United Global First v. Asiana Business
#16
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: NYC
Programs: UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist, Bonvoy Titanium, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 368
Well it is just not correct to say that UA GF is "UA BF with soup." The seat is longer and wider, has direct aisle access, is far more private, and has tons more personal storage space than any BF seat (except for an UD window on the 744). And when the service is good, it is quite a bit more attentive than BF due to the much better FA/pax ratio. It is in my view absolutely worth the extra 10,000 miles OW on a NA-Asia routing.
#17
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 1,224
What about if you compare Asiana's new Smartium Business Class seat to UA Global First? I'm assuming that, up until now, this thread has focused on comparing Asiana's old J product with UA GF.
This January, I'll a have a choice between flying OZ out of JFK on their new J hard product, or United Global First out of ORD. Which would you choose and why? Routing differences are negligible to me.
This January, I'll a have a choice between flying OZ out of JFK on their new J hard product, or United Global First out of ORD. Which would you choose and why? Routing differences are negligible to me.
#18
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Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
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What about if you compare Asiana's new Smartium Business Class seat to UA Global First? I'm assuming that, up until now, this thread has focused on comparing Asiana's old J product with UA GF.
This January, I'll a have a choice between flying OZ out of JFK on their new J hard product, or United Global First out of ORD. Which would you choose and why? Routing differences are negligible to me.
This January, I'll a have a choice between flying OZ out of JFK on their new J hard product, or United Global First out of ORD. Which would you choose and why? Routing differences are negligible to me.
#19
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: NYC / TYO / Up in the Air
Programs: UA GS 1.7MM, AA 2.1MM, EK, BA, SQ, CX, Marriot LT, Accor P
Posts: 6,316
What about if you compare Asiana's new Smartium Business Class seat to UA Global First? I'm assuming that, up until now, this thread has focused on comparing Asiana's old J product with UA GF.
This January, I'll a have a choice between flying OZ out of JFK on their new J hard product, or United Global First out of ORD. Which would you choose and why? Routing differences are negligible to me.
This January, I'll a have a choice between flying OZ out of JFK on their new J hard product, or United Global First out of ORD. Which would you choose and why? Routing differences are negligible to me.
#20
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Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: LGA/JFK/EWR
Programs: UA 1K1.75MM, Hyatt Globalist, abandoned Marriott LTT (RIP SPG), Hertz PC
Posts: 21,169
What about if you compare Asiana's new Smartium Business Class seat to UA Global First? I'm assuming that, up until now, this thread has focused on comparing Asiana's old J product with UA GF.
This January, I'll a have a choice between flying OZ out of JFK on their new J hard product, or United Global First out of ORD. Which would you choose and why? Routing differences are negligible to me.
This January, I'll a have a choice between flying OZ out of JFK on their new J hard product, or United Global First out of ORD. Which would you choose and why? Routing differences are negligible to me.
Where are you coming from? Not the easiest to get to JFK necessarily if connecting.
#21
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: NCL
Programs: UA 1MM/*G. DL Gold for one more year.
Posts: 5,305
I disagree. Yes, the flight attendants are lot more attentive, and take the time to check that bins are closed and toilets are cleaned, but really, the food and wine they offer are quite mediocre and even frumpier than UA's offering. Yes, they will offer you bi bim bap and bulgogi, and Korean food is nice, but the same dishes are also offered (with less bells and whistles) in coach. And they insist on keeping their cabins at 25°C or more.
#22
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Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: LGA/JFK/EWR
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I disagree. Yes, the flight attendants are lot more attentive, and take the time to check that bins are closed and toilets are cleaned, but really, the food and wine they offer are quite mediocre and even frumpier than UA's offering. Yes, they will offer you bi bim bap and bulgogi, and Korean food is nice, but the same dishes are also offered (with less bells and whistles) in coach. And they insist on keeping their cabins at 25°C or more.
#23
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Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Jersey Shore/YYZ
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Plat, Hilton Diamond, Hertz PC
Posts: 12,521
I'll report back when I try Smartium ICN-JFK. The seats look awesome - but I do admit a look at some posted OZ J wine lists lends credence to the previous poster's comparison to UA F. Mediocre. Now, spirits is another thing - Johnny Walker Blue in OZ F. Wow.
#24
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: EWR, PHL
Programs: UA1k 3MM, AA Plt, peasant on everybody else, elite something or other at a bunch of hotels.
Posts: 4,637
I disagree. Yes, the flight attendants are lot more attentive, and take the time to check that bins are closed and toilets are cleaned, but really, the food and wine they offer are quite mediocre and even frumpier than UA's offering. Yes, they will offer you bi bim bap and bulgogi, and Korean food is nice, but the same dishes are also offered (with less bells and whistles) in coach. And they insist on keeping their cabins at 25°C or more.
UA Int'l F hard product is much better than OZ C, even their "Smartium" seats.
Hot cabins are a major problem on OZ. 25°C or more is not an exaggeration. At least on their 747's you had an air vent.
#26
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 1,224
#28
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Join Date: Apr 2013
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In fact, the UA GF seat is more comfortable for sitting than the OZ F suite (though the OZ seat wins for sleep on square footage alone). IMO UA nailed it with their IPTE seating in both F and J. Now if only the rest of the product and experience measured up . . . .
#29
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: NYC, YYZ
Programs: AC SE100K, SPG Gold, UA MP
Posts: 1,002
I've just flown LHR-ICN on OZ Smartium class; hard product on par with UA BF or J class lie-flat. OZ's J meals are pretty good with good mid-flight snacks and landing meal, but I don't think it's that far superior to UA BF meals during my EWR-HAM trip or JFK-SFO/LAX trips. OZ did offer L'Occitane amenity bags, and their toilets had toothbrushes, combs and small amenities. Both IFE are similar but UA had touch screen. I would say UA GF which my mom flew a short segment ICN-NRT previously was superior than OZ J Smartium Class.