Cathay Pacific Asia Miles - Comparing BR to CX

I also posted it on the BR-related forum, and I hope it doesn't violate any rules.

I know it sounds like comparing apples to oranges, but these are the two I am considering...

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hi guys,

My family and I have been a frequent flyer and EVA lover on Taipei-U.S. routes. But a recent incident really pissed me off (something happened on the plane but the way the handled the situation afterward really blew my mind) yet I don't think it's appropriate to disclose anything at this point. The only reason I am posting this thread is that I want to seek your advice on the pros and cons of BR and CX, especially in terms of customer services.

I tried CI and I found it alright. Their customer service is awesome but their products are indeed inferior (seats, routes,.. etc). I heard good thing and bad thing about CX (esp the disparity between Economy and premium pax), but since it's my parents flying more business class who would want to switch to other services after this incident, I am really curious how everyone values BR and CX premium products.

If you would like to help me compare BR and CX Y, that'd also be great since I would probably still fly Y for the majority of time. All in all, I am really debating if we (i.e. my family) should all switch to CX (or even KE or OZ), please advice.

If you are simply a Y pax with no CX MPC or OW status - I am afraid you won't find CX's Y service more impressive than BR/CI.

In fact a couple of my Taiwanese friends (all non-CX elite) rate CX's Y service (purely talking about services not the hard product) below BR/CI/QF/JL in a recent discussion. They were not related though - everyone of them dislikes CX for a different reason. :(

Even my mum doesn't like it - I used my points to get her Y redemption long-haul tix on CX and she doesn't want it anymore after flying. Apparently CX crew failed to deliver her cup of water after many times of requests. But she did mention that the guy sitting in front of her, who sounded like a DM/GO to me, got distinguished services: was offered choice of food and the crew continued offer him the drink without him asking...

However as a MPC elite myself, CX has treated me well and I won't complain about it. I never fly long-haul on BR/CI so can't comment.

If you switch to CX and obtain GO/DM, your Y flying experiences with CX will be good enough for you to stick with them - they do look after you both on ground and in flight and you probably won't find a match from the services that its competitors offer.

If you fly CX in J/F - the experience is good as well. I have never took J on BR/CI but I personally prefer CX's J service than SQ/MI/MH.

If you fly CX in Y with no status - good luck with it. I don't think it's bad but I really donno if it's much better than BR/CI.

I think I would still aim at flying Y. But for my parents, after this BR incident, they no longer believe in any FFP (neither do I ) so I guess if they will purchase J ticket ever since no matter which airlines they fly.

So CX J class by purchased tickets would at least guarantee an equivalent if not better service!? Do they discriminate different fare booking classes by a large degree?

I think I would still aim at flying Y. But for my parents, after this BR incident, they no longer believe in any FFP (neither do I ) so I guess if they will purchase J ticket ever since no matter which airlines they fly.

So CX J class by purchased tickets would at least guarantee an equivalent if not better service!? Do they discriminate different fare booking classes by a large degree?

They're not suppose to discriminate their level of services, but they do give extra attention to DM/GO flyers. But everyone should get the best J service that CX provides.

I also posted it on the BR-related forum, and I hope it doesn't violate any rules.

...

Yes you did.

Double posting not allowed as per FT rules!

i dont really understand CX...
all passengers buy the ticket. they should receive the same level of services.
I know loyalty members are very important. But if its too much (like offering meal choices/ business class food...etc), it's totally not fair to the other passengers.

i dont really understand CX...
all passengers buy the ticket. they should receive the same level of services.
I know loyalty members are very important. But if its too much (like offering meal choices/ business class food...etc), it's totally not fair to the other passengers.

? ? ?

please tell us details about your poor service with BR

Yes you did.

Double posting not allowed as per FT rules!

I apologize. I will pay attention next time.

please tell us details about your poor service with BR


As we are still in negotiation with BR, I guess I shouldn't say anything on the Internet. If you are interested I can try private message or similar stuff if allowed on FT.

I apologize. I will pay attention next time.




As we are still in negotiation with BR, I guess I shouldn't say anything on the Internet. If you are interested I can try private message or similar stuff if allowed on FT.

I suggest you drop the BR post and keep your CX one since you are more likely to get the information you want here.

As for reviews, I've taken both and on the short haul I'd say the difference is minimal, but for long haul. In J I prefer CX, although some might suggest the BR wine selection is better. For me sleep/rest is more important and until BR has a 180 degree flat bed, CX always wins hands down. Food wise i think they are ups and downs on both airlines and depending on being ex-HKG or inbound you might be getting different catering. For lounge, CX has by far the best lounges, comparing to CI/BR anywhere, the BR lounge in T2 of TPE is just pretty much a room with a bunch of green couches, I can't comment on the Diamond lounge as i have not been able to visit that side of the lounge.

I hope that helps ^

I think if it's in long haul Y, I would pick BR and CI hands down if I am in CX hard shell seats. If it's short haul Y I would base on price and all 3 will be indifferent.

If it's long haul J then CX will win if I don't value time. If stop-over and time become an issue (cause it does take couple more hours), then BR (for 180 degree seats if available) or CI (for price based). If it's short haul J then time does become more of an issue cause it factors in travel time more, so probably BR or CI over CX unless CX offers a great price to cover the time lost.

If you have to choose a FFP to bank your miles in, check the way you fly and decide yourself... and yeah, do message us and let us know what happened.

i dont really understand CX...
all passengers buy the ticket. they should receive the same level of services.
I know loyalty members are very important. But if its too much (like offering meal choices/ business class food...etc), it's totally not fair to the other passengers.

I pulled in $56,000 for CX last year, pax that flies with CX once a year maybe $1000-$2000. I do not need to wonder why CX decides they should have a policy that treats frequent flier like me a little better than other people.

My spend alone was over $70k plus what our company spends and gives to CX takes it to close on $350K min. I can tell you the attitude of the people we see at both CX and KA is nothing short of down right arrogant. They always like to refer to the people who bring in millions of $ of spend and they hope one day we can be like them. This has come from very senior people and I firmly think that this attitude filters all the way down the line in CX and KA. They reacted when Oasis came and stole many of their staff and ever since the sinking of Oasis they have gone back to thinking no one can touch us.

My family and I have been a frequent flyer and EVA lover on Taipei-U.S. routes. But a recent incident really pissed me off (something happened on the plane but the way the handled the situation afterward really blew my mind) yet I don't think it's appropriate to disclose anything at this point.

Actually it matters. And I suggest you tell us anyway - there is no need to be afraid. It is known that a lot of airlines (but not CX and BR yet) have official representatives to listen people in here.

(As a matter of fact, I had once complained about no water to use in the lavatory (empty water tanks) for SFO-LAS from pre-merger Continental - now UA. And I joked about how they compensate the situation in here. Guess what? Continental Corporate Office read the whole thing...:D:D:D...and we ended up with an interesting conversation...)

The reason why it matters is you want to switch because you want to avoid the issue from happening again, right? So let's play devil's advocate - if CX has done something in the past, will you still switch or not?

Regardless - switching or not is entirely up to you. BR is on its way to *A, which in that case, a stronger network. BR's program will need to be changed as well due to re-alignment with *A program. These change may not be as pleasant as they will be seen.

CX - as it is now - faces a lot of challenges, like aging fleets, cost-cutting, devaluation of loyalty, and so on. Realistically, if you switch to CX, you (and your parents) will end up spending more time on the road (due to the extra TPE-HKG segment). Even those the price may be the same (for the sake of this discussion), how much is that extra time worth for you? You will have to take it into consideration as well.

and we ended up with an interesting conversation...


Won't you mind elaborate a bit more on that? Now I am really curious how interesting your conversation is. :D

Won't you mind elaborate a bit more on that? Now I am really curious how interesting your conversation is. :D

PM sent.

they have gone back to thinking no one can touch us.

sounds like they think they are SQ now

sounds like they think they are SQ now

In fact - all Asian airlines think in this way.

It's always been my fear that globalization and airline alliances means Asian airlines will be drag down to western airline standards.

It's always been my fear that globalization and airline alliances means Asian airlines will be drag down to western airline standards.

You mean in term of service or accountability?

sounds like they think they are SQ now

They (SQ) are seriously unbeatable when it comes to arrogance, and CX is nowhere near that level yet.

This is what I posted on the BR board before that thread was closed:

As someone who has flown over 500K BIS miles on both CX and BR here are my thoughts and it's not as cut and dried as you think.

In J class, CX wins easily for both hard and soft product. If you are looking for a premium economy experience, I would go with BR for the moment; CX still only has it rolled out for a few flights and BR has actually improved their Elite class recently. In Y class, if the CX flight has the shell seats, go with BR. If the CX flight has the new Y seats than go with CX.