Cathay Pacific Asia Miles - Regional J HKG-CNS

On their website, CX writes that a long-haul business product is "Not available on Hong Kong - Brisbane, Hong Kong – Cairns, Hong Kong – Perth, and Brisbane – Cairns (and vice versa)."

After doing a search on FT, it seems like this is still the case. I'm looking to take CX103 next May and it is showing up as a 330. Do we think it will still have the regional J product? It's an eight hour overnight flight. Regional J really seems unacceptable to me. Anyone else feel the same?

yes its regional J and no its not very good!

On their website, CX writes that a long-haul business product is "Not available on Hong Kong - Brisbane, Hong Kong – Cairns, Hong Kong – Perth, and Brisbane – Cairns (and vice versa)."

After doing a search on FT, it seems like this is still the case. I'm looking to take CX103 next May and it is showing up as a 330. Do we think it will still have the regional J product? It's an eight hour overnight flight. Regional J really seems unacceptable to me. Anyone else feel the same?

Yep it will be a regional product. If you want the new product you have th route through SYD/MEL or ADL.


The regional product is nto good but it is not that bad and certainly better than Y Class. I remember travelling from JFK-HKG for 20+ hours on them before and I survived.

It's an eight hour overnight flight. Regional J really seems unacceptable to me. Maybe, but what other options do you have? Are they more or less acceptable? You have to decide.

BNE is my home base and therefore, I am stuck with regional J. Although why an 8 1/2 hour flight to BNE is classed as 'regional' is a little beyond my comprehension.

I remedy it like this: BNE-HKG direct or via CNS is a daytime flight, so I don't care too much about the J-class product.

HKG-BNE/CNS is a night-time flight and that is when I do want to sleep. So I usually choose to travel via SYD on their new J-Class. And gone one better: instead of slaving it in an overnight flight in their new config J, I now take CX139 flight. I get to sleep in a normal bed in HKG, travel during the day, arrive in SYD and sleep in a normal bed and travel to BNE the next day.

Much more dignified that way. OK, so the hotel costs some $$, and it takes an extra day, but one is rested with at least some jet-lag out of the system.

NG1Fan

Well the reason why CX reploys the regional aircragt to CNS/BNE/PER because these are lower pax yield destinations. Other airlines does the same as well.

Maybe, but what other options do you have? Are they more or less acceptable? You have to decide.

I'll fly through SYD instead, I guess. I don't like that its out of the way, but if I'm going to pay for J in an overnight flight, I think I want more than the regional J seat.

Or do you think taking QF through BNE is a better option? What J product does QF use on their HKG-BNE flights?

Or do you think taking QF through BNE is a better option? What J product does QF use on their HKG-BNE flights?

QF use the A330 on BNE-HKG which has Skybed.

I'll fly through SYD instead, I guess. I don't like that its out of the way, but if I'm going to pay for J in an overnight flight, I think I want more than the regional J seat.


That's an extra six hours of flying, plus connection time, unless you had business in SYD anyway. The 45" pitch of CX regional business class doesn't allow me to sleep but it's far from slumming.

On their website, CX writes that a long-haul business product is "Not available on Hong Kong - Brisbane, Hong Kong – Cairns, Hong Kong – Perth, and Brisbane – Cairns (and vice versa)."


This must be a recent addition. I don't recall seeing it before. About time CX admitted to people that their long haul product isn't on all long haul services.

I'm on the HK to CNS flight in September. Didnt realize it until reading this thread that they are only flying the old business class seats on this route. Still, not much choice between these 2 destinations, QF doesnt fly this route and flying down to Sydney seems too long.

Well the reason why CX reploys the regional aircragt to CNS/BNE/PER because these are lower pax yield destinations. Other airlines does the same as well.

It may well be "low-yield" but that doesn't stop them charging a pretty premium fare in J-Class. I flew HKG-BNE a few weeks ago and it was probably one of the most uncomfortable inter-continental flights I've ever had in J-Class - so much so that I rerouted via SYD on the way back.

Look, I am sorry I don't understand airline operations, but there is no excuse to offer regional J products from Hong Kong to Australia, Perth or Melbourne.

I'm on the HK to CNS flight in September. Didnt realize it until reading this thread that they are only flying the old business class seats on this route. Still, not much choice between these 2 destinations, QF doesnt fly this route and flying down to Sydney seems too long.

It's actually worst than the old business class: it's their regional business class (what they have on short flights, not 7 hour flights) with seats that do not even recline very far.

It may well be "low-yield" but that doesn't stop them charging a pretty premium fare in J-Class. I flew HKG-BNE a few weeks ago and it was probably one of the most uncomfortable inter-continental flights I've ever had in J-Class - so much so that I rerouted via SYD on the way back.

I'm on that flight this week and it annoys me no end. The funny thing is as you said, they are charging a premium price for a sub-standard product.

I'm on that flight this week and it annoys me no end. The funny thing is as you said, they are charging a premium price for a sub-standard product.

You should change to QF if you can. QF flies A330s between HKG-BNE which has skybeds.

Maybe, but what other options do you have? Are they more or less acceptable? You have to decide.
You should change to QF if you can. QF flies A330s between HKG-BNE which has skybeds.
OK, well there's an answer -- QF flies at least one of these routes with a real int'l business class cabin. Should be a no-brainer.

It's actually worst than the old business class: it's their regional business class (what they have on short flights, not 7 hour flights) with seats that do not even recline very far.

Argh...flying to BNE or SYD on QF is better but then I would need to catch the connection into CNS which adds 4 hours to my trip.

Good Evening,

I have it on good authority that CX has applied for an extra 4x weekly HKG-BNE-HKG flights - departing BNE in the evening.

Interestingly, I've heard that the new services may be operated by the A330's with the 33B configuration.

Nothing is concrete, however it would be very nice to see CX offering a better product on Brisbane flights.

Cheers

I was shocked when I flew HKG-PER at how old and substandard the J class was. For me it came after a flight from LHR, so I was not impressed. I am flying the return journey in a couple of weeks - after that I will go back to EK (or anyone else) until CX get up to date with their product.

I'm flying this next Thursday from HKG to CNS but have to route via BNE. Does anyone know whether I'll have to clear immigration and customs in BNE (first port of call in Australia) or in CNS (my destination)?

I'm flying this next Thursday from HKG to CNS but have to route via BNE. Does anyone know whether I'll have to clear immigration and customs in BNE (first port of call in Australia) or in CNS (my destination)?

CNS. I think the stop in BNE is a short one and you will be in transit. A long trip though, remember you will be woken up for breakfast 2 hours before landing in BNE.

I'm flying HKG-BNE in January 08 in Business Class. Is it just the hard product (seats) that makes this flight bad or is the soft product as well (food, entertainment, service, etc.)?

Thanks,

The food and service are much the same. The entertainment is not AVOD so that is significantly degraded.

Of course, in January 09, the current long-haul Business Class seats (not the herringbone flatbeds) will be operating to BNE, CNS and PER delivered by 333/343 aircraft.

So the earlier posts in this thread discussing the fact that the regional business class is used on BNE/CNS/PER - will NOT apply for the northern hemisphere winter schedules starting later this month (through to end of March 2009). The seats that will be used on this route will be the current incarnation of the long-haul business class hard product.

Oops - sorry, missed the date. So you will have AVOD as well.

Of course, in January 09, the current long-haul Business Class seats (not the herringbone flatbeds) will be operating to BNE, CNS and PER delivered by 333/343 aircraft.

So the earlier posts in this thread discussing the fact that the regional business class is used on BNE/CNS/PER - will NOT apply for the northern hemisphere winter schedules starting later this month (through to end of March 2009). The seats that will be used on this route will be the current incarnation of the long-haul business class hard product.

Will this be the state of affairs in July '09? I'm holding award reservations for July 3, HKG-BNE-CNS. It's a night flight, so it would be nice to be able to sleep.

Will this be the state of affairs in July '09? I'm holding award reservations for July 3, HKG-BNE-CNS. It's a night flight, so it would be nice to be able to sleep.
CX already update their timetable for BNE/CNS flight. It will be operated by 333(lie-flat J seat) during northern hemisphere summer schedule. I guess you might get the 33B (new flat bed J) at the time you travel on this service as ALL 333 will reconfigure to 33B during 2009.

According to the timetable CNE/BNE will get the 333, however, PER is still showing 330. Any update regarding PER? QF has had Skybeds on the PER route for years now.