All the Fs. Trying every aspirational first class
#31
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Flatland
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold 1MM, BA Gold, UA Peon
Posts: 6,112
I am confident you would place JL well up that list if you tried them.
QF is also quite nice, although it is hard to avoid Dubai and still fly their F (need to fly transpacific).
Things like charging for the cigars are just petty. That is not the sort of experience one is paying for - one hands over a large pile of money at the start and is then wafted along on an invisible cushion of money for the rest of the journey.
I concur that the LH experience in Tokyo is better than GA, because it's more efficient. Having somestaff attend oneself during a tedious experience is again not what one is paying for. One is paying for tedium and discomfort to disappear.
QF is also quite nice, although it is hard to avoid Dubai and still fly their F (need to fly transpacific).
Things like charging for the cigars are just petty. That is not the sort of experience one is paying for - one hands over a large pile of money at the start and is then wafted along on an invisible cushion of money for the rest of the journey.
I concur that the LH experience in Tokyo is better than GA, because it's more efficient. Having somestaff attend oneself during a tedious experience is again not what one is paying for. One is paying for tedium and discomfort to disappear.
#32
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: SFO/SJC
Programs: UA 1K & 2MM, Bonvoy Titanium & LTP, HH Gold, Accor Silver, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 2,350
FWIW, my overall ranking of the international F products I've flown.
1. Air France
2. Garuda Indonesia
3. Qatar
4. Emirates
5. Etihad
6. Lufthansa
7. Cathay Pacific
8. Singapore
9. Swiss
10. ANA
11. JAL
12. Qantas
13. Korean
14. Malaysia
15. Asiana
16. Thai
17. American
18. British
19. Air China
20. United
1. Air France
2. Garuda Indonesia
3. Qatar
4. Emirates
5. Etihad
6. Lufthansa
7. Cathay Pacific
8. Singapore
9. Swiss
10. ANA
11. JAL
12. Qantas
13. Korean
14. Malaysia
15. Asiana
16. Thai
17. American
18. British
19. Air China
20. United
1. Qatar
=2. Emirates
=2. Lufthansa
=2. Etihad
5. Thai
=6. Korean
=6. Singapore
=6. ANA
9. Asiana
10. Jet
11. United
My first ride in Air France F is coming up later this year, so we'll see how that changes the ranking.
Lufthansa is really my go to F experience. Been so consistently excellent for me. Only weak link is that the food isn't quite at par with some of the others.
Thai has also been consistently excellent - on another day I could even rank them at the top. Food, service, that massage...
Even the much maligned United - all said and done, the bed is one of the best out there, and that's worth a lot.
Interesting that my rankings don't differ too much from yours, considering you've likely flown at least 10x what I have in each. My experiences with KE have definitely been better than yours, and I guess TG as well by the looks of it.
OP - definitely give QR F a shot, especially now that they have it on proper long-haul.
#33
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: ORD
Programs: US Air, UA BA LH AI DELTA MARRIOTT CHOICE SGP
Posts: 9,883
Please I am an expat and a long connection with AI but gave up on them. Perhaps you should check other posts , TRs elsewhere ? Maybe SFO777 can provide one ?
#34
#35
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: K+K
Programs: *G
Posts: 4,871
The name is protected and indicates a Schnitzel made from veal.
It's served throughout Central Europe. But if you ask me, it's really a milanese Cotoletta.... Though of course similar variants exist all around the world.
#36
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: HKG • Ex SFO, NYC
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP; Marriott Amb; Hyatt Globalist; Shangri-la Diamond; IHG SpireAmb; Hilton D; Accor G
Posts: 3,319
Gentlemen, after the 4th instance, please, it's Wiener Schnitzel . Wien being the name of the city.
The name is protected and indicates a Schnitzel made from veal.
It's served throughout Central Europe. But if you ask me, it's really a milanese Cotoletta.... Though of course similar variants exist all around the world.
The name is protected and indicates a Schnitzel made from veal.
It's served throughout Central Europe. But if you ask me, it's really a milanese Cotoletta.... Though of course similar variants exist all around the world.
#37
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: ORD
Programs: US Air, UA BA LH AI DELTA MARRIOTT CHOICE SGP
Posts: 9,883
Have a look here:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trip-...maharajah.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trip-...maharajah.html
The TR you posted appears to be from someone who flew it once maybe...was "new" to the Indian cuisine.
My biggest beef with AI is Delays, very spotty service, ( twice I have seen FAs arguing forcefully with pax who were making simple requests.
During IRROPS they are pathetic . Try
Been there, done that, have a "torn" T shirt too
#38
Youhavebeenupgraded booked recently their First Service, but got a plane-change to a 787. He had to fly J and so far they refused compensation. More than weak....
#39
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: 6km East of EPAYE
Programs: UA Silver, AA Platinum, AS & DL GM Marriott TE, Hilton Gold
Posts: 9,582
Really great reporting helvetic ^^ I appreciate all of the effort and comparisons.
#40
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: HKG • Ex SFO, NYC
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP; Marriott Amb; Hyatt Globalist; Shangri-la Diamond; IHG SpireAmb; Hilton D; Accor G
Posts: 3,319
Youhavebeenupgraded booked recently their First Service, but got a plane-change to a 787. He had to fly J and so far they refused compensation. More than weak....
#41
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: HKG • Ex SFO, NYC
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP; Marriott Amb; Hyatt Globalist; Shangri-la Diamond; IHG SpireAmb; Hilton D; Accor G
Posts: 3,319
At some point, I'll make a post on long-haul J, too, and one on flying private.
Last edited by helvetic; Sep 6, 2017 at 5:44 pm
#42
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: HKG • Ex SFO, NYC
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP; Marriott Amb; Hyatt Globalist; Shangri-la Diamond; IHG SpireAmb; Hilton D; Accor G
Posts: 3,319
Clocking in at #3 is EK - Emirates.
Emirates isn't the best product, or even the most luxurious, but it's unequivocally the most fun! In fact, if it wasn't such a pain to book, and if DXB wasn't in the middle of nowhere, it would easily be my first choice of airline to fly around the world.
I'll start with the area in which Emirates is strongest: Alcohol. The drink selection is impeccable. On my flights, they served Dom Perignon 2006.
As nice as the F seats are… on most flights you'll see me spend the majority of my time at the bar in the back of the business class section:
At the bar, they'll bring over the First class champagne, and substitute it into the cocktails. Here's a Dom 2006 + crème de cassis concoction… because I can:
The Hennesy Paradis is excellent. Retailing at $700+ a bottle, I would never order it myself. But when it's free onboard Emirates, I'll enjoy it as much as I can.
The cabin is over the top, blinged out to an almost comical degree:
The food was pretty good, too:
Based on my pictures, it looks like I ordered the caviar about 4 times.
And last but not least, one cannot mention Emirates without mentioning 2 onboard shower suites. Showering at 35,000 ft is an absolutely over the top and ridiculous experience. That said, it's a lot more practical than it sounds. When I land, I feel refreshed and ready to go out. Compare with the typical landing after a long-haul, where I feel like a total mess until I can check in to the hotel and shower.
Emirates isn't the best product, or even the most luxurious, but it's unequivocally the most fun! In fact, if it wasn't such a pain to book, and if DXB wasn't in the middle of nowhere, it would easily be my first choice of airline to fly around the world.
I'll start with the area in which Emirates is strongest: Alcohol. The drink selection is impeccable. On my flights, they served Dom Perignon 2006.
As nice as the F seats are… on most flights you'll see me spend the majority of my time at the bar in the back of the business class section:
At the bar, they'll bring over the First class champagne, and substitute it into the cocktails. Here's a Dom 2006 + crème de cassis concoction… because I can:
The Hennesy Paradis is excellent. Retailing at $700+ a bottle, I would never order it myself. But when it's free onboard Emirates, I'll enjoy it as much as I can.
The cabin is over the top, blinged out to an almost comical degree:
The food was pretty good, too:
Based on my pictures, it looks like I ordered the caviar about 4 times.
And last but not least, one cannot mention Emirates without mentioning 2 onboard shower suites. Showering at 35,000 ft is an absolutely over the top and ridiculous experience. That said, it's a lot more practical than it sounds. When I land, I feel refreshed and ready to go out. Compare with the typical landing after a long-haul, where I feel like a total mess until I can check in to the hotel and shower.
Last edited by helvetic; Sep 6, 2017 at 6:20 pm
#43
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: HKG • Ex SFO, NYC
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP; Marriott Amb; Hyatt Globalist; Shangri-la Diamond; IHG SpireAmb; Hilton D; Accor G
Posts: 3,319
As a bonus, I'll throw in a few shots of the obligatory layover in Dubai, and the trip to Asia (all of these are iPhone pictures, excuse the quality—I broke my DSLR):
Dubai
Hong Kong
Guangzhou
Shanghai
Beijing with beautiful clear skies
Bali from above
Dubai
Hong Kong
Guangzhou
Shanghai
Beijing with beautiful clear skies
Bali from above
#44
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: ORD
Programs: US Air, UA BA LH AI DELTA MARRIOTT CHOICE SGP
Posts: 9,883
Have a look here:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trip-...maharajah.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trip-...maharajah.html
http://viewfromthewing.boardingarea....alcohol-tests/
#45
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: SEA (previous locations: DTW, TLV, EWR, BOS)
Programs: AS: 75K; DL/NW: Plat; DL SC: Lifetime; Hyatt: Diamond; HH: Gold; SPG: Plat;
Posts: 3,383
OP - you mentioned that LX F-space is not available on awards, only a revenue ticket.
Does LX not open up F-space a few weeks prior to flights, much like LH does?
Does LX not open up F-space a few weeks prior to flights, much like LH does?