Am flying to Europe week after next and flying into LHR (on BA). Flying back from AMS so various choices to fly in OWE in J. Options are via MAD on IB (which used to be horrible back in '01 -- still same bad service?), via LHR on AA, via CDG on AA or via ZRH on Swiss. What is best for J? If it is AA, should I fly via LHR or CDG? Believe LHR is 777 and CDG is 763 but not sure.
Thanks

I flew IB back from the Olympics last week, with a MAD-MIA segment. The seats were a little worn, but I thought the service and meals actually made up for the older 747-300 plane. I wouldn't hesitate to fly IB again trans-Atlantic in business.

They brought all 3 entrees out on a cart and you could pick from one (I changed from beef to fish, with no regrets), and dessert was ice cream or some type of cake. There was some type of snack before arrival but I can't recall what it was.

They had a multiple channel video screen, but really didn't see anything I wanted to watch. Should add that I ended up sleeing about 5 of the 8 hours of the flight, pretty much from after lunch on.

You can't take Swiss on a OneWorld Explorer ticket, so that is not an option for you. I find AA's transatlantic business class to quite ok. Their seats may not be fully flat beds, but they have very good recline (especially on the 767's) and the best seat pitch in J (non beds) I have come across - 62 inches from memory. And if you are an AAdvantage member (and I assume you are since you are not considering BA trans-Atlantic) you may be able to upgrade to a very nice F product.

Am actually not getting a OneWorld Explorer ticket but just buying regular multi segment ticket. Do I accumulate elite status miles for using Swiss?
Plan is to do LGA-YYZ-LHR-AMS and then back to NYC from AMS via one of the abovementioned routes.

For simple ease and convenience the Swiss alternative is head and shoulders above the others. The two AA alternative Europe hubs, LHR and CDG are simply incredibly ugly experiences, especially for transfers. Lots of lost luggage, long, long waits to move terminal to terminal - not infrequent labor turmoil etc. etc. The ZRH hub by contrast is a model of efficiency, calm and just generally a positive experience. And this is true despite the fact that they have been engaged in a massive remodeling for the last 4 years or so. If you are flying after Sept. 15 when the remodeling will be essentially complete this choice is an absolute, 100% no brainer. The quality of service and comfort on board is simply a matter of taste with small differences giving the edge to one or the other. If everything else U.S. side is equal definitely go Swiss. The other alternative is to fly AA to Zurich. The hub difference is overwhelming.

Will I get AA Elite qualifying miles for flying Swiss? How are their seats and onboard video program in J?

No Qpoints for Swiss flights.
Check out the info here for earning miles on Swiss using your AAdvantage.

If flight has AA number I think you get Q miles and points. The seats are somewhat more comfortable in my estimation than are the AA J seats. In-flight entertainment is not quite as good as AA. I prefer, however, Swiss food and food service.

Swiss' J class is very, very nice. AA offers a wonderful product, even if the seats are lie-flat - the service, food, and entertainment are still good. I would check out airliners.net for pictures of the cabin interiors.

How is Finnair in J? How does it compare to IB and BA?

I find Finnair J to be "terribly" uncomfortable. Have only flown them on the HEL-BKK-HEL and BKK-HKG-BKK routes (only on free upgrades from Economy) and would NEVER pay for a J-class seat. They wine and champagne is quite nice, but for me the seat is more important.

I'd probably elect AA, as I find their internation J class service more than adequate. I've only ever had very pleasant staff, good food, and as a previous poster has mentioned, the seat pitch is quite generous.

If you choose AA, I'm not sure that via CDG will be an option for you, as I believe their 763s only offer First and Y. Last time I was planning a JFK-CDG I found this to be the case.

Just my two cents worth.

Seems like nobody has addressed this affirmatively, so I will: you will get full AA EQMs and EQPs on AA codeshares on LX, just as on any other AA codeshare.

Do let us know what you decide and what you experience, particularly if it's LX... Cheers,

Personally, if it was a day sector and looking at tall beautiful blondes was an option then AY every time. The option is between long haul and short haul. The AY and BA J have given me good service almost every time. Whenever I have had problems on a J IB ticket then they all just give up, wave their hands around and walk off.

For long haul then BA Old Club World and New Club World are a better overall product than AY or IB.

Which routes are you considering and more specific advice will follow.

I decided to go with AY on way over and BA on way back. Wanted to get a few more miles out of it on way over and wasn't too impressed with IB when I used to fly them over from JFK to MAD in J. The seats were not very comfortable and service was prett spotty. Wanted to try LX this time but sold out in J to ZRH and quite expensive to GVA.
My routing now is:
JFK - HEL on AY in J
HEL - ARN on AY in C
ARN - AMS on SAS in C
AMS - LHR on BA in C
LHR - YYZ on BA in J
YYZ - LGA on AA in F