Hi all
Looking for some general advice, I currently have ticketed MEL-SIN-HKG-SFO in business. I've just noticed first availability has opened up on the same flight (its all on 777 so no suites). Which creates a nice dilemma for me, stick with what I've got or change to first?
The thing I'm grappling with is that I'm currently points poor. In order to get the first tickets I need another 60k kirsflyer points. I am tossing up buying AMEX points (at a cost of $1,500) to make it happen. I'm interested in people's opinion in how much better first is compared to business?
Thanks
I know I am going to be the odd one out here by a mile!
My partner and I flew SQ R SYD SIN and then F SIN DXB in August - our First time, pardon the pun. It was a 50th birthday surprise for my partner and only revealed when we checked in.
First lounge at SYD was closed for renovation and every man and his dog was in the J lounge - no food, place was a mess, lounge staff MIA, guys in t shirts, shorts and thongs!
Once on board, service was patchy - my partner had great service, mine was 'meh', I seemed to be invisible - had to ask for a blanket, pj's, amenity pack, slippers. Food was delish, vintage champagne fantastic so I consoled myself moving between the Dom and Krug!
On arrival in SIN we went to the TPR - no invitation offered at SYD but it was listed at the bottom of our boarding pass - beautiful serene space, enjoyed a late afternoon drink and snack before going to our hotel.
SIN DXB the next day - we went to the F lounge, not TPR, as we were in a different terminal. Good food, lovely space, ambiance spoilt by an American having a very long and loud phone conversation with his partner so we heard all the church news, the family news, blah blah blah.
Once on board, the service was much friendlier and more efficient, great food, wonderful vintage champagne and French Bordeaux.
I thought both cabins looked tired, upholstery dirty, IFO screens scratched.
Would I do it again? No! Was I glad I did it once? Absolutely! I just expected it to be a bit more 'special' than what it was. Our main reason for flying up front is for my partner to have a better flying experience - more air in the cabin, less people - as she doesn't fly well.
We have flown SQ J a few times before and we are happy there, in fact, I think we would be happy in Prem Economy (when are they going to allow redemptions for that cabin?).
On that trip we flew DXB LHR J with QF - lovely crew but very wet behind the years, lacked professionalism and style. Crew did usual QF disappearing act 2 hours into the flight not seen again until snack service just before landing in LHR. Sent feedback to QF, received a pro forma apology today, comments passed on etc etc.
JFK LHR PE with VA - excellent food and service despite the delayed departure ('our' plane was the one pushed into the blast fence).
PAR DXB J with EK - very, very ordinary. Service patchy - wine arrived 20 mins after meal - one glass, 30 minute wait for a top up. One of the British FA's so rude to both me and one of the other crew that I made a formal complaint - no response as yet.
DXB SIN Y with EK - excellent crew, excellent food and service.
SIN SYD Y with SQ - exit row seats, excellent crew, excellent food and service.
We are back to J SYD SIN DXB SIN SYD with SQ next year, J with EY PAR AUH but can't see myself blowing 100k QFF points for EK J DXB CPH so we'll probably do Y with exit row seats.
Perhaps what we expected of 'First' was what we received on our trip from LON PAR. We traveled on the British Pullman to Folkestone and then the Venice Simplon Orient Express from Calais to Paris - another 50th birthday surprise for my partner. The trip exceeded our expectations and was worth absolutely every cent! We could not have been made to feel more special or welcome given our circumstances. We arrived LHR from JFK at 8.30am due to the our late departure (we were supposed to arrive evening prior) and had to be checked in for the train by 10am. We were in the clothes we had put on in NYC at 4am the previous day, my partner became ill just prior to arrival into LHR but as she didn't know what was planned, she agreed to continue provided we weren't going on a plane, we had no time to get any fresh clothes from our luggage as only carry on is permitted in the train cabins due to space confines. The train is 'formal attire only' after 6.30pm so we knew we could not go to the dining car. Once hearing of our 'circumstances' the Maitre d' told us that we would be welcome in the dining car dressed as we were. We declined but asked whether we could get something, a sandwich, anything, in our cabin. What happened next made our entire trip - the Maitre d' returned with the evening menu, we made our selection of three courses, the sommelier appeared with a half bottle of Italian Barolo for me and Perrier for my non drinking partner - both with compliments of the Maitre d'. The Maitre d' himself served us the three course meal in our cabin, each plate arriving complete with silver cloches which he dramatically lifted with a 'voila' - not a small effort given that the dining car and kitchens were 7 carriages away! It was all just so surreal but so spectacular.
The train trips were a lovely addition. 
