Best Business Class Seats? [by Airline/Model/Configuration]

[kinkacruiser]

Looking to book our first ever Bus Class flight to London - either Brisbane return or Sydney.
Which airlines/aircraft type, in your opinion, offer the best seating (prefer flat bed set up) and service so I can keep tabs on offers.

 

[Atleastonce]

Kinkacruiser, we are looking to do the same, we are on QLD, but I was thinking of doing Sydney return just to get the A380. We were looking at Singapore airlines to utilise the virgin alliance. I was going to wait until the Sydney travel expo in February, but am seeing some good specials advertised over the past few weeks.

 

[Boeta]

Although it is still in its infancy, I use the flight search engine at routehappy.com which will give you an indication of which airlines operate which aircraft/config and their respective score based on lie-flat seats, WI-FI availability, etc.

Found it to be pretty good so far!

 

[DontGetMeStarted]

Although it is still in its infancy, I use the flight search engine at routehappy.com which will give you an indication of which airlines operate which aircraft/config and their respective score based on lie-flat seats, WI-FI availability, etc.

Found it to be pretty good so far!

Just signed up for this, looks good .....

 

[drewbles]

I've flown BA, VA, CX and QF in J long haul in the past 2 years (all on the latest iterations of the seats with the exception of the 'revised' BA seats). All are lie flat.

Without a doubt the best J seat i've been on is the new CX Seats. They're spacious and roomy with every seat having direct aisle access. The 777 is better than their A330 J seats but only by a pinch (the 330's are a little less wide but only marginally).

A close second is QF on the A380. The only downfall is if it's a full flight, the 2-3-2 configuration is not as good for the person in the middle seat or the aisles when they climb over them.

If money is no object, CX all the way. If you have the time, you're probably going to be better off getting an around-the-world type fare (should be cheaper than a return flight).

Avoid BA's J; I find it the worst, with VA's J being the second worst (but apparently they've slightly improved the hard product). That said, it's J. I'd take any of them over any Y seat any day

 

[VMC73]

I flew SQ J back from LON last week, great flight flew out of Heathrow 11.30 am on A380 LON-SIN (13hrs) 2 hour layover then A330 SIN to BNE (just under 7hrs) back in BNE 7pm, great seats, service was the best I have experienced in long haul J.
Flew QF J BNE-SIN and BA Yt SIN-LON (don't know what the plus was for??) over QF great BA never again!

 

[Daver6]

A close second is QF on the A380. The only downfall is if it's a full flight, the 2-3-2 configuration is not as good for the person in the middle seat or the aisles when they climb over them.

Pretty confident the QF A380 is 2-2-2 in J....unless there have been some recent "enhancements"?

 

[mannej]

Pretty confident the QF A380 is 2-2-2 in J....unless there have been some recent "enhancements"?

You are correct, it's 2-3-2 in the 747's is it not until you get closer to the front?

 

[Paddy55]

I've flown BA, VA, CX and QF in J long haul in the past 2 years (all on the latest iterations of the seats with the exception of the 'revised' BA seats). All are lie flat.

Without a doubt the best J seat i've been on is the new CX Seats. They're spacious and roomy with every seat having direct aisle access. The 777 is better than their A330 J seats but only by a pinch (the 330's are a little less wide but only marginally).

A close second is QF on the A380. The only downfall is if it's a full flight, the 2-3-2 configuration is not as good for the person in the middle seat or the aisles when they climb over them.

If money is no object, CX all the way. If you have the time, you're probably going to be better off getting an around-the-world type fare (should be cheaper than a return flight).

Avoid BA's J; I find it the worst, with VA's J being the second worst (but apparently they've slightly improved the hard product). That said, it's J. I'd take any of them over any Y seat any day

While I haven't flown VA J, I'd agree with the rest of Drewbles assessment.

Flown CX, QF & BA J in last 6 months and CX's new J is really the Gold standard now - very comfortable, plenty of places to stow stuff, lots of privacy and everyone has aisle access.

I find the QF J seats too firm - thank goodness for the new mattresses! To get any storage space you need a windows seat on an A380 or upstairs on 747 and that means you may have aisle access problems, depending on who is sitting next to you.

BA J seems a distant 3rd to CX & QF - not keen on the seats themselves as they feel very cramped.

 

[VMC73]

Forgot to add SQ A380 seating is 1-2-1 which is great also.

 

[drewbles]

Pretty confident the QF A380 is 2-2-2 in J....unless there have been some recent "enhancements"?

Umm oops yes you're correct

2-2-2, so seating works well (I slept all the way from LHR to MEL on my last trip; and had no one next to me I was lucky in emerald city).

 

[Timsboot]

I also vote (in order)
CX
QF
VS
BA
SQ


CX is the best of the bunch at the moment. CX trumps QF with better entertainment system and length of the seat. QF have better food (though "second plate" stuff is hit or miss at the moment) and a wider seat. Toss up between BA and VS. VS atmosphere and privacy is better. BA has more modern seat.

I put SQ down so low because the "bed" setting of the seat is a real let down. I love all parts of the "sitting mode" include size of the seat, screen and entertainment, food and service. Fantastic. But the bed mode annoys me. First annoying part is that you have to get out of bed and flip it over. This is particularly annoying on the shorter segments like SIN to SYD. At just over six hours you need every minute of sleep. On a normal lie flat bed, you push a button and can be in sleep mode within seconds of take off. With SQ you have to wait until the seat belt sign is turned off, then get out, then set bed, then get back in again. Same on the way down. Second it is wide but not long. I am 185 cm so it is a tight squeeze. if I need to get to Sydney from Singapore with as much sleep as possible then QF gives me 20-30 minutes more that SQ

 

[SQ421]

Ignoring the 2x Status Bonus on QF Code, I'd pick CX J over QF J on any route. Especially now that the novelty of the A380 has worn of.

 

[jetlagger]

In relevance to the J seat - QF on the 380 is hard to beat IME.

 

[Jack_OC]

Umm oops yes you're correct

2-2-2, so seating works well (I slept all the way from LHR to MEL on my last trip; and had no one next to me I was lucky in emerald city).

But you were correct first time that the QF A380 config isn't great. Some airlines have direct aisle access for all J seats (eg Etihad), but QF doesn't. So if you're in one of the window seats you need to climb over and/or disturb your neighbour to get out, while if you're in the seat next to the window you're on the receiving end of that. Not an issue if you can get a seat in the middle 2 though.

 

[Nizar]

I put SQ down so low because the "bed" setting of the seat is a real let down. I love all parts of the "sitting mode" include size of the seat, screen and entertainment, food and service. Fantastic. But the bed mode annoys me. First annoying part is that you have to get out of bed and flip it over. This is particularly annoying on the shorter segments like SIN to SYD. At just over six hours you need every minute of sleep. On a normal lie flat bed, you push a button and can be in sleep mode within seconds of take off. With SQ you have to wait until the seat belt sign is turned off, then get out, then set bed, then get back in again. Same on the way down. Second it is wide but not long. I am 185 cm so it is a tight squeeze. if I need to get to Sydney from Singapore with as much sleep as possible then QF gives me 20-30 minutes more that SQ

Tend to agree with your SQ comments.
I was very excited to try this seat on the A380 when I flew it in 2011 but found it was a let down.
Yes its wide (almost the width of a single bed) but I'm not a fan of having to get up and then having the manually turn it into a bed.

CX I have heard great things though haven't flown it myself.

WHATEVER YOU DO - DON'T FLY THE A330 WITH QF. IT IS A JOKE.

 

[twitch1979]

I noticed you are looking to fly out of Brisbane.

A great option that I personally have not flow but have read some great reviews about is EVA Air.

Flying into London would mean unfortunately you mean to go via BKK and Taiwan but if flying into Paris or Amsterdam you could do this with 2 flights.

They operate economy / premium economy / business cabin and their business product have flat beds and serves vintage champagne and reviews of great service.

Some food for thought.

 

[markis10]

I noticed you are looking to fly out of Brisbane.

A great option that I personally have not flow but have read some great reviews about is EVA Air.

Flying into London would mean unfortunately you mean to go via BKK and Taiwan but if flying into Paris or Amsterdam you could do this with 2 flights.

They operate economy / premium economy / business cabin and their business product have flat beds and serves vintage champagne and reviews of great service.

Some food for thought.

Welcome to AFF, having flown BR I would never fly them again. BR out of Brisbane is also a terrible timing.

 

[obsgyn]

Singapore airlines has the configuration 1-2-1in J class which allows access to the aisle from any seat without having to climb over anybody at any time. Wonder why all of the airlines are not doing it. Qantas J class means you have to climb over the aisle seat passenger which may be awkward due to the pitch. Maybe a bit more protest may change Qantas mind. Virgin is still in its infancy trying to move from a budget airline to a full service airline.

 

[Peter123]

Brisbane to London via Singapore and Dubai. QF51 (747) to Singapore. A few hours in the nice lounge. QF8355 (A380) to Dubai. A380 from Dubai to London. Have a night in each city to break the flight up. You can also then book respectable departure and arrival times for each leg. If you are paying the big bucks for business class make sure you get the value. I once upgraded to 1st with points for A380 flight Singapore to London after the Brisbane to Singapore leg. That was a "bucket list" thing to do. It was a waste of money because I was asleep for 90% of the flight. A lot of money for someone to make your bed—but I still have the pyjamas.