BA vs CX vs QF in biz
 

I'm considering a rtw originating in Asia and would likely fly BA, CX, or QF ex BKK (possibly through HKG) to LHR. In LHR need to connect to AA for the miles :(

Previously I've done all my rtw travel on *A. Would appreciate advice on the relative merits of business class seats on the above airlines.

I haven't flown Finnair but assume their product isn't as good. Please advise if I'm wrong.

This question is addressed very regularly in this forum, but in summary:

As a seat to sit on CX and QF are more comfortable than BA.
As a seat/bed to lie on BA is most people's favourite since it goes horizontal and flat and the others don't.
For consistency of service CX is way ahead of the other two.
For IFE CX has an AVOD with 100CDs, 25 movies, 25 TV "features", etc. BA & QF don't.
For food CX has better Asian selections and marginally better overall.
There isn't much to choose between them on wines, although QF tend to have the best Australian selections.

You're correct that the product isn't as good if you compare seat and for example IFE (some MD-11 c-class seats don't even have individual IFE). AY offers good choice of wines and decent duvet for sleeping (not just a blanket).

FInnair's J is better than AA's J. In terms of food, service and comfort. You can opt to fly them across the atlantic and that will alleviate your sufferings on AA. Alternatively you may fly BA to Canada and connect to USA from there.

Ohh...good suggestions. I'm obviously very rusty when it comes to the ins and outs of One World.

I appreciate everyone elses' recap of previously discussed topics. It is a bit difficult searching since one can't search on two letter airline codes and I really wanted the comparison of all the airlines, not just two.

AA J is pretty good westbound (and you seem to be going westbound on your RTW). The AA seat is quite good as a seat (they seem to have fixed most of the erratic lumbars in the past 6 months) and I prefer the AA service over BA in J (far better food than BA, for example, particularly on 763 routes which have a slightly better J service than the 777s). And AA's DVD movie selection is usually quite good. I've flown a lot of BA transatlantic and have switched to AA most of the time as it is more convenient schedules and is good enough (though I confess to a single J flight on BA, wasn't impressed so went back to F which in turn has gone downhill a lot in 2004 -- which brings me to AA which is surprisingly good, competitive with BA J as long as you don't need the bed, and I never thought I'd live to say that).

The best J seat for me on long hauls is BAs. I get the window seat (facing the rear) as it is the most private in J. QF has a new seat in J that is also excellent. The new seat on CX is similar to QFs, but I have read comments about "slipping down" on the seat when it is in the bed position. Both QF and CX are flat, but on a very slight incline.

The FAs I have experienced on BA in J have been excellent - as good as CX. AA is sometimes a toss up, even in F, especially when you get a very tired, unenthusiastic, senior FA. The food last month was about the same on BA, QF, CX and AA - it was airline food, but better than cattle car.

Overall I believe that the less crowded the flight the better flight you will have. When a flight is crowded I prefer the privacy of the BA window seat.

Here's my views;

QF's seat is wider and longer than BA.
BA is the only one of the theee that is really horozontal.
CX is flat, but most incline.
QF is flat and incline is somewhere between CX and BA's horozontal.
QF's food is better than BA.
CX has best Asian food options.
BA's scotch is better than QF.
QF's wine is better than BA.
QF's noise cancelling headphones are quite good and better than BA's headphones.
CX has AVOD now, QF will start installing on A330-300 aircraft from January, 744 from about June.
CX's lounges in HKG are better than the BA/QF lounge, but if you have OneWorld Sapphire or Emerald status you can use any of them anyway.

Agreed with NM.

For me, on balance, QF, BA and CX are all about equal in J, but for different reasons. You need to figure out your priority:

- If it is sleep, then BA is the best (can't beat horizontal)

- If it is food and wine, QF is the best (BA by far the worst)

- If it is for Asian food, CX is the best

- If it is entertainment, CX is the best (can't beat AVOD)

- If it is the lounges, CX is best

- If it is the service, CX is most consistent, but both BA and QF can have excellent service depending on the individuals (e.g. flew LHR-LAX on Friday on BA J and got the best service I've ever received on BA, then jumped onto QF12 to sydney in F, which was way worse, and dare I say it the seat was less comfortable for sleeping!).

A lot will depend on whether it is a day or night flight, and whether you want to spend the majority of the time sleeping. This is how I select the airline if I have a choice.

Jon

I would say that if you're over 190cm, BA's horinzontal seat is impossible for sleeping.

Or if you're ... er, slightly wide around the hips... it will quite snug.

Yep - I will probably never fly NCW again if I can avoid it after being subjected to this seat! Everything else is great in concept, but at 6'6", it just didn't work for me.
:(

QF Skybed and CX are my favorites. And as number_6 mentioned, AA really isn't that bad. The 767's are great because they have more recline than the 777. I'm back to preferring AA over BA on transatlantic flights since seat comfort is my #1 thing.