I recently posted this in another thread on this board.
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Always Flyin:
I'm lucky enough to fly in F on a lot of the premium (and not so premium carriers). I personally divide them into the suite carriers and the non-suite carriers: BA, SQ, AA, CX, and UA are the carriers I have tried.
I would rate them as SQ and CX in the top tier. The particular crew on a flight really affects which one is on top on my list at any given time.
I rate UA and BA as roughly equivalent, for reasons I will discuss below. But the synopsis is that BA is better in flight and UA is better on the ground.
I only flew AA once from LAX to LHR on the 777 with suites. It was fine (I slept the whole way), but they lost a lot of points with me when they substituted a non-suite 767 for the return trip.
I just flew BA in F from Sydney to London and then on to Los Angeles.
My primary question is, why doesn't BA provide any meaningful ground service? When I fly in F, I expect a relaxing, seamless experience. I don't get it on BA.
Find the check-in desk on my own. At SIN, SQ has porters that meet you curbside, take your luggage, and escort you to the first class check in lounge. UA does the same thing at LAX.
After check-in, they are done with you on BA. Go deal with passport control. Find your way to the lounge. Wait in the queues.
At BKK, UA escorts you through passport control and you avoid the queue. BA doesn't.
At boarding, BA makes no effort to expedite your boarding by avoiding the queues. Yes, I can jump the queue, but why should I have to? United escorts you past the queues, takes your, boarding passes, and on you go.
The screen size of the on-board video system is ok (not as good as SQ), but the picture quality is terrible. Video and audio on demand (e.g., CX and SQ on their new layouts) would be nice.
Service is fine on BA. Get rid of the dainty cans of Diet Coke.
On arrival, no assistance at all (except in BKK, where they did escort through immigration). Fast track is fine for business. First deserves more.
On my arrival at LAX last night, my two bags (tagged with first class tags) were the last two to show up.
In summary, when I am flying in F, I don't expect to wait in any queues. Period. With BA, I do. With United, I avoid most of them. SQ and CX could use some work in this area as well.
Now the biggy. The seats. BA comes in third, just ahead of United. UA and BA have more similarities between their suites than differences. BA gives you a little more horizontal foot room and a bigger video screen. UA gives you a LOT more storage options. Computer bag under the foot rest on both, but UA also has a fairly large storage bin in the side of the suite. BA let that space go to waste. UA has a small shelf above the foot rest area. BA doesn't (but let's you share for a meal...something I saw happen on only one of my dozen or so legs).
BA and UA cram 14 suites into the nose of a 744. CX and SQ only put 12. Doesn't sound like much? Much more spacious feeling on the Asian carriers.
I can look after myself, but when I am flying F, I expect the airline to do it for me. BA could do better.</font>