India - Best First Class To New Delhi?

Departing from Pittsburgh or Washington DC, I'm trying to figure out what the best first-class experience would be. Any tips would be much appreciated. I have 200k British and 250k AA miles. Thanks!

There are advantages and disadvantages to various routes. I'm probably not covering all options here, but the main ones I'm aware of using BA and/or AA miles in F all or most of the way are:

BA via LHR all the way from IAD to DEL. BA F is much better than AA F, especially (but not only) if you get the new F seats it gradually is installing. BUT going via London on BA can be very expensive in terms of extra charges: I just paid $1400 per ticket to use miles going from SFO to Dubai. I would think your trip on BA could be comparably priced.

BA to LHR, then Jet Airways on to New Delhi. (You can use AA miles for Jet; not sure about BA miles.) I hear very good things about Jet, but don't know how it compares to BA. BUT passing through LHR you might well have to pay some or all of the same extra charges as if you went BA all the way AND I believe you'd have to redeem more miles by virtue of one mileage ticket on BA and the other on Jet. Plus, since it would be two separate tickets, you'd have big problems if you missed a connection. (To minimize the chances of this happening, if you're so inclined, would be to build in a big cushion by overnighting in London both ways.)

Jet from IAD to LHR in business (J), then on to New Delhi on Jet in F. Again, not sure what extra charges if any you'd have to pay on Jet passing through LHR, but they may well be less than on BA. Also, it's possible that you could do this as one mileage ticket rather than having to redeem more miles for two as with the BA/Jet combo.

AA all the way non-stop from ORD. The advantages here are that once you leave Chicago you're non-stop all the way to New Delhi, and you don't pay the exorbitant extra charges as you do on BA and possibly BA/Jet via LHR. The disadvantage is that this it the least nice F, though if you haven't flown F before you'd certainly like it.

Nonstop on Cathay Pacific (CX) from JFK to Hong Kong in F, then CX or Jet Airways to DEL in business class. I suggest this because CX F is much better than BA or AA F in terms of the seats, roominess, privacy, service, etc. (though the food is nicely presented but sometimes not that great). I believe it's also better than Jet, but I'm not sure. It's really a special experience, and flying it across the Pacific would be about 14 hours of indulgence. And from there on to New Delhi in J on CX or Jet would also be nice--in terms of service and in-flight entertainment, better than AA F. And like passing through ORD, you avoid the very high surcharges that you'd pay going through London. BUT this is the longest way to go AND you'd likely have to do it as two mileage tickets, first to Hong Kong and then on to New Delhi. And, as with two tickets going via LHR on BA/Jet, if you did the CX and Jet combo you'd have the problem of being in trouble if you misconnected. (I don't think you'd face this if you went CX all the way.)

One other consideration: the F lounges in LHR and HKG that you would pass through are both very nice, and if you had enough time in transit you could even go into London or Hong Kong for a several hours if you were so inclined. The AA F lounge in ORD doesn't compare at all.

If you really want to get the best F experience and if you have enough time and (as I suspect) you have enough miles, I'd suggest CX all the way unless you search and find folks raving about Jet F. You might even search Jet and Cathay Pacific in the same title under the airlines forum, to see if folks compare them.

If you want to go F all the way internationally and don't mind spending possibly $1000 or more for your mileage ticket, then BA is your best bet. And if you want to avoid that payment and want the easiest trip on F internationally, then AA.

If you don't get many more replies here, you might re-post this query in the One World forum and ask the mods to close this thread. You might well get more responses there.

Happy trails!

I would suggest to skip the BA/AA if you want a true First Class Experience to fly to Asia.

Either take CX thru HKG - Take a Stroll in HKG and then continue to DEL

or

Jet Flies from JFK/EWR to DEL (Thru BRU) - which has a solid F product.

I would suggest to ask the MODs to move the thread to the India Sub Forum - where you may find the answers already or someone with a first hand experience will surely answer.

Whizkid's suggestion is a good one. Please follow as the thread moves to the Travel->India forum. Ocn Vw 1K, Moderator, TravelBuzz.

Jet Flies from JFK/EWR to DEL (Thru BRU) - which has a solid F product.

jet does not use their f product on this route....but their business class is fantastic on this route....

I would suggest to ask the MODs to move the thread to the India Sub Forum - where you may find the answers already or someone with a first hand experience will surely answer.

i think this thread should be in the airlines of india forum....the op should get a few first hand experiences there....

great post thunderroad....^^

BA to LHR, then Jet Airways on to New Delhi. (You can use AA miles for Jet; not sure about BA miles.) I hear very good things about Jet, but don't know how it compares to BA. BUT passing through LHR you might well have to pay some or all of the same extra charges as if you went BA all the way AND I believe you'd have to redeem more miles by virtue of one mileage ticket on BA and the other on Jet. Plus, since it would be two separate tickets, you'd have big problems if you missed a connection. (To minimize the chances of this happening, if you're so inclined, would be to build in a big cushion by overnighting in London both ways.)

you cannot use ba miles on jet but you can use aa miles....jet completely blows ba away....there is no comparison....jet f is a fantastic product....

i agree regarding the extra charges when flying out of lhr....i have started to avoid lhr for these reasons....

AA all the way non-stop from ORD. The advantages here are that once you leave Chicago you're non-stop all the way to New Delhi, and you don't pay the exorbitant extra charges as you do on BA and possibly BA/Jet via LHR. The disadvantage is that this it the least nice F, though if you haven't flown F before you'd certainly like it.

this is definitely the easiest option....aa's f product comes nowhere close to jet or even ba....if i was the op then i might be tempted to take this because it would be the easiest & cheapest of the lot....

[QUOTE=Keyser;16885967]great post thunderroad....^^

Thanks! I'm curious...have you ever flown CX F? If so, how would you compare it with Jet?

Thanks! I'm curious...have you ever flown CX F? If so, how would you compare it with Jet?

the last time i flew cx f was in 2007....i'm not sure if there is any difference in the f product now but based on that experience i would rate jet higher....

the last time i flew cx f was in 2007....i'm not sure if there is any difference in the f product now but based on that experience i would rate jet higher....

Thanks for the info. I believe that most or all of the newer CX F seats came into service since 2007, but they're still not the closed-off suites that I understand Jet F to be. (CX F seats are nevertheless very private.) Regardless, if Jet F is better than old CX F (and possibly new CX F) is, that says a lot. Good to know!

Thanks for the info. I believe that most or all of the newer CX F seats came into service since 2007, but they're still not the closed-off suites that I understand Jet F to be. (CX F seats are nevertheless very private.) Regardless, if Jet F is better than old CX F (and possibly new CX F) is, that says a lot. Good to know!

i agree, the cx f seats are very private & from what i remember i had an extremely comfortable flight....but the closed-off suites & service on 9w flights just has an amazing feel to it....from the moment you get to the airport where an agent receives you personally to the moment you land, you are treated like royalty....my only complaint is that 9w only offers this service on the lhr sector....i still remember the good ol' days when i flew in 9w f to jfk & hkg a few times a year....