Jsut a few thoughts:

1) How can LH be better than BA in terms of the hardware? I thought the LH seats are actually quite old. I guess the good part about LH is the F Class terminal, the Mercedes limo drive to the gate etc... and also caviar.

2) BA and QF. In my opinion both of them are in the same league. The seats are the same type. sometimes QF is better in terms of catering and sometimes BA is better, but IMO they are similar.

Finally CX F Class is on a complete different league altogether compare with the above airlines.

If you actually fly LH then you will know how the LH seat can be better than BA. LH went with a different philosophy, open cabin and optimized for companion travel, instead of enclosed suites optimized for solo travel. Perhaps it is more common for German F pax to travel with a companion also in F, while BA pax travel alone or with companion not in F. In terms of seat comfort, technology, etc. they are really comparable though a completely different design. LH has F in the 744 UD which works quite nicely, but again very different from zone A. But their interior is 5+ years old now, so also at end of life, and LH is making a big change for their new aircraft (A380 and 747-8).

LH has changed their soft product tremendously in the past 5 years, with big improvements. Much better food, and in an innovative style (light, healthy, etc.), and with well chosen wines. FAs are maybe the best around (though they have dropped the program whereby you could book your own FA for your flight). Interesting what can be accomplished with focused attention and a desire to succeed. LH started out a lot worse than BA and is now better than BA on most routes, even ignoring the F terminal at FRA. The service at the F terminal has to be seen to be believed. They will do anything that they can to help you, it is like having a staff of several PAs while you are there and they have reasonable resources. The CR at LHR is like a ghetto by comparison. I'm sure T5 will be a big improvement, but I seriously doubt that BA can match LH -- and they have some changes up their sleeve in 2007.

CX is obviously aware of these trends, and went with their dramatic F cabin revamp with this competition in mind. Probably no coincidence that FRA is one of the first routes getting the new F. Probably it is enough to make CX more than competitive. Certainly CX caviar is twice the quality of LH caviar, for example (but some of the LH food is better than the CX menu).

WHAT? You can book your FA?:confused:

That was an LH service for full F tickets (not for discounted or award F); you could specify the name of the FA to serve you on your flight and LH would almost always be able to meet the schedule. No longer provided. Those germans know how to live.

For same price,definitely go for CX. But where could you find such a cheap F ticket on this route? Is that one way fare?

ex-HKG BA A fare is around GBP 3100+tax and CX A fare is around GBP 4000+tax.

Corporate discounts can be over 50% these days, esp. for the more expensive fare categories.

I just flew BA F from LHR-HKG, and from PEK-LHR. Very nice flights. I think the food, wine, AVOD, and FAs are better on CX, but BA F is not bad, and LHR-HKG you get a free massage at the spa before you depart. The champagne is not equal, though.

BA vs CX First Class - upgrades
 

Each time I've flown BA, the F cabin is full of upgrades, including those polyester suit wearing airline staff.

With CX, if you are the only paying passenger in F, you are the only passenger in F (unless J is oversold).

LHR seems to be running full these days, so this isn't really a consideration. I do recognize the empty F cabin as being of value (and have had dozens of such flights on CX, but few since the post-SARS days), otherwise it doesn't make too much difference whether it is paid F or an upgrade occupying an F seat. Actually the airline personnel are great, they are very quiet, well behaved and invisible. Unlike some of the J upgrades who like to fiddle with every F benefit, no matter how disruptive.

In general, what was said was correct. There are exceptions, e.g. mileage upgrades/awards (occasionally), Y oversold causing "domino" op-ups, etc.