From the point of view of comfort only, is there enough difference (if at all) in D class between BA17 and QF10 on the route LHR-MEL to make one preferable to the other?

The difference is the seats and that really is a personal choice. The BA beds lie flat and horozontal - some people put a great deal of value on the fact that they are actually horozontal. The QF Skybeds go flat, just slightly sloping down to the feet. QF claim that since the aircraft flies with a slight nose-up attitude, the bed ends up very close to horozontal. I am not convinced of this argument, and if you apply it to BA, where half the seats/beds face backwards, half the seats would be sloping the wrong was due to the aircraft pitch.

Both airlines use 2x2 seating on the upper deck, while QF has 2x3x2 and BA 2x4x2 on the lower deck. I prefer to sit on the lower deck due to the restricted depth of the overhead lockers on the upper deck, but again that is just my personal preference.

The BA beds have the personal TV screen on an arm that is adjustable for viewing at any position of the bed, including fully flat if you really wish (though might be a little uncomfortable on the neck). The QF seats have the screen set into the seat in front unless you are in a bulkhead row (rows 11, 16 and 23). However, the QF screens are larger. Again, personal choice.

QF provide reasonable noise cancelling headphones in business class. These are not to the quality of the Bose provided by AA, but are better than the old J headphones. I am not sure if BA are now providing NC headphone in J, but my last experience with BA J headphones would rate them as no match for QF's. The IFE content is very similar on both airlines.

Some people like sitting backwards on the BA seats, other people don't like it. So again, its your personal choice.

QF has added a self-service bar area on the new J config. So if you like to stretch your legs and browse the offerings, that can be good. You should still
get "Raid the Lada" on the BA LHR-MEL service.

Reports here recently seem to indicate the BA food and service in J has been declining, while QF is probably more consistent in the food area.

Both flights are about the same times, via Singapore (so same lounge access) and arriving into Melbourne very early in the morning. Qantas does give the option of QF32 to Sydney with very different departure arrival times, but will require a domestic connection to MEL.

And if you really can't make up your mind and would like to sample both yourself, you can take one LHR-SIN and the other SIN-MEL - QF/BA codeshare on each other's flights.

Fantastic response. I normally PM just a brief thankyou note, but your comprehensive report merits a lot more than that.

Thanks, great stuff. :-:

Not a bad idea, and I'd probably go for it, but my TA is already undergoing therapy as a result of my DONE ticket so I think I will go easy on him this time (nice guy, but inexperienced).

Just a quick note, the nose up attitude is about 2.5 to 3 degrees on the 747-400. This means that "flat" beds sometimes end up head down, as in First and QF F. Therefore, I sleep the other way round, head to the front. I have not tried BA J yet but would appreciate comments on the head up, head down that they offer so I can book the right way round.

Thanks

According to this theory you should book the rear facing NCW seats on BA J - these are A/E/F/K seats...

The QF J seats are a newer generation of seat than BA has, and thus as a seat (not bed) they are considerably more comfortable -- a consideration for day flights. Also wider as you may guess from having 1 less seat across (but the pitch between rows is less than on BA). QF really did a good job on this (much better J seat than CX or SQ have, for example).

I have flown on the new QF seats yet, but have loved my flights on BA when I was able to get business seats. I always go for a window, which is rear facing and the most private seats on the plane.

I prefer upper deck windows as this gives you a little locker between you seat and the window - perfect for storing stuff that normally ends up on the floor, as well as laptops, etc.

IF you are one of the lucky ones (like me) that has sleep apnea you'll be able to get authorisation to plug in approved apaps/autopaps on QF, but you need to do this a few weeks before flying. It's OK on BA, but you need a special power inverter that they sell on board for 75 pounds.

Personally I would do something like MEL-SIN on QF and then BA to LHR. You should be getting 4 stops once you land in Asia so why not throw in a few spots (HKG, BKK) along the way? You'll get more FF miles!