Business vs. First Class
Aug 13, 2008 | 12:00 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2008
Programs: One World
Posts: 17
Business vs. First Class
Looking at my options on my rtw using OW.
What's the difference in the service, food, seats, etc in the business vs. first class cabins? Primarily looking at the long haul flights
JNB -HKG
NRT - LAX
LAX - SCL
EZE - MAD
LHR - JNB
Thanks
What's the difference in the service, food, seats, etc in the business vs. first class cabins? Primarily looking at the long haul flights
JNB -HKG
NRT - LAX
LAX - SCL
EZE - MAD
LHR - JNB
Thanks
Aug 13, 2008 | 12:09 am
#2
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: None any more
Posts: 11,017
I can only really speak for CX (JNB-HKG). Benefits of First (assuming here the new products for all except the first 2 points):
- meals when you want them
- better food, much better wine
- a seat that's wide enough to read a paper
- a window you can look out of comfortably
- an ottoman so someone can dine with you
- sleep suit
- better bedding
- more space generally - you can comfortably watch a movie and have dinner served at the same time
- much nicer toilets (particularly on the 747)
- meals when you want them
- better food, much better wine
- a seat that's wide enough to read a paper
- a window you can look out of comfortably
- an ottoman so someone can dine with you
- sleep suit
- better bedding
- more space generally - you can comfortably watch a movie and have dinner served at the same time
- much nicer toilets (particularly on the 747)
Aug 13, 2008 | 12:16 am
#3
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Stuck on this planet - mainly in STR and LAX
Posts: 5,032
In addition:
More space, better privacy, less people around you, less noise.
In my opinion CX has the best F product, esp. on the 777. JL is good. BA and QF is a bit dated.
As far as i know LAX-SCL is (unless you connect somewhere) LAN, they dont have F. The connection would be AA, which has the worst F product. Seats are ok, but everything else is not up to the standards of other airlines. EZE-MAD is Iberia, no F.
More space, better privacy, less people around you, less noise.
In my opinion CX has the best F product, esp. on the 777. JL is good. BA and QF is a bit dated.
As far as i know LAX-SCL is (unless you connect somewhere) LAN, they dont have F. The connection would be AA, which has the worst F product. Seats are ok, but everything else is not up to the standards of other airlines. EZE-MAD is Iberia, no F.
Aug 13, 2008 | 1:21 am
#4
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Sydney, AU
Programs: Hertz PC, Qantas Club, Avis preferred, Thrifty Blue chip/
Posts: 50
Jal Products
I would go on the NRT- SFO route rather than NFT-LAX, as the SFO flight uses the new JAL Suite and the LAX route using the next level down First class product Skysleeper Solo.
JAL siute more room and semi closed in and the Solo product more open to others around.
JAL siute more room and semi closed in and the Solo product more open to others around.
Aug 13, 2008 | 2:59 am
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: The Hague, NL
Programs: GMLFL, Life 2.0 - Mucci Premiere Classe & des Chevaliers Toulousiens
Posts: 22,914
How about changing EZE-MAD to EZE-LHR? You can fly BA and that has a great F and J product.
LAX-SCL you should fly on LAN. Very good business class, no First. But J on LAN better than F on AA.
LHR-JNB on BA.... In my opinion the J product of BA is not that much worse than F. In all honesty: I may even prefer it.
All in all after booking my AONE6 this year I decided on a DONE5 for next. I rather spend the extra money on 5 star hotels. The difference is not really worth it.
LAX-SCL you should fly on LAN. Very good business class, no First. But J on LAN better than F on AA.
LHR-JNB on BA.... In my opinion the J product of BA is not that much worse than F. In all honesty: I may even prefer it.
All in all after booking my AONE6 this year I decided on a DONE5 for next. I rather spend the extra money on 5 star hotels. The difference is not really worth it.
Aug 13, 2008 | 5:43 am
#6
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Circle City
Posts: 3,568
I can only really speak for CX (JNB-HKG). Benefits of First (assuming here the new products for all except the first 2 points):
- meals when you want them
- better food, much better wine
- a seat that's wide enough to read a paper
- a window you can look out of comfortably
- an ottoman so someone can dine with you
- sleep suit
- better bedding
- more space generally - you can comfortably watch a movie and have dinner served at the same time
- much nicer toilets (particularly on the 747)
- meals when you want them
- better food, much better wine
- a seat that's wide enough to read a paper
- a window you can look out of comfortably
- an ottoman so someone can dine with you
- sleep suit
- better bedding
- more space generally - you can comfortably watch a movie and have dinner served at the same time
- much nicer toilets (particularly on the 747)
- better lounges
- better on-board and ground treatment
- horizontal flat seats (not lie-flat)
Aug 13, 2008 | 7:36 am
#7
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: CPT
Programs: BA BD SA
Posts: 4,467
Remember CX operates F seasonally on the JNB-HKG route. And even if you get F it won't be the wonderful new suites but the older generation seats.
On BA 747's the consensus on the BA board is that it's not worth paying up for F if you can bag a decent J seat on the upper deck. (And that depends on status or luck). However, you do get to use their super new Concorde Room at T5 if you're in F.
My personal view on F vs. J is that I enjoy trying the F service on airlines enough that the experience is worth quite a lot to me and I'll pony up to do so as long as I can afford it. One day I'll downgrade to J, and be happy about it. But not just yet.
On BA 747's the consensus on the BA board is that it's not worth paying up for F if you can bag a decent J seat on the upper deck. (And that depends on status or luck). However, you do get to use their super new Concorde Room at T5 if you're in F.
My personal view on F vs. J is that I enjoy trying the F service on airlines enough that the experience is worth quite a lot to me and I'll pony up to do so as long as I can afford it. One day I'll downgrade to J, and be happy about it. But not just yet.
Aug 13, 2008 | 8:33 am
#8
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: SFO/OAK/CCR
Programs: AA LT PLT
Posts: 995
Couldn't one also do LAX-MIA-EZE in AA First then SCL-MAD in LAN First? Oftentimes there is 777 3-class service LAX-MIA on AA.
Aug 13, 2008 | 10:28 am
#9
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Roses, Costa Brava, Spain
Programs: Seniors Bus Pass, lots of old plastic claiming to be precious metal
Posts: 512
In the context of an *ONE*, an issue that was important for me was that A-class is generally readily available (even at short notice). D availability, OTOH, can be rarer than hen's teeth. (e.g. JNB/SYD).
Now if you're booking well in advance, & won't need last-minute changes, this won't matter, but, IME, "The best-laid schemes o' mice an 'men" often go t*ts-up. (Sorry, Rabbie.)
Now if you're booking well in advance, & won't need last-minute changes, this won't matter, but, IME, "The best-laid schemes o' mice an 'men" often go t*ts-up. (Sorry, Rabbie.)
Aug 13, 2008 | 11:45 am
#10
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: None any more
Posts: 11,017
Aug 13, 2008 | 12:14 pm
#11
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Europe
Programs: Various
Posts: 3,087
My immediate reaction to this question is to suggest you save your $ for another day and do this trip in J. Once the J experience becomes routine (or when you get some F upgrades), you'll be tempted to move forwards.
Aug 13, 2008 | 5:22 pm
#12
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Circle City
Posts: 3,568
I disagree on both accounts. Not everyone does a significant amount of flying so not everyone has status. Especially if someone's looking at a one off trip of a lifetime, they are just as likely, or moreso, not to have status than to have status. It's nice not having to argue with the lounge people about whether or not they are going to let you in. You're in first, you get in. Moreover, not all the oneworld airlines have horizontal seats in J. I believe that it's limited to BA, most LA, some CX and possibly some RJ. That leaves six airlines without horizontal seats in J.
Aug 14, 2008 | 2:17 am
#14
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: CPT
Programs: BA BD SA
Posts: 4,467
