JAL seems to lag a bit in their service in F, however, I might add. Not quite as doting but really still excellent. This level of quality and professionalism cannot be duplicated on a, say, US or Europe-based carrier.
I agree, JAL's service is not on par with NH, it was fairly obvious, but still good though.
Overall, soup to nuts, I rate SQ a bit ahead of NH. But no European or American carrier can come with several standard deviations of what they offer.
Given that SQ rarely serves caviar these days, even on most of its transcontinental routes, I don't agree with you. Plus, SQ does not have an extensive snack menu and can be rather inflexible if you want to order something outside of regualr meal services.
NH F is nice but on a cheap side, but I would never say it is the best catering or best service, how nice is an airline has to ask you to return the PJ at the end of the flight in F?
Why would you want that pyjama anyway? I had pyjama from AF, LH and SQ - all of them frankly are better than what NH, which had an akward design. The NH pyjama is not worth keeping, it was a comfortable in flight wear, that was it.
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SQ is way ahead of NH, just look at the amenity kit, a bottle of cologne or perfume, not even travel size, and what does NH gives you ? A basket of items same as C class with a few extra things and a bag. The airline that can compare to SQ is probably OZ when they finish installing the new F seats on the 747. The service on OZ is even better than SQ, amenity kit, PJ, and a thank you gift at the end of the flight.
But OZ doesn't serve caviar, how is that of luxury without caviar? And where is Krug or Dom Perignon? Some people say great things about OZ but I don't know how they can better without a lot of requirements for them to be great.
I don't really understand the obsession with one particular item or issue, such as pyjamas, amenity kit or caviar.
Of course, ideally a "truly First Class" F-class product should have everything, but the existence of one of those things is not enough to make me think very differently of that airline compared to others.
For example, TG gives you an Hermes amenity kit and pyjamas to take away. Does that mean I'll ever pick them over NH given the choice? No! Compared to the consistently excellent NH with amazing food and amazing service, TG seems to be far too unreliable to be swayed by a few give-aways that cost next to nothing.
SQ, on the other hand, are arguably head-to-head with NH and that it's a matter of personal preferences and factors such as language issues. Of course, I know that SQ gives amenity kits, pyjamas and serves caviar on some routes still, but as I said above those factors are merely part of my evaluation of the F product on the whole, not an automatic winner because of them. After all, if a USD40 bottle of perfume in some pouch is what swings you from one F product to another (when there are so many other important factors to consider), then....
These things together help complete the overall product, but does not matter to me so much that I will give it more weight than the fundamentals of the product, which should be the seat, food, drinks and service. And in those regard, to me NH is reliably one of the best of the Star carriers, rather than having to wish myself luck (!!) that I'll get decent catering or a good crew. Someone else is more than welcome to the amenity kits and take-away pyjamas - give me NH any day.
While we are (apparently) nit-picking, here is another thing: SQ's new SKL at T3 is really nothing to write home about, whereas plenty of people have sang praises about NH's new NRT lounges. Despite the fact that the SKL T3 was built way after NH's lounges. Oh, and NH also provides an arrival lounge in NRT now. But again, all these are part of the evaluation, not things that dramatically sway me in one way or the other!
One thing that will dramatically sway people away from one carrier to another based on what I've observed on FT: SEAT product. This is most relevant of long haul flights where physical comfort far exceeds as passenger's preference as compared to food/amenities.
In this respect, I completely agree with stargold.
Ok so what happend today? Well I was greeted on the jetway by name by a chief purser. OK only Gaijin in F, but still.
Had a great flight. With the CP outwardly enjoying her delivery of the service.
When I didn't clean my plate of pan fried wagyu with creamed potatoes and some wine sauce, the CP wanted to make sure it was satisfactory. I did mention say that while nicer than Y and C, the F meal is still airplane food. I also said that the marginal return on the meal declines as number of F meals increases. It is all about the seat and service stargold.
Custom desert request. I order the fruit and berry compote plate but I threw in the with vanilla ice cream curveball. It was not catered in F and obviously not on the menu. I just assumed there was vanilla on board and of course once it was located, the CP brought 2 of the Hagen Daz cups up front for me because they were small. She asked if I'd like them on the same plate and I said I would be happy to enjoy the HD from the cup.
Ugh...What else?
Oh, PJ's of course. I figured out the secret to keeping the PJ's but YMMV. About an hour prior to arrival I was asked to change within the next 20 min etc. I jokingly replied, "What if I cant." Low and behold the CP said I'd have to wear the PJ's home!!! Best ever!
Cheers,
Scho
__________________
"It's my job to win!"--Lance Armstrong
Why would you want that pyjama anyway? I had pyjama from AF, LH and SQ - all of them frankly are better than what NH, which had an akward design. The NH pyjama is not worth keeping, it was a comfortable in flight wear, that was it.
The NH pyjama, is not an akward design, it is the traditional Japanese kimono clothing, it is definately better than what SQ gives out, and comparable to CX shanghaitang pyjama. The material is much better, probably cost a lot more than SQ, they's why they would collect at the end of the flight to reuse it again.
Glad to see we've come back to F PJ's of the laundered and re-issued/re-used variety topic.
FWIW Current PJ's are a heavyweight light blue Oxford cloth. I think the PJ's are a hybrid of modern ER scrubs (pants) and traditional lines and design elements in the top. Certainly the wrapping style is reminicent of Yukatta/Kimono but the fabric and length is all wrong. It's certainly more substantial than a happi coat however. I'd have to go along the lines of the NH PJ's are most representative of a Karategi. However since I never wear the top I can't remember if it is belted or buttoned
Here's a laundry list of F PJ questions.
1) I wonder if I've ever gotten the same pair twice?
2) Should we have a sign the pj contest like the United MP Hemisphere's signing deal?
3) I wonder if the laundry facilities are better in NRT or Abroad?
4) They may fly the dirty laundry home. However, are Y pax paying extra fuel surcharge because of hauling extra sweaters and PJ's because 2 flights worth are always onboard?
5) Do you think that my LL PJ's are less used than the typical L PJ's?
6) Are the PJ's made in Japan?
7) Has anyone noticed if the sweaters are dry clean only? Maybe the PJ's started off as white Karategi, they were laundered together in hot water and NH ended up with light blue PJ's.
Having too much fun here today.
Cheers,
Scho
__________________
"It's my job to win!"--Lance Armstrong
The NH pyjama, is not an akward design, it is the traditional Japanese kimono clothing, it is definately better than what SQ gives out, and comparable to CX shanghaitang pyjama. The material is much better, probably cost a lot more than SQ, they's why they would collect at the end of the flight to reuse it again.
uh...you are talking BS and it shows. SQ's pyjama is Salvatore Ferragamo brand, I had one on my NRT-SIN flight and it was really good. How do you beat that? Try google Ferragamo and come back tell us that the non-brand pyjama by NH is better???
Prestigious brand aside, I can tell the SQ cabin wear (more than pyjama) was much better. I sweat a lot and the cabin wear absorbs moisture and sweats very well and kept me fairly dry and comfortable. It was definitely a quality wear. The NH pyjama was not nearly as good, both in design or material.
uh...you are talking BS and it shows. SQ's pyjama is Salvatore Ferragamo brand, I had one on my NRT-SIN flight and it was really good. How do you beat that? Try google Ferragamo and come back tell us that the non-brand pyjama by NH is better???
Prestigious brand aside, I can tell the SQ cabin wear (more than pyjama) was much better. I sweat a lot and the cabin wear absorbs moisture and sweats very well and kept me fairly dry and comfortable. It was definitely a quality wear. The NH pyjama was not nearly as good, both in design or material.
actually, you are wrong. the SQ pajama set is givenchy. the amenity kit is ferragamo. and for what it's worth, the sq amenity kit is garbage.. only the cologne is half-decent. the lip balm and hand moisturizer are actually terrible, and leave your skin feeling more dry. the pjs by SQ are nice.... but they are nothing special.
actually, you are wrong. the SQ pajama set is givenchy. the amenity kit is ferragamo. and for what it's worth, the sq amenity kit is garbage.. only the cologne is half-decent. the lip balm and hand moisturizer are actually terrible, and leave your skin feeling more dry. the pjs by SQ are nice.... but they are nothing special.
Thank you ! Finally someone had pointed out the real fact of PJ.
Check the givenchy PJ material from what SQ gives out, it is nothing like you can get from a givenchy store. If that is what they are selling, then I can tell you I would never want to buy anything from Givenchy. I had never said it is bad, it is comfortable, but cheap material. I just feel it is some no name PJ sew a givenchy logo on top of it. Totally different from the PJ they are selling as mail order in the duty free catalog. The NH ones are a lot more sturdy, basically can reuse many many times.
I also think NH PJ is better. I don't know about new PJs on SQ but two years ago, I received three sets of SQ PJs and they were just like sweatpants and shirts. NH's PJ seemed more 'appropriate' for sleeping
Yea, a sample cologne in an amenity kit is nice, but I wouldn't choose one airline based on what amenity kit it provides.
Food-wise, NH is far superior than SQ in my opinion. Yea, there is no DOM, but there is Krug and consistent level of food that actually tastes very good. I've had SQ F meals that were just cheap looking and didn't taste good.
Best ever!
