BA or CX in F
 

I was almost ready to book my AONE3 and then had a slight doubt. Which airline is better in First Class LHR-HKG? I was thinking CX, but then I thought that BA might be better. I will have a long segment in BA's First (YVR-LHR) and a long segment in CX's First (HKG-JFK). So, which do you think is better and why?

Thanks,

I've flown both CX and BA on LHR-HKG, most recently BA last week, and once upon a time the two were comparable with BA having a slight edge due to having better ground facilities at LHR (most notably the Concorde room and the MB spa). Now they are no longer comparable, CX is significantly better for onboard service in all respects. BA is still quite good, but CX is soooo much better. And those 2 extra seats squeezed into the BA F cabin make it seem much more crowded. I regret having chosen BA last week and won't make that mistake again. Too bad in a way, as BA started all the improvements in F service, but now they are more interested in selling J than F (perhaps a reality of the market).

Also, the practicalities of where you are coming from should influence your decision. A couple weeks back I did BOS-LHR-HKG, in one shot. I chose the AA-CX combo (arriving into T3, leaving from T3), as opposed to the BA-BA combo (arrive and leave from T4). I was on the ground for 90 minutes, just enough to take a shower and a short break in the nothing-special FL in T3.

Has the Concorde Room disappeared? I read about it in earlier posts, but have not seen anything about it in more recent posts. I think it is sad that first class is becoming less available (many AA routes) or gets downgraded. It takes away some of the fun of flying.

Yep the Concorde Room is still alive at both LHR and JFK.

Real first class (as opposed to U.S. carriers' marketing of the front half of a two-class airplane as 'first class' - their international code-shares sell the same seat as biz) is likewise endangered. I suppose it will persist in a few markets, but in most places it's disappearing. Take some pictures to show the kids - otherwise they'll think dad is making up stories.

I just finished AONE4 RTW. Flew LHR-HKG in CX and LHR-DXB-LHR in BA all in FC. Strongly recommend CX. CX is better in every aspect - service, IFE, seat/bed comfort, food. On BA, seat was broken, lousy headsets and service was non existant on DXB-LHR leg.

I am sorry to hear about the service on the DXB-LHR segment as I am planning to go LHR-DXB-LHR. Would your experience be typical for BA's First?

I might add service on LHR-DXB leg was excellent at par with CX.

CX excels in food - both quantity and quality.

One must remember that BA does not serve caviar anymore where CX still do on all long haul interntional sectors.

"Almost all" to be strictly accurate. For example, they don't serve it on the CX889 YVR-HKG (because they already served it on the JFK-HKG sector).

You don't say which DXB-LHR flight, but one of the 2 daily services leaves DXB after midnight and arrives at LHR before 6 am ... most pax just want to get as much sleep as possible and skip dinner and breakfast ... thus the service tries to be as abrupt and invisible as possible. Is this what you mean by "non-existant"? If so it is excellent service (if only more flights did that).

It was BA 108 departing DXB around 10:30AM. To give an idea about non-existent service - I had to press call button twice and I received the response atleast 15 minutes thereafter. What really surprised me was the fact that service was excellent on LHR-DXB leg and just disappeared on the way back...

Remember BA - LHR/HKG now goes from Terminal One so no more Concorde Room not sure if new First Lounge at terminal One has MB Spa.

I don't see it
 

I must strongly disagree with those who assert that CX has a better seat in F than BA does. BA's seat is preferable in every way, IMO. Not only can you have a guest join you for dinner with the 'second' seat, it's also makes a more comfortable bed, not to mention the extra privacy the layout of the BA cabin gives you.

Service is definitely amazing on CX, but I would still give BA the edge.