I have flown in F on UA, SQ, and US (US Airways: Yes, they have flat beds on their A330s to Europe).

I have the most experience on UA by far. But it is really two products. The 777 vs. the 747-400.

The suites are the same on both, but the cabin layout is far different. The 777 is spacious and well laid out. The 744 is just plain cramped and busy feeling (the aisles are so narrow the flight attendants can't even get a service cart up the aisle and have to hand carry almost everything). There is a greater feeling of space and privacy on the 777, particularly on the two sides (A and J seats) of the aircraft. On the 744, 1A and J feel closer than the two seats together in the center of the 777.

The seating surfaces are cloth and are starting to look a bit worn already on the older aircraft. My biggest complaint? Could they have used a smaller video screen? I doubt it.

SQ: Superlative. Leather seating. Unparalleled service and (for an aircraft) food. Video screen larger than my laptop's screen. You want privacy? Take 1B. You'll feel like you're on your own private aircraft. Spacious. A class act. Highly recommended. Now put them on your other aircarft other than the 744s.

US: Trying hard. I flew from PHL to CDG on an A330. Six seats in F arranged 2-2-2. Too narrow for F. In comparison, SQ operates A340s (same cabin width) in a 2-1-2 configuration. Extends perfectly flat. Pajamas provided. Something like a nine course meal. Pick and choose what you want and when you want it (sort of meaningless when all the flights to Europe leave the East coast early evening and arrive in europe early morning). True first class wines (e.g., Krug Grande Cuvee champagne, Caymus cabernet) Two dedicated flight attendants. Video on demand system (pause it, rewind, whatever you want to do).

I thought US first was better than anything else I had experienced on a U.S. carrier, but felt almost like it was an experiment to see what the demand is. I would suggest to go all the way for it. Two rows of 2-1-2 for ten seats. Put in suites. Three flight attendants. Offer pre-departure meal service (the flights from the east coast to Europe are short--well, compared to LAX-Asia, which is what I am used to).

The main point I would like to make on this thread is that there is a huge difference to me between first class suites and first class seats. The seats (AF, LH, US) just can't compare to the suites (CX, SQ, UA, BA), which offer far more privacy and space options. Just because they both lay flat doesn't make them comparable.

And what's with CX not offering any em-power adapters in its first suites? Who fell asleep on that one?