helvetic

It's true that the LX F boarding is a bit of a joke… I saw the same thing and I wasn't too pleased. But, I think it's a pretty minor complain in the grand scheme of things, and I have bigger complaints about pretty much every other airline in F.

The food on LH has always tasted pretty good to me. It gets a bit salty sometimes. I do like germanic food, so that probably helps a lot.

I'm not sure I understand what your complaint is regarding LH's ground services in FRA? You'd want someone to meet you at the get and guide you to the lounge? I find LH to be very very good when it comes to ground services. When I flew them ex-HND, they had a personal escort for me to guide me all the way to the lounge, and then to the plane. They escorted me through crew security, which was instantaneous. At FRA, of course, you get driven to your plane from the lounge in a car… Getting from an inbound gate to a lounge is usually pretty easy, too.

Personally, I've always found the personalized escorts to be more of a gimmick. I only care about it insofar as they help me skip certain lines.

Kagehitokiri

avoiding commercial areas/terminals entirely via tarmac transfers can be ideal.

if not, then jumping all queues.

LH FCT focuses on departures. making the paid service better for arrivals/connections.

IIRC garuda also awesome on ground?

related http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trave...rst-class.html

that wasnt my point, i just dont understand lack of discussion on FT when many pay full fare F, for both leisure and business travel, including some of the fans of LH FCT etc.

blueline7

[QUOTE=SFO777;28769676]
4. Emirates
5. Etihad

SFO777, would you still prefer Emirates over Etihad if both are on the a380? If so, wondering why. I kinda do too, just wondering what your rationale is...

helvetic

I've found EK to be way more _fun_ vs. EY. That for me is the key factor making me enjoy Emirates so much… the outrageous bling, the booze, the bar, the friendly chatty FAs from all around the world.

EY on the other hand is a lot more austere. It's more refined, but less fun.

On the ground, EY lounges are way better than the giant mess that is EK's first class level in DXB.

SFO777

Ah-hah. That explains it. After the Weiner Schnitzel (isn't that Austrian anyway), I'm not a big fan of German food except pig tails and poppy seed cake that my German grandmother used to serve. Face it, when thinking about restaurants, when was the last time you heard anyone say "let's do German tonight"

You had me until the "Getting from an inbound gate to a lounge is usually pretty easy, too" part. Don't get me wrong, I really like Lufthansa. But arriving at FRA or MUC, you are dumped into the terminal with everyone else. Even if you are picked up in a limo at a remote stand, you are dumped into the terminal with everyone else. And at FRA, you are on your own to find the FCL (if you can) or enter Germany, turn left, walk by the taxi stand to the FCT. Compare that to AF (or GA) where you are escorted every step of the way, on departure, on a connection and with AF, on arrival at your destination airport.

MUC is even worse with essentially no PA for MUC-USA flights. You are on your own and get LX-like priority boarding.



I love LH and they do a lot of things right but it's these little things that cost them points for me and don't place them higher than #6 in my book.

SFO777

Just based on hard product, it's hard to beat the Etihad A380 Apartment. But Emirates wins on food, wine, lounges, better ground ops, nicer hub fewer bus gates and no PreClearance forcing me to leave the lounge early. So overall, I'd rank EK ahead of EY.

SFO777

Totally agree on your characterization of EK vs. EY. It does see more fun, especially with the bar. Can't agree on the lounges though. EY went two year without a FCL and when they finally opened, it wasn't much better than the old one. Their current financials problems have resulted in major cutbacks in quality and food options in the lounge itself. And then there's the biggest issue of all for those of us with Global Entry, that stupid AUH PreClearance that forces you to leave the lounge early and wait in the dump that is the US "Premium Lounge" or at the gate.

blueline7

Well put. I think that is why I feel more inclined to go with EK rather than a EY. Although I would also add that the spa bathroom in EK is so far superior than EY, that this also makes a difference. The last time I was on EY, I didn't even bother taking a shower onboard, whereas with EK I would never pass that up.

helvetic

That's right, Wienerschnitzel is Austrian. Wiener means "from Vienna."

"Let's do German" tonight comes up quite often in my life. We have some truly wonderful German restaurants in SF! I'm actually getting German tonight!

I'm not one to care that much for hand-holding; and I usually prefer more tangible benefits. Personally, I was disappointed by GA's F service; because I felt like it was there to check the checkbox, without being helpful in any way. I'll compare my experience flying LH F and GA F ex-Tokyo:

- LH had an agent to escort me from check in to the ANA Suites lounge. They whisked me through crew security and I went from check-in to lounge in minutes.

- GA has an agent to escort me every step of the way. Meaning, someone walking next to me pulling my Rimowa carry-on. I still had to wait in the "Sky Priority" security line, with my suitcase; while the agent waited for me on the other side. Brought my to the DL business lounge where they had a table reserved for me. Then went and walked me from the lounge to the plane when it was time to depart. Then, arriving in DPS, I had an agent waiting for me, who walked me to immigration, where I was again left to wait on my own in a 30min line. The agent was waiting on the other side to then show me to my car.

For me, that's not a useful service. I don't care to have someone walking me around. I care about not waiting 30min or even 5min in a line with everybody else. That's the kind of special treatment I want.

That said—not to poop on GA and defend LH too much… I think it'd definitely be nice if they upped their game on arrival ground services. My last LH F into LAX was a disaster, where they knew nothing of the Express Connection pass and wouldn't give me one. I missed my connection due to their late inbound, was not given an express connection pass, and was not automatically re-accommodated—had to figure it out on my own at the UA Club.

helvetic

I haven't had to experience the pre-clearance issue. I found the bar at the EY F lounge to be way superior to the EK lounge. You have to understand—most of my lounging time is spent at the bar and is extra fun when there's an interesting local bartender to chat with.

When flying LX F, after enjoying a meal at the F lounge, I'll often dip into the SEN lounge to enjoy the whiskey lounge, despite that being technically a "downgrade."

EY delivers: they've got a full bar with a destination-inspired cocktail menu, and the ability to make anything. (My bartender was a Ukranian expat.) QR and EK didn't deliver on that front. EK pissed me off when they brought me a $50 bill for my cigar (EY's cigars are free), and I couldn't find a real bar to speak off. There's just agents who'll make you a mixed drink wherever you want; but there isn't a real bar with a real bartender.

Bartending is not something any lounge agent can do. It's not something that's done in a back room and brought to you like a plate. Ask for even a basic cocktail like an old fashioned and out of the ME3, only EY would be able to deliver.

I also found the food in their restaurant to be vastly better. The haircut / massage is a nice touch, too.

And in terms of atmosphere… once you find it, EY's lounge is quite and relaxing. It feels like a lounge. EK's F lounge on the other hand feels like a bright shopping mall. And Al Sawfa feels like a museum.

HMPS

Wow, never thought Garuda would rank so hight for you. ( know your tastes from the fantastic TRs) ^

I am partial to Singapore, QR, EY. BA I have sworn off completely.

krazykanuck

While I can't say I've tried anywhere near the F cabins, I will say hands down, I have had the most fun on long haul Emirates flights, and I've flown them in first and economy on varying trips and they win in both cabins.

They hire the best flight attendants I've ever seen. Their F class FAs seem to abe to magically balance being friendly and bubbly, without being overbearing, and a remarkable sense of anticipating your next need/desire and are proactive to deliver it, without you having to ask. My DFW-DXB flight last year, I had an amazing Australian woman in my part of the F cabin and she made the trip ^ Hard product is what it is, but you pair that with grade A service? ^^^^

SFO777

Perhaps at one time, but most of EY's cigars are no longer free...

captdini737

For whatever it is worth, 2 airlines not on your list IF you want to give them a shot:

1. Jet Airways
2. Air India

Regards,

Dinshaw.

helvetic

Great point! I'll add those to the list.