Qantas V BA

[vivmod]

Hey guys,

i need to fly to singapore from sydney this sunday. i have two options:

• Economy with qantas
• Economy with British Airways

What service do you think would be better to travel on?

There is also the option of business on british airways but would only want to travel if the club world service has been rolled out on that route yet. Does any one know if this has been done yet?

Thanks in advance

 

[Mal]

Hi vivmod, welcome to AFF!

In economy, the two services are pretty similar. There are some threads here with differing views about who has the better service. (For example, I sleep better on the QF planes and prefer their seats over BA, but prefer the double serving of drinks with meals that BA has over the Qantas drinks offering. I find that BA staff tend to circulate more often and are more responsive, but also find that the BA planes are more stuffy. Foodwise I find them similar)

Can your budget stretch to Premium Economy on BA? A much better seat than Economy given the choice and not overly expensive compared to Business.

The BA new Business seat is starting to be rolled out, but I don't think you can guarantee your plane will have it yet. It's still luck of the draw as I understand it.

 

[Keith009]

Welcome to AFF, vivmod.

I too prefer the whY seats on QF over BA. The QF version seems to have more cushioning. My most excruciating flight ever was with BA whY LHR-HKG, whereas my back fared much better on QF whY MEL-LHR and MEL-LAX. That sounds a bit hyperbolic but I stand by every word I say.

Service and catering are much of a muchness me thinks. You get a proper wine glass on QF whY instead of a plastic cup, and a printed menu - but that's all about it.

As for Club World on BA to SIN, go for it if you can afford it. You won't get New Generation Club World on BA15/16 which is operated by a 777 (I'm not sure if they've started upgrading 777s yet though...), but IMO the version prior to NGCW is still a pretty awesome product. My personal philosophy - even a mediocre J product (not that BA J is by any means mediocre) is better than the best Y product.

WTP would also be pretty good value and a great compromise if you can get the T fares.

All things being equal, my order of preferences would be:
1) BA J
2) BA W
3) QF whY
4) BA whY

 

[littl_flier]

Hi vivmod. Welcome to AFF!

The BA service to SIN will be on the 777 which I've heard is sub-par to the BA 747 that flies via BKK. (I haven't flown long haul with them before) I've also seem to remember reading somewhere that in whY, the AVOD is much better on QF than on BA. From what I've read in the TR's on FT, I also have to agree with Mal and QF009 that the service on BA is better and more consistent than QF.

Someone might be able to confirm (because my trust reference FT has carked it) whether the new Club World is on the 777 SIN route yet, or only on the 747 via BKK.

Cheers,
littl_flier

 

[Keith009]

... I also have to agree with Mal and QF009 that the service on BA is better and more consistent than QF.

Read my post again - that's not what I said... I think there's really no difference in whY service. I'd go for the more comfy seats on QF.

Service and catering are much of a muchness me thinks.

 

[Evan]

Having done a lot of these flights in the last year on both i would choose QF if it was only whY, but by a very slim margin. Both are good. (I would also choose myself for chance of upgrade but my first pick to purchase is BA WT+)
If you get the chance to take a WT+ seat on BA, do it !
QF i think has better IFE.
E

 

[Travel Guru]

Having flown long haul on BA via BKK and SIN in recent months, i'd choose QF any day of the week.

The comment about the 777 being sub-par is correct, its very tired.

Go QF if thats your choice, but personally id be flying SQ

TG

 

[simongr]

I flew a 777 LGW-BGI and LHR-DXB-LHR in J - the former was awful and the latter bearable. In both instances the IFE was a travesty.

I now fly CW if it is an overnight flight for the flat bed, if I have no intention of IFE (i.e. if I plan to watch Laptop TV) or if it would make terminal transfers easy (e.g. flying LCA-LHR-xx_-SYD).

I would echo QF009's comments - if you have the funds and the option always travel in J if you can - especially on BA/QF/CX - you are unlikely to be very disappointed.

S

 

[Platy]

Yes, the SYD-SIN on BA is the 777 with the older seating and antiquated entertainment system. Forget BA on that route. Period.

 

[Dave Noble]

I have flown J on BA on the 777 and other than having a small screen for IFE ( which doesnt bother me anyway ) it was no different to standard Club World on other aircraft

Dave

 

[tscharke]

welcome vivmod

SYD-SIN is my most frequent route. Have flown all classes (except right up the front) BA J,Y+ & Y and QF J & Y. Even mixed it up one trip - BA J over and QF J back.

BA/QF J - found BA 777 to be old and a little dirty, but the service, beer selection and the 'sitting backwards' made it equal to QF

BA Y+ - if there are any seats left then go for it!

BA/QF Y - i prefer QF, only due to some good Y experiences on QF.

enjoy ya flight, where ever ya sitting!

 

[JohnK]

I think both QF and BA are good and offer very similar WHY products. QF has better IFE while BA has better service with free flowing alcohol. The food is similar on both but really what does one expect with airline food?

BAs WT+ product is OK if you can afford to spend the extra money.

 

[thadocta]

QF WHY is better than BA WHY - the head supports on the QF seats are better for sleeping than the BA seats, and QF has individual air vents, BA doesn't.

Catering wise, BA is more flowing with the alcohol, but you can always get up and ask for more with QF (this will also counter DVT, since you will be circulating).

Lastly, QF supplies Vegemite with breakfast, BA doesn't.

QF does it for me every time.

Dave

 

[straitman]

Lastly, QF supplies Vegemite with breakfast, BA doesn't.

QF does it for me every time.

Dave

The Vegemite is definitely the clincher.

What a way to pick an airline.

 

[Dave Noble]

The Vegemite is definitely the clincher.

What a way to pick an airline.

If it came down to vegemite to decide, then BA it would be

Dave

 

[straitman]

If it came down to vegemite to decide, then BA it would be

Dave

Notice that I carefully did not make comment either way.

 

[Keith009]

If it came down to vegemite to decide, then BA it would be

Hmm - I'd have swung the other way.
Unless BA has Bovril....