Star Alliance - Best *A business lie-flat seat?

OK, a bit odd question but I'm building a mini-vacation trip for my sister as an anniversary present, and I'm trying to find the best *A business class hard product with this criteria:

- departing from Europe
- long-haul full-flat business class product
- available for award redemption (I'm *G w/ UA MP)
- open destination, anything goes

I have limited experience with current *A lie-flat C products, I've flown personally only on UA C on 767 (bit narrow, full-flat, great sitting and sleeping comfort) and LH C on A340-300 (angle-flat, OK sitting, mediocre sleeping comfort).

So far my full-flat shortlist includes:

- UA to many US dest on 747 or 767
- SA to Johannesburg on A340-300 or A340-600
- AC to Toronto on 777-300
- NZ to Auckland via LAX on 747 (is this available for award?)

Left out SQ as I've read that the 77W is not available for award redemption. Also, left out Thai, Austrian, SAS, ANA etc. as these are all slanted-flat.

Am I missing some options? Any comments on these, are all these bookable as award seats?

Sam123

- NZ to Auckland via LAX on 747 (is this available for award?)

NZ to AKL is also available via HKG... my vote goes to NZ anyway, in my opinion the best combo of seat, service, food, etc.

My vote goes to NZ as well. Best business class in *A IMHO. There is a debate here whether LAX-LHR is redeemable for UA members. But normally LAX-AKL or LHR-HKG should be fine and there are people who have done LAX-LHR with UA miles as well.

You have also forgotten the new LX C class which is fully flat with the air cushions. I have never flown them but allegedly they are really nice as well.

My vote goes to NZ as well. Best business class in *A IMHO. There is a debate here whether LAX-LHR is redeemable for UA members. But normally LAX-AKL or LHR-HKG should be fine and there are people who have done LAX-LHR with UA miles as well.

This would be ex-Europe, so should be OK.

You have also forgotten the new LX C class which is fully flat with the air cushions. I have never flown them but allegedly they are really nice as well.

Ah, hadn't heard about that one; looks good! Thanks!

Sam123

TK have leased 77W aircraft from 9W which have 180degree lie-flats. Used on the HKG, BKK, NRT and I think JFK routes ^

TK have leased 77W aircraft from 9W which have 180degree lie-flats. Used on the HKG, BKK, NRT and I think JFK routes ^

The problem is that TK is changing where they send the 77W often and also last minute. So it is very hard to book them with certainty. And they will go back to 9W once TK receives all their own widebodies.

Look beyond Toronto for AC if you want, all long haul (767, A330, 777) aircraft that fly to Europe have pods. I agree though that NZ or LX would be better bets for overall mix of hard and soft product.

I would rate them

LX & NZ basically equal (LX's fleet is small though)
AC
TK, for reasons mentioned
UA

Of course there is the reality that one of the flights may be a day flight, where a flat bed would be less needed, and that opens things up to a greater number of flights...

-Brian

Add me to the group that thinks NZ has the winning combination. Having done LHR-HKG a few times in biz on NZ, it's definitely ranked in my Top 3 (if not my Top 1!) of business class experiences. The service was more down-to-earth and genuine than on SQ, the seats were more comfortable than UA, and the food/wine was top notch.

Austrian C is hardly comparable with the new LX C. Avoid AUA, go for Zurich, which gives you another additional duty-free-stopover.

Just my 2 cents, but Austrian sucks in comparison and so does VIE for me (another scan by border control when transiting is something I can do without).

LH does not offer lie-flat in C, but if you have to travel LH for some reason, the seat can be tricked into lie-flat using a piece of bulky and rugged luggage, but the FA told me htere´s also an electronic trick (which I was not interested to find out that time, but should have in aftersight to communicate here).

Edit: I am referring to flights including destinations in Europe and the US, mainly. I cannot reference NZ or anything in Asia due to lack of own experience.

SA is really pretty good - but just make sure you are on a flight with the fully flat seats - they seem to be switching quite regulalry these days.

My vote goes to NZ as well.

1. NZ
2. SQ (77W or 380), beware of ending in a "Regional" 777 which is :td:

2. SQ (77W or 380), beware of ending in a "Regional" 777 which is :td:
OP wants to use his/her miles and it's UA MP miles no less!
There's no chance OP will get two I class on SQ 77W/380.