven to me.

I like the BA lay out for this, perfect divider screen

 

[Daggs01]

I am on VA's 737 from Ool to Syd and in 1f. More legroom than other premium ¥ class seats.

 

[turneeri]

Just wondering for those of you who organise & pay for business class flights i.e not company arranged - do you have a preferred system? - Do you go direct to the airline or do you play a couple of travel agents off each other? I'm comparing Bestflights prices and going direct via an airline website and at the moment the airline website is offering a cheaper deal.

 

[ozmille]

Just wondering for those of you who organise & pay for business class flights i.e not company arranged - do you have a preferred system? - Do you go direct to the airline or do you play a couple of travel agents off each other? I'm comparing Bestflights prices and going direct via an airline website and at the moment the airline website is offering a cheaper deal.

I use a specific overseas travel agent for the annual trip to Europe and the rest I do directly with the airline

 

[Wainza 1]

Just wondering for those of you who organise & pay for business class flights i.e not company arranged - do you have a preferred system? - Do you go direct to the airline or do you play a couple of travel agents off each other? I'm comparing Bestflights prices and going direct via an airline website and at the moment the airline website is offering a cheaper deal.

As I pay for business seats I usually do my initial research on Webjet to get a rough guide and then book it through my travel agent

 

[barrieh]

We tend to fly around the world about once every two years in J, we have done it four times, each time on the old Finnair RTW J Fare. Tiem to go again so I thought I would Mr Clever and try and work this out myself. I got a 12 month subscription to KVS and a 12 month subscription to ExpertFlyer. And so I set to work. Nothing Cheap (that was obvious) a DONE4 turned out to be $37K for myself, my wife and our three year old. Too Much Money...

So, despondent, I phoned up BestFlights and we are off around the world with QF/Swiss/UA for $20K.. I asked "what fare code is that" and they said they couldn't disclose that (turns out it's an LX fare SYD-ZRH which allows you to go/go home via the US which books into either I or Z depending on the airline (you can use ExpertFlyer or KVS or other to work out how many I/Z seats there left on a particular flight)

Limited stopovers so we have to get ourselves from NYC to LAX (cheap J flight with Delta from JFK to LAS, drive from there).

Short Answer: Call Bestflights.

In terms of real business class, we haven't done this since 2008 and a lot of airlines have upgraded their product since then.

I have flown QF32 (A380) to London for work in 2009 and the skybed Mk2 seats are a *lot* better that the slopping ones. I have also flown United to NYC for work last year in J and I think their seats and service are *way* better than Qantas. Their seats are flat and their FA's don't ignore you.

I have flown 3-4 segments in J on BA for work and the layout is private but the service is poor.

We flew to coughet in Jetstar Business in August and I was (for the small amount of money) very very impressed. Direct flight SYD-HKT, ok seats and really, really good service, they made special meals for my daughter, etc...

Finnair have done a big refresh I believe but when we flew with them they had "sloppy seats" on old MD-11's. The service and the food was great though.

Anyway, off to try out Swiss J in four weeks! will report back.

Barrie

SYD-HKG (QF), HKG-ZRH (LX), ZRH-LHR-ZRH (LX), ZRH-JFK (LX), JFK-YUL-JFK (AA), JFK-LAS (DL), LAX-SYD (UA) 7 weeks, cant wait!!

 

[agoldste83]

Haven't flown in the new business class, but the old CX Business Class seats are like coffins. Very difficult if you are travelling upstairs on the 747 on takeoff... For Business Class, I think that Qatar Airways have one of the best products/service..

 

[yohy?!]

I actually really like the CX coffins, with the seat fully upright my head is well over the divider making the cabin seem very spacious and the footrest is great.

Hands down though it has to be SQ A380 and seats 96A or K:

- no 'overhang' from seat in front so the space above when in bed mode is unimpeded
- excellent service being closest row to rear galley which is still 5 steps further behind so no noise
- 'own' bathroom also several steps behind next to galley
- slightly raised divider gives a mini cabin sense without being claustrophobic

 

[amaroo]

We are still travelling with little ones, so BA is perfect for us.

CX, is just too restrictive for a family or even a couple.