QF or CX?
Dec 27, 2005, 3:34 am
#16
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Originally Posted by AshleyF
It really depends on your size. Under 6 ft and 'normal' weight then BA wins hands down in being flat. (I am a shortarse and lost 6 KG's last year - mainly by not eating the food on board.)
Dec 27, 2005, 5:43 am
#17
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Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Australia
Posts: 224
Originally Posted by AshleyF
The CX seat is just too much of a pain , even in the Z position you will still find yourself slipping down if you are as side sleeper. HOWEVER CX gives me an upgrade rougly 1 out of 3. AND ther service is a notch above.
If you are over 6 ft, go for the Skybed.
If you are over 6 ft, go for the Skybed.
Dec 27, 2005, 2:28 pm
#18
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: QF LTG, TG *P, IHG P
Posts: 290
I seem to be in the minority here and I'm mystified.
I've been flying QF J with skybed several times a month for a few years now and the next flight I'm going to learn how to use the controls to get the bed comfortable and stop the slipping down.
I've been flying QF J with skybed several times a month for a few years now and the next flight I'm going to learn how to use the controls to get the bed comfortable and stop the slipping down.
Dec 27, 2005, 4:37 pm
#19
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Originally Posted by AshleyF
It really depends on your size. Under 6 ft and 'normal' weight then BA wins hands down in being flat. (I am a shortarse and lost 6 KG's last year - mainly by not eating the food on board.)
The CX seat is just too much of a pain , even in the Z position you will still find yourself slipping down if you are as side sleeper. HOWEVER CX gives me an upgrade rougly 1 out of 3. AND ther service is a notch above.
If you are over 6 ft, go for the Skybed.
The CX seat is just too much of a pain , even in the Z position you will still find yourself slipping down if you are as side sleeper. HOWEVER CX gives me an upgrade rougly 1 out of 3. AND ther service is a notch above.
If you are over 6 ft, go for the Skybed.
I like the airlines' contemporary philosophy these days of starting with a 'bed' and enabling it to fold up to a seat.
Jan 1, 2006, 8:09 pm
#20
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: London
Posts: 6,265
I find the skybeds ok, but not great.
Like has been posted above, if you put the foot rest up then you will have a lot less problems with slipping down (at least in my case). As a side sleeper, I hate the way the headphones are uncomfy in that position... don't think you can win!
I have not seen CX's J bed. I have sat on the models in the 772 and 773 (one was an older seat like the QF 767 seat, the other was more like the seats in A320's). Neither impressed me as being great seats for more than a couple of hours.
Their F seats are nice, but not as nice as QF's.
As I posted in another thread, I really like CX. QF could learn a lot from them.
Like has been posted above, if you put the foot rest up then you will have a lot less problems with slipping down (at least in my case). As a side sleeper, I hate the way the headphones are uncomfy in that position... don't think you can win!
I have not seen CX's J bed. I have sat on the models in the 772 and 773 (one was an older seat like the QF 767 seat, the other was more like the seats in A320's). Neither impressed me as being great seats for more than a couple of hours.
Their F seats are nice, but not as nice as QF's.
As I posted in another thread, I really like CX. QF could learn a lot from them.
Jan 1, 2006, 10:16 pm
#21
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Kansas City, MO
Programs: AA Gold
Posts: 3,648
which biz class cabin?
After settling the issue of the bed, which biz class cabin is preferable on a 747-main deck or upper? I just bagged 2 reward seats LAX-CNS coming over and SYD-LAX going home with AA points for November. The last time I flew Qantas was 20 years ago, in coach. I usually like the upper deck as it's quieter and I like to sleep on these long flights. Your expert opinions will be appreciated before I call and get seat reservations.
Susie
Susie
Jan 1, 2006, 11:40 pm
#22
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: London
Posts: 6,265
It's an individual choice as to which is better. I prefer downstairs, but have started to like upstairs more and more.
Some good points about being up top:
Less foot traffic
No-one from Y class using the J toilet
Fairly attentive cabin crew (thus maybe faster service)
Max of 2 pax sitting side by side, so no problems of being the "middle" person.
Some bad points:
Floor can creak a little when people move around. This may disturb your sleep.
Have to walk upstairs and then downstairs to embark/disembark.
Inflight bar is downstairs so lots of trudging up and down if you want to use it.
FA's don't always block off economy from leaving before upstairs pax do so you might have to fight off Y pax when leaving.
Downstairs tends to have a bit more noise, more galleys and toilets to make noise and more foot traffic.
It's faster to get off the plane.
Some good points about being up top:
Less foot traffic
No-one from Y class using the J toilet
Fairly attentive cabin crew (thus maybe faster service)
Max of 2 pax sitting side by side, so no problems of being the "middle" person.
Some bad points:
Floor can creak a little when people move around. This may disturb your sleep.
Have to walk upstairs and then downstairs to embark/disembark.
Inflight bar is downstairs so lots of trudging up and down if you want to use it.
FA's don't always block off economy from leaving before upstairs pax do so you might have to fight off Y pax when leaving.
Downstairs tends to have a bit more noise, more galleys and toilets to make noise and more foot traffic.
It's faster to get off the plane.
Jan 2, 2006, 12:51 am
#23
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Originally Posted by Aus_Mal
Some bad points:
....Floor can creak a little when people move around. This may disturb your sleep.....
....Floor can creak a little when people move around. This may disturb your sleep.....
Jan 2, 2006, 3:46 am
#24
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: London
Posts: 6,265
Originally Posted by og
Have not had the creak problem but certainly don't like the vibration as the heavy footed SLF, FAs or flight deck crew march up and down the aisle. IMHO, quite a significant problem for my enjoyment of an otherwise excellent cabin environment.
Reminds me of walking around in a wooden floor house. People know you're moving around whether it's the creak or the movement of the floor...
Jan 2, 2006, 6:08 am
#25
Join Date: Dec 2005
Programs: QF, LH, AF, EK, HGP, LHW
Posts: 12
I like the skybed. ^
It's my observation that more than a few people in J don't seem to know how to take full advantage all their features. Yes I think they should come with a manual! I often find myself tutoring the person next to me about how to use it!
I particularly enjoy the massage feature.
JOBU
It's my observation that more than a few people in J don't seem to know how to take full advantage all their features. Yes I think they should come with a manual! I often find myself tutoring the person next to me about how to use it!
I particularly enjoy the massage feature.
JOBU
Jan 2, 2006, 6:22 am
#26
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: The Lounge
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Posts: 98
On a RWT trip last year I flew QF from SYD-SIN, and a week later with CX from SIN-HKG and then HKG-LHR after a two-day stopover.
I liked the QF Skybed although I had a few problems. I am just over 6'2" and found that when fully extended in length, there is more of a downward tilt as the footrest has to fit under the seat in front. If I retracted the footrest a little then I could get the bed flatter but then could not straighten my legs.
I also felt a little hot in the Skybed - maybe that was b/c the aircon was not low enough on the aircraft, but I wondered if it was because I was inside the Skybed shell and was therefore feeling a bit stuffy.
While the CX seat is a different beast altogether, I found it very comfortable and easy to sleep in. It seems wider, probably because it does not have a shell. As others have noted, CX service is top notch and the IFE system leaves the QF system for dead.
On the same RTW trip I flew from LAX-SYD with the old style J seat - by comparison, Skybeds rule!
On the issue of upstairs/downstairs, I always go for upstairs because there are fewer people, it seems quieter, and window seats have a roomy compartment between the seat and the window where you can put your carry-on bags, store pillows/blankets, rest drinks, laptops, etc etc.
I liked the QF Skybed although I had a few problems. I am just over 6'2" and found that when fully extended in length, there is more of a downward tilt as the footrest has to fit under the seat in front. If I retracted the footrest a little then I could get the bed flatter but then could not straighten my legs.
I also felt a little hot in the Skybed - maybe that was b/c the aircon was not low enough on the aircraft, but I wondered if it was because I was inside the Skybed shell and was therefore feeling a bit stuffy.
While the CX seat is a different beast altogether, I found it very comfortable and easy to sleep in. It seems wider, probably because it does not have a shell. As others have noted, CX service is top notch and the IFE system leaves the QF system for dead.
On the same RTW trip I flew from LAX-SYD with the old style J seat - by comparison, Skybeds rule!
On the issue of upstairs/downstairs, I always go for upstairs because there are fewer people, it seems quieter, and window seats have a roomy compartment between the seat and the window where you can put your carry-on bags, store pillows/blankets, rest drinks, laptops, etc etc.
Jan 4, 2006, 3:29 am
#27
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: QF WP
Posts: 57
I would have to agree that the Qantas bed is better, but the whole experience is generally superior on CX. Better food (usually) and better service. You usually get French wine as well which makes a nice change of pace. CX first class BTW blows everyone out of the water.
That said, I will say that when I have had good service on Qantas, it has been truly excellent. Occasionally you just get stellar service from a particular Qantas crew member and usually, I must say this service comes from a bloke (yes, yes cue gay joke). When they get it right they get it very right, but more often than not they just get it mediocre. Fortunately, unlike BA, service rarely descends to the level of hostile, at least in the pointy end of the plane.
So in summary, CX is probably more reliable as a business class experience (particularly for day flights when the bed issue is not so acute) and their bed is really not that bad (unless you want to eat and put your feet up at the same time in which case it is woeful - can't be done as far as I can tell).
In relation to upper deck versus lower deck, upper deck = quieter = better for me. Row 86 on the upper deck of a CX 747 is the best business class seat in the sky IMO. I have not flown downstairs on a Qantas 747 for some time, but on CX you also run the risk of a center seat, even in J. Not sure what the QF configuration is. Last time I flew downstairs it was a 747-300 from Mumbai so it was maximum of 2 side by side (and no Skybeds).
That said, I will say that when I have had good service on Qantas, it has been truly excellent. Occasionally you just get stellar service from a particular Qantas crew member and usually, I must say this service comes from a bloke (yes, yes cue gay joke). When they get it right they get it very right, but more often than not they just get it mediocre. Fortunately, unlike BA, service rarely descends to the level of hostile, at least in the pointy end of the plane.
So in summary, CX is probably more reliable as a business class experience (particularly for day flights when the bed issue is not so acute) and their bed is really not that bad (unless you want to eat and put your feet up at the same time in which case it is woeful - can't be done as far as I can tell).
In relation to upper deck versus lower deck, upper deck = quieter = better for me. Row 86 on the upper deck of a CX 747 is the best business class seat in the sky IMO. I have not flown downstairs on a Qantas 747 for some time, but on CX you also run the risk of a center seat, even in J. Not sure what the QF configuration is. Last time I flew downstairs it was a 747-300 from Mumbai so it was maximum of 2 side by side (and no Skybeds).