Looking for *alliance award seat in F which carrier is best?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Programs: UA-1k, 1mm, Marriott-LT Platinum, Hertz-Presidents Circle
Posts: 6,355
Looking for *alliance award seat in F which carrier is best?
I haven't picked a destination yet, as I'm very flexible. Once decided on the best F carrier, I will pick 1 or more destinations on their route map. This will be for next spring most likely. I simply want to travel on the best F carrier in the * alliance. How do you rank your top 3?
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#2
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: MDT / BWI / IAD
Programs: UA Plat 1MM
Posts: 477
I have often wondered about this too, but the different aspect of what's "best" differ quite a bit from one pax to another. Do you care most about:
Seat/bed?
IFE?
Food/wine?
Cabin service?
Lounge/airport service?
I'd love to see lots of replies to rank the *A carriers with regard to some of these factors.
Seat/bed?
IFE?
Food/wine?
Cabin service?
Lounge/airport service?
I'd love to see lots of replies to rank the *A carriers with regard to some of these factors.
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Programs: UA-1k, 1mm, Marriott-LT Platinum, Hertz-Presidents Circle
Posts: 6,355
I have often wondered about this too, but the different aspect of what's "best" differ quite a bit from one pax to another. Do you care most about:
Seat/bed?
IFE?
Food/wine?
Cabin service?
Lounge/airport service?
I'd love to see lots of replies to rank the *A carriers with regard to some of these factors.
Seat/bed?
IFE?
Food/wine?
Cabin service?
Lounge/airport service?
I'd love to see lots of replies to rank the *A carriers with regard to some of these factors.
1. Seat/bed
2. food
3. ife
#5
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: France, Shanghai
Programs: Flying Blue life Platinum , *A Gold ,PC Plat. IC Royal Ambassador , SPG Platinum
Posts: 418
#6
Moderator, Hilton Honors
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: on a short leash
Programs: some
Posts: 71,422
TK has (for now) the 9W seats (it is ex-9W aircraft). Unlike some other good *A first class they were reasonably accessible on *A awards. However, I understand TK is removing first later this year.
#7
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Aurora, CO
Programs: Statusless and proud
Posts: 7,582
Well, just based on trip reports and such (I'm not taking my first international F trip until next spring), I'd say the consensus around here is that overall F class offerings are broken down in a couple tiers (with the listings not in any particular order):
Best of the Best
SQ, NH, LX
Next Best
LH, TG, OZ, TK
Well, it's still F
CA, UA
People can feel free to disagree.
Chris
Best of the Best
SQ, NH, LX
Next Best
LH, TG, OZ, TK
Well, it's still F
CA, UA
People can feel free to disagree.
Chris
#8
Join Date: May 2006
Location: New York, London, Sydney
Programs: United GS/2MM, DL*P, VS*G, AA*EXP, Avis CHM, Hertz Platinum, Sixt*D, HH*D, HGP*P, Starwood*P
Posts: 9,847
Best of the Best
SQ, NH, TK, LX (333)
Next Best
OZ, LX (other)
Next Best
LH (except for ground services, which go into the first category).
Well, it's still F
CA, TG, UA
All except LX333, TK, and CA based on experience.
SQ, NH, TK, LX (333)
Next Best
OZ, LX (other)
Next Best
LH (except for ground services, which go into the first category).
Well, it's still F
CA, TG, UA
All except LX333, TK, and CA based on experience.
#9
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: LON & MUC
Programs: BA Gold, LH FTL, KL Plat (comped), BD
Posts: 247
Well, just based on trip reports and such (I'm not taking my first international F trip until next spring), I'd say the consensus around here is that overall F class offerings are broken down in a couple tiers (with the listings not in any particular order):
Best of the Best
SQ, NH, LX
Next Best
LH, TG, OZ, TK
Well, it's still F
CA, UA
People can feel free to disagree.
Chris
Best of the Best
SQ, NH, LX
Next Best
LH, TG, OZ, TK
Well, it's still F
CA, UA
People can feel free to disagree.
Chris
#10
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: A lovely little town filled with cows
Programs: US2, Hyatt Diamond, SPG Plat, Hilton Gold
Posts: 3,284
Best of the Best
NH, LX, OZ, TK
Next Best
SQ, LH, TG (new)
Well, it's still F
MS, CA, UA, TG (old)
I have flown all of the above carriers except for TG (new F), TK, and MS. I'm basing my ratings for those three on trip reports and forum postings from here on FT.
NH, LX, OZ, TK
Next Best
SQ, LH, TG (new)
Well, it's still F
MS, CA, UA, TG (old)
I have flown all of the above carriers except for TG (new F), TK, and MS. I'm basing my ratings for those three on trip reports and forum postings from here on FT.
#11
Join Date: May 2006
Location: New York, London, Sydney
Programs: United GS/2MM, DL*P, VS*G, AA*EXP, Avis CHM, Hertz Platinum, Sixt*D, HH*D, HGP*P, Starwood*P
Posts: 9,847
You consider TG OLD F to be better than UA new F??? (Yes, BKK ground services are exceptional, but that doesn't explain the distinction sufficiently as it was the ground services that kept TG from being put in the UA category altogether for me).
#12
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: A lovely little town filled with cows
Programs: US2, Hyatt Diamond, SPG Plat, Hilton Gold
Posts: 3,284
Yes, UA new F has very good IFE and a more private seat, but the service would generally be less "special" and the beverage options inferior. If caviar is your thing, TG does it while UA doesn't. On TG you can pre-book meals, not so on UA (aside from dietary/religious). PJs on TG in F for long-haul flights, not so for UA. They may seem inconsequential, but for some they are important. The old TG seat is still comfortable, it's just not very private.
So if your measuring stick is based on IFE or seat privacy, yes, UA new F is better than TG old F. If you look at the whole picture, I think even TG old F is at least as good.
For that matter, we could make a further distinction for OZ new F versus OZ old F, or SQ 77W/A380 F versus SQ 744 F versus regional 777 F. The seat and IFE are but one aspect of the "F" experience - albeit an important one.
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2004
Location: DFW/DAL
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT, AS MVPG, HH Diamond, NCL Platinum Plus, MSC Diamond
Posts: 21,422
I can't imagine choosing the best airline F Class before choosing the destination. I am more concern with what I am going to do after I get off the plane, than with any benefit I will get from flying, assuming it's not an MR.
And, an MR is not going to be due to the first class seats on a specific carrier.
#14
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: BOM-SIN-EWR
Programs: UA*G (1K again), Sixt Plat, *was*: SQ QPP01 & SK EBS/EBG, LH SEN, AA EXP, 9wPlat
Posts: 8,606
Unfortunately, 9w couldn't afford to keep their own planes on their routes.
I would agree - except UA is really pretty down on the scale, in my limited experience - and I flew both the old and the new 744 products...