Cathay Pacific Asia Miles - CX Codesharing Flight to Moscow

Hi all,

Had anyone taken the HKG<---->SVO route? I am going to Moscow later this month and is planning whether to take CX codeshare flight. From my understanding, no CX metal will be used for this route, am i right? How's the metal of Aeroflot? No service at all? Can someone share his experience?

Alternatively, I can book the Air China flight with a stop in PEK for 2 hours, total flying time is 13 hours compared to 10 hours by CX/SU flight.

I haven't taken CA for more than 8 years, don't know whether the services got improved after being a star alliance member.

Thanks for your advice!

See this link:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/cathay-pacific-asia-miles/189005-aeroflot-cathay-ink-codeshare.html?highlight=aeroflot

Do not even consider CA, despite being a Star Alliance Member. PEK is also notorious for delays due to pollution (poor visibility) and poor air traffic management. There are absolutely no Air China staff in sight (except gate agents, which speak mainly Putonghua/Mandarin) after passing through transfer security at T3 (in my past experience). HKG-PEK is already unbearable with the A321 and long-haul is ok (if on A330-200 w/ PTV). Legroom is quite generous though, at 34" on some aircraft, doesn't make too big of a difference tho IMHO.

Opt for the direct Aeroflot flight, they're at probably the same level as CA, and at least they're direct.

I took that codeshare in coach about 4 years ago. TPE-HKG-SVO and return.

It was best option at the time, and although I was a little concerned about Aeroflot, I was quite pleasantly surprised at the economy class service. Food not bad, free drinks, FA's quite satisfactory. Of course this is not recent info, YMMV

As mentioned in the similar thread linked in a previous post, Finnair through Helsinki is also an option.

From HKG, departure 9.40 am, arrival HEL 2.30 pm. Onwards to Moscow 6.30 pm daily, 5 pm Fridays and Sundays. With either a 8 or 9 pm arrival, you'll be snoozing in an overpriced Moscow hotel bed well before midnight. And getting Asia and Club Miles and Sectors depending on booking class.

Btw, i didn't know that CA is that bad, as it is supposed to be the national carrier of the PRC.

I am still thinking which is the best option, to save time with reasonable quality flight.:rolleyes:

Btw, i didn't know that CA is that bad, as it is supposed to be the national carrier of the PRC.

I am still thinking which is the best option, to save time with reasonable quality flight.:rolleyes:
Yes they are the national carrier with the national standard (Note : PRC, not Hong Kong :p)

CA is not really bad. It depends on what the passenger is expecting.

Yes they are the national carrier with the national standard (Note : PRC, not Hong Kong :p)

I think this comment was a bit racist and frankly I'm a little offended.

But... onto the actual topic of the post:

I think CA's service isn't too bad (I fly Y with them domestically many times a year), especially when I compare them to the experiences I've had in domestic Y on UA or AA. Of course, if you speak Mandarin it helps a great deal, but overall I think CA flight attendants' English is acceptable. Before the 2008 Olympics CA was another thing... but the Chinese government has been pressuring them to become more "international" with the training of staff, especially in English, as well as making them bring up their service standards. Some of my friends have told me that the international service has improved substantially as well, what with the Olympics and all.

Personally, I've never had a pollution delay in PEK. It's always been "air traffic control delays" for domestic flights. IFRC international flights have priority for ATC delays, right?

Personally, I've never had a pollution delay in PEK. It's always been "air traffic control delays" for domestic flights. IFRC international flights have priority for ATC delays, right?

Haven't heard of pollution delays either. ATC delays on the HKG PEK route are usually caused by
- Thunderstorms at PEK in summer
- Fog (more common) or snow e.g. last Sunday in winter
- Military exercises along the route

The last point is one of those "common knowledge but unprovable" things. It raraely happens on the HKG PVG route as that is mainly coastal.

The last point is one of those "common knowledge but unprovable" things. It raraely happens on the HKG PVG route as that is mainly coastal.

It actually does happen frequently on that route and all CX/KA staff at PVG are well aware of that. There is a large Air Force base at Hangzhou that is a convenient excuse for the military extortion scheme going on.

Actually, by pollution, I meant in terms of visibility (fog/pollution mixed).


Personally, I've never had a pollution delay in PEK. It's always been "air traffic control delays" for domestic flights. IFRC international flights have priority for ATC delays, right?
I don't think so, correct me if i'm wrong (this was for a flight to ARN and one to HKG). All planes simply line up (I usually see at least 3 planes behind us and 1 before us). Then, there's always a 5-10 minute delay where pax and crew wait [impatiently] for arriving planes (mostly Air Macau a/c, some narrowbody CA) and then finally departure.

I've taken this codeshare SU/CX flight many times. CX's allotment of 16 Y class seats and 4 J means you frequently go on a waitlist. I've done J and Y - the J service is exemplary, food brought out individually, not on a tray. Movies choices on the Dig-E-Players are no patch on CX's AVOD.

In Y, things go downhill. Although three meal choices are offered, the food is ordinary. Alcohol must be paid for. Movies on the main screen and on old TV screens throughout the cabin. Seats are OK, but the headrest does not have the adjustable wings. No PTV means no boxes under the seats.

Some of the 767s used on this route are ex Eva Air. There are four different configs. If you have lots of carry-on, board early since the bins fill up quite quickly. SU will eventually put A330 with PTV on this route.

NG1Fan