gasman From New Zealand, joined Mar 2004, 733 posts, RR: 0 Posted (7 months 2 weeks 1 day 6 hours ago) and read 2107 times:
I am flying AKL-CDG return next March.
If I fly SIA, I will go J class on their A380 between SIN and CDG. Have experienced this J class product before (on the 77W not the A380) and it's very good.
The alternative is to fly Thai, and I would fly First Class on their A380 between BKK and CDG. I have flown F class on Thai's leased Jet Air 77W, and the hard product was very mediocre - the overall package probably inferior to J on SIA. The soft product scored on some points, but missed the mark badly on others.
Cost-wise, there's not much difference - the Thai option is about $700 cheaper.
Does anyone have a feel for what the new F class product on the Thai A380 will be like?? Will it be significantly different (better) than what is currently offered on Thai?
Quoting gasman (Thread starter): If I fly SIA, I will go J class on their A380 between SIN and CDG. Have experienced this J class product before (on the 77W not the A380) and it's very good.
Biggest let down (in my opinion) is the sheer size of the Business Class Cabin, with up to 86 seats. Especially if the flight is fully booked- the service (despite top notch!) may feel unpersonalized.
gasman From New Zealand, joined Mar 2004, 733 posts, RR: 0 Reply 2, posted (7 months 2 weeks 1 day 4 hours ago) and read 2093 times:
Quoting debonair (Reply 1): Biggest let down (in my opinion) is the sheer size of the Business Class Cabin, with up to 86 seats. Especially if the flight is fully booked- the service (despite top notch!) may feel unpersonalized.
Good point. EK's J Class on the A380 suffers from the same problem. That said, when I flew it DXB-AKL a year ago they still provided a pleasant experience, and I actually enjoyed it more than F class on the same aircraft.
gabrielchew From United Kingdom, joined Aug 2005, 2512 posts, RR: 14 Reply 3, posted (7 months 2 weeks 1 hour ago) and read 1983 times:
I flew SQ J BCN-SIN and TG F BKK-FRA this year....overall I preferred the SQ flight as the staff were so much friendlier. Also, the seats in row 1 of the SQ 77W are basically First class standard. However, if TG F is cheaper than SQ J, then maybe go with TG for the airmiles (and caviar!)
timb777 From New Zealand, joined Dec 2009, 142 posts, RR: 0 Reply 4, posted (7 months 2 weeks 1 hour ago) and read 1977 times:
Hi Gasman,
If I were in your position I would definitely pick the TG flights.
1) The excellent F lounge in BKK with massage facilities, (and electric cart tsf's)
2)Far more spacious, there's no denying it. (Except maybe row 1 on SQ J)
3)Superior food options- unless you're a comfort food person (many J options are more comfort food style).
4)Far better Miles / Airpoint earning rates
5)More personalised service by virtue of crew/pax ratio. SQ J is very good, but even TG J not far behind,
6)As you say, its not a Jet Airways 77W. Like you, I don't think their F product is great.
7)Personally, I don't like leather seats on long haul flights. I find that they don't breath well when sleeping, so you wake up hot and sticky. TG a388 F thus avoids the leather.
Recently, when booking a flight for a friend I had a similar predicament.
Option A was BUD-FRA (LH a319 J)- SIN (SQ a388 J)- CHC (SQ 772 J)
Option B was BUD-MUC (LH a319 J)- SIN (LH a343 F)- CHC (SQ772 J)
The LHF option was actually circa $600 cheaper as well. Swing factors were:
a)Personalised F service
b)entry into LH F lounge in MUC
c)F catering
d) Very good F Airpoints NZ status point earn rate
e) that it was cheaper!
Many of these reasons also apply to you. I vote that you go TG F!!
Of course, the AKL-BKK 772 TG J seats are behind SQ77W offerings, but the AKL-BKK flight is largely day and thus a good day seat is Ideal. The SQ77W/A388 J seat is poor for day flights as its recline in seat mode is poor (like the NZ BP J). Thus, again, I would favour TG J , but many others would still favour SQ on this route....
timb777 From New Zealand, joined Dec 2009, 142 posts, RR: 0 Reply 6, posted (7 months 1 week 6 days 8 hours ago) and read 1903 times:
Quoting NZ107 (Reply 5): Apart from the return flight
Very true! But hey, after a good 10 hour sleep on TG F you probably won't be tired. I'd much rather sit up an enjoy the awesome sunrise over the Australian outback
gasman From New Zealand, joined Mar 2004, 733 posts, RR: 0 Reply 7, posted (7 months 1 week 6 days 2 hours ago) and read 1878 times:
timb777, many thanks for your detailed and considered reply. You have clearly articulated several things I'd only dimly perceived myself.
One factor I didn't mention, is that I actually want to return out of AMS, and of course I can do that on SIA (but not TG). Notwithstanding this, for all the reasons you mention,since writing the OP I have booked flights on TG in and out of CDG. I will train transfer between AMS and CDG.
Quoting timb777 (Reply 4): Of course, the AKL-BKK 772 TG J seats are behind SQ77W offerings
When I flew on the TG772 a few months ago, I was pleasantly surprised with the hard product. I relaxed totally between AKL and BKK, and on the return leg BKK-AKL actually managed some reasonable sleep - in spite of the seat being neither flat nor horizontal.
Quoting timb777 (Reply 6): I'd much rather sit up an enjoy the awesome sunrise over the Australian outback
This statement reminds me of what I thought was a bizarre occurrence AKL-BKK. In spite of a midday departure, almost as soon as we were gear up, every single window blind in the J class cabin was pulled down. This was at the instigation of the pax, not the crew. Spent the entire 11 hour flight in darkness. Weird - or at least I thought so.....
timb777 From New Zealand, joined Dec 2009, 142 posts, RR: 0 Reply 8, posted (7 months 1 week 5 days 9 hours ago) and read 1798 times:
Quoting gasman (Reply 7): many thanks for your detailed and considered reply
Glad I could add a fresh perspective!
Quoting gasman (Reply 7): Notwithstanding this, for all the reasons you mention,since writing the OP I have booked flights on TG in and out of CDG. I will train transfer between AMS and CDG.
Fantastic, I would have done the same. The train ride should be interesting as well
Quoting gasman (Reply 7): as soon as we were gear up, every single window blind in the J class cabin was pulled down. This was at the instigation of the pax, not the crew. Spent the entire 11 hour flight in darkness. Weird - or at least I thought so
urrrgh this irrational human behaviour outright infuriates me. Who in their right mind leaves curtains wide open on afternoons at work or at home where the view is of some pathetic garden or concrete wall, yet when they have the Australian outback or mountain ranges to observe with a whisky in hand they deem it appropriate to shut the blinds!?! Madness.
(Also madness considering the time that the flight lands in BKK!)
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