CX vs BA vs QF Business Class
 

I have just completed a OneWorld RTW trip in business class and the difference between in the products are huge.
My itinerary SYD-MEL-HKG-VYR-SEA-VYR-LHR-MAN-LHR-SIN-SYD

For food it has to be a close call between CX and QF. BA does not even come a close second! But it has to be said, BA is on a par with VS - go figure! None was great, not like the old days (10 years ago).

For entertainment its a close one again with CX and QF - both have AVOD and noise cancelling headsets. opn balance I would say QF as there headsets were more comfortable and there selection more towards my English tastes. As for BA - back to school for them - appauling selection, slow old fashioned play reel and to top what was already poor, a tiny screen and pathetic headsets. Had I been on a VS flight it would have been an unequivocable victory for them here - I love the SYD-LHR flight for the entertainment.

Cabin ambiance was a definite win for BA - I prefer the ying yang privacy on the upper deck - the CX cabin was otherwise the nicest in look and feel - QF on an A330 could not compete here as the cabin is too wide and big to feel anything particularly private.

Cabin Crew - no big surprise here with CX being amazing - they are so friendly, energised despite the 11 hour flight to Vancouver. A big thank you has to go to BA though, for pampering me with free bottles of champagne just becase they did not give me my meal choice.

Lounges - despite being Bus class I use the 1st class lounges - for those who have experienced it, the Wing at HKG is unbeatable and sets a standard others cannot meet, including VS. WOW that place hums and frankly I route through HKG often on my way to Europe just to use it - the CX expereince is sublime. As for BA - well they really should consider there lounge size and INCREASE them - they are over flowing and frankly not a haven of peace. The food offered is pathetic also.

Seats - well given my quick hop around the world, this was the most important factor for me and had VS flown the route on a RTW ticket I would have been with them as there Upper Class Suite beats everything and is even comparable to many airlines 1st class offerings. Well I couldn't so the prize here goes to BA...for being flat and private. CX, what were you thinking with that gradient? QF I really like, but a little more privacy and a horizontal position, at least for the legs would infinitely better.

So big surprise, but I chose BA because of the seat.

Off in January SYD-LHR-NCE-MAN-LHR-HKG-SYD and its BA for me (or maybe VS because that Suite is unbeatable!)

HAPPY TRAVELS

the cx J seat is not all that great and i have never tried the BA J seat.

i am suprised that BA food was not up to par.

maybe they should improve their food and save the seats for some other time

Good to know.. I am planning a OW award and trying to figure out which carriers I want to use.. looks like BA will be the majority of the flights anyhow.

Take note AA!

I can't wait till LAN introduces their new J class seats in March of '06. AA has announced new J class seats for next year, but who knows if they really are?

The AA seats appear to be a case of the Emperor's New Clothes!

All announcement, and no evidence, and a sketchy rollout plan which would not see many planes converted until 2008.

And they are installing "first generation" lie-flat (not horizontal) seats, while BA have had fully flat seats for years now, and will further revolutionise the Business Class experience with a new seat and cabin re-design to sort out AVOD and deals with other small niggles about the seat (storage, width) to make it compete more effectively with the VS suite.

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This is sad. If and when AA introduces their new J product, it will be close if not on par with the current BA/QF/CX J class. By that time, the other oneworld carriers will have a superior J class product to AA. It seems to me that AA will always be a step behind BA/QF/CX.