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Now that I have a little time while sitting in the excuse for an FLounge at PVG, I will put down my thoughts. I know I have done this before but can't locate the posts here or on FT via search.
On The Ground:
I really can't find much difference between any of the airlines and I find it really makes more difference as to which airport I am at. When in HKG I use the CX lounges no matter which airline I am flying.
Lounges:
Again it is very much airport-dependent rather than airline-specific. The best lounges tend to be at the home airport for each airline. For example, the SYD and MEL QF FLounges are as good as it gets. So are the CX lounges at HKG and the LHR BA FLounges have self-serve JW Blue (see I could not leave out the scotch review
). I have not been to the JL FLounge at NRT.
But since the OP was asking about J travel, I suppose I should limit to J lounge comparisons. But again its all airport dependent, and the home airline tends to have the better lounge.
Food:
I like the CX and KA process of bringing all the meal options on a trolley and you can look at them when choosing. I am not a big restaurant diner so often the descriptions on the menu leave me wondering just the food will actually be like.
I like QF's pre-order breakfast for overnight flights. That seems to work well for me. I like the ice cream on CX. QF's desserts can be good, but I don't always go for their selection. I know I will always enjoy the CX ice cream.
I like BA's pre-flight dining option for overnight trans-Atlantic flights.
On longer flights, QF generally has a good snack option. I have enjoyed their focaccias on several trans-Pacific flights when I can't sleep.
I find all of the airlines serve ok food in J. Its always possible to make a bad choice or to find the preparation has been disappointing with all of them.
Wine:
I am no wine buff (as many will know). But my view is that QF leads the pack here. I do like a good port, muscat, tokay or dessert wine, and QF always has a good choice. CX probably comes in second here.
Scotch (see it had to come
):
None have any good single malts from Islay, Isle of Sky or Speyside. So the comparison is between blends (not necessarily bad) or boring style single malts. My choice here is the JW Gold from CX (but I have been served Chivas 12yo when asking for the JW Gold), followed by BA's Glenfiddich 15yo Solara Reserve (and they provide multiple minis on request
), then QF's The Glenlivet 12yo. I am not sure what KA offer. AA never stock enough of the Glenlivet and you end up with Chivas eventually.
The Seat:
I do like the QF Skybed a lot. As mentioned by QF009, I also find it hard to sleep on a plane even if the bed is horizontal. The CX long-haul J seats are nearly as god as the Skybed - but no massage function. The CX regional seats often won't stay upright and keep slipping into recline mode which can be a pain when eating. KA is much the same.
I have not experienced the JL beds and find the regional J seats to be pretty poor (not as good as the QF Dreamtime).
I like the old AA J seats for daytime flights. They are comfy and have oodles of legroom. I have not had the new seats for an overnight flight yet (only short daytime) so can't really comment on their sleepability.
IFE:
QF is great when it works, but it often does not. CX comes in second for IFE for content, but first for function and reliability. AA is poor with a poor selection of content and loop only. BUt with their new seats they have personal players and I don't know how their content compares. AA has the best NC headphones (Bose QC2).
So my choice is normally based on a few criteria:
On The Ground:
I really can't find much difference between any of the airlines and I find it really makes more difference as to which airport I am at. When in HKG I use the CX lounges no matter which airline I am flying.
Lounges:
Again it is very much airport-dependent rather than airline-specific. The best lounges tend to be at the home airport for each airline. For example, the SYD and MEL QF FLounges are as good as it gets. So are the CX lounges at HKG and the LHR BA FLounges have self-serve JW Blue (see I could not leave out the scotch review
). I have not been to the JL FLounge at NRT.But since the OP was asking about J travel, I suppose I should limit to J lounge comparisons. But again its all airport dependent, and the home airline tends to have the better lounge.
Food:
I like the CX and KA process of bringing all the meal options on a trolley and you can look at them when choosing. I am not a big restaurant diner so often the descriptions on the menu leave me wondering just the food will actually be like.
I like QF's pre-order breakfast for overnight flights. That seems to work well for me. I like the ice cream on CX. QF's desserts can be good, but I don't always go for their selection. I know I will always enjoy the CX ice cream.
I like BA's pre-flight dining option for overnight trans-Atlantic flights.
On longer flights, QF generally has a good snack option. I have enjoyed their focaccias on several trans-Pacific flights when I can't sleep.
I find all of the airlines serve ok food in J. Its always possible to make a bad choice or to find the preparation has been disappointing with all of them.
Wine:
I am no wine buff (as many will know). But my view is that QF leads the pack here. I do like a good port, muscat, tokay or dessert wine, and QF always has a good choice. CX probably comes in second here.
Scotch (see it had to come
):None have any good single malts from Islay, Isle of Sky or Speyside. So the comparison is between blends (not necessarily bad) or boring style single malts. My choice here is the JW Gold from CX (but I have been served Chivas 12yo when asking for the JW Gold), followed by BA's Glenfiddich 15yo Solara Reserve (and they provide multiple minis on request
), then QF's The Glenlivet 12yo. I am not sure what KA offer. AA never stock enough of the Glenlivet and you end up with Chivas eventually.The Seat:
I do like the QF Skybed a lot. As mentioned by QF009, I also find it hard to sleep on a plane even if the bed is horizontal. The CX long-haul J seats are nearly as god as the Skybed - but no massage function. The CX regional seats often won't stay upright and keep slipping into recline mode which can be a pain when eating. KA is much the same.
I have not experienced the JL beds and find the regional J seats to be pretty poor (not as good as the QF Dreamtime).
I like the old AA J seats for daytime flights. They are comfy and have oodles of legroom. I have not had the new seats for an overnight flight yet (only short daytime) so can't really comment on their sleepability.
IFE:
QF is great when it works, but it often does not. CX comes in second for IFE for content, but first for function and reliability. AA is poor with a poor selection of content and loop only. BUt with their new seats they have personal players and I don't know how their content compares. AA has the best NC headphones (Bose QC2).
So my choice is normally based on a few criteria:
- Schedule - I will always try for a daytime flight when I can.
- FF earning (so no BA trans-Atlantic for me anymore)
- Airport convenience (i.e. shich terminal for departure and arrival)
