Which airline has the best long haul business class seat?
Prof. Airport Engineer
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dubh12000
I'm intrigued (I'm 6' 5") - is that Swiss business or first class, and is the bed a proper one that lies flat? (= when fully reclined, these seats are completely horizontal, creating a bed that is fully flat). If so, it sounds rather attractive.
Are the wines Swiss? (I am a fan of their excellent wines, and write this from Lake Bodensee).
Contrary to Mr Mac's experience, the EK business class on the flights to/from Perth has been slightly less happy, with the seats only reclining rather than making a flat bed. At least there were plenty of passengers crowded shoulder to shoulder in business class so there was always someone to talk to during the flight. That was a couple of years ago (after which I stopped flying them) and it may have changed recently.
I'm intrigued (I'm 6' 5") - is that Swiss business or first class, and is the bed a proper one that lies flat? (= when fully reclined, these seats are completely horizontal, creating a bed that is fully flat). If so, it sounds rather attractive.
Are the wines Swiss? (I am a fan of their excellent wines, and write this from Lake Bodensee).
Contrary to Mr Mac's experience, the EK business class on the flights to/from Perth has been slightly less happy, with the seats only reclining rather than making a flat bed. At least there were plenty of passengers crowded shoulder to shoulder in business class so there was always someone to talk to during the flight. That was a couple of years ago (after which I stopped flying them) and it may have changed recently.
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Overrun, Yeah, completely flat. Their 340 and 330 fleet all have the "new" business seat now. I've never used their First seat.
There wine list will always have one swiss white and one swiss red. Last month's red was epic, this month's white is muck........so you take your chances.
There wine list will always have one swiss white and one swiss red. Last month's red was epic, this month's white is muck........so you take your chances.
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Overun
I agree that EK used to have some form of "lazy boy" couch seat which did not lie flat, but the recent flights I have been on, have all had the new type plastic "pods" on the 777,s that do lie flat. I have not flown on a 340 with them for a while, so could not comment on these currently.
I agree that EK used to have some form of "lazy boy" couch seat which did not lie flat, but the recent flights I have been on, have all had the new type plastic "pods" on the 777,s that do lie flat. I have not flown on a 340 with them for a while, so could not comment on these currently.
Prof. Airport Engineer
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Mr Mac,
Thank you for that update, and very good to know; especially since Emirates has such a great choice of airports off the beaten track in Europe to use as well. It was only the seats that had put me off . . . .
Thank you for that update, and very good to know; especially since Emirates has such a great choice of airports off the beaten track in Europe to use as well. It was only the seats that had put me off . . . .
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There are two kinds of business class travelers, and two kinds of seats that suit them:
1. Do as much work as possible, not expecting to rest like in a bed.
2. Get drunk and watch TV.
To each his own. A smart airline would have classes for each.
1. Do as much work as possible, not expecting to rest like in a bed.
2. Get drunk and watch TV.
To each his own. A smart airline would have classes for each.
I do fly quite a bit, usually in business, but of the current offerings have only used Emirates, KLM (and NW) and Korean Airlines. All are OK for sitting: KAL have 2 types, Prestige Sleeper and Prestige Plus. Of the three, I think I prefer the KAL Prestige Plus - the sleeper is a bit hard.
(Great service too on KAL)
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I have a noisy keyboard. A pax in the seat next door went off at me "I paid for this seat to get a good nights sleep before arriving to work"
Of course, I didn't rebutt, "my company paid for me to have this seat to continue to work, so I could ..."
He had a point. If I'd paid 3x econ costs to get some dickwit who cannot stop typing at 3am, I'd feel a tad grumpy.
Of course, I didn't rebutt, "my company paid for me to have this seat to continue to work, so I could ..."
He had a point. If I'd paid 3x econ costs to get some dickwit who cannot stop typing at 3am, I'd feel a tad grumpy.
Business Class Seats
I've just done AKL / SVQ / MAN rtn with SQ on the 777 300ER with the flat bed seat. As a couple of other posts mention, a good idea, but you do have to bend if normal height. I did not find it as comfortable as the Business Class seats they have on the 777 200 / 300 non ER. These do not lie completely flat, but you are in a straight line.
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I haven't tried the new Air NZ 777-300ER seats yet, but the old 747-400 business class seats/beds were pretty good.
Add to that the package of: really friendly cabin crew, great NZ wines, a truly remarkable and pleasant experience going in/out Auckland Airport, a reasonably civilized terminal for departures out of LAX (pause for sounds of people fainting at the thought
), and Air NZ business remains my favourite way to go AUS-USA. A very pleasant way to travel.
Cheers
OverRun
Add to that the package of: really friendly cabin crew, great NZ wines, a truly remarkable and pleasant experience going in/out Auckland Airport, a reasonably civilized terminal for departures out of LAX (pause for sounds of people fainting at the thought
), and Air NZ business remains my favourite way to go AUS-USA. A very pleasant way to travel.Cheers
OverRun
