All the Fs. Trying every aspirational first class
I'll try to aggregate some thoughts and photos from every first class product worth flying.
Done, in order of favorites: 1. LX - Swiss 2. LH - Lufthansa 3. EK - Emirates 4. EY - Etihad 5. SQ - Singapore Airlines 6. GA - Garuda Indonesia 7. KE - Korean 8. CX - Cathay Pacific 9. OZ - Asiana - This is the cutoff point at which I'd rather fly my favorite J product, BR - EVA Air 10. UA - United 11. CZ - China Southern 12. MU - China Eastern Bonus to the report: - Pictures from Asia: Dubai, China, Bali To do: - TG - Thai - AF - Air France - JL - JAL - QF - Qantas - NH - ANA - BA - British Airways - MH - Malaysia Airlines - CA - Air China - WY - Oman Air - MF - Xiamen Air - AI - Air India - 9W - Jet Airways Not interested: - QR - Qatar: Flew them in domestic F and tried the Al Sawfa lounge. Flew them in J and Y too. Horrible service, don't care to fly again. - SV - Saudia: Not interested in a dry sharia law airline. - AA - American: AA is a garbage airline. No thanks. Anyone got more suggestions of what to fly in first class? (It'll take me a little bit to dig up a good picture and write up something about each of those. Bear with me!) |
LX - Swiss 77W F: http://akhun.com/seo/img-1504469675.png 330 F: http://akhun.com/seo/img-1504469890.png Swiss is easily the best and most well-rounded F product I've flown. I've flown them three times, twice on the 77W, and once on the 330. Overall: the best food, one of the best lounges (second only to LH FCT), and a product that gets 5/5 in every category. It's hard to fly (no way to redeem for it), but worth every penny when you find a good deal. One of my favorite parts of the LX F experience is the amazing lounge in ZRH, complete with an outdoor terrace overlooking the airport. http://akhun.com/seo/img-1504471625.png http://akhun.com/seo/img-1504471540.png http://akhun.com/seo/img-1504471601.png A few more shots: Meal service: http://akhun.com/seo/img-1504469718.png The steak was the best piece of meat I've ever had at cruising altitude. It was perfectly cooked, medium rare: http://akhun.com/seo/img-1504469735.png http://akhun.com/seo/img-1504469758.png The steak on another flight: http://akhun.com/seo/img-1504471683.png More food: http://akhun.com/seo/img-1504469816.png http://akhun.com/seo/img-1504469806.png http://akhun.com/seo/img-1504469790.png http://akhun.com/seo/img-1504469828.png http://akhun.com/seo/img-1504469904.png http://akhun.com/seo/img-1504471656.png The Cabin: http://akhun.com/seo/img-1504469854.png http://akhun.com/seo/img-1504469923.png |
You forgot BA, although they really don't have F. Granted they sell it, but it's more like a good Business Class. :D
I can understand your not wanting to fly AA although my recent LAX-LHR flight was surprisingly good. But can't understand your reluctance to fly QR as my experience has been just the opposite, very positive. 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 |
I would reconsider Qatar F. It was the best overall of all ME3. Try it on an A380.
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Surprised you ranked Cathay so high @SFO777. I originally forgot to include it in my list; but when I flew it I thought it was pretty average. The lack of wifi, old cabin, and the inconvenient swinging IFE were noticeable flaws. The food was also a bit lackluster. Everything else about the flight was great, though-- I particularly loved the pajamas and amenities.
I'd be open to flying Qatar F if the opportunity presented itself; but I have a very negative impression of the airline right now, having had a terrible time in my past two trips involving it. Onboard they were fine (though I can't believe they fly that dreadful angle-flat 77L product to LAX, what a joke!), but it's the ground services and customer service that was downright incompetent and rude at every step of the way. At one point, I had a phone supervisor literally shouting at me and calling me names. Completely unprofessional! I've edited my first post to rank the airlines in order of desirability. Also added a couple I had forgotten about for the Todo list. |
great thread!
interesting > 1 vs 9 Swiss 6 vs 2 Garuda (variables include number of flights, where, when?) |
I don't think Asiana F should make your top 10. Their F is like a very good business class now. All started when their parent company went into bankruptcy mode.
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no question in my mind that after a recent JFK-CDG-JFK on AF, their first class product is number 1 on my list. Until that point is was JAL....
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Top 10 doesn't mean that much considering there are only 25 airlines that even have international first class. I suspect OZ will be pushed out of the top 10 once I get a chance to fly TG / AF / JL / QF / NH.
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Updated the Swiss post with a whole bunch of pictures.
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My second favorite might be LH - Lufthansa, which I've now flown on the 748i and the 388. http://akhun.com/seo/img-1504471800.png The front cabin on the 748i feels much more private, especially if you can snag 1A or 1K. The A380 has the same great seats, but does feel a little less intimate. But enough about the flight, let's talk about the real standout feature: the ground services in FRA. The standout feature is the First Class Terminal: http://akhun.com/seo/img-1504472212.png With showers: http://akhun.com/seo/img-1504472245.png The best wienerschnitzel ever: http://akhun.com/seo/img-1504472294.png Onboard: http://akhun.com/seo/img-1504472358.png Copious helpings of caviar: http://akhun.com/seo/img-1504472504.png Appetizers: http://akhun.com/seo/img-1504472516.png Gin tastings (drinking gin neat + 2 different G&Ts… the FA insisted): http://akhun.com/seo/img-1504472556.png More food: http://akhun.com/seo/img-1504472570.png http://akhun.com/seo/img-1504472585.png The bed: http://akhun.com/seo/img-1504472601.png The 380 cabin (did not take any pictures of the better 748i unfortunately): http://akhun.com/seo/img-1504472631.png http://akhun.com/seo/img-1504472642.png |
Originally Posted by helvetic
(Post 28771212)
I'd be open to flying Qatar F if the opportunity presented itself; but I have a very negative impression of the airline right now, having had a terrible time in my past two trips involving it. Onboard they were fine (though I can't believe they fly that dreadful angle-flat 77L product to LAX, what a joke!), but it's the ground services and customer service that was downright incompetent and rude at every step of the way. At one point, I had a phone supervisor literally shouting at me and calling me names. Completely unprofessional!
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Originally Posted by helvetic
(Post 28772321)
My second favorite might be LH - Lufthansa, which I've now flown on the 748i and the 388. services in FRA.
The standout feature is the First Class Terminal: The best weinerschnitzel ever: http://akhun.com/seo/img-1504472294.png Swiss is great once on board, but until they do something about this kind of ridiculous priority boarding, I can't rank them higher. https://photos.smugmug.com/Airlines/...IMG_9957-L.jpg |
SFO777, that is the issue when some only fly F, and some do not ONLY fly F.
can be interesting when airlines have dramatic difference between F and J service didnt QR dramatically reduce amount of F?
Originally Posted by SFO777
(Post 28772378)
Swiss is great once on board, but until they do something about this kind of ridiculous priority boarding, I can't rank them higher.
edit - USA just got its first, at LAX. hope more continue to get done, like Signature's which allow commercial to pay to use their FBOs, including LGW so far, a lot cheaper than LHR's. |
Originally Posted by Kagehitokiri
(Post 28772392)
SFO777, that is the issue when some only fly F, and some do not ONLY fly F. can be interesting when airlines have dramatic difference between F and J service. didnt QR dramatically reduce amount of F?
Originally Posted by Kagehitokiri
(Post 28772392)
painful. why not pay for VIP terminal? can pay for tarmac transfers to private terminals at airports in DE/CH, others in EU, doesnt require flying J or F, and not open to anyone who is not paying for it. pretty cheap vs paid F/J. if LH FCT best for departures, then paid would be better for arrivals/connections. and of course available at airports besides FRA.
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