Asia-NA in Biz: AC vs NH vs OZ vs others

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Jul 5, 10, 2:20 pm

Lutz

Original Poster

Join Date: Jan 2004

Location: NYC

Programs: AA PLT

Posts: 236

Asia-NA in Biz: AC vs NH vs OZ vs others

I'm planning a trip to NZ, OZ & Korea in May 2011. I'll be using bmi DC miles. The outbound will most likely be: DTW-(UA Y)-ORD-(UA Y)-LAX-(NZ C)-AKL(stopover)-(NZ Y)-ZQN & I will buy a revenue ticket to cover ZQN-SYD. On the return, I will be flying OZ C from SYD to ICN. I was wondering about Korea-North America. I would like some feedback re: the following choices.

AC J: ICN-NRT-YYZ-DTW (ICN-NRT on OZ; by going through NRT I avoid overnighting in YYZ)
NH C: ICN-NRT-ORD-DTW (ORD-DTW on UA)
OZ C: ICN-ORD-DTW (ORD-DTW on UA)
I don't know if this is bookable through bmi, but I was also thinking of LH C: ICN-FRA-DTW

I've read that in terms of seating, AC J wins hands-down as they are the only ones w/ fully-flat seats in biz. But food & service are supposedly not as good as other carriers. NH & OZ are apparently very good when it comes to food/drinks & service, but they have angled-flat seats.

Please correct me if I am wrong and I would appreciate any feedback. Thanks.

Last edited by Lutz; Jul 5, 10 at 4:18 pm

Jul 5, 10, 4:25 pm

ac777

Join Date: Jan 2003

Location: AC SE, SPG Lifetime Plat, ACMM

Posts: 3,528

AC has very good IFE and of course the beds in the pods!! have you considered SQ ICN-SFO-DTW? You can get it all--flat bed, good food and great IFE!!

Jul 5, 10, 4:55 pm

Lutz

Original Poster

Join Date: Jan 2004

Location: NYC

Programs: AA PLT

Posts: 236

Quote:

Originally Posted by ac777

AC has very good IFE and of course the beds in the pods!! have you considered SQ ICN-SFO-DTW? You can get it all--flat bed, good food and great IFE!!

Thanks ac777. True, I did not consider SQ - didn't realize they had ICN-SFO. But I am not seeing any availability on ANA from now until then. Also, I'd have to stop in ORD or DEN as there is no direct SFO-DTW.

So among the rest, is AC the best option?

Jul 5, 10, 4:57 pm

yycworldtraveler

Join Date: Mar 2005

Location: Calgary

Programs: A Few

Posts: 2,339

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lutz

I've read that in terms of seating, AC J wins hands-down as they are the only ones w/ fully-flat seats in biz. But food & service are supposedly not as good as other carriers. NH & OZ are apparently very good when it comes to food/drinks & service, but they have angled-flat seats.

Please correct me if I am wrong and I would appreciate any feedback. Thanks.

You've got it right...for the moment.

However, both OZ and NH are introducing new full lie-flat seats in Business. I would check out the OZ and NH forums for more info. I recall reading here on FT that the first plane with new business seating on OZ is flying the ICN-SFO route.

Jul 5, 10, 5:36 pm

DownUnderFlyer

Moderator: Asiana & Qantas Frequent Flyer

Join Date: Dec 2006

Location: STR/SYD/SMF

Programs: QF SG, LH SEN, OZ D+, HH D, SPG P

Posts: 14,095

Quote:

Originally Posted by ac777

You can get it all--flat bed, good food and great IFE!!

Having it all really depends on the eye of the beholder. I personally try hard to avoid SQ.

Quote:

Originally Posted by yycworldtraveler

You've got it right...for the moment.

I recall reading here on FT that the first plane with new business seating on OZ is flying the ICN-SFO route.

Correct, the new OZ full flat biz class is operating to SFO, LAX (just once a week) and PEK.

Jul 5, 10, 5:37 pm

DownUnderFlyer

Moderator: Asiana & Qantas Frequent Flyer

Join Date: Dec 2006

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Posts: 14,095

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lutz

So among the rest, is AC the best option?

If you can get the new OZ C then they will be by far the best option.

Jul 5, 10, 9:21 pm

1kBill

Join Date: Apr 2004

Location: ONT, LAX

Programs: UA1k 2.5MM, AA Plt, peasant on everybody else, elite something or other at a bunch of hotels.

Posts: 4,527

NH now has flat beds NRT-JFK. AC has flat beds ICN-YVR on a 767. UA presently has flat beds ICN-SFO.

For me, going to DTW, I would try to maximize the time spent in a flat bed seat, so I would first try for AC NRT-YYZ or UA NRT-YYZ, assuming reasonable connection times. Of the carriers listed, I think NH has the best food by far, then OZ/AC then UA. For IFE, I would rank them UA (new AVOD only!), AC a close second, then NH and OZ in a distant last place.

SQ runs their 77w's ICN-SFO - are these even available for awards? (Not important to me as I am not a fan of their "cubicles.")

Jul 5, 10, 10:13 pm

DownUnderFlyer

Moderator: Asiana & Qantas Frequent Flyer

Join Date: Dec 2006

Location: STR/SYD/SMF

Programs: QF SG, LH SEN, OZ D+, HH D, SPG P

Posts: 14,095

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1kBill

SQ runs their 77w's ICN-SFO - are these even available for awards?

Yes, if you are with SQ KF or LH M&M.

Jul 6, 10, 9:16 pm

Lutz

Original Poster

Join Date: Jan 2004

Location: NYC

Programs: AA PLT

Posts: 236

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1kBill

For me, going to DTW, I would try to maximize the time spent in a flat bed seat, so I would first try for AC NRT-YYZ or UA NRT-YYZ, assuming reasonable connection times. Of the carriers listed, I think NH has the best food by far, then OZ/AC then UA. For IFE, I would rank them UA (new AVOD only!), AC a close second, then NH and OZ in a distant last place.

Thanks everyone for their inputs. What 1kBill said makes a lot of sense to me. Maximizing my time in a flat bed seat is probably the way to go, so AC is the front runner for now. Is either NH or OZ planning to offer flat-bed seats for NRT-ORD or ICN-ORD routes?

Last edited by Lutz; Jul 6, 10 at 9:36 pm