sushimaru

2 Options:

JNB-DXB-HND (77W/77L) First Class
IST-SIN-NRT (Refitted 772/77W) Business Class

The fare difference is EK F being USD 700 more expensive than SQ J.

Just purely for overall experience, counting the cost difference, which option is worth taking?

Any suggestions greatly appreciated!

Kiwi Flyer

Of course first is nicer than business class.

m3red

This is not really a comparison - f wins every time for the attentive service. Being in a cabin of 8 vs 30 plus wins.

sushimaru

Thanks. My apology for the obvious question raised. Emirates is giving really good deals on F from one of African cities (as discussed well on Premium Fare Deals forum) so wanted to double-check.

badgersfly

This is probably a dumb question, but you are comparing a departure from JNB to Tokyo vs. a departure from IST to Tokyo?? Those two aren't relatively close to each other, so I'm probably missing something in your comparison.

sushimaru

My origin is actually DEL. But I want to enjoy long-haul premium experience to TYO on a good deal and the best I could come up were EK ex-MPM (via JNB and DXB) and SQ ex-CAI (via IST and SIN). So JNB and IST are just transit points if nothing else.

kuroko

Check the ex CMB fares, also very good most of the times (and a lot closer to DEL)

ioto1902

DEL-MPM-JNB-DXB-HND or DEL-CAI-IST-SIN-NRT ?!?
Are you flying Imperial Airways ?

sushimaru

Not anymore to TYO.

Actually, there are no direct flights between DEL-CAI nor DEL-MPM. My plan is DEL-IST-MPM-JNB-DXB-HND or DEL-ADD-CAI-IST-SIN-NRT. Sort of like Imperial Airways - but with much better products

m3red

Ex cmb is kind of dead.

tiharoa

Few weeks ago I came back from AKL to DXB in F and my impression was that of a waste of money. I should have booked in J as usual. I asked for the main course skipping caviar and entrees, it was a simple chicken and rice dish but what I got was unbelievable, the rice was a hard crust like it had been nuked for 10 minutes with few pieces of chicken a in a sea of brown sauce. I think I never got in Y anything more disgusting. Thinking twice it might have been a leftover from Y reheated.
If I were you I'd choose J either in EK or SQ .

pomkiwi

Sounds lke an unusual experience. I've flown a good number of segments in EK F including DXB-AKL and have never had anything similar happen (I have had a service issue on one flight only but noting like you describe).
For a long journey and an upgraded lounge experience in DXB I would certainly consider F over J if the difference in cost isn't a major issue.

offtothehills

Re the reply post from Pomwiki - couldn't agree more. Very strange indeed...

I wonder is the clue in the poster's name "tiharoa'.... and the fact that it's a first post? Not that I am of a suspicious nature

eternaltransit

Recommending that someone choose J over F because of one inedible meal on a 14 hour sector - on a service that provides dine on demand from any and all meals on board - clearly implies that the recommendation needs to be taken in the context that the poster places an...emphasis.. on the quality of food over the other benefits of being in F (e.g. smaller cabin, bigger seat/suite etc.)

If you fall into that category then I would certainly recommend going in J and spending the difference on a couple of 3 star Michelin dining experiences or whatever culinary thing does it for you.

However, if the food quality isn't the most critical aspect of the decision, then EK F is a decent product with very tangible benefits over EK J (especially if you get a 77W J seat compared to a 77W F suite). You can even get better food in the DXB F lounge

WLG Base

Did you mention this to the crew?