From Melbourne to San Francisco what are the airline options to choose from, I'm not loyal to any airline, I just want the best Business Class experience.

From Melbourne to San Francisco what are the airline options to choose from, I'm not loyal to any airline, I just want the best Business Class experience.

QF MEL-SYD-SFO in my books, decent seat (still, albeit without direct isle) and best F&B across Pacific. Only negative is the SYD transfer which by all accounts isn't a great experience, but I think its best to get the transfer out of the way and arrive direct to SFO as opposed to transferring in LAX. Good departure time as aswell on the SYD-SFO which allows a better sleep.

AirNZ via AKL is another option (can't comment on experience though as haven't ever been on it) but to make it the best experience you would need to be on NZ126 which is the 777 service, the A320's don't have business class. Plus transferring in AKL is better than SYD and LAX.

UA offer a similar routing with QF or VA MEL-SYD but their 777's business is a joke.

I think you mean NZ124 MEL-AKL and NZ123 AKL-MEL? This is the 777-300 every day and connects to NZ8/7 AKL-SFO

Oh yep, meant NZ123/4 - thanks flyerboi

Air NZ definitley. Same seat all the way, quick stop in Auckland with no terminal change and the awesome new Air NZ lounge to enjoy during transit. No I don't work for them... :)

+1 for this option. Much better seat/bed and easier transit too.

I too endorse the NZ option. Stopping in AKL beats the pants off any of the other possibilities. I've been doing this route for years.

Note that the MEL-AKL-MEL flights which connect with the SFO flights are 777 so you get full international business class the whole way. 

QF would be second best, losing because of the annoyance factor of the terminal transfer at SYD (plus an hour in domestic J, but really, who cares?)

VA and DL are two stops. UA is one stop but UA is rubbish. How you rank those lousy options is up to you...

AirNZ by far, although if you can get a significantly cheaper fare with QF (which I doubt) then they are great too.

+1 Air NZ. 2 full size pillows, memory foam matress, duvet, great crew and food in my experience.

Whatever you decide enjoy :)

As everyone above has also said, Air NZ hands down. Fantastic seat and service, direct aisle access, good IFE, friendly crew. 

I'd say they're probably my favourite international airline. NZ124 is the flight I usually get when going simply to Auckland as it has the 777-300.