Moneysaving on first class flight tickets

suelees1

Don't do KLM business class if you want a decent sleep. The beds don't lie flat. Everything else was great, the upper cabin had only about 12 seats so there was plenty of room, the food and service top notch. Unfortunately we had no choice as they seem to have the monopoly from Manchester. Mind you we've nothing to compare it with as it was a special birthday trip and we haven't done BC before or since.

stoneman

blindman wrote: »

Air New Zealand and Virgin spring to mind.

Ah now Virgin are an anomaly. Their J product is near as spitting to F on a lot of airlines. And the price tag of it has always been hundreds if not thousands more than BA CW to where I want to go. I like VS Upper, but we used to use it when they had the on board beauty therapist and you didn't have to pay for the major treatments in the CH. Having flown BA F and VS Upper I would choose the latter, almost the same service (some would argue the Champagne and wine is better on BA but I wouldn't be able to tell) the clubhouse is better than either the CCR or Galeries First, going through security is a dream, as well as it being a lot cheaper. AND I LIKE THE ONBOARD BAR!

loobs40

Agreed that the upstairs on the 747-400 is fab for a first timer on Business Class. Just as good the Business Class lounge in Terminal 5

We booked upstairs on BA for our Honeymoon round the world, and it was the best leg of the long haul flights by far.

So far the only real problem I have found with Business Class is that once you have flown it, going back to economy is a no-no

Doshwaster

loobs40 wrote: »

So far the only real problem I have found with Business Class is that once you have flown it, going back to economy is a no-no

That's the big problem. I'm a Silver card holder on BA so I get free lounge access and fast track security and recently I've had a good run of upgrades to CW (some free, some using miles) and you do tend to get used to that level of service far too easily.

I don't mind economy for a 7 hour hop to the US east coast but for longer flights it does become quite a physical and physiological challenge. After an 11 hour flight on a flat bed in Upper Deck CW and sometimes I don't want to get off the plane.

miduck

stoneman wrote: »

Ah now Virgin are an anomaly. There J product is near as spitting to F on a lot of airlines.

You obviously have some poor experiences of F products. Upper Class is all style and no substance - and the style is well beyond it's prime too!

blindman

miduck wrote: »

You obviously have some poor experiences of F products. Upper Class is all style and no substance - and the style is well beyond it's prime too!

Obviously a BA apologist from FT :cool:

IMHO VS UC is far better product than BA in every respect.
Their lounge at T3 is still better than the newer T5 and their staff are more polite to boot.
The UC cabin is showing it's age but their seats and cabin layout are better for me.
The onboard staff whilst trying (still) to be trendy are better than the dragons you meet on BA.

Oh and Virgin haven't gone on strike in years :rotfl:

Still, that's just my opinion;)

stoneman

miduck wrote: »

You obviously have some poor experiences of F products. Upper Class is all style and no substance - and the style is well beyond it's prime too!

That doesn't say a lot for BA F then does it. 4 times in F, 2 redemptions 2 OpUp's and I still prefer VS Upper. Certainly you can not argue that the ground product from checkin to stepping on the plane is better on BA.
Don't get me wrong, I fly BA all the time now, Silver card and all that, but mainly because BA fly to Las from LHR which is 1 1/2 hour nearer to us.