The old B777 is pretty much crap in C, agreed. And that must colour the US perspective of MS, as it currently operates the New York service.

But there are other routes, and the A330, which operaes many of them, is perfectly comfortable, albeit a generation behind the airline's new B777.

This (the new 777) is quite superb in C, and very nice in Y, too. The airline seems to be evolving an improved service standard to match the aircraft. Currently it flies to London and Dubai, but clearly it is destined for the lucrative New York market. They tell me December of this year is the soft target for its introduction on the JFK route.