What is the most useful frequent flyer blog?
Apr 4, 2013, 11:23 pm
#2341
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 6,385
Even then Gary wouldn't be right - if we're talking just the seat, then it should be US (who were the first to pioneer it and offer an industry leading product, as opposed to AA, a mere follower who has it on all of about 3 aircraft right now). If we're looking at the whole picture - SN, LX, OS etc. should all rank well above AA on almost every count (except possibly seat).
Apr 4, 2013, 11:38 pm
#2342
formerly known as felinaar
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: SEA
Programs: UA Plat, AA Gold, AS MVPG, Hyatt Diamond, Hilton Diamond, SPG Gold
Posts: 612
Thank you. For what it's worth, the sidebar ads are just empty space rented out to BoardingArea, who sells the space to others. Those advertisers are usually credit card issuers, but I don't really have any control over the ads's content other than removing them. They are not affiliate ads. Even First2Board has similar ads for credit cards along, since they use Google Adsense (I assume) and Google sells the space to the highest bidder, which may or may not be a credit card issuer.
Apr 5, 2013, 5:17 am
#2343
Join Date: Jun 2012
Programs: SPG Platinum, UA GS
Posts: 121
Even then Gary wouldn't be right - if we're talking just the seat, then it should be US (who were the first to pioneer it and offer an industry leading product, as opposed to AA, a mere follower who has it on all of about 3 aircraft right now). If we're looking at the whole picture - SN, LX, OS etc. should all rank well above AA on almost every count (except possibly seat).
US Airways pioneered these seats and doesn’t really get enough credit for that. The American seat, based on the Cathay Pacific seat (arguably the best long haul business class in the world) is an evolution of that seat.
..business class is all about the seat. I explained the important elements of business class:
The key elements, to me, are that the seat is lie flat. And that the seat is lie flat. And that the seat is lie flat. And within that framework, it helps when the seat is lie flat. (I also want the seat to be a bit wider so I can turn over or stretch without hitting the side, and so I feel a bit less claustrophobic. I want an extra pillow and an extra blanket so that one can serve as a mattress pad. And a bit of actual storage space helps. But these are all distinguishing features that matter only once the seat is lie flat.)
The key elements, to me, are that the seat is lie flat. And that the seat is lie flat. And that the seat is lie flat. And within that framework, it helps when the seat is lie flat. (I also want the seat to be a bit wider so I can turn over or stretch without hitting the side, and so I feel a bit less claustrophobic. I want an extra pillow and an extra blanket so that one can serve as a mattress pad. And a bit of actual storage space helps. But these are all distinguishing features that matter only once the seat is lie flat.)
Totally fair to disagree about the criteria, but he isn't simply wrong or giving them too much love. Based the the creasons he lays out the conclusion does seem to follow..
Apr 5, 2013, 5:55 am
#2344
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: BUF
Programs: SPG Plt, HHonors Gold, UA Gold, PC Plat, Marriott Gold
Posts: 880
For years certain bloggers RAILED against USAirways non stopped - talking about how they love the miles but would never fly the airline. They've had the best seat for years on ALL their transatlantic Airbuses. If it was truely about the seat, you'd have had more (or any) bloggers singing the USAir praises, but they didnt. They avoid them... Gary admits as much when he says they don't get the credit.
Now that AA has a similar product in THREE planes with a slow rollout scheduled, all the AA AApologists come out and proclaim how wonderful this is. And how the seats is revolutionary, and the best in the world...
A lot of bloggers enjoy close relationships with AA. Lucky's written about two different comped international business class trips with them (to Argentina and the London). But i'm sure that has nothing to do it....
Now that AA has a similar product in THREE planes with a slow rollout scheduled, all the AA AApologists come out and proclaim how wonderful this is. And how the seats is revolutionary, and the best in the world...
A lot of bloggers enjoy close relationships with AA. Lucky's written about two different comped international business class trips with them (to Argentina and the London). But i'm sure that has nothing to do it....
Apr 5, 2013, 5:57 am
#2345
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 5,439
Okay but putting out a very specific set of criteria for judgement then proclaiming it as "the best" business class seat is very misleading at best.
Also AA has their new seat on, what, a handful of routes to Europe now? Contrastingly, SQ does essentially twice daily - JFK-FRA and IAH-DME... Don't know why the latter is disqualified in the competition, but the former is wildly praised for its brand spanking new product, handily omitting the fact that the other 98% of flights are operated by angled flats in a 2-3-2 configuration.
Also I've flown neither seats, but I'm not sure how AA's is "better" than US's other than simply being a newer version. But especially with things like comfort, newer really doesn't equal better. Not to mention the more fleetwide implementation of the product at US.
Also AA has their new seat on, what, a handful of routes to Europe now? Contrastingly, SQ does essentially twice daily - JFK-FRA and IAH-DME... Don't know why the latter is disqualified in the competition, but the former is wildly praised for its brand spanking new product, handily omitting the fact that the other 98% of flights are operated by angled flats in a 2-3-2 configuration.
Also I've flown neither seats, but I'm not sure how AA's is "better" than US's other than simply being a newer version. But especially with things like comfort, newer really doesn't equal better. Not to mention the more fleetwide implementation of the product at US.
Apr 5, 2013, 6:03 am
#2346
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: San Francisco, CA
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Posts: 769
Apr 5, 2013, 6:12 am
#2347
Join Date: Jun 2012
Programs: SPG Platinum, UA GS
Posts: 121
For years certain bloggers RAILED against USAirways non stopped - talking about how they love the miles but would never fly the airline. They've had the best seat for years on ALL their transatlantic Airbuses. If it was truely about the seat, you'd have had more (or any) bloggers singing the USAir praises, but they didnt. They avoid them... Gary admits as much when he says they don't get the credit.
http://boardingarea.com/blogs/viewfr...nuary-21-2013/
Gary said,
@ffi – I *frequently* say US Airways pioneered business class seats, I think my usual refrain actually is that US Airways doesn’t get enough credit for that. Although the Cathay seat is an improvement on, not the same as, the US Airways seat.
@ffi – I *frequently* say US Airways pioneered business class seats, I think my usual refrain actually is that US Airways doesn’t get enough credit for that. Although the Cathay seat is an improvement on, not the same as, the US Airways seat.
I think US Airways doesn’t get enough credit for some of the things they’ve done like being the first to introduce the current best business class seat in the market, or roll out first class cabins in their regional aircraft quickly.
So I don't think it's fair to say he's trying to hide the ball here. He repeats that US Airways pioneered the seat and doesn't get credit for it even when reviewing AA's version.
When you write explicitly what your criteria is, you aren't being misleading @:-)
Apr 5, 2013, 6:24 am
#2348
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 5,439
Saying one sentence that they don't get enough credit for it is not the same as a multi page blog post singing its praises complete with pictures. If it were the same, US would have gotten the same (no, actually, better treatment than AA since they were the pioneering airline), but where was the fanfare back then? Oh wait.
And using Gary's criteria, the answer is SQ. You can't say "using this criteria but also excluding the one which excels the most in said criteria, option #2 is the best".
Edit: I just checked - they have ONE 77W transatlantic flight a day. That's just over half of what SQ offers- and if we approach this technically, SQ's EWR-SIN and BCN-GRU flights are also transatlantic (of course I know this isn't what Gary meant, but since he didn't specify non-AA lovers should be able to spin the rules in their favour too). If anyone should be excluded, it should be AA not SQ.
And using Gary's criteria, the answer is SQ. You can't say "using this criteria but also excluding the one which excels the most in said criteria, option #2 is the best".
Edit: I just checked - they have ONE 77W transatlantic flight a day. That's just over half of what SQ offers- and if we approach this technically, SQ's EWR-SIN and BCN-GRU flights are also transatlantic (of course I know this isn't what Gary meant, but since he didn't specify non-AA lovers should be able to spin the rules in their favour too). If anyone should be excluded, it should be AA not SQ.
Last edited by belfordrocks; Apr 5, 2013 at 6:31 am
Apr 5, 2013, 6:36 am
#2349
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: BUF
Programs: SPG Plt, HHonors Gold, UA Gold, PC Plat, Marriott Gold
Posts: 880
I know, perhaps my wording was a bit off then - my point was that gary is admitting as much that there are others who don't give them enough credit... not necessarily him
Apr 5, 2013, 7:26 am
#2350
Join Date: Jun 2012
Programs: SPG Platinum, UA GS
Posts: 121
That's just over half of what SQ offers- and if we approach this technically, SQ's EWR-SIN and BCN-GRU flights are also transatlantic (of course I know this isn't what Gary meant, but since he didn't specify non-AA lovers should be able to spin the rules in their favour too). If anyone should be excluded, it should be AA not SQ.
But.. didn't he specify? The very second paragraph (3rd sentence of the post):
Believe it or not, and with some caveats that I’ll note below, American Airlines probably has the best business class between North America and Europe right now.
He acknowledges the limited number of flights,
Until American reaches critical mass with the product the top business offerings out there are the latest ex-Continental BusinessFirst seats, the Delta herringbone seats, and the Virgin Atlantic seats.
So all in all it seems like it is a more fair review than is being characterized here.
I've had more than a few negative things to say about blogs in this thread, so I'm a little surprised finding myself defending this one, but it seems the critiques are taking kind of a selective reading here.
We can all do snark but I don't think that helps divide the wheat from the chaff.
Apr 5, 2013, 8:04 am
#2351
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 5,439
Nods to US Airways? Sorry, but US Airways had pioneered the seat, installed it on all of their A330s, and all they get is one sentence. In contrast, AA comes along many years later with a product that matches their competitors, and gets showered with praise.
There's a difference between "Okay other than Singapore, which doesn't count, US Airways which doesn't get enough credit (??) and the fact that AA has only two flights with said product, woohoo go American Airlines!!!!!" and giving praise where it's due, which would be first to US Airways, for pioneering the seat and installing it fleetwide, then to Singapore Airlines for having such a quality product, then to Delta, United, Virgin Atlantic, even Swiss, Austrian, Brussels etc for having a quality consistent product. Only after then should an airline like American even come into the picture.
There's a difference between "Okay other than Singapore, which doesn't count, US Airways which doesn't get enough credit (??) and the fact that AA has only two flights with said product, woohoo go American Airlines!!!!!" and giving praise where it's due, which would be first to US Airways, for pioneering the seat and installing it fleetwide, then to Singapore Airlines for having such a quality product, then to Delta, United, Virgin Atlantic, even Swiss, Austrian, Brussels etc for having a quality consistent product. Only after then should an airline like American even come into the picture.
Apr 5, 2013, 10:31 pm
#2352
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Intermountain West
Programs: Too many to list
Posts: 12,073
Let's stay On Topic folks. Blog content-good or not so good.
Apr 5, 2013, 10:34 pm
#2353
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 5,439
In conclusion - not so good because of heavy bias towards AA.
Next topic please?
Next topic please?
Apr 5, 2013, 11:57 pm
#2354
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: SEA
Posts: 1,887
Should be coming soon (with arrows).
Apr 6, 2013, 7:09 am
#2355
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: SEA, but up and down the coast a lot
Programs: Oceanic Airlines Gold Elite
Posts: 20,381
Conclusion: I, like others, don't find your assessment compelling. A blog written for what is primarily a USA-based frequent flyer audience is not surprisingly going to focus on USA-based carriers like AA (which is why SQ isn't a "TATL" carrier). A trip report about AA that talks about how lovely the business class product is on SQ/VS/DL/US/OS/SN and only tangentially mentions the actual AA product and experience would be full of irrelevancies. It's not a report about US's pioneering a seat. It's a report about AA's new product.