For those of us who enjoy first class travel, the latest from Forbes on the best first class seats out there for 2004.

http://www.forbes.com/lifestyle/2004...ml?partner=rss

Not that I have flown all of those first products (i have done SQ, UA, BA, and QF), but their ranking seems pretty consistent both with my experience and what I have read on FT.

I'm quite partial to the QF product and was a bit upset to see them not ranked higher, but admittedly part of my fondness towards it is where you are flying to when flying them!

Thanks -- interesting article. Although really the difference is not so much in the "seats" (which pretty look more alike than different) but in the quality of the service. There are a lot of tie votes, with only Emirates standing alone at the top of the pile, so it is not as if the 12 or so airlines are ranked in a strict numerical sequence.

nothing to do w/ MP or UAL so to Travelbuzz it goes

thanks

squeakr

MOD UAL

That's some valuable ranking system that gives equal value to Flat Beds and "turn down service".

Lufthansa and Air France's first class cabins are superior to Cathay Pacific and ANA's?

This is an interesting piece of news! There were a few threads asking what was the travel policy of FTer's employers, but it was not statistically conclusive

That may explain why airlines are moving to a revenue-based status instead of a strict flown-miles based one...


On the rest of the article, I find too that the methodology is strange... Helicopter service offered by MH beats a limousine service hands down, and is much more valuable than turndown service... Every airline feed its pax, but not the same way etc. I agree with the 13 categories they use, but having a 0 or 1 mark for each is not quite right...

But the advantage of this is the objectivity, while "FA friendliness" cannot be judged on a single flight (and I doubt forbes was willing to pay someone to do RTW in first class for the purpose of writing the article).

I cannot speak of Lufthansa as I never fly them.
I agree fully with AF's rating. The new F is just incredibly comfortable, you can really sleep on your belly (the way I sleep best). The whole cabin is much nicer than any airline. Everywhere else I almost get claustrophobic with all the high panels, not with AF. The cabin is airy, the colours are very elegant and the product is top of the line.

"According to an April 2003 report from the Alexandria, Va.-based National Business Travel Association, less than 5% of business travelers fly first and business class, while more than 70% fly in restricted economy. But this tiny group is contributing to the majority of the airline's revenue. "These premium seats can account for 40% to 60% of the revenue, while they're practically giving away seats in the back," says Bennett."

I wondered for a long time if there was a case for a purely business and first class airline or is one already in existence?

There is one:

http://www.privatair.com/home.html

all business between Germany and the US