SAA business (A330) vs LH new business (747-800 / A380)
Aug 12, 2015, 11:44 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: BGI (ex-YYC, YYZ)
Programs: AC*G-E100K (once again)
Posts: 1,701
SAA business (A330) vs LH new business (747-800 / A380)
Hi all
Would like to get people's opinions on which business class product class is a better product overall.
It would appear that Lufthansa is flying 747-800 during the December holidays.
Has anyone tried out Lufthansa? How does it compare to SAA J class? Which one do you prefer?
Cheers
Would like to get people's opinions on which business class product class is a better product overall.
It would appear that Lufthansa is flying 747-800 during the December holidays.
Has anyone tried out Lufthansa? How does it compare to SAA J class? Which one do you prefer?
Cheers
Aug 15, 2015, 8:41 am
#2
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: LGA/EWR/JFK
Programs: AA EXP, Amex Plat, A3 Gold
Posts: 311
While I have not flown LH new J on the 748 (only on the A330), I would take SAA J.
Neither hard product is significantly superior, neither offers direct aisle access from every seat, etc. Both LH and SAA crews can be hit or miss, although I find myself disappointed less often with SAA crews than LH.
SAA bedding (decent mattress pad and good duvet) is much better than LH, and SAA menus are more varied. Flying SAA, you also get access to the arrivals lounge in JNB which I do not believe you have access to when flying LH.
Are the differences between LH & SAA monumental? No. But I put SAA slightly ahead in just about every category and cumulatively I think it adds up.
Neither hard product is significantly superior, neither offers direct aisle access from every seat, etc. Both LH and SAA crews can be hit or miss, although I find myself disappointed less often with SAA crews than LH.
SAA bedding (decent mattress pad and good duvet) is much better than LH, and SAA menus are more varied. Flying SAA, you also get access to the arrivals lounge in JNB which I do not believe you have access to when flying LH.
Are the differences between LH & SAA monumental? No. But I put SAA slightly ahead in just about every category and cumulatively I think it adds up.
Aug 23, 2015, 8:23 pm
#3
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 2
I think SAA business class offering is more like a modern airline premium economy. No comparison in my opinion.
I would personally choose Lufthansa new offering over the SAA "business" any day. The 747-8/A380 is a much better aircraft to fly on than a older and smaller A330 if that makes a difference to you.
Flight crews tend to be a lucky packet with quite a few airlines these days...
I would personally choose Lufthansa new offering over the SAA "business" any day. The 747-8/A380 is a much better aircraft to fly on than a older and smaller A330 if that makes a difference to you.
Flight crews tend to be a lucky packet with quite a few airlines these days...
Aug 23, 2015, 11:38 pm
#4
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: CPT
Programs: BA BD SA
Posts: 4,467
Aug 24, 2015, 1:14 am
#5
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Johannesburg
Programs: QRPC Plat, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, IHg Diamond Amb, Sixt Diamond, Avis Pres, AmexCenturion
Posts: 488
I think SAA business class offering is more like a modern airline premium economy. No comparison in my opinion.
I would personally choose Lufthansa new offering over the SAA "business" any day. The 747-8/A380 is a much better aircraft to fly on than a older and smaller A330 if that makes a difference to you.
Flight crews tend to be a lucky packet with quite a few airlines these days...
I would personally choose Lufthansa new offering over the SAA "business" any day. The 747-8/A380 is a much better aircraft to fly on than a older and smaller A330 if that makes a difference to you.
Flight crews tend to be a lucky packet with quite a few airlines these days...
Aug 24, 2015, 1:23 am
#6
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: N/A
Programs: UA 1K, BA Gold, LH/SN/LX Senator
Posts: 449
Aug 24, 2015, 8:10 am
#7
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: LGA/EWR/JFK
Programs: AA EXP, Amex Plat, A3 Gold
Posts: 311
I think SAA business class offering is more like a modern airline premium economy. No comparison in my opinion.
I would personally choose Lufthansa new offering over the SAA "business" any day. The 747-8/A380 is a much better aircraft to fly on than a older and smaller A330 if that makes a difference to you.
Flight crews tend to be a lucky packet with quite a few airlines these days...
I would personally choose Lufthansa new offering over the SAA "business" any day. The 747-8/A380 is a much better aircraft to fly on than a older and smaller A330 if that makes a difference to you.
Flight crews tend to be a lucky packet with quite a few airlines these days...
Aug 24, 2015, 10:07 am
#8
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 2
Last year I flew to Johannesburg on LH A380 business from Frankfurt and returned on SAA to UK (forget if it was the A330 or A340). Personally I found the new business on LH more comfortable in lay flat, food a bit better and service a bit better. I know some people do prefer SAA but if repeating I'd select LH both directions. If you have a choice, try doing 1 each direction (both are *A) - wasn't a huge difference between each and for me I'm glad I experienced both.
note: neither are PODs like Air Canada (mentioning because I see you're from Canada as well). On that trip I'd rank LH (service and cool factor of A380 with full level of business class)>AC>SAA.
note: if the cost was the same I'd do SAA from NY to JNB for convenience (one red-eye vs. 2, avoid an 8 hour layover in Europe).
Enjoy the trip!
note: neither are PODs like Air Canada (mentioning because I see you're from Canada as well). On that trip I'd rank LH (service and cool factor of A380 with full level of business class)>AC>SAA.
note: if the cost was the same I'd do SAA from NY to JNB for convenience (one red-eye vs. 2, avoid an 8 hour layover in Europe).
Enjoy the trip!
Aug 30, 2015, 8:34 am
#9
Join Date: Jul 2013
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Posts: 7,058
I've taken both back to back.
Well it was the A340 JNB-FRA (from what I can see it's the same cabin/seat) with 4 hours to freshen up and then get on 748i FRA-LAX.
The upper deck is nice on the 748 but you don't have direct aisle access and the seats V into each other instead of away with a thin foot well divider.
Relaxing in each seat I found neither to be more comfortable than the other. You do get nicer bedding on SA.
My crew on JNB-FRA sucked, FRA-LAX was great. But the REAL winner for probably best crew experience I ever had was on SA for the JFK-JNB leg.
Food was about the same, maybe a bit more presentation on SA.
For me in this case I would say
1) Price
2) Schedule
3) Bucket List Experience
Well it was the A340 JNB-FRA (from what I can see it's the same cabin/seat) with 4 hours to freshen up and then get on 748i FRA-LAX.
The upper deck is nice on the 748 but you don't have direct aisle access and the seats V into each other instead of away with a thin foot well divider.
Relaxing in each seat I found neither to be more comfortable than the other. You do get nicer bedding on SA.
My crew on JNB-FRA sucked, FRA-LAX was great. But the REAL winner for probably best crew experience I ever had was on SA for the JFK-JNB leg.
Food was about the same, maybe a bit more presentation on SA.
For me in this case I would say
1) Price
2) Schedule
3) Bucket List Experience
Aug 31, 2015, 2:10 pm
#10
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: FRA (formerly JNB)
Programs: LH M&M
Posts: 169
SA gets my vote by a fraction - the seat has tons of room and the mattress pad they give makes it so comfy. The new LH seats are OK but the fact that the seats angle towards each other at the feet is a pain - on my last flight my neighbour and I bumped into each other once or twice. Also the size of the LH cabin (on A380 mind you, haven't been on the 748 so not sure how many seats there) is just ridiculous, 96 (I think) seats in J makes it feel decidedly UN-exclusive. I would avoid a window seat on both if travelling alone.
Food, crew and entertainment are secondary to me, and I'd put them about on par - both are a bit hit-and-miss in my experience.
Sums it up nicely ^
Food, crew and entertainment are secondary to me, and I'd put them about on par - both are a bit hit-and-miss in my experience.
For me in this case I would say
1) Price
2) Schedule
3) Bucket List Experience
1) Price
2) Schedule
3) Bucket List Experience