Business class AY or BA?

[Hvr]

Am currently booking my holiday for next year and have a choice of travelling on AY's new A359 or BA's 777 from BKK to LHR (AY via HEL).

The extra flight isn't of concern. Am just looking for opinions on which airline has the best seat etc.

Be interested to hear the views of AFFers.

 

[TomVexille]

I'd be going AY

http://www.finnair.com/int/gb/a350

 

[OATEK]

Was put off BA by the seating layout, and went AY this year. Admittedly it was 340 but new fitout and found it very good.

 

[drron]

I prefer AY.Especially if travelling as a couple.
Will be doing HEL-BKK on AY in 2 weeks time and will give an update.
Then again probably biased as BA have lost our bags twice.

 

[nonpop]

+1 for AY. Via HEL = Extra SCs ? Make a stop of it and spend some time in HEL.

Except ... if BKK direct to LHR with BA you will get the long haul product door to door vs AY which when you hit HEL you'll switch to a 'domestic' config of Y seats using the mid seat spare.

 

[RooFlyer]

I'm another fan of AY in J.

 

[OATEK]

+1 for AY. Via HEL = Extra SCs ? Make a stop of it and spend some time in HEL.

Except ... if BKK direct to LHR with BA you will get the long haul product door to door vs AY which when you hit HEL you'll switch to a 'domestic' config of Y seats using the mid seat spare.

Very true. We had a shower in the AY HEL lounge, and hopped on the A320 to CDG very refreshed, and enjoyed the flight. It was day time and we would not have been lying down, and the food and service were very good.

 

[RooFlyer]

Additional thought - watch out for AY deals where the fare to LHR is priced as if it was only to HEL. That is, HEL-LHR-HEL is 'free'. As part of that deal, I booked the entire journey SYD-BKK-HEL-LHR and return on an AY ticket. SYD-BKK was on QF with AY codeshare. You can do the same thing going via HKG with CX. I think at the time this fare, with the LHR freebie was only available via a TA ... or at least only TAs knew about it.

Cold pea soup and dimpled Marmenko glassware in J almost worth the J price by themselves

 

[knasty]

What they said...

 

[AviationNZ]

Another vote for AY. They also recently won Best Airline Northern Europe at the Skytrax Awards.

I find BA's J class seating config very strange.

 

[Alanslegal]

Have flown AY MAD-HEL-BKK previously and thought the flights were pretty comfortable for J, it was one of their older planes though A340? maybe. Anyway, I'd take the AY flight just to fly the A359 for the first time.

 

[craven morehead]

Another vote for AY. They also recently won Best Airline Northern Europe at the Skytrax Awards.

I find BA's J class seating config very strange.

I thought BA new F cabin was also a bit underwhelming on the 777

 

[Hvr]

Thanks all, looks like it will be AY then. Am booking this as part of an AA points redemption so no SCs involved.

Have already secured the LHR-MEL trip home in QF in F.

 

[knasty]

You'll also save the Ba fuel surcharge in that case...

 

[jojen]

We flew AY last year and were quite impressed with the service and meals served. We have flown with BA on our current trip and not impressed at all. Seats terrible, food in J almost inedible and lack of showers at 1st class lounge at LHR due to 12 of 18 being out of service !!! You have made the right decision !!!!

jojen

 

[snabbu]

The BA J layout is horrendous with the forward/back seats if you're a solo traveler. If you are traveling with a partner/friend/companion then BA isn't a problem but if you are a solo traveler the BA in J I personally avoid like the plague.

 

[Hvr]

Well the problem now is actually getting a flight on the AY359. Despite lots of flights showing on the web site when it comes to booking them they show as unavailable.

A call to AA reveals that they aren't available. Nor are AY359 flights available from other cities in Asia.

 

[RooFlyer]

Hate that.

 

[amaroo]

The BA J layout is horrendous with the forward/back seats if you're a solo traveler. If you are traveling with a partner/friend/companion then BA isn't a problem but if you are a solo traveler the BA in J I personally avoid like the plague.

Have never travelled BA J solo ... as a family of 4 those middle rows were bliss when the kids were toddlers.

Oh, another vote for the Fins ... never travelled them myself, but those glasses look really cool

 

[exceladdict]

Oh, another vote for the Fins ... never travelled them myself, but those glasses look really cool

They are indeed!

One thing to watch out for though - the HEL-LHR when I travelled it was Euro-J - effectively economy with the middle seat blocked out. Unsure if there are non-A320 options.

On the longer leg, I flew their A330 which was nice, though foot room cramped in the J cabin for someone 6ft or larger.

That said, the amenities at HEL airport were beautiful, definitely worth a visit.