Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan - AF J vs BA F

I'm not really sure if this is the correct forum, but because I am using Alaska miles I will post it here. I am trying to decide whether or not to use my miles for BA or AF. There is availability on both, but with BA's fuel surcharge, they are significantly more expensive. Has anyone flown with them? Is the step up in service that great? Thanks!

Dude! Are serious!? Go for BA F!!
It's lightyears better than AF!
Seriously, why are you even considering AF if BA is available...

Agreed. AF is bleh, BA F is great.

Seriously, why are you even considering AF if BA is available...

BA $2000 and 280,000 miles
AF $160 and 200,000 miles


That is good to know that the product is significantly better.

Seriously, why are you even considering AF if BA is available...

BA $2000 and 280,000 miles
AF $160 and 200,000 miles


That is good to know that the product is significantly better.

Well it's up to you.
I think there is $1840 of value to be had between AF J and BA F but your the boss of your bank account

Also consider the value you'd get out of those 80k miles. That's one RT in F (which I'd probably value at $1k) + one RT in Y (which I'd value at $300). Depending on the routes you fly, you may get more/less value from these miles.

So now you're looking at a difference of over $3100. Obviously that still looks like a bargain, compared to the cost of BA F. But would you really ever pay $10k+ one way to fly?

Will you be sleeping on the BA flight? Seems likely that you'd be doing so on at least one leg. In that case, F vs. J probably doesn't make much difference (you can buy your own BA pyjamas from ebay I'm sure :)). That leaves the primary value out of this at mostly just lounge access (including CCR access in LHR), and better service on one leg. People in the BA forum rave about the lounge. But I don't think anyone would pay $3k for access. BTW, with AF J, you will have access to the Delta lounge at SEA.

This is another case where it would be awesome if AS had one-way awards. Then you could give BA a shot from LHR, and take a lower cost carrier for the overnight flight from the US.

BA $2000 and 280,000 miles
AF $160 and 200,000 miles


That is good to know that the product is significantly better.

How would the numbers compare for business class (Club World) on BA? The difference between Club World and First on BA is incremental, may not be worth the difference in miles and dollars.

I will be the nay sayer here. The BA F service is nice, but for the price difference, I would not pay it. I've flown both, out of LAX and SEA and had great flights on AF. Their FA's don't have much personality unless you speak French, but I was fine with the service.

The FA's on BA are more accommodating, but the food and service is better on AF.

I 've done both.

And while I agree that BA F is a superior "in air" product to AF J.... I would take AF J any day over paying the ridiculous fuel surcharge on BA. While the BA F cabin is a real treat ....I was surprised that once we landed at LHR and disembarked from the plane.... we were lumped with everyone else as far as inbound ground services. A rude awakening.

On a side note: I actually thought ( and this is a common complaint) that the BA F cabin was too hot and made sleeping difficult.

I've had great service and food on AF LAX-PPT.