Cathay Pacific Asia Miles - PEY to Europe - CX vs BA

I'm trying to price out a trip to Europe in Feb 2012, with options on CX & BA on Premium Economy.

CX HKG-LHR-HKG is $19970 all in for E class.

BA HKG-LHR-HKG is $15760 all in for T class.

If I want to fly to FRA, then BA will throw in LHR-FRA-LHR for free, only difference being taxes paid.

I've flown on both BA PEY and CX PEY and I see no justification for CX charging over $4000 more for this route based on their hard/soft product. In fact, as a OW Sapphire member, for ground services I'm far better off with BA as they operate out of T5, which is new and pretty decent, versus T3 which is cramped and tired.

So - I guess the question to CX is - why should I pay a bit over $4000 more to fly my home carrier when BA is offering a much better value package? Why does CX price like this, knowing their product is not any better? Makes no sense.

I am loyal to CX as far as possible and would not fly another carrier given a choice. But the temptation here is pretty strong...

I'm trying to price out a trip to Europe in Feb 2012, with options on CX & BA on Premium Economy.

CX HKG-LHR-HKG is $19970 all in for E class.

BA HKG-LHR-HKG is $15760 all in for T class.

If I want to fly to FRA, then BA will throw in LHR-FRA-LHR for free, only difference being taxes paid.

I've flown on both BA PEY and CX PEY and I see no justification for CX charging over $4000 more for this route based on their hard/soft product. In fact, as a OW Sapphire member, for ground services I'm far better off with BA as they operate out of T5, which is new and pretty decent, versus T3 which is cramped and tired.

So - I guess the question to CX is - why should I pay a bit over $4000 more to fly my home carrier when BA is offering a much better value package? Why does CX price like this, knowing their product is not any better? Makes no sense.

I am loyal to CX as far as possible and would not fly another carrier given a choice. But the temptation here is pretty strong...

You are so right. I've debated this before back in June for a flight this coming Oct. HKG-LHR-HKG. I ended up going with BA as I could not find any reason at all to pay the extra $4000.
Like yourself I always try to fly CX whenever possible but on this route..in Y+ I too can not find any reason to fly CX for $4000 extra....

The $4000 extra I can use it to fly TPE for 2 weekends :D

I am loyal to CX as far as possible and would not fly another carrier given a choice. But the temptation here is pretty strong...

No need to be loyal, you'll still get your MPC points I recommend going on BA. I recall I had a similar thought back in 2008-2009, debating between CX and BA. Kept wanting to stay on CX, but it was during the product replacement and they were forever swapping new/old configs out and I couldn't figure out what J and F class I was going to get. If you got an old config J was a slanty lie flat thing that was very inferior to BA's NCW J class. And CX's old F, as stupid as this sounds, was disappointing once you had tried the new one....I had numerous times "bummed" that I was in F with the old product because I had already flown on the new one. I realize that sounds ridiculous but that was how I felt. I preferred going on BA and at least knowing the F product I was going to get, which wasn't that different from the old CX F (14 seats vs 12). And when flying J, it was obviously a no-brainer until CX sorted out their flat bed product.

It was the same thing too with price and convenience...CX consistently priced higher than BA, and there were additional benefits to flying around Europe when I booked with BA. I agree with you that T5 is also great. Once I tried it once I never looked back until mid-2009, when CX finally got a consistent product on the route.

The OP could also check AY in J. Sometimes bargains are to be had there.

If you choose CX you will also have the lottery in case CX swaps the plane for a non-Y+ aircraft. Still not enough data as to whether CX will force you back to Y with a token refund.

just go with BA. There's no justification of $4k extra let alone T3 experience you have to endure. I'm faced with much similar issues. That $4k extra is a family getaway to singapore for weekend.

I have been a loyal CXer long-time but their failure to adopt to changing landscape, their stubbornness, and pricing structure simply angers me. I switched over to other careers and fly CX for all my Credit-card Asiamiles spending.

No need to be loyal, you'll still get your MPC points I recommend going on BA.

That's correct. For the last few years I've been flying BA to LHR on PEY. Now that CX has it, I'm considering whether or not to switch.

The only reason I'd do CX is the much higher chance of op-up as compared to BA. However, PEY is already comfortable and I don't know that the extra $4000 is worth it to have a maybe chance of op-up.

Regarding BA, as long as I'm on the newer 777-300ER aircraft which is guaranteed to have the new PEY, I can be assured of a very comfortable flight. I also find BA catering much better than CX.

The OP could also check AY in J. Sometimes bargains are to be had there.

AY has great J fares, but they're still always substantially more expensive than BA's PEY.

Also I want the stopover in London - otherwise I'd just fly CX direct to Frankfurt :)

If you fly BA you are letting CX know you are not putting up with their pricing and hopefully this will knock some more sense into them.