AC and CX business class
Nov 29, 2015, 11:43 am
#31
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Programs: Aeroplan SE AND 1MM, HHonors Gold, Marriott Bonvoy Platinum , L'Accor Platinum
Posts: 9,580
This is why AC will be raising their prices next year. The AQD requirement was a prelude to the price increase....especially the latitude and business class fares. Just my 2c worth.We should have the ability to try CX and not be bound to AC just for the status the benefits of which is becoming more an illusion than reality
For example, does AC code-share on the ANA flight via Haneda; on the Asiana flight from USA via ICN; on SQ via SFO. If the answer is yes, then I would (for the AQS/AQD reasons) reluctantly try those options, even if the cost is slightly (whatever my definition of that term might be) more than the direct non-stop AC flight. My guess is the business class flying those airlines might be better than that of AC; perhaps even competitive with CX, on the Thai flight via Bangkok.
Nov 29, 2015, 12:03 pm
#32
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: YOW
Programs: AC E75K *G
Posts: 7,107
I was expecting my CX J experiences last year to be far superior to my (more extensive) AC J experiences, but they weren't much different in reality. CX lounges in HKG are better than what AC has in HKG, but the opposite is true at YYZ (with the overall "winner" certainly CX.)
The FAs are generally pleasant, but different, on both airlines. The food is generally adequate airplane food.
There is not enough difference between the two airlines in J to justify paying more for one of them over the other, all else being either equal or irrelevant.
If you can spend 1000 less per person and the schedule is still OK for you for particular flight dates, go for the savings.
Don't go expecting a mindblowing experience.
The FAs are generally pleasant, but different, on both airlines. The food is generally adequate airplane food.
There is not enough difference between the two airlines in J to justify paying more for one of them over the other, all else being either equal or irrelevant.
If you can spend 1000 less per person and the schedule is still OK for you for particular flight dates, go for the savings.
Don't go expecting a mindblowing experience.
Nov 29, 2015, 12:22 pm
#33
Join Date: Sep 2013
Programs: AC SE100K, AA EXP, SPG Plt, HH Dmnd
Posts: 1,507
I was expecting my CX J experiences last year to be far superior to my (more extensive) AC J experiences, but they weren't much different in reality. CX lounges in HKG are better than what AC has in HKG, but the opposite is true at YYZ (with the overall "winner" certainly CX.)
The FAs are generally pleasant, but different, on both airlines. The food is generally adequate airplane food.
There is not enough difference between the two airlines in J to justify paying more for one of them over the other, all else being either equal or irrelevant.
If you can spend 1000 less per person and the schedule is still OK for you for particular flight dates, go for the savings.
Don't go expecting a mindblowing experience.
The FAs are generally pleasant, but different, on both airlines. The food is generally adequate airplane food.
There is not enough difference between the two airlines in J to justify paying more for one of them over the other, all else being either equal or irrelevant.
If you can spend 1000 less per person and the schedule is still OK for you for particular flight dates, go for the savings.
Don't go expecting a mindblowing experience.
Nov 29, 2015, 12:59 pm
#34
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: YOW
Programs: AC E75K *G
Posts: 7,107
One of the more popular 2015 threads in the CX forum is on the state of J catering. For me the food was the biggest disappointment.
They can coo "Mr. Zorn" at me all they like, and they can wheel carts of food around to their heart's content, but when the food's disappointing, the food's disappointing.
The seats are roughly equivalent as far as I'm concerned. Both relatively recent flat bed J products with little to choose between them as far as I can tell.
Service from FAs is a wholly personal preference. Personally I like to be left alone. FAs from all airlines are equally good at that.
Nov 29, 2015, 1:14 pm
#35
Formerly known as jsfrSuperElite
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Hong Kong, Montreal
Programs: Air Canada SE100K-1MM, Hilton Honors Lifetime Diamond
Posts: 590
99 times out of 100 in 2015? I think that's an overstatement. Perhaps "back in the day".
One of the more popular 2015 threads in the CX forum is on the state of J catering. For me the food was the biggest disappointment.
They can coo "Mr. Zorn" at me all they like, and they can wheel carts of food around to their heart's content, but when the food's disappointing, the food's disappointing.
The seats are roughly equivalent as far as I'm concerned. Both relatively recent flat bed J products with little to choose between them as far as I can tell.
Service from FAs is a wholly personal preference. Personally I like to be left alone. FAs from all airlines are equally good at that.
One of the more popular 2015 threads in the CX forum is on the state of J catering. For me the food was the biggest disappointment.
They can coo "Mr. Zorn" at me all they like, and they can wheel carts of food around to their heart's content, but when the food's disappointing, the food's disappointing.
The seats are roughly equivalent as far as I'm concerned. Both relatively recent flat bed J products with little to choose between them as far as I can tell.
Service from FAs is a wholly personal preference. Personally I like to be left alone. FAs from all airlines are equally good at that.
AC has been using the herringbone business class seat since 2007, while Cathay has been using the Cirrus business class seat since 2011, which is more modern and spacious. CX seats also face the window and the middle seats slightly facing each other, which is ideal when one travel with his spouse. This is not the case with the current herringbone AC business class seat.
Also the cleanliness onboard CX flights is superior to what I have encountered on AC.
Nov 29, 2015, 2:09 pm
#36
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: SFO
Programs: AC SE MM, BA Gold, SQ Silver, Bonvoy Tit LTG, Hyatt Glob, HH Diamond
Posts: 44,331
The seats are not roughly equivalent as you state...
AC has been using the herringbone business class seat since 2007, while Cathay has been using the Cirrus business class seat since 2011, which is more modern and spacious. CX seats also face the window and the middle seats slightly facing each other, which is ideal when one travel with his spouse. This is not the case with the current herringbone AC business class seat.
Also the cleanliness onboard CX flights is superior to what I have encountered on AC.
AC has been using the herringbone business class seat since 2007, while Cathay has been using the Cirrus business class seat since 2011, which is more modern and spacious. CX seats also face the window and the middle seats slightly facing each other, which is ideal when one travel with his spouse. This is not the case with the current herringbone AC business class seat.
Also the cleanliness onboard CX flights is superior to what I have encountered on AC.
Nov 29, 2015, 2:29 pm
#37
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC E50K (*G) WS Gold | SPG/Fairmont Plat Hilton/Hyatt Diamond Marriott Silver | National Exec Elite
Posts: 19,284
99 times out of 100 in 2015? I think that's an overstatement. Perhaps "back in the day".
One of the more popular 2015 threads in the CX forum is on the state of J catering. For me the food was the biggest disappointment.
They can coo "Mr. Zorn" at me all they like, and they can wheel carts of food around to their heart's content, but when the food's disappointing, the food's disappointing.
The seats are roughly equivalent as far as I'm concerned. Both relatively recent flat bed J products with little to choose between them as far as I can tell.
Service from FAs is a wholly personal preference. Personally I like to be left alone. FAs from all airlines are equally good at that.
One of the more popular 2015 threads in the CX forum is on the state of J catering. For me the food was the biggest disappointment.
They can coo "Mr. Zorn" at me all they like, and they can wheel carts of food around to their heart's content, but when the food's disappointing, the food's disappointing.
The seats are roughly equivalent as far as I'm concerned. Both relatively recent flat bed J products with little to choose between them as far as I can tell.
Service from FAs is a wholly personal preference. Personally I like to be left alone. FAs from all airlines are equally good at that.
At least for the Asian themed meals.
Nov 29, 2015, 3:24 pm
#38
Formerly known as jsfrSuperElite
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Hong Kong, Montreal
Programs: Air Canada SE100K-1MM, Hilton Honors Lifetime Diamond
Posts: 590
Therefore if one has to fly this route for the weeks to come, you are stuck with the old herringbone seats.
Nov 29, 2015, 3:37 pm
#39
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: YOW
Programs: AC E75K *G
Posts: 7,107
Well there's no doubt at all that for $1000 less, CX is the way to go. Just don't expect a life changing experience.
If AC were $1000 less I'd say AC would have been the way to go just the same.
The cash value of better CX lounges and I'll happily concede a better seating arrangement for a couple travelling together (almost never relevant for me - in fact I think people should be discouraged from talking during flights!) I wouldn't put at more than $100 all in.
For those whose opinion is that CX food is fact significantly and consistently better, OK, what's value of the difference? It would be hard to take seriously more than 30 to 50 dollars.
My only point it that all else being equal, the difference between CX and AC in J is insufficient to pay much of a premium for.
If AC were $1000 less I'd say AC would have been the way to go just the same.
The cash value of better CX lounges and I'll happily concede a better seating arrangement for a couple travelling together (almost never relevant for me - in fact I think people should be discouraged from talking during flights!) I wouldn't put at more than $100 all in.
For those whose opinion is that CX food is fact significantly and consistently better, OK, what's value of the difference? It would be hard to take seriously more than 30 to 50 dollars.
My only point it that all else being equal, the difference between CX and AC in J is insufficient to pay much of a premium for.
Nov 29, 2015, 3:49 pm
#40
Formerly known as jsfrSuperElite
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Hong Kong, Montreal
Programs: Air Canada SE100K-1MM, Hilton Honors Lifetime Diamond
Posts: 590
Well there's no doubt at all that for $1000 less, CX is the way to go. Just don't expect a life changing experience.
If AC were $1000 less I'd say AC would have been the way to go just the same.
The cash value of better CX lounges and I'll happily concede a better seating arrangement for a couple travelling together (almost never relevant for me - in fact I think people should be discouraged from talking during flights!) I wouldn't put at more than $100 all in.
For those whose opinion is that CX food is fact significantly and consistently better, OK, what's value of the difference? It would be hard to take seriously more than 30 to 50 dollars.
My only point it that all else being equal, the difference between CX and AC in J is insufficient to pay much of a premium for.
If AC were $1000 less I'd say AC would have been the way to go just the same.
The cash value of better CX lounges and I'll happily concede a better seating arrangement for a couple travelling together (almost never relevant for me - in fact I think people should be discouraged from talking during flights!) I wouldn't put at more than $100 all in.
For those whose opinion is that CX food is fact significantly and consistently better, OK, what's value of the difference? It would be hard to take seriously more than 30 to 50 dollars.
My only point it that all else being equal, the difference between CX and AC in J is insufficient to pay much of a premium for.
I agree with your assessment on the meals, this said, the wines and Champagne on CX are better than what you have on AC.
Nov 29, 2015, 6:25 pm
#41
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: yyz
Posts: 1,611
so then (if the AC new seat was available to the OP) it becomes soft product + lounges + price as the determining factor. In which case....CX still wins!
Nov 29, 2015, 6:32 pm
#42
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Join Date: Oct 2011
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Nov 29, 2015, 6:48 pm
#43
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Never home.
Posts: 2,971
AC441 07:00 08:20 YOWYYZ E90
AC015 10:00 14:40 YYZHKG 77L
That said CX825 could open up more possibilities with a 1415 departure time ex-YYZ 3x/week. Under 3hr connection, and if you want cathaypacific.com sells the domestic leg in AC J.
If you haven't tried CX and don't need an early afternoon arrival time in HKG, you may as well give them a shot. My service this week with CX was top notch.
Nov 29, 2015, 7:49 pm
#44
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: NYC, YYZ
Programs: AC SE100K, SPG Gold, UA MP
Posts: 1,002
Just booked AC LGA-YYZ-HKG on PE instead of CX PE flying next June. AC was $1800 vs CX $2800. Z on AC was $5500 RT vs $7800 on CX!!!
No brainer which airline I bought the tix for me and my wife
GT
No brainer which airline I bought the tix for me and my wife
GT
Nov 29, 2015, 8:43 pm
#45
Formerly known as jsfrSuperElite
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Hong Kong, Montreal
Programs: Air Canada SE100K-1MM, Hilton Honors Lifetime Diamond
Posts: 590
But being based in Canada, I just booked a YUL-HKG on December 8 to 13,
$ Cdn 5225 on CX , compared to $ Cdn 6685 on AC with their Z fare.
A no brainer indeed.