Go Back  FlyerTalk Forums > Community > Trip Reports
Reload this Page >

All the Fs. Trying every aspirational first class

All the Fs. Trying every aspirational first class

Old Sep 4, 2017, 12:52 am
  #31  
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Flatland
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold 1MM, BA Gold, UA Peon
Posts: 6,095
I am confident you would place JL well up that list if you tried them.

QF is also quite nice, although it is hard to avoid Dubai and still fly their F (need to fly transpacific).

Things like charging for the cigars are just petty. That is not the sort of experience one is paying for - one hands over a large pile of money at the start and is then wafted along on an invisible cushion of money for the rest of the journey.

I concur that the LH experience in Tokyo is better than GA, because it's more efficient. Having somestaff attend oneself during a tedious experience is again not what one is paying for. One is paying for tedium and discomfort to disappear.
flatlander is offline  
Old Sep 4, 2017, 1:08 am
  #32  
 
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: SFO/SJC
Programs: UA 1K & 2MM, Bonvoy Titanium & LTP, HH Gold, Accor Silver, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 2,344
Originally Posted by SFO777
FWIW, my overall ranking of the international F products I've flown.

1. Air France
2. Garuda Indonesia
3. Qatar
4. Emirates
5. Etihad
6. Lufthansa
7. Cathay Pacific
8. Singapore
9. Swiss
10. ANA
11. JAL
12. Qantas
13. Korean
14. Malaysia
15. Asiana
16. Thai
17. American
18. British
19. Air China
20. United
Fascinating - I've flown 11 F products, most of them only a couple of times each, with the exception of SQ, UA, LH, and TG, on whom I've spent many miles. As a relatively rare flyer in F, I think my rankings would be as follows:

1. Qatar
=2. Emirates
=2. Lufthansa
=2. Etihad
5. Thai
=6. Korean
=6. Singapore
=6. ANA
9. Asiana
10. Jet
11. United

My first ride in Air France F is coming up later this year, so we'll see how that changes the ranking.

Lufthansa is really my go to F experience. Been so consistently excellent for me. Only weak link is that the food isn't quite at par with some of the others.

Thai has also been consistently excellent - on another day I could even rank them at the top. Food, service, that massage...

Even the much maligned United - all said and done, the bed is one of the best out there, and that's worth a lot.

Interesting that my rankings don't differ too much from yours, considering you've likely flown at least 10x what I have in each. My experiences with KE have definitely been better than yours, and I guess TG as well by the looks of it.

OP - definitely give QR F a shot, especially now that they have it on proper long-haul.
cricketer is offline  
Old Sep 4, 2017, 10:19 am
  #33  
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: ORD
Programs: US Air, UA BA LH AI DELTA MARRIOTT CHOICE SGP
Posts: 9,882
Originally Posted by captdini737
For whatever it is worth, 2 airlines not on your list IF you want to give them a shot:

1. Jet Airways
2. Air India

Regards,

Dinshaw.
Did you know the "emojis" on the right when you are replying are for us to accentuate a point as in 2. Air India ?

Please I am an expat and a long connection with AI but gave up on them. Perhaps you should check other posts , TRs elsewhere ? Maybe SFO777 can provide one ?
HMPS is offline  
Old Sep 4, 2017, 1:18 pm
  #34  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Four Seasons 5+ BadgeSPG 5+ Badge
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Germany
Programs: Some
Posts: 11,491
Originally Posted by HMPS
Did you know the "emojis" on the right when you are replying are for us to accentuate a point as in 2. Air India ?

Please I am an expat and a long connection with AI but gave up on them. Perhaps you should check other posts , TRs elsewhere ? Maybe SFO777 can provide one ?
Have a look here:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trip-...maharajah.html
offerendum is offline  
Old Sep 5, 2017, 7:47 am
  #35  
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: K+K
Programs: *G
Posts: 4,859
Originally Posted by helvetic
That's right, Weinerschnitzel is Austrian. Weiner means "from Vienna."
Gentlemen, after the 4th instance, please, it's Wiener Schnitzel . Wien being the name of the city.

The name is protected and indicates a Schnitzel made from veal.
It's served throughout Central Europe. But if you ask me, it's really a milanese Cotoletta.... Though of course similar variants exist all around the world.
cfw likes this.
deniah is offline  
Old Sep 5, 2017, 12:06 pm
  #36  
Original Poster
Marriott 5+ BadgeHyatt Contributor Badge
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: HKG • Ex SFO, NYC
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP; Marriott Amb; Hyatt Globalist; Shangri-la Diamond; IHG SpireAmb; Hilton D; Accor G
Posts: 3,319
Originally Posted by deniah
Gentlemen, after the 4th instance, please, it's Wiener Schnitzel . Wien being the name of the city.

The name is protected and indicates a Schnitzel made from veal.
It's served throughout Central Europe. But if you ask me, it's really a milanese Cotoletta.... Though of course similar variants exist all around the world.
Oooooops thanks. Embarrassing. Went and fixed my old posts.
helvetic is offline  
Old Sep 6, 2017, 10:35 am
  #37  
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: ORD
Programs: US Air, UA BA LH AI DELTA MARRIOTT CHOICE SGP
Posts: 9,882
Originally Posted by offerendum
I use a product / service 2-3 times before judging them as "generally...."
The TR you posted appears to be from someone who flew it once maybe...was "new" to the Indian cuisine.
My biggest beef with AI is Delays, very spotty service, ( twice I have seen FAs arguing forcefully with pax who were making simple requests.
During IRROPS they are pathetic . Try
several more available.

Been there, done that, have a "torn" T shirt too
HMPS is offline  
Old Sep 6, 2017, 2:49 pm
  #38  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
SPG 5+ BadgeFour Seasons 5+ Badge
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Germany
Programs: Some
Posts: 11,491
Youhavebeenupgraded booked recently their First Service, but got a plane-change to a 787. He had to fly J and so far they refused compensation. More than weak....
offerendum is offline  
Old Sep 6, 2017, 3:54 pm
  #39  
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: 6km East of EPAYE
Programs: UA Silver, AA Platinum, AS & DL GM Marriott TE, Hilton Gold
Posts: 9,582
Originally Posted by SFO777
Compare that to AF (or GA) where you are escorted every step of the way, on departure, on a connection and with AF, on arrival at your destination airport.
TG's escort service is fantastic too, even if it can be a bit rushed.

Originally Posted by SFO777
MUC is even worse with essentially no PA for MUC-USA flights. You are on your own and get LX-like priority boarding.
AGREED!

Really great reporting helvetic ^^ I appreciate all of the effort and comparisons.
Madone59 is offline  
Old Sep 6, 2017, 5:29 pm
  #40  
Original Poster
Marriott 5+ BadgeHyatt Contributor Badge
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: HKG • Ex SFO, NYC
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP; Marriott Amb; Hyatt Globalist; Shangri-la Diamond; IHG SpireAmb; Hilton D; Accor G
Posts: 3,319
Originally Posted by offerendum
Youhavebeenupgraded booked recently their First Service, but got a plane-change to a 787. He had to fly J and so far they refused compensation. More than weak....
Could you do a chargeback at this point?
helvetic is offline  
Old Sep 6, 2017, 5:30 pm
  #41  
Original Poster
Marriott 5+ BadgeHyatt Contributor Badge
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: HKG • Ex SFO, NYC
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP; Marriott Amb; Hyatt Globalist; Shangri-la Diamond; IHG SpireAmb; Hilton D; Accor G
Posts: 3,319
Originally Posted by Madone59
Really great reporting helvetic ^^ I appreciate all of the effort and comparisons.
Thanks! . Motivates me to keep working on finishing up this post. I'll try to get the next two done today!

At some point, I'll make a post on long-haul J, too, and one on flying private.

Last edited by helvetic; Sep 6, 2017 at 5:44 pm
helvetic is offline  
Old Sep 6, 2017, 6:04 pm
  #42  
Original Poster
Marriott 5+ BadgeHyatt Contributor Badge
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: HKG • Ex SFO, NYC
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP; Marriott Amb; Hyatt Globalist; Shangri-la Diamond; IHG SpireAmb; Hilton D; Accor G
Posts: 3,319
Clocking in at #3 is EK - Emirates.




Emirates isn't the best product, or even the most luxurious, but it's unequivocally the most fun! In fact, if it wasn't such a pain to book, and if DXB wasn't in the middle of nowhere, it would easily be my first choice of airline to fly around the world.

I'll start with the area in which Emirates is strongest: Alcohol. The drink selection is impeccable. On my flights, they served Dom Perignon 2006.



As nice as the F seats are on most flights you'll see me spend the majority of my time at the bar in the back of the business class section:



At the bar, they'll bring over the First class champagne, and substitute it into the cocktails. Here's a Dom 2006 + crme de cassis concoction because I can:



The Hennesy Paradis is excellent. Retailing at $700+ a bottle, I would never order it myself. But when it's free onboard Emirates, I'll enjoy it as much as I can.



The cabin is over the top, blinged out to an almost comical degree:





The food was pretty good, too:





Based on my pictures, it looks like I ordered the caviar about 4 times.

And last but not least, one cannot mention Emirates without mentioning 2 onboard shower suites. Showering at 35,000 ft is an absolutely over the top and ridiculous experience. That said, it's a lot more practical than it sounds. When I land, I feel refreshed and ready to go out. Compare with the typical landing after a long-haul, where I feel like a total mess until I can check in to the hotel and shower.


Last edited by helvetic; Sep 6, 2017 at 6:20 pm
helvetic is offline  
Old Sep 6, 2017, 6:18 pm
  #43  
Original Poster
Marriott 5+ BadgeHyatt Contributor Badge
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: HKG • Ex SFO, NYC
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP; Marriott Amb; Hyatt Globalist; Shangri-la Diamond; IHG SpireAmb; Hilton D; Accor G
Posts: 3,319
As a bonus, I'll throw in a few shots of the obligatory layover in Dubai, and the trip to Asia (all of these are iPhone pictures, excuse the qualityI broke my DSLR):

Dubai







Hong Kong



Guangzhou




Shanghai







Beijing with beautiful clear skies



Bali from above




helvetic is offline  
Old Sep 7, 2017, 1:31 pm
  #44  
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: ORD
Programs: US Air, UA BA LH AI DELTA MARRIOTT CHOICE SGP
Posts: 9,882
Originally Posted by offerendum
Need More ? !

http://viewfromthewing.boardingarea....alcohol-tests/
HMPS is offline  
Old Sep 7, 2017, 2:00 pm
  #45  
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: SEA (previous locations: DTW, TLV, EWR, BOS)
Programs: AS: 75K; DL/NW: Plat; DL SC: Lifetime; Hyatt: Diamond; HH: Gold; SPG: Plat;
Posts: 3,383
OP - you mentioned that LX F-space is not available on awards, only a revenue ticket.
Does LX not open up F-space a few weeks prior to flights, much like LH does?
bostonbali is offline  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

This site is owned, operated, and maintained by MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Designated trademarks are the property of their respective owners.