I’ve recently wrapped up a few review trips, and have shared my initial impressions, though haven’t yet published the full trip reports (the first series will kick off this week). I just booked my next trip, and wanted to share the details. This isn’t a full-on review trip, but rather I actually have somewhere I need to be, but I’m trying to make the journey there and back interesting for OMAAT readers.
In this post:
I’m heading to Paris rather inefficiently
I need to be in Paris later this week for a couple of days. Rather than just taking the most direct routing, I’m of course motivated by being able to review airline products that would make for interesting reviews. These aren’t really niche products, but rather they’re pretty mainstream experiences that I haven’t reviewed in way too long.
Let me state that I’m still trying to see if I can extend my trip by a couple of days and add a little roundtrip to Africa or India from Paris, but the stars haven’t quite aligned just yet in terms of award availability. Maybe they will. In the meantime, let me share what I do have booked.
Emirates A380 business class
I’ve reviewed Emirates’ incredible first class product ad nauseam. To be honest, I kind of struggle flying Emirates business class, because:
- Emirates first class is so much better than business class
- Emirates makes it easy to upgrade from business class to first class, even if you booked an award ticket in the first place
Still, I also have to acknowledge that Emirates’ A380 fleet is massive, so it’s time for an updated review of the premium product that most people are experiencing. I last reviewed Emirates’ A380 business class all the way back in 2017, so it feels like so many years later, it’s time to give it another shot.
I managed to find award availability between New York and Milan using Emirates Skywards miles. Now, this isn’t necessarily the most direct routing, since I first need to book a separate ticket from Miami to New York, and then need to fly EasyJet from Milan to Paris.
Ultimately New York to Milan is probably the single most efficient route on which to review Emirates’ A380 business class, given that the surcharges are much lower than on other routes. Furthermore, it’s cool that the airline offers pajamas in business class on this route, even though the flight is under nine hours (ordinarily the cutoff). That’s because the flight continues to Dubai.
So I’m looking forward to seeing how Emirates’ A380 business class is holding up.
British Airways 777 Club Suites business class
British Airways has greatly improved its business class in recent years, as it continues to roll out its Club Suites product. I reviewed British Airways’ A350 Club Suites back in 2019, but I think it’s time to give the product another shot. This time I’ll be flying on a 777, given that British Airways’ entire Heathrow-based 777 fleet has been reconfigured with this product.
I am avoiding a brunch or supper flight, given the extent to which British Airways has cut back service on those flights, and I feel like that could very well be reversed. Still, I’m looking forward to seeing where British Airways ranks compared to its European rivals.
Bottom line
I’m heading to Europe shortly, and rather than taking the most direct routing, I’m trying to review two new(ish) to me products across the Atlantic. While it requires a bit of a detour, I’ll be flying Emirates’ A380 business class on the way out, and British Airways’ 777 business class on the return.
I might be able to squeeze in a quick turn to somewhere interesting while in Europe, though I can’t make any promises there just yet…
Any predictions for Emirates’ A380 business class or British Airways’ 777 business class?
I flew the 777 Club Suites this summer from LHR to SFO and had a great experience. The seat is very good, private and consistent. The food was good too, just don't expect caviar or fine-dining. One problem I noticed is that the flight attendants are stretched thin to provide the service to so many seats, especially for the 3 courses for lunch and drink service. All of them were very kind, friendly and strive to provide good service to all passengers.
Just got off the LHR to DEN flight yesterday. Didn’t have a first class section so it was nice to have the two bathrooms in the front. Galley’s seemed a lot more spacious. Pleasant crew and the food was good. Don’t use the mattress pad since I roll around and it gets bunched up. Still very comfortable.
As one who round trips that route monthly with (note Eskimo) BA, I know of no better carrier between the two cities.
I have tried other airlines but none suit me as well as BA.
Poor Eskimo and his fanboy will now undoubtedly throw their teddies out of their prams.
Did you just post and reply to yourself using two names?
Ben when are you going to do the full review of the last 2 review trips?
Maybe try one of the vistara branded routes. Aeroplan lets you route via India to Oceania from Europe :)
Coward, you should face BA’s rubber eggs and pancake lunch so we don’t have to.
Fly Emirates biz and BA first that would be a more equal comparison.
I flew BA 777 in Business from London to JFK last December. It was an underwhelming to a do all possible to avoid next time flight.
Seat was fine. Food was mediocre. About 50% were not able to receive meal of first choice.
What other airlines can you upgrade an award ticket?
Maybe one of those Brussels Airlines flights to West Africa (Banjul, Conakry)? Shouldn't be too hard to find something on Aeroplan and would be interesting to see the lounge situation there too.
Day 1 of asking Ben to go to Africa . How about CDG-FRA-WDH. Then stay in Namibia for 5 days. ET WDH-ADD-IAD on the new A350
Someone is actually avoiding certain BA flights due to its products?
A brainwashed BA apologists AeroB13a claims we're just BA bashing and have no knowledge of air travel, unlikely to have travelled beyond national borders, and never set foot inside a BA aircraft.
The people 1:0 AeroB13a Brainwashed BA apologist
And fear not flying EasyJet, readers can all have a great review experience using this simple trick:
"visualise yourself flying Qsuites or Air France...
Someone is actually avoiding certain BA flights due to its products?
A brainwashed BA apologists AeroB13a claims we're just BA bashing and have no knowledge of air travel, unlikely to have travelled beyond national borders, and never set foot inside a BA aircraft.
The people 1:0 AeroB13a Brainwashed BA apologist
And fear not flying EasyJet, readers can all have a great review experience using this simple trick:
"visualise yourself flying Qsuites or Air France or JAL or something of that kind! ;)"
Eskimo, one obviously has no idea as to which chemicals you consumed before posting the missive above, notwithstanding, I will ignore your rudeness for now.
Although one was initially reluctant to respond to a post from someone who displays such gross ignorance in regard to my BA experiences, it is tempting to engage the provocateur and educate a less fortunate individual.
I hardly think that someone who cannot even deduce which airline provides...
Eskimo, one obviously has no idea as to which chemicals you consumed before posting the missive above, notwithstanding, I will ignore your rudeness for now.
Although one was initially reluctant to respond to a post from someone who displays such gross ignorance in regard to my BA experiences, it is tempting to engage the provocateur and educate a less fortunate individual.
I hardly think that someone who cannot even deduce which airline provides a regular transatlantic passenger with a satisfactory flight experience between two cities, to be worthy of my time.
However, as every day is a school day, educating such a less fortunate individual will be my pleasure Eskimo.
Before doing so I must repeat my previous question:-
Which airline would you choose if you had to fly between LHR and DEN once per month?
Eskimo, you will loose all credibility and probably the patronage of your fanboy too if you fail to answer that simple question.
"which chemicals you consumed before posting"
Truth potion.
"someone who displays such gross ignorance in regard to my BA experiences"
And yet it's you who ignore other people's BA experiences. Just read the comments and Ben's flight selection. (He did set foot on BA and flew internationally)
The people 24:0 AeroB13a Brainwashed BA apologist
"Which airline would you choose if you had to fly between LHR and DEN once per month?"
It's...
"which chemicals you consumed before posting"
Truth potion.
"someone who displays such gross ignorance in regard to my BA experiences"
And yet it's you who ignore other people's BA experiences. Just read the comments and Ben's flight selection. (He did set foot on BA and flew internationally)
The people 24:0 AeroB13a Brainwashed BA apologist
"Which airline would you choose if you had to fly between LHR and DEN once per month?"
It's a stupid question. But I did try to address how stupid it is, but I guess you're like a child who would expect everything in the world has one answer, the one you like. Otherwise you'll get so upset.
Don't cry. The world is cruel and doesn't revolve around you.
There is one thing that is abundantly evident in the posts above, Eskimo has never been known to use a word that might send a reader to the dictionary.
This is not a spelling bee.
Competing on vocabularies. Can't get more childish that this.
Is this your first year participating?
And you're still upset.
How cute.
Come back when you can drink alcohol.
In mid Sept we flew biz on a BA 777, LAX to LHR enroute to Lisbon. Returned MAD - DFW - PSP on AA biz.
The seat on BA was great. What I particularly liked was the foot well seem to have more space vs other business class seats. The soft product was on par with many carriers, not terrible and not outstanding. The lounge at T5 was over crowded.
I’m a little confused. Have you booked the BA segment yet or are you still waiting to see if Africa or India works out? If you’ve booked, which route are you flying?
@ Miguel -- I booked the BA flight, I'm flying CDG-LHR-JFK. But there's availability on other dates, and I can rebook for free since I redeemed Mileage Plan miles, so...
Thank you for sharing your experiences and knowledge about travel with the world. I appreciate it. Enjoy & have a safe trip(s)!
While I appreciate that you’re reviewing emirates a380 business class after so long, would love to see you review it on a “real” route rather than the JFK to MXP route. I think the experience is different traveling to and fro DXB, the service is different, and most of us traveling emirates are on the long haul USA to DXB routes. Just something to consider!
@ Anon -- I hear you and appreciate the feedback, though I plan to review the new 777 business class between the US and DXB soon, which should cover the variability in the soft product. :-)
That British Airways post 9:00 pm departure service is absolutely dreadful (even in First Class), particularly if you leave from an Airport that has no pre-dining lounge facility like the contract lounge they use in ATL.
He'll be fine at LHR or LGW.