Differences between CX and KA
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: DUB / DOH
Posts: 682
Differences between CX and KA
Hi all, I am based in Shanghai and I have flown quite a bit in CX J. I usually select CX over KA, because CX use a large amount of their long haul A330's on the PVG route.
As CX/KA are sold interchangeably, at least to Shanghai, I assumed that the onboard product would be the same. Yesterday I took my first KA flight from HKG - PVG and I noticed quite a lot of difference.
- No champagne offered on KA as PDB
- Different drinks options, Taittinger champagne instead of Billecart
- No hot towels on KA, just horrible smelling wipes
- No introduction from flight deck, every CX flight I have taken has featured an intro from the captain.
- Different menu on KA, I quite liked the Asian Delights option that changes every day. I thought the food was in general better than my recent experiences on CX.
- IFE on KA did not tell you how long was left on the flight (this could be isolated)
- I thought the service on KA was much warmer and friendlier than my experiences on CX.
I just thought it was strange that there was these small differences between them. Surely they have the same suppliers in HKG and it would be more cost effective to have a uniform service. Also, CX/KA operate a lot of flights to Shanghai and it seems strange to differentiate.
One other question, why would anyone pay for F on KA, when they can get the same seat on J on CX?
As CX/KA are sold interchangeably, at least to Shanghai, I assumed that the onboard product would be the same. Yesterday I took my first KA flight from HKG - PVG and I noticed quite a lot of difference.
- No champagne offered on KA as PDB
- Different drinks options, Taittinger champagne instead of Billecart
- No hot towels on KA, just horrible smelling wipes
- No introduction from flight deck, every CX flight I have taken has featured an intro from the captain.
- Different menu on KA, I quite liked the Asian Delights option that changes every day. I thought the food was in general better than my recent experiences on CX.
- IFE on KA did not tell you how long was left on the flight (this could be isolated)
- I thought the service on KA was much warmer and friendlier than my experiences on CX.
I just thought it was strange that there was these small differences between them. Surely they have the same suppliers in HKG and it would be more cost effective to have a uniform service. Also, CX/KA operate a lot of flights to Shanghai and it seems strange to differentiate.
One other question, why would anyone pay for F on KA, when they can get the same seat on J on CX?
#2
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: SYD/PEK
Programs: MPC CXGO, IHG RA
Posts: 104
I had flown to PEK in both CX and KA J, I think the reason one would book KA is probably because the better catering and more frequent service schedule.
CX only flies to PEK 3 times a day where KA has a flight nearly every hour.
And I have the same opinion as yours that the catering on KA is better than CX.
For the flight I taken on KA, it seems like the F cabin is usually more than half full (except morning flight), not sure whether they were upgraded or they purchased the F ticket, but I would say although you are getting the same long-haul CX J seat, the service is still first class service and the long haul J seats are very good for such regional sectors.
CX only flies to PEK 3 times a day where KA has a flight nearly every hour.
And I have the same opinion as yours that the catering on KA is better than CX.
For the flight I taken on KA, it seems like the F cabin is usually more than half full (except morning flight), not sure whether they were upgraded or they purchased the F ticket, but I would say although you are getting the same long-haul CX J seat, the service is still first class service and the long haul J seats are very good for such regional sectors.
#3
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 41,820
I had flown to PEK in both CX and KA J, I think the reason one would book KA is probably because the better catering and more frequent service schedule.
CX only flies to PEK 3 times a day where KA has a flight nearly every hour.
And I have the same opinion as yours that the catering on KA is better than CX.
For the flight I taken on KA, it seems like the F cabin is usually more than half full (except morning flight), not sure whether they were upgraded or they purchased the F ticket, but I would say although you are getting the same long-haul CX J seat, the service is still first class service and the long haul J seats are very good for such regional sectors.
CX only flies to PEK 3 times a day where KA has a flight nearly every hour.
And I have the same opinion as yours that the catering on KA is better than CX.
For the flight I taken on KA, it seems like the F cabin is usually more than half full (except morning flight), not sure whether they were upgraded or they purchased the F ticket, but I would say although you are getting the same long-haul CX J seat, the service is still first class service and the long haul J seats are very good for such regional sectors.
#4
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 41,820
Hi all, I am based in Shanghai and I have flown quite a bit in CX J. I usually select CX over KA, because CX use a large amount of their long haul A330's on the PVG route.
As CX/KA are sold interchangeably, at least to Shanghai, I assumed that the onboard product would be the same. Yesterday I took my first KA flight from HKG - PVG and I noticed quite a lot of difference.
- No champagne offered on KA as PDB
- Different drinks options, Taittinger champagne instead of Billecart
- No hot towels on KA, just horrible smelling wipes
- No introduction from flight deck, every CX flight I have taken has featured an intro from the captain.
- Different menu on KA, I quite liked the Asian Delights option that changes every day. I thought the food was in general better than my recent experiences on CX.
- IFE on KA did not tell you how long was left on the flight (this could be isolated)
- I thought the service on KA was much warmer and friendlier than my experiences on CX.
I just thought it was strange that there was these small differences between them. Surely they have the same suppliers in HKG and it would be more cost effective to have a uniform service. Also, CX/KA operate a lot of flights to Shanghai and it seems strange to differentiate.
One other question, why would anyone pay for F on KA, when they can get the same seat on J on CX?
As CX/KA are sold interchangeably, at least to Shanghai, I assumed that the onboard product would be the same. Yesterday I took my first KA flight from HKG - PVG and I noticed quite a lot of difference.
- No champagne offered on KA as PDB
- Different drinks options, Taittinger champagne instead of Billecart
- No hot towels on KA, just horrible smelling wipes
- No introduction from flight deck, every CX flight I have taken has featured an intro from the captain.
- Different menu on KA, I quite liked the Asian Delights option that changes every day. I thought the food was in general better than my recent experiences on CX.
- IFE on KA did not tell you how long was left on the flight (this could be isolated)
- I thought the service on KA was much warmer and friendlier than my experiences on CX.
I just thought it was strange that there was these small differences between them. Surely they have the same suppliers in HKG and it would be more cost effective to have a uniform service. Also, CX/KA operate a lot of flights to Shanghai and it seems strange to differentiate.
One other question, why would anyone pay for F on KA, when they can get the same seat on J on CX?
#6
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 41,820
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: DUB / DOH
Posts: 682
I have had 7 flights between PVG - HKG in the past 6 months, all long haul J.
Flights were: CX365, CX367, CX360, CX369, CX364, CX369, CX360
I usually try to pick the long haul J, I get that there are flights with regional J too.
#9
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 41,820
Furthermore, i try my best to fly into Hongqiao northbound because immigration takes less than a minute there, and changing to a PVG flight is pretty easy. However, I still fly out of PVG due to the much more frequent schedule.
#10
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: NYC
Programs: pleb
Posts: 563
Not really. They're sold as the "same" airline since KA is a subsidiary of CX (think codeshare), especially now with the re-branding. But they are technically two different airlines so services will still be different between the two.
#11
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: country Western Australia
Programs: QF SG(LTS) - AA LTG(1MM)
Posts: 2,770
jah718
There are many partner FF programs where first class fares credit far better. And I suspect exiting the airplane at the destination is faster.
Happy wandering
Fred
One other question, why would anyone pay for F on KA, when they can get the same seat on J on CX?
Happy wandering
Fred
#12
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 41,820
#13
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: HKG
Posts: 1,053
A bit OT, but I can see how someone can be led to believe that they are "sold as the same airline".
How could an unsuspecting traveler possibly guess that CX360 is a CX operated flight, whereas CX6869 will be on a KA plane?
They are not making it easier by sending out pre-flight reminders with a big fat Dragonair logo on it, for routes that are not even served by KA.
Until I figured out the 3/4 number code system on these routes, I had to hike hiking from one end of the check-in aisles to the other more than once (why do they need to be so far apart, anyway?!)
How could an unsuspecting traveler possibly guess that CX360 is a CX operated flight, whereas CX6869 will be on a KA plane?
They are not making it easier by sending out pre-flight reminders with a big fat Dragonair logo on it, for routes that are not even served by KA.
Until I figured out the 3/4 number code system on these routes, I had to hike hiking from one end of the check-in aisles to the other more than once (why do they need to be so far apart, anyway?!)
#15
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: HKG
Posts: 1,053
While I would go as far as to challenge that assessment, I was not one of those in 2011 anyhow. I was also a lot slimmer back then. Probably from all those hikes between A and J. FT has made me fat.