Questions and Answers

Question for the experienced. Would you select BA in first class (A380/787) or EK in business class (A380) for the same price in points but $500 less in fees? Thoughts? Thanks.

[QUOTE=”MarkS, post: 31309, member: 2121″]Question for the experienced. Would you select BA in first class (A380/787) or EK in business class (A380) for the same price in points but $500 less in fees? Thoughts? Thanks.[/QUOTE]
My assumption is that you are using Alaska points for this then. But anyways I have flown both, so I will tell you. I would probably choose EK J. Here’s why:
1. If you get a true window seat, it’s already private enough even if BA’s F class is a little more private

2.You get access to the onboard bar on EK’s A380 business which BA doesn’t even have in F class, and your own seat itself has a minibar setup with a couple of non-alcoholic drinks, which BA F also doesn’t have.

3. When I flew F class on BA about a year back, they didn’t even have wifi?! Whereas in EK business the wifi price is very cheap at $1 USD for every 600 MB which is very very reasonable

4. EK’s crews were a lot more charming and actually served you with a smile, which was something I did not see on my BA flight.

5. Food wise, I’d say EK still prevails here. Yes, I got slightly more food in BA F class than EK J, but let me emphasize the words SLIGHTLY MORE. I thought EK’s food tasted better than BA’s food.

6. The bedding is the only aspect where BA is the clear winner. Both airlines have fully flat seats, but BA’s bedding is much, much better than what it is in EK J.

With all the things that I mentioned EK has better, and it’s $500 less, I’d choose EK any day, but that’s just me. I hope this helped you and please do ask if you have any other questions about these 2 products.

I’d probably go for BA F on the A380/787. It’s a reverse herringbone seat configuration versus EK’s staggered and I prefer the former. [USER=2645]@Rohit Deshpande[/USER] does make up some fantastic point though. I dont think you’ll go wrong with either. However, in Luckys EK J review, he did say J is less personal than F, so there’s that.

[QUOTE=”David W, post: 31314, member: 29″]I’d probably go for BA F on the A380/787. It’s a reverse herringbone seat configuration versus EK’s staggered and I prefer the former. [USER=2645]@Rohit Deshpande[/USER] does make up some fantastic point though. I dont think you’ll go wrong with either. However, in Luckys EK J review, he did say J is less personal than F, so there’s that.[/QUOTE]
Oh yeah even though I commented on the privacy, I completely missed out on mentioning the seat configuration. With BA F, you will have a max of 14 people in your cabin and Ba F has an extra good version of the reverse herringbone seat. EK’s J is solstys staggered and so privacy is less and there are many more J class seats. But otherwise yeah as I said, it’s all opinion base. I just hope to give you some pointers as a point of comparison.

Appreciate the highlights and opinions [USER=2645]@Rohit Deshpande[/USER] and [USER=29]@David W[/USER].

I think I did better however, just changed to Japan Airlines going reverse (to Delhi) in first then 787 business for 10K less points and $500 less fees. The BA fare in first from SFO to DEL in first is actually not a bad deal even with the $500 surcharge. 80K points plus $500 at 2.1 cents (sale price) = about 104,000 points. Everyone else is +120K in first. While I wanted to fly the A380/B787 in first, can’t beat 70K points on JAL in first for 11 hours and business for 8 hours.

Also I’m not a big fan of the Solstys seat. Much prefer the reverse herringbone. BA seats look like a glorified cirrus. Thanks again.

That’s a fantastic alternative! I’m hoping to get JAL F for myself next year from Asia to the US.

JL recently opened the floodgates on first to US. Typically Wed was the day first was made available. I had a reservation in July on a Wed but really wanted it on a Thursday. Then the other day not only did it become available on the Thursday but every day of that week!

[QUOTE=”MarkS, post: 31346, member: 2121″]JL recently opened the floodgates on first to US. Typically Wed was the day first was made available. I had a reservation in July on a Wed but really wanted it on a Thursday. Then the other day not only did it become available on the Thursday but every day of that week![/QUOTE]
Yes I was looking for award travel to India this summer from LAX and I found JAL F lax to NRT and NRT to DEL for 75K in F as well for very little fuel surcharges and that is a very good options as well

[QUOTE=”Rohit Deshpande, post: 31357, member: 2645″]Yes I was looking for award travel to India this summer from LAX and I found JAL F lax to NRT and NRT to DEL for 75K in F as well for very little fuel surcharges and that is a very good options as well[/QUOTE]
Correction: the second leg in J*

Yes, 2nd leg 787 SkySuite not the disastrous cradle seat. So I guess I found a bug in their system because on a change I only got charged 70, not 75. Either way it’s as good as CX 70K to Africa in first as that one is J from HKG to JNB as well. Star Alliance (UA/SQ)) want upwards of 140K for first. AA would be 115K. 75K + $50 is a steal! Thanks again.

[QUOTE=”MarkS, post: 31361, member: 2121″]Yes, 2nd leg 787 SkySuite not the disastrous cradle seat. So I guess I found a bug in their system because on a change I only got charged 70, not 75. Either way it’s as good as CX 70K to Africa in first as that one is J from HKG to JNB as well. Star Alliance (UA/SQ)) want upwards of 140K for first. AA would be 115K. 75K + $50 is a steal! Thanks again.[/QUOTE]
I’m impressed you found CX space on alaska’s site. I could never find CX award space so I’d always have to use BA’s search tool and call Alaska once I found it. Because I also love CX’s 70K f class prices

Actual availability can’t be found on the site. You need to search QF, BA or EF. I use KVS then call. They will wave the booking fee on CX. But just because you see space on these other sites doesn’t mean AS has it. Much of the time but not always.