Time to check some more Airbus A380s off my list?

Don't forget that BA is beginning A380 service in October. Add that to your list!

I think people would be more interested in products they'd eventually fly, likeAF/CZ business rather than first.

yeah, i think it's a question of what could potentially be available to your readers... and it seems like at least for Air France, it's only business for 99% of the readers... so maybe skip the first class on that one and just fly biz... you'll tuff it out. 😉

I need business class for all airlines as that is the max I can afford with my family.

I understand the compulsive behavior since I am susceptible to it myself, but i'd suggest giving Air France a miss. I flew their a380 once (in economy) but you had to walk through the 1st class cabin and it looked very plain, dull, uninspiring, had none of the WOW factor and service on Air france is usually is disaster.

Also always do try to fly first class rather than business. Settling for business class is like buying a porche when you can afford a ferrari. The whole point of these trip reports is a sort of air travel fantasy/porn to most of us in careers that don't allow us to jet set on a whim. Hope this helps #firstworldadvice #team1stclass

I'd like to see trip reports on both business and first, but I guess that might not be practical

If you need a Flying Blue Elite account to book a First Class award, just drop me a note. It is a major ripoff award though.

How about getting that AF F on EX-CMB fare?

I thought KE's business award availability is pretty bad. First class availability is very good though

Business is more applicable I think.

I've flown the CDG to IAD route with AF A380 in Business and it would definitely be cheating 🙂

I agree that doing it just to cross it off the list no matter the cost seems pretty silly. Unless you can afford it of course.

It seems weird that Taipei would be full up. You know it's a big city with tons of hotels. Granted they may not be part of your preferred chains, but maybe it's time to branch out a bit. I have seen plenty of vacation rental apartments listed on various sites as well that are quite cheap. That's the way I am leaning for my next trip. Perhaps you need to change your focus a bit.

Go for AF first... there are AF J trip reports out there if I really wanted to consider flying it myself. I'd rather live vicariously for the AF first experience.

@Amol and others - I have to disagree, I love reading about these F trips. Due to Lucky's blog, I had an aspirational trip all planned out EWR-LHR-HKG-JFK in UA-BF, BA F and CX F respectively. (Yeah... I know UA is not aspirational!) Then I read Lucky's post re SQ Suites. It made me drool, and it caused me to change the trip...

The trip is now JFK-LHR-SIN-HKG-JFK in BA F, SQ Suites, SQ F and CX F respectively. All on miles/points.

Thanks Lucky!!!

I'm with AJ, I would give Air France a miss given the uninspiring service & their love of going on strike.

As for cities in Asia served by Korean & China Southern how about Xi'an to see the terracotta warriors? (They both fly there)

@AJ "The whole point of these trip reports is a sort of air travel fantasy/porn"... I almost fell out of my chair laughing my ASS off. Thanks for that...and I couldn't agree more.

Or...Phnom Penh/Siem Reap. Both serviced by Korean & China Southern

And how can I forget Hanoi or HoChiMinh

I think you should do the opposite and fly the worst economy seats out there (Lot?) and then tell us about the experience.

I vote for the business report. I am always looking for good ways to get rid of my Sky Miles. Transferring UR points to Korean seems too easy! Using Sky Miles may be more challenging and useful for a hub captive Delta flyer like myself.

Don't forget about China's new visa policy- Shanghai and Beijing allow for visa-free entry for up to 72 hours... may help you there!

Would you rather read a trip report about first class or business class on China Southern and Korean Air? I vote for 1st Class

is it worth paying that premium to check all A380 first class products off my list? -- Yes, otherwise, your A380 first class tour would be incomplete. Alternatively, you could put it off until a later date.

@Nancy None of those are options since they're either in China (and lucky said that's a no-go because of not having a visa or time to get one) or they're outside of Korean Air's north asia zone.

I'm mixed about seeing a TR on AF. On the one hand, I've yet to come across any TRs of their A380 FC product. On the other hand, I have seen pics of their FC, and while unique...they are rather uninspiring.

I'd rather see TQs the most, or China Southern (again, not too many TRs about them). Korea's FC product from other TRs, is kind of...ok. Nothing wow, especially compared to what you've experienced on the other airlines (soft and hard product).

How did you book Malaysia F? Thanks

I think you should try to do First Class on all of them for the sake of us who just enjoy the travel porn. Then maybe go back around and do another set of Trip Reports in Biz on all of the A380 airlines. 🙂

@MaxC -- I agree, fly F on CX, SQ, BA, LH, etc.

But when it comes to AF, F is simply not possible for anyone who is not a Flying Blue elite and I would not go out of my way to try it.

Same thing with CZ, while F is available, you cannot book it with Skymiles. However, they often have 9+ business seats available TPAC each day so people are more likely to redeem for that. Sure, you can book CZ F with UR points through KE, but how many people are actually going to do that over business?

@ Lucky -- I'm going to REP later this year and it is served the most by Skyteam, including CZ and KE. However, I don't think it would qualify as NE Asia for KE's chart.

Just fly all first classes so everybody can compare. Maybe AF will be ashamed of their product(I know it's not likely, but who knows...)

I root for more BUSINESS CLASS reports instead of First
- it's more applicable to more people
- it's more affordable, and realistic when one is NOT travelling alone

so, lucky should fly all A380 again in J/C this time 🙂

I'm still waiting anxiously for that Condor Class trip report. I expect it to happen long before any other A380 reports! 😛

What's the best way to research availability to PPT with Skymiles? EF?

@ Shawn -- Yes, ExpertFlyer shows both Air France and Air Tahiti Nui award space.

Business Class for us average folks

One of the best parts of this blog is QUALITY TRs of hardly reviewed products. AF, CZ, and KE F have very few if any quality TRs. F all the way!! Keep providing your high quality, unique TRs!

I would definitely cast my vote for business class trip reports!

I have flown first on the AF a380 several times, and highly recommend it. While the seats are probably not better than many of the other a380s first class cabins, the food is comparable or better, and the ground services are amazing. When you stop at CDG, you have gate agents that take you immediately off of the jet bridge, shuttle you on the tarmac (via mercedes) to you own security checkpoint that is located below the first class lounge (which is one of my favorite first class lounges, and includes a free spa treatment), and then they pick you up and drive you directly to your next plane. You never see the inside of the airport.

So while I do not know if it is really worth the hefty fuel surcharges to fly them over another carrier, it is definitely worth the experience, and you cannot compare it to AF biz class.

I would be glad to book it for you, I am gold with AF.

I am sure lots of reader want "travel porn" aka "First" class report. I have flown on A380 F on LH,KE,TG,EK,QF, and soon SQ. KE was very nice! among the top so I suggest you to try it (as well as CZ).

As for AF, I saw one report on FT. The service was like many people said, either sucks or just ok. However, from a few reports out there and what people discussed on FT/airliners.net (along with a friend of mine), they said AF F @CDG has the BEST ground service out there,.. in the world... even LH FRA FCT or TG BKK FCL can't compare!!!.... so that is quite a big statement to say!! (all of these people have tried LH FRA/TG BKK numerous times) so I encourage you to try and report back!!

I have experience both LH FCT in FRA and TG BKK FCL and I can say with confidence that AF is better (at least when traveling through CDG).

@Gabe, I would need to contact you when I have enough Amex MR points

First first first!

Keep the 'porn' coming Shanghai - I'm headed there later this month on the 1st Class UA/AA Fare war trying to raid each other's hubs, so I'll fly out of IAD and
There's always next year!

I'd love to see a J award through DL. I'll be on the CZ A380 soon and would like to see a good report.

Hi Lucky, just want to leave a comment on the hotels in Taipei. Most international chain hotels are super expensive in Taiwan, but there are also quite a lot of boutique hotels that are relatively affordable and are still pretty great. I'll be glad to recommend a few if you want me to.

My suggestion is that you get out of your comfort zone and give Air France first a go, just to try their new first class terminal in Paris. Never tried it myself but I've heard some rave reviews about it, some saying that it is even better then the Lufthansa one in Frankfurt.
Regarding AF cabin service, I personally am turning into an AF frequent flyer since I find their service BETTER then other airlines. I am not a french citizen, only speak a few words in french, and I've never had a problem with them, and unlike other carriers they have taken good care of me when there have been delays, informing me how to move in the airport to get to the next flight faster etc. Unlike what happened last time I flew Singapore (economy), where they just apologized for the delay, but then did nothing more, making me almost miss my connection and getting some angry looks at the gate of the connecting flight, like they were thinking "where the "¤!%#!" have you been"? .
I flew AF/Quantas in this january (CDG-SIN-MEL business and MEL-SIN-CDG premium economy) and felt that Quantas service (soft and hard product) on the 380 was inferior to the one on AF, in both classes.
So my 5 cents, do try it.

@Andrew, I will be spending some more time in Taipei later in the year and would love some of those hotel recommendations. I stayed at the Hyatt last time on free nights and points but those are gone now. You can PM me on FT at glennaa11 Thanks

Lucky, go for Business Class on KE/CZ as it sounds like a good way to burn Skypesos.

My vote is for first class. I live vicariously through your blog, with me only being 16 and unable to travel alone yet. However, I get great inspiration for future travel!!!

AF A380 biz class was boring. Delta hard product was better. So hopefully you can review La Premiere.

DO FIRST CLASS and Korean Air and China Southern Airlines both fly to Beijing

More people will fly C, and therefore we'll have more TRs Reading your TRs in F inspires me and helps me fix a goal. Jus fly F!

China is now offering 72 hours transits withou visa to most major countries visitors . You don't need a visa to enter China if you arrive in Beijing airport, with ongoing flights to leave China in next 72 hours

China Southern Airlines operate the same international A380 aircraft on its domestic route from Beijing to Guangzhou twice a day. If you don't mind fly to both Beijing and Guangzhou in your China trip, you can enter China in Beijing, get onboard the A389 flight from PEK to CAN, and then leave China at CAN with ongoing flight to Seoul or other Skyteam airlines served cities

Sorry Lucky. I am mistaken about the China 72 hours visa free policy.

The transit policy only applies to Beijing and Shanghai, in & out at the same airport within 3 days. Hence withou a visa, can go the route enter China at Beijing and leave from Guangzhou.

Below is the policy detail:
http://en.bcia.com.cn/service/notice/72visafree/#

First class, definitely first class!

As an earlier comment said, this blog is an escape/fantasy to those of us who love airplanes but don't have the financial means to fly in premium product. While the business class reports are always worth reading, they don't have the same x-factor as a first class.

I just did FRA > BKK in F on A380 w/ Thai. I thought there were too many seats (12) and lots of wasted space with a stupid "lounge" area which consisted of a sitting area. The bar which faced it was stocked with chocolates and snacks. The flights was as they say "smooth as silk" and the service was great.

Air France, China Southern, Korean Air, Thai Airways and British Airways all have A380s that may be intriguing to try for different reasons (hard and soft products). I think you should try F for all of them to build a consistent perspective on the product/service offered by these airlines.

The J products on A380 is not wildly different across the airlines' existing products, your readers can easily search for them. I think what would be great is to have a table where you list out all the J and F reviews by airline and year. This way, it would be easier to compare products.

If you do come to Taipei, I might still be here. Can show you around and can grab a bite to eat if you want.

F. Definitely.

Flew AF A380 C NRT-CDG and was not impressed. I'm curious to read about F. Also curious about KE F.

Cheers

@RakSiam-A nice boutique hotel in Taipei would be Hotel QUOTE, you should definitely try it out.

I say do AF in 1st! I've never known anyone to do it. I'd love to see a trip report of the experience.

Speaking of AF, I don't see why so many people 'hate' them. I've flown on them three times and have enjoied each trip -- especially the A380. I guess knowing some French comes in handy. 🙂

@Serion, go to Flyertlk.com > Trip report and search for AF F there is one recently (2012), the guy flew OSL-CDG-JFK and back. It looks nice on the ground. Ok in the air.