Jimbo

Hi all,
I am going to take a MP award for travel from LAX to BKK this summer. At this point, I have a choice of an all UA itinerary on 744's, which means I'll be experiencing the upgraded C cabin. I flew to BKK in February on these aircraft in the upgraded C section and really liked it. Much better than the old C. But, I also have the choice of flying from LAX to YVR, and then to BKK through PEK on the upgraded C on an AC 767 and then returning from from BKK through HKG on the AC 777. Does anyone have experience flying both upgraded UA C cabin and the upgraded AC 767 and 777 C cabins who can comment?

Thanks!

carbonchaser

Not on AC, but have on VS and NZ which i believe are largely the same. It's the only C seat i know that is markedly better than UA's new version - that said, UA is darn good for a C seat, IMHO.

Can you do UA one way and AC the other to compare - that would be what i would do?

zrs70

Does a connection in PEK require a transit Visa? If so, that might be a pain.

I flew AC C a few weeks ago. I'm really not all that impressed. Mind you, it was fine, the FA's were wonderful, the entertainment was good. But the seat and cabin were not enough to make me run back!

MatthewLAX

I recently flew both AC and UA in longhaul C and would choose AC.

The hard product is comparable, but I found service and food to be better on AC.

Colin

Given your situation, I would fly UA 744s LAX-NRT-BKK over your multiple-connection AC alternative. AC J is better than all UA business class products, but not so much that it's worth an extra connection and a two hours in domestic F.

1kBill

I think AC seat is actually better than VS & NZ because you can recline it into the flat position whereas the others have to be manually flipped over to form a bed.

The AC seat gives one more space and privacy than UA new C (whose doesn't? ), but I think the new UA seat is more "cushy." On the whole, both are fine.

AC pays more attention to food and drink in C than UA. I found AC service to be more consistently good than UA, but I have only a few data points on AC versus many on UA. (But, to be honest, it is very rare that I don't get very good to excellent service on UA.)

AVOD is now comparable on both, 777 excluded of course, but I think AC has more extensive TV programming available.

One other factor: OP mentions going through PEK on the way to BKK. Does AC have route authority for that or is it a code share? If code share, check which carrier is actually flying and what aircraft they use. Could be a nasty surprise if it turns into a CA narrow body!

On the whole, I would go first for whatever carrier would I could get award seats in, but in the end if between UA with newer connections vs. AC with more, I would go with UA for the simplicity factor.

BlissWorld

AC herringbone is far superior than UA lie flat.

AC food and service are also far superior than UA.

UA is good if you have 2 traveling together to sit together. It's hard to talk in the herringbone to another person.

Some pics

AC Executive class: http://www.flickr.com/photos/dunkind...271075/detail/

UA New C: http://www.flickr.com/photos/dunkind...655159/detail/

N334AA

Have you checked to see if TG LAX-BKK on the n/s is available? I was able to grab a couple seats for summer. Sure it's angled but it is very convenient and the food and service are a cut above UA.

ORDnHKG

PEK-BKK is either TG or CA.

TG would be a 333, CA would be 772.

I wouldn't want a transfer in PEK in order to try out AC, the return is fine on AC from HKG. Outbound flight I would stick with UA, if not NH or OZ. I would transfer in ICN or NRT, PEK as transfer point defiantely in the bottom of my list.

ironmanjay

While I would love to use SWUs to upgrade from UA biz but UA D class fares are much higher than AC F. Even Z fares are higher than AC F.

Other than having to stop in YYZ instead of a UA non-stop, how does the UA biz product compare to AC F?

zrs70

Keep in mind that AC doesn't have an f cabin. That said, ac's c cabin is very good. Still, I would take the nonstop in Ua c over the connection.

SEA1K4EVR

I have never flown AC Executive First (which is a 2 class first product..not 3 class). But from reading FT for several years now allow me to chime in with a sampling of predicted responses that really apply to any other foreign airline:

"UA's new C is a good seat but the (insert foreign carrier here) seat blows it away"
"UA's C class soft product is pathetic. (insert foreign carrier here) is far superior in every possible way"
"UA's FA's on the SYD routes are surly and spend their off hours in nursing homes whereas (insert foreign carrier here)'s are young, friendly, and will keep your wine glass full the entire flight"

SFO777

Air Canada First Class? They haven't have First Class for 20+ years.

ffI

UA flight SFO to SYD is fine with good FAs. (I was in F though)
UA C is OK as well, esp if you choose the upper deck (went ~1 month ago) quieter and no complaints.
The AC - you have to go to YVR I think not YYZ (although same aircraft goes to YYZ)

Suggest: Go AC, return UA and tell us what you think, if possible. If not go AC if cheaper.
The return on AC is painful as you have to go through 2 sets of immigrations and customs in YVR.

RichardInSF

With a US or Canadian passport, you can transfer in PEK without needing to get a China visa.