LapLap

I'm looking to fly to Japan later this year and redeeming some miles so that I can fly in Business (my back isn't so good).

A while ago I would have thought that the best choice for me was ANA, but I flew from LHR-NRT last year in Business and didn't like it at all. The food was OK, but the seat was deeply uncomfortable... I actually found it quite painful.

I'm fine with true lie flat beds (I loved my flight to YYZ in Air Canada's new Suites) and I find old style Business Class very comfortable (BMI's pre-refurbishment The Biz and UA's - and to a lesser extent - Alitalia's seats were all fine for me and I slept well in all of them.

So my question is - are there any Star Alliance airlines that have Business Class seats between Europe and Japan that aren't angled operating tables?

I can only think of NZ which would mean a detour to Hong Kong (not necessarily a stopover I want to make in the Summer)

And I'm not sure if Air China's Business class seats are 'old school' or the angled flat kind.

Kiwi Flyer

NZ via AKL
SQ via FRA/CDG/ZRH and SIN (SIN-NRT angled)

stevenshev

Why not NZ via HKG? That's actually an excellent suggestion. If not, fly SQ through CDG or FRA.

ulyparis

Would LHR-YYZ-NRT or LHR-YVR-NRT be more expensive? Not sure. I think you could manage to have the 777 suites all the way and as you have already experienced those to be comfortable for you, it would be a safe choice.

LapLap

A LOT more - so unobtainable.

"Why not HKG?"

I'd best stress that my back is not very good at all and I'm looking for a less painful way to fly to NRT than Economy.

Alas, long detours to SIN or HKG (or YYZ/YVR) aren't really that great for my back. I'd be up for a layover if I could see Singapore or Hong Kong but I can't get around very well so sightseeing would be incredibly difficult and the summer heat in HKG would be a killer.
I haven't discounted them - but they would be a last resort.
Kiwi Flyer - I thought Raffles Class seats on SIN were angled
http://www.singaporeair.com/saa/en_U...class_seat.jsp
What kind of seat would the Europe-SIN portion actually be in?

So far, the only plausible options that would get me to Japan with the minimum amount of pain seem to be:

Air China? in Business (not sure if this is correct as I don't know if recaro seats mean this http://www.dragonair.com/ka/manage_c.../panel_fn.jpeg or this http://www.johnnyjet.com/images/PicF...y11BizSeat.JPG)

ANA/LH/OS/SK/OZ in economy (not worth redeeming miles for - so paying for Y in Aeroflot might be worth going for if the connection time is good as it gives a break at a convenient point in travel)

Even Air Turkey seems to have the sliding tables

Kiwi Flyer

Spacebed, on 777-200ER and 747-400 are flat on an angle.
77W has true flat bed, and available on CDG/ZRH/BCN/MXP/FRA* to SIN (and some SIN-HKG/ICN)
A380 also has true flat bed, but not yet on the LHR to SIN or SIN-NRT routes.

* (the flight that goes through FRA to/from JFK is on 747-400 and thus spacebed, the other flight is 77W).