It is an OK F product, but not as good as CX, SQ, or LH.

Let's put it this way. I've flown lots of J and a bit of F on other people's dimes in the past few years.

I have not and will not ever pay for J out of pocket. I will and have (routinely) paid for F. J is a poor relative value for money equation to F.

BA's seat and other hard-product surrounding the seat (duvet, etc) is so so much better than LH's that I think it compensates for the significantly poorer food. I'd call it even.

Now, SQ or CX, or even, to a much lesser extent, QF, there's no comparison.

Based on my personal experience, I disagree. Of course it depends on the airline and the route, even FF status...

I've only paid for international F twice, once was a splurge trip when J was pricey and the other was an AONE4 trip which frankly based on our itinerary was stupid to do anything else. I do pay for J though internationally, usually BA across the pond, IAD-LHR-IAD several times per year to go back and see the folks.

In Club World as a BA Gold I can pre-assign my seats upstairs and usually score the better exit row or bulkhead seats where I've got as much personal space as in F. I'd even consider turning down an F upgrade if it was to a non-window seat! I can get CW for as low as $1800 return in a sale but usually closer to $3k with planning. For F I'm usually looking well north of $10k return. I've got 95% of the experience in J for 30% of the price. I've better things to spend that money on but I'm sure you earn a lot more money than I do! ;)

I notice you are UA GS so on their flights you get a much better seat in F versus J. The same can be said for most *A carriers frankly; LH, SQ, TG, CX, LX...

I think the QF F product is FAR above the J product.. The seats alone are terrific and the DOM champagne makes even the most grueling of all business trips possible....

For the price difference you could order a box of Dom to the hotel at the destination ;-)

My travel has mostly been in J and I keep struggling if and when F would make sense. More space is one thing but it's still a damn aluminium tube, better bed maybe but it's still a huge difference to the one at home, food is better but it's still airline food and restaurants can do it better. The biggest difference seems to come from the airports and airlines, some places and companies just do it better but some get very close with their J products as well.

From the recent AONEx planning I noticed that planning for F is damn difficult today, many routes don't have it, domestic F in the US is like Premium Economy, and many airlines barely have any F left.

I don't think that is disputed. However for most people, especially if paying out of their own pocket, the incremental benefit of F over J is not worth the large price difference.

I agree. If we're talking Z fare (or equiv) versus F (or R) fare or equiv, sure. But if we're comparing C or D (J or D) to a P fare on an airline that discounts, the difference can be negligible.

Certainly on most RTW tickets I think the difference is worth it. Mrs christep and I are currently in the middle of AONE3s ex-MNL where the increment for F was $2300-ish ($6700 vs $9000 incl taxes etc through AA). For me that's worth it for F rather than J on HKG-JFK, LAX-LHR, LHR-DXB-LHR, LHR-HKG, HKG-NRT-HKG (and MNL-HKG, HKG-MNL, though no real value there).

I live in Europe and my travel takes me several times per year to the US and Asia. So i am fortunate to travel with RTW tickets in F with one of these known low cost starting points. So completely spoiled. And the ability to sleep, a quiet dark cabin. privacy and space is most important, everything else is nice to have.

My TA came up with an extremely good Business Fare from Asia to the US with 2 side trips to South Africa. So i deceided to try Business Class on some airlines.
Even the better Business seats (like on South African) convinced me to go back to F. The only exception was SIA. Their new Business Class on the 380 and the 777 (tried both) is in some important aspects even better than First Class on some airlines.

Firstly congrats to your 1000th post! :)

Secondly I don't find some C products all that bad. I really like to fly BA in J even though I have to connect in LHR which could be a reason to stop flying them. The seat is a bit narrow but still I can sleep in it pretty well.

I disagree. The Y and J are worlds apart in terms of hard and soft product (vastly more space, in-seat power, real food, much better service, lounge access). F, OTOH, is really just relatively minor upgrades of these (horizontal vs flat beds (maybe)), better food, better service, better lounge), but commands a similar price premium over J, as J does over Y.