Recent int'l first experiences:

UA IAD-MXP
UA NRT-ORD
Lan Chile JFK-LIM

Recent int'l 2-class experiences
DL ATL-MAN, ARN-JFK, ATL-GRU
CP YYZ-MXP
TW LGW-STL
AF ORD-CDG (in their 767s they don't have espace 180)

Recent int'l Biz in 3 class experiences

UA EZE-ORD
AA JFK-GRU
BA LHR-IAD

1. First without sleepers isn't worth more than about 10K miles/$200 RT than biz. The extra hovering just isn't worth it for me--it doesn't make the flight any shorter, my sleep any better, etc.

2. Haven't tried a sleeper-type, full flat F, so don't have that to compare

3. DL cabins too big for good service in BizElite (except did get great service ARN-JFK--the JFK crews are really better (efficiency, professionalism) than the ATL crews, yet aren't any less friendly/more attitudinal. (Although ARN-JFK is probably a niche market for them (meaning that the crew probably flies together a lot--this crew had really good language skills, including Finnish--one of the f/as noticed I'd picked up a Finnish newspaper and asked if I spoke Finnish). But arriving into JFK--oh my.

4. I CANNOT figure out the video systems on any airline--I simply can't ever see a movie in its entirety--either I don't figure out the combination of channel/headphone/monitor/timing right or something. I really like the DVD/minicassette idea.

5. I'm relatively insensitive to the recline amount--since I really don't sleep anyway except fully flat, I don't find DL's 160 degree better/worse than TW/AC/CP's 155 degree versus AF's 137. Doesn't matter much to me.

The perfect airline for me would be TW with 5 seats across--like some of the small touches (cotton duvets, in-seat video players) plus the more intimate atmosphere of the smaller cabin.

JL