Business Class to UK 2014 - Best Airline ? [Based on Price/Value for Money]

[Paddy55]

Seems a few like CX J for quality / value combination, and I'll support this, especially against QF J.
Don't me wrong, QF J on the A380, but I think CX's new J layout is the benchmark against which you can compare others
A "value" factor can be the Points gained in QFF, where CX is at some disadvantage.

 

[blu]

I think Qatar from Hong Kong is a good price (about $2,300 for HKG-LHR sector from memory).
Nice if you can get a SYD-HKG QFF classic award.

 

[knightman7]

You could always buy some AA or USDM miles and book an award seat

 

[spudseamus]

I will be using Etihad one stop to Ireland in 2014 in J all the way .I did this in 2012 and I couldn't fault them so " your only as good as your last flight" will se me using them again .

 

[Sprucegoose]

I will be using Etihad one stop to Ireland in 2014 in J all the way .I did this in 2012 and I couldn't fault them so " your only as good as your last flight" will se me using them again .

More importantly for you lot no need to touch British soil!, so I think if it was a toss up, you would still go direct.

 

[Steelo]

If time is not a critical factor, consider leaving from Bali, both Qatar and Malaysia airlines have very good business class fares to LHR from Bali.

 

[spudseamus]

Hello
We are going to the UK / Europe in 2014 and would like to get some advice on what is the best Airline for Business Class.

Oviously people have their own views but curious as to what people have experienced.

Violet

the he last time I looked Sprucegoose Ireland was in Europe ! Us lot have been known to fly to AUH and then on to UK but I would avoid Heathrow at all costs

 

[Sprucegoose]

the he last time I looked Sprucegoose Ireland was in Europe ! Us lot have been known to fly to AUH and then on to UK but I would avoid Heathrow at all costs

Yes Heathrow has two issues mainly. It's in Britain and two it's a mess at times. My paddy mates avoid it on sectarian grounds which has only become possible in more recent times with the middle eastern carriers. You support them they will support the route. It's a simple deal

 

[Jack_OC]

I've flown to Europe in J with several airlines, which I would rank in the following order:
1 Singapore
2 Etihad
3 Qantas
4 Malaysia
5 Air France
6 Lufthansa

For me, the top three are all a fair bit ahead of the others because they have proper flat beds (not on all flights with SQ or QF - but you can check this before booking).

Two things I particularly like about Etihad are (1) all seats have direct aisle access, and (2) they have a dine on demand service, meaning you can eat anything on the menu at any time during the flight (I haven't seen that with any other airline in J). Etihad is also usually the cheapest out of the three, plus they service more destinations with just one stop (although QF may have caught up now with the Emirates alliance). Etihad and QF provide chauffeur pick up/drop off, which is nice, but you could just pay for this yourself if you travel with another airline. Singapore and Etihad both provide truly outstanding service - a fair bit better than Qantas IMHO (which is not to say QF is bad). Singapore just about wins top spot on my list for having awesome, very spacious seats, and one of my favourite lounges in the world (the Silverkris lounge in Changi).

There's not much to separate Malaysia, Air France and Lufthansa. And just to stress, even though Lufthansa comes last on my list, it's still good (I've ranked it below MH and AF simply due to lesser quality of food). Plus, if you buy a Lufthansa fare, you will be on Singapore metal between Australia and SIN, and you still get into that great SilverKris lounge. So if it was me and I got a good deal on any of the above airlines, I'd be happy to take it.

I've also flown transatlantic in J with BA and I thought it was on a par with Qantas. I assume they would be similar or better on a longer haul route. I'm flying J to Europe with Thai for the first time soon - from what I've read it will rank somewhere close to numbers 4-6 above. I haven't had the pleasure of Cathay Pacific in J, but I've heard only good things (mind you, the same was true of their Y product but I was disappointed when I experienced it).

 

[Jack_OC]

My paddy mates avoid it on sectarian grounds which has only become possible in more recent times with the middle eastern carriers.

Not sure if you're being serious, but if so you've got some very strange mates! I'm originally Irish and I have literally never met anyone, or even heard of anyone, who refuses to transit in Britain for political (or "sectarian") reasons. IME, the main reason people like to avoid LHR is because it's a very stressful and unpleasant airport.

Also, it was possible to get to DUB without connecting in the UK long before the middle eastern carriers came on the scene. I've done it myself with Air France (connecting in CDG), Malaysia/Aer Lingus (connecting in AMS) and Lufthansa (connecting in FRA). I'd prefer any of those options to LHR, although I've done that a few times too!

 

[serfty]

Ireland had the added bonus of a no APD when compared with that of the UK.

FWIW, that of Northern Ireland is substantially reduced.

 

[knightman7]

You are right, Cathay Y and Y+ is woeful but their J seats are without comparison on any airline. And I've pretty much flown them all.

 

[Sprucegoose]

Dead serious.

Don't let it bother you though, each to their own. There was a long drawn out struggle around this relationship so I find your response somewhat surprising

 

[Sprucegoose]

You are right, Cathay Y and Y+ is woeful but their J seats are without comparison on any airline. And I've pretty much flown them all.

I have never flown CX Y+. What is the soft product like?

 

[Jack_OC]

Dead serious.

Don't let it bother you though, each to their own. There was a long drawn out struggle around this relationship so I find your response somewhat surprising

Believe me, I'm very well aware of the long drawn out struggle. If you find my response surprising though, then as I said your Irish mates sound very unusual. Anyway, this is about as OT as you can get so I'll leave it at that.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I have never flown CX Y+. What is the soft product like?

pi got to sample the CX Y+ seating on a couple of short intra-asia flights recently. I wouldn't say the seat is woeful... I thought it was perfectly fine. most premium economy seats seem to have the same pitch (38') and same width and while it's been many years since trying the QF premium economy seat I didn't notice much of a difference between the two?

 

[agedpom]

I have always found MAS good value for money. Service on board is superb as is the food and bev. selection.
For Luxury (and you pay for it) Emirates.
SIA is somewhere in between the two - cannot comment on Cathay

 

[Julesmac]

Flew SQ business MEL-SIN-CDG-LHR-SiN_MEL last year, J on the A380. Best trip of my life! Have also travelled QF BA & EQ all in J and one trip EQ in First was a blast, but SQ beat them all. The A380 experience was high on my list of 'tp-do's' and it was fabulous. Totally seamless from start to finish - though from choice I would never enter/exit Europe thru LHR if I could avoid it. Horrible horrible stressful - and the charges are just a complete gouge

 

[Holidays]

I have recently returned from UK went over with Cathay and returned with Qantas. I flew on points so cannot comment on value but as far as seating goes Cathay has the far superior layout. In particular if travelling alone direct aisle access is bonus, travelling as a couple may be different as communicating with your partner would be easier side by side with QF. Have also flown BA, JAL and Finnair in the past all on points. Did not mind BA with the back to front configuration but would have to say Cathay is preferred option. Have flown China Air paid which was ok for the price and am shortly flying with China Southern paying again as trip is short notice and am trying to keep costs down. Checked their website and layout looks ok with flat beds and again the price was much cheaper than most.

 

[BorisWood]

We have flown business class with JAL on about 12 occasions. I believe they offer the best value with a total fare to London of A$6,230 return. This was MEL/SYD/NRT/LHR/NRT/SYD/MEL. You get a free night in Sydney and one at Narita on the way over. On the way back we break it up by staying in Japan for a week or 2. The new business seats to LHR were voted the best in the world for 2013. They were excellent. From SYD to NRT the current seats are not as good but due to be replaced when 787 starts in December. The service and food are as good as any airline. The entertainment system is not as good from a selection viewpoint. A major advantage for QFF members is that one return flight will retain Gold status (680 status credits MEL-MEL). The trade-off of arriving refreshed after a night in Tokyo and the new business seat is the extra time it takes.