Best First Class Partner?
 

Hi Flyertalk!

I was wondering what you think is the best first class experience out of all the airliners in Star Alliance? I have a lot of united points, and would like to maximize the value of my points by flying first.

The only airliner I have flown first class is Cathay. And from I have read, they are one of the best. I have looked into Singapore Airlines, but they have have little to no availability for reward travel from North America.

Thanks ahead of time!

Best First Class Partner?
 

Both CX and SG are fantastic. CX J and F if the availability is there, take it

SG availability for first class is not available from North America. And really hard to find anywhere else.

Also I can't do CX with Star Alliance.

Thai Airways is supposed to be really nice - I'm eyeing them for emptying my UA account. You might not get flights in first from the US, but if you route via Frankfurt, for example, there is lots of availability.

SQ F is great, but doesn´t release any award seats to partners on flights outside Asia.

LX F is very good (especially the soft product), but finding award space is nearly impossible (not completely, but you´re mor elikely to find 4 F award seats IME).

LH only releases F award space within ~15 days of departure. If you can get the new F product (see the LH forum for details on routes/planes) and can include a visit at the FRA FCT/FCL that´s also an excellent choice.

NH F and OZ F are excellent. TG F soft product isn´t nearly as good IME, but the new TG F product on the 77W and 380 is excellent.

Long story short: Grab whatever space you can get. Avoid UA F if possible. LH old F and TG old F wouldn´t be my first choice, but other than that any F product will be great.

In my opinion CX F is the best, but they are not in Star Alliance.

Personally i like NH, SQ and OZ, followed by LH and LX (as long as you can get the new seats), TG is next and UA is very distant last.

As I've only flown CX F and OZ F, I can say that OZ F is not bad at all. That being said, this is how I would compare them:

Seat: CX is wider, but when lying flat, it feels weird because your legs are cramped.
Storage space: OZ wins. CX doesn't really give you much room to store cellphones / tablets / this and that knick knacks you might need during the flight.
Bedding: CX wins (the duvet is softer and more plush)
Decor / finish / general interior: new CX > OZ > old CX
Food: CX wins and it's not even kinda close.
Entertaiment selection: CX wins
Entertainment hardware (monitor, headset): OZ wins. Larger monitor and quieter headset.
Amenities: OZ wins (they give lotions, cologne etc where CX just gives you the standard stuff: eyeshades, earplugs, etc).
Service: about the same, all Asian carriers will just fawn over you in first class really. A bit uncomfortable IMO.
Lounges and airport (HKG vs ICN): CX wins big time.

Thank you for taking the time for that detailed explanation. OZ is definitely on my list to consider. :)

Thank you Jasper. Can you please explain what soft product product is? I am assuming it means the new model?

Sorry.

Soft product = food, drinks, service, amenities
Hard product = the seat (and the cabin interior in general)

For people who´ve never flown in F the soft product tends to have a high priority. Pax who´ve flown F hundreds of times tend to care more about the seat.

Thank you sir. That makes sense.

Thai have plenty of availability in J and F. A380 have the new seats so try and get on one of those routes. I've booked Asia to Europe return for 80000 us dividend miles in June. One way on Thai, the other way Swiss. Both new business.

SQ F is fanatic
LX F is very good (especially the soft product)
LH only releases F award space within ~15 days of departure
hope it helps.

And, expect that LH F awards will be limited to LH HON and possibly SEN.
So that won't be an option soon. As of 2014, no LX F.

LX F awards won't be available to *A partners from January 2014.