Best First or Business Class seats Transatlantic?
Dec 21, 2009, 12:36 pm
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Best First or Business Class seats Transatlantic?
Hi,
All too many of my recent transatlantic trips have been on Continental. If you've flown them, you know their BusinessFirst seats are pretty terrible. I have become extra spoiled by my recent trip on Singapore Airlines A380. Of the airlines who fly direct from a NY area airport (LGA, JFK and EWR are all fine) direct to Paris, who has the best seats, and on which aircraft?
I know Air France claims to have "flat beds" but they apparently recline 170 degrees, not 180, even on their new A380 service. Does anyone offer a truly flat bed? I don't believe anyone operates the A380 on this route other than Air France, but it has also been a while since I have been on a 747, so a flat bed + 747 combo would also be nice.
If no one offers a truly flat bed, what would be the top-5 airline/airframe suggestions for best seats and best service NYC to Paris. Thanks!
All too many of my recent transatlantic trips have been on Continental. If you've flown them, you know their BusinessFirst seats are pretty terrible. I have become extra spoiled by my recent trip on Singapore Airlines A380. Of the airlines who fly direct from a NY area airport (LGA, JFK and EWR are all fine) direct to Paris, who has the best seats, and on which aircraft?
I know Air France claims to have "flat beds" but they apparently recline 170 degrees, not 180, even on their new A380 service. Does anyone offer a truly flat bed? I don't believe anyone operates the A380 on this route other than Air France, but it has also been a while since I have been on a 747, so a flat bed + 747 combo would also be nice.
If no one offers a truly flat bed, what would be the top-5 airline/airframe suggestions for best seats and best service NYC to Paris. Thanks!
Dec 21, 2009, 12:40 pm
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I've never flown with them, but apparently the OpenSkies product is rather good.
I've never flown with them, but apparently the OpenSkies product is rather good.
Dec 21, 2009, 12:41 pm
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Dec 21, 2009, 12:55 pm
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The following are the true flat bed TATL products that I have flown. However, none fly direct to Paris; personally, I'd connect.
BA J ("Club Word") is good.
VS J ("Upper Class") is good hard product, but variable (at best) service - and available as CO codedshare, and earns CO EQM when VS coded.
UA new business is fairly good.
BA F is excellent, though compared with some of the other new F suites may be falling behind (haven't flown any other TATL F, but UA and AA both look excellent).
I don't like the ski-slope flat bed products; I've flown the following TATL J, and none are a patch on the true flad bed prod
BA J ("Club Word") is good.
VS J ("Upper Class") is good hard product, but variable (at best) service - and available as CO codedshare, and earns CO EQM when VS coded.
UA new business is fairly good.
BA F is excellent, though compared with some of the other new F suites may be falling behind (haven't flown any other TATL F, but UA and AA both look excellent).
I don't like the ski-slope flat bed products; I've flown the following TATL J, and none are a patch on the true flad bed prod
Last edited by dgwright99; Dec 21, 2009 at 1:00 pm
Dec 21, 2009, 1:22 pm
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This website compares the various seats available. Two caveats: it's not always 100% up to date, and check your specific flight before booking to see if it is one of the ones with the good seats.
http://www.flatseats.com/index.htm
http://www.flatseats.com/index.htm
Dec 21, 2009, 1:48 pm
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The following are the true flat bed TATL products that I have flown. However, none fly direct to Paris; personally, I'd connect.
BA J ("Club Word") is good.
VS J ("Upper Class") is good hard product, but variable (at best) service - and available as CO codedshare, and earns CO EQM when VS coded.
UA new business is fairly good.
BA F is excellent, though compared with some of the other new F suites may be falling behind (haven't flown any other TATL F, but UA and AA both look excellent).
I don't like the ski-slope flat bed products; I've flown the following TATL J, and none are a patch on the true flad bed prod
BA J ("Club Word") is good.
VS J ("Upper Class") is good hard product, but variable (at best) service - and available as CO codedshare, and earns CO EQM when VS coded.
UA new business is fairly good.
BA F is excellent, though compared with some of the other new F suites may be falling behind (haven't flown any other TATL F, but UA and AA both look excellent).
I don't like the ski-slope flat bed products; I've flown the following TATL J, and none are a patch on the true flad bed prod
Dec 21, 2009, 2:00 pm
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Dec 21, 2009, 2:07 pm
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Do you prefer flat beds or big recliners? I find myself going back and forth: flat beds usually require me to sleep curled up on my side to fit into the little space, whereas in the recliners I stay on my back like I usually sleep.
I liked the LH biz seat enough. I'm not sure if it went truly 180 degrees, but I figure with the airplane flying a few degrees nose-up (like it usually does) I couldn't really tell. Good soft product too.
I know many here don't like it, but I'm actually fine with the old UA seats on the 777. That's the big recliner...I always get Row 8 so I can recline with my feet being in the open space behind the last F row. (Get seat B or J for this - side aisles.) Maybe it's not a case that I *love* this seat so much as it's a case that I know I can usually get it with an upgrade, something not as easy with the flat beds.
I liked the LH biz seat enough. I'm not sure if it went truly 180 degrees, but I figure with the airplane flying a few degrees nose-up (like it usually does) I couldn't really tell. Good soft product too.
I know many here don't like it, but I'm actually fine with the old UA seats on the 777. That's the big recliner...I always get Row 8 so I can recline with my feet being in the open space behind the last F row. (Get seat B or J for this - side aisles.) Maybe it's not a case that I *love* this seat so much as it's a case that I know I can usually get it with an upgrade, something not as easy with the flat beds.
Dec 21, 2009, 2:36 pm
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Do you prefer flat beds or big recliners? I find myself going back and forth: flat beds usually require me to sleep curled up on my side to fit into the little space, whereas in the recliners I stay on my back like I usually sleep.
I liked the LH biz seat enough. I'm not sure if it went truly 180 degrees, but I figure with the airplane flying a few degrees nose-up (like it usually does) I couldn't really tell. Good soft product too.
I know many here don't like it, but I'm actually fine with the old UA seats on the 777. That's the big recliner...I always get Row 8 so I can recline with my feet being in the open space behind the last F row. (Get seat B or J for this - side aisles.) Maybe it's not a case that I *love* this seat so much as it's a case that I know I can usually get it with an upgrade, something not as easy with the flat beds.
I liked the LH biz seat enough. I'm not sure if it went truly 180 degrees, but I figure with the airplane flying a few degrees nose-up (like it usually does) I couldn't really tell. Good soft product too.
I know many here don't like it, but I'm actually fine with the old UA seats on the 777. That's the big recliner...I always get Row 8 so I can recline with my feet being in the open space behind the last F row. (Get seat B or J for this - side aisles.) Maybe it's not a case that I *love* this seat so much as it's a case that I know I can usually get it with an upgrade, something not as easy with the flat beds.
Definitely flat beds for me. I can't get any good sleep on long haul flights unless it's a bed. Does anyone have any experience with Air France NY-->Paris? Is there a marked difference between 1st and Business on the A380 and 777's they operate on this route aka is it worth an extra several thousand dollars / leg or should I fly Business and or their A340 service which only has Business. According to their information the First and Business seats both recline to beds.
Dec 21, 2009, 3:55 pm
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On a route that short, I doubt I'd pay significantly more for F. The only time I ever have the J vs. F option is when the "currency" is miles, and I'd be more apt to book J unless it's part of some sort of longer itin or some sort of unique soft product or other ground service.
I might pull the trigger on BA F in the next two years...assuming my wife and I can get two seats together for a total of 150,000 miles plus taxes. (Or maybe a few more miles to go beyond Europe with the award.) I'll believe that Visa Chase 2-for-1 offer when I have a confirmed itin booked, but it's certainly a case where I'd throw extra miles at F.
I might pull the trigger on BA F in the next two years...assuming my wife and I can get two seats together for a total of 150,000 miles plus taxes. (Or maybe a few more miles to go beyond Europe with the award.) I'll believe that Visa Chase 2-for-1 offer when I have a confirmed itin booked, but it's certainly a case where I'd throw extra miles at F.
Dec 21, 2009, 4:46 pm
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Dec 21, 2009, 5:12 pm
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Yea, I am definitley looking for a direct flight, otherwise I would take BA F and then connect Heathrow to CDG. Sorry again about not having my codes down, but what is EC? Also is "J" Business class? I think AF F is ~14k while Business is 7-8k, I assume that it's not worth the additional 6-7k to fly F on this route? Would it even be worth wasting miles on? I think AF accepts AMEX points converted to miles and I have several hundred thousands collecting dust.
Dec 21, 2009, 5:30 pm
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Check out the Glossary for terms used on FT. It's alphabetical and a lot of the terms are listed although not all. Hope it's helpful. BTW, EC is not there and, frankly, I don't know what EC is either.
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