On second thought I think I'd bag Emirates and Singapore. I'm not sure that it's worth it overall to fly across the country on a domestic carrier only to connect to SQ/EK for the short-ish overnight.

For a west coast departure, my pick would be AF, that's the one I really want to try. I am quite fond of Alitalia business class too.

Thanks all - looks like I really need to do the SFO CDG hop in AF La Premiere and connect from there.

To be honest AF may cost me more but at least I won't be looking at ripped carpets and dirty seats in BA First. As a side note while the Concorde Room may be quite nice, BA's business class lounge at LHR is filthy beyond words and I have the pictures to prove it. That airline has fallen so far - if it sounds like I'm picking on them it's because they offer the best route for my regular PHX-LHR-MAN itinerary but it's just so shoddy compared to others. I already have my next flight booked with them a few weeks hence - not looking forward to it one bit.