TabTraveller

Same here. Especially to HKG / SIN. It's so much better for jet lag.

bil

Isn't there a difference between Shangri-La at The Shard and Hilton in Park Lane? (In both price and quality).

If what you want to claim is that BA has something "inherently" worse than EK, QF, CX, SQ, AF (and many others), and, even if they charged similar amounts for First (in general), the differences between their products wouldn't be minimized — this seems difficult to believe.

EuropeanPete

This is evidently true though. BA benefits from its unique position as the home of global business and a lot of the super wealthy. They are also clearly losing F market share pretty rapidly, and if the recent investments in CW are anything to go by, they've presumably been losing CW market share as well.

PJSMITH0

In the end it’s down to individual preferences. Personally I hated EK F (very TOWIE) and I like the more direct routing that BA generally offers. I’m also confused as to why everyone believes BA is struggling. I have yet to fly in a F cabin that isn’t always full

Dave_C

I flew QF F from DFW to SYD a few months ago and it was outstanding - up there as one of my best flights ever. From the quality of the food and drink, the on-board sommelier, and the sheer professionalism of the crew it was outstanding. They fit the same amount of F seats in the same part of the A380 as BA do, however it's just laid out so much better, giving a far larger useable space for the suite. Really a class airline.

HIDDY

Indeed....although I'm glad the OP enjoyed himself.
Personally I detest flying long haul as nothing in the air will ever beat what I can get on the ground any day of the week.

Dambus

Why only until the end of March? Are access rules changing??

Dambus

We need an EZE-LHR BA F vs overland/overwater thread!

Seriously, the BA F vs EK F vs XX F threads are entirely predictable at this stage and probably not new news to most of us but I genuinely don’t know where to get a decent cuppa in Peru or if a side trip to Paramaribo is worth the effort!

Must...Fly!

QF are going back to flying SYD-SIN-LHR for QF1/QF2.

QF9/QF10 operate direct to/from Australia, MEL-PER-LHR.

QF/EK partnership continues but no good in DXB for OW elites, only QF ones.

Reds2011

QF are not flying through DXB after March 2018. Going back to Singapore transits.

Dambus

Thanks - had not kept up to speed on these changes. Have done DUB-DXB-SYD in the past - need to recheck future options...

Nuster

The point in your first paragraph is exactly what I am saying - both hotels are 5 star but vastly different
Sorry did not manage to follow second para.

headingwest

I'm quite an easy-going type of fellow. If the crew say to me ''we will be preparing the meal shortly after take-off, is that OK?'' then I kind of understand that this makes their life easier. That's how it sounded to me anyway, so I'll just go with the flow. Considering that I was on a redemption ticket, and shouldn't have actually been on BA First was another reason I didn't care too much, but I did expect that for a 'dine on demand' service the attitude would be a more of a ''What time would you like to have your meal?'' kind of approach.

Also, the service was funny to watch, with the crew literally running through the cabin - it certainly didn't have the 'premium' feel. Although I imagine this is because they are overworked due to BA cramming in so many seats in First.

My next First flight will be on Qatar, so I'll see if it's better experience.

TabTraveller

Directing criticism at BA due to your own shyness or lack of assertiveness seems rather perverse.

Perhpas your flight on QR will show you quite how disruptive a dine on demand service can be if everyone around you decides to eat at different times, especially on a night flight.

headingwest

It was more of an observation than a criticism, but if you see it that way then fine.