AFF Decides: Best airlines by cabin class

[OATEK]

This is rather pointless poll for anyone who hasnt flown every carrier. Saying 'Airline X has the best F because ive flown one other'?!?

We are not setting ourselves up as a competitor for Skytrax, but what we can demonstrate is our preferences and probably where we direct our spend. Most of the respondents seemed to have fun doing so, so no harm, no foul!

 

[Duffa]

F - Singapore - service and bed (from Qantas/Emirates/Etihad/Singapore)
J - Cathay - bed - (from Qantas/Emirates/Etihad/Singapore/BA/Continental/Jetstar/Cathay/Malaysian/AA
Y - Qantas A380 - seat and service - (from Qantas/Emirates/Etihad/Singapore/BA/Cathay/Malaysian/Alitalia/Virgin Atlantic/KLM/Thai/Aer Lingus/Air France

All choices refer to long haul - I think I've done enough travel to be entitled to give my preferences, smit0847, but agree that my experience is more limited at the pointy end. Which it would be with most AFFers, I suppose!

 

[Princess Fiona]

F EY (like others a speculative decision as not yet flown "re-imagined" )
J CX simply superb seat, consistently good service. So-so food but I can live with that. OT but if the new QF A330 suite was adopted in the A380 then this would be unbeatable in my view for long haul J.
PE no clue, never flown it and don't really see the point of trying
Y QF probably the devil I know

 

[Aussie_flyer]

for J my pick is Qatar but only on A350/A380/B787. best food and service by a mile and a great seat on those aircraft.

 

[seanpodge]

For Y, SQ wins easily (as long as it's not an old 772). Maybe Turkish and Asiana can fight it out for the podium places based on my experiences.

For premium cabins, my sample size is tragically too small to be worthy of analysis.

 

[bryanjones]

We are not setting ourselves up as a competitor for Skytrax, but what we can demonstrate is our preferences and probably where we direct our spend. Most of the respondents seemed to have fun doing so, so no harm, no foul!

I have often wondered whether AFF could approach the airlines with a group buying deal...

 

[Altair]

Well my pick.
First: QF A380 even though the IFE failed I like it better over my other recent F experience (EK I do like the novelty of the shower but the cabin crew experience on EK plus the décor are a big turn off for me). Other First experience was QF 747, LAN and Tahiti Nui (both no longer offered).
Business: Asiana over QF, EK, BA
PE: QF over NZ 747, 777-200 and 777-300 Space Seats
Economy: Asiana (only time I really enjoyed the 777) over QF, NZ, EK, and others too long ago to mention. I have flown QF more than most other airlines but I would say that if travelling long haul in Economy with children I would most likely choose NZ to get the Skycouch seats for the family.

 

[Dalescott]

F never flown in F and think it's a waste of money. I can use my cash for better things.
J Air France, yes you read right. Service above and beyond.
PE CX or AirNZ, tried the AF PE seat to hard(I sound like Goldilocks). CX good service around.
Y, as in YUCK, it has been 15 years. So I have no opinion. Except to say, that is where all the tightasses sit, too mean to pay for comfort, but then you could say the same thing for PE, and J.

 

[DalyWaters]

F = still waiting
J = still waiting
PE = only ever been in Virgin Australia.
Y = Etihad for mine.

 

[Peter Gray]

First class: Emirates
Business Class: Singapore Airlines
Premium Economy: Air New Zealand (hands down the best Premium Economy around)
Economy: Virgin Australia/Virgin Atlantic

 

[Albert_Thurgood]

First: Qatar (vs Qantas but that was a long time ago; Emirates and BA)

Business: Qantas (vs Qatar, Finnair, AA, Virgin, Cathay, BA, Emirates, Malaysian and a few others). I always find the Qantas service both friendly and professional whereas the other carriers usually manage one but not the other. Qantas' new domestic business class fit-out is fantastic!

PE: Qantas (vs Brutish Airways and Virgin -never again with either of those!) Qantas' PE is better than Scoot's "business".

Economy: Qantas. I have not flown economy internationally with other carriers (except Brutish Airways) and would not fly domestically with any others either.

 

[Foreigner]

I think business class is a very difficult product to rank. Easy to compare carriers against each other, but hard to prioritise which is 'better'.

They all have their pros and cons, and I'm not sure there's any clear 'winner'. Discounting airlines that don't offer full flat horizontal beds, between the others you might find yourself weighing up better food (QF) vs fast service allowing you to maximise sleep (CX). Or trading exceptional service (SQ) against a longer, better bed for sleeping (CX). Privacy in a business suite (JAL skysuite) against being able to chat comfortably with your companion (QF).

For first class my vote goes to Lufthansa (but then their IFE is pretty abysmal). I haven't tried the new Air France suites. They're supposed to be pretty sweet!

Interesting what you've said, about CX in particular.

Over past 2 weeks I've flown in J on JL, QR and CX over 1, 4 and 2 sectors respectively. CX seating provided more privacy than others and the fully extended seat was the most comfortable for sleeping. Their heavier doona was the best of all carriers I've experienced in J.

Onboard service by far the best on QR.

Lounge experience in DOH was outstanding. The Bridge in HK wasn't big enough for the number of guests. Their KUL lounge is smaller but very functional and with a very good team.

 

[lastrow]

Lots of good opinion here but not a lot of variety in the airlines named. Are all the others so bad they don't even deserve a mention?

My rating list:

First - not flown in first. Is it on the same plane?

Business - I have had some nice flights on both QF and BA, but here is one from left field - Jetstar! OK they don't have lay flat seats, but the J section at the front of their A330's is a world away from the cattle with plenty of room, attentive service and good food served on plates plus wine served from a bottle.

Premium Economy - only with BA which was ok but food was from Y as was the service.

Economy - my vote goes to LAN Chile because they are still using the A340 where the Y seating is only two abreast along the sides of the aircraft. Best service vote goes to SQ because the lovely FA's really go the extra mile. Worst service vote goes to EK where if you want coffee you get it yourself, you cant interrupt the crew party time in the rear galley.

 

[Rod H]

My personal experiences are:
First Class. SQ without a doubt !!!.,
Business. SQ again by far the best
Economy. Air NZ

EK in Business and First is " cough" they don't even deserve reporting any further.

 

[DalyWaters]

Economy - Worst service vote goes to EK where if you want coffee you get it yourself, you cant interrupt the crew party time in the rear galley.

Hear, hear. I will never again fly with the airline that treats their cattle class like this. Air Asia X is better than Emirates economy.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

My personal experiences are:
First Class. SQ without a doubt !!!.,
Business. SQ again by far the best
Economy. Air NZ

EK in Business and First is " cough" they don't even deserve reporting any further.

Rod - why don't you tell us what you really think? Don't hold back mate!

I have only ever had 1 X QF F and 1 X EK F exps - if I said SQ slaughters both of these I'd be accused of just being a SQ lover - but I will add I think my one and only TK F exp on 380 was substantially better than both of those - but of course MHO only.

 

[Pushka]

I've been extremely well in all but one Emirates flights from F to Y. My worst J flight was in SQ. My best J flight was CX.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Rod - why don't you tell us what you really think? Don't hold back mate!

I have only ever had 1 X QF F and 1 X EK F exps - if I said SQ slaughters both of these I'd be accused of just being a SQ lover - but I will add I think my one and only TK F exp on 380 was substantially better than both of those - but of course MHO only.

TG F or TK F? TK F was supposedly pretty amazing! but short lived.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Sorry MEL - yep TG F

 

[Timba-Jet]

F: NH (out of: QF, CX, OZ, TG) though TG BKK ground service is a standout
J Long haul product: QR by a nose (out of: QF, JQ, LA, AA, AC, LH, SQ, RJ, TG, MH)
J short haul / narrow body: BR or MH (out of: QF, VA, LX, AY, BA, AA, UN, AS.
PE: Untested
Y: QF or PG

In other categories, QF is close to the top