HKG - NRT/HND JAL or Cathay?
Jan 27, 2016, 1:12 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2008
Programs: BA Executive Club, Bronze
Posts: 438
HKG - NRT/HND JAL or Cathay?
I'm currently booked in J with BA on MAN-LHR-HKG with a HND-LHR-MAN return through avios redemption and Amex 2-4-1.
I'm looking at flights between HKG and Tokyo with Avios and availability on both JAL and Cathay is wide open for the dates I need.
From what I understand both carriers offer a regional business class on this route, however some of the flights use the international business class, is that correct?
Any preference from a BA perspective on which carrier to use?
I'm looking at flights between HKG and Tokyo with Avios and availability on both JAL and Cathay is wide open for the dates I need.
From what I understand both carriers offer a regional business class on this route, however some of the flights use the international business class, is that correct?
Any preference from a BA perspective on which carrier to use?
Jan 27, 2016, 1:22 am
#2
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What do you mean by "from a BA perspective"? There are lots of existing threads comparing the two offerings on the CX and JL fora which will give you plenty of details on compared seats, food, service, etc. The BA perspective honestly makes no difference at all to the equation.
Jan 27, 2016, 1:24 am
#3
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: BA Silver (OWS)
Posts: 654
I like the 'from a BA perspective' line, to give some loose justification for posting here!
There are two CX HKG-HND flights per day scheduled on 4 class long haul equipment.
http://info.flightmapper.net/flight/...Pacific_CX_548
http://info.flightmapper.net/flight/...Pacific_CX_542
There are some NRT flights too which you can look up by searching for F.
CX's infamous regional equipment swaps are rare on these routes, but they do happen.
There are two CX HKG-HND flights per day scheduled on 4 class long haul equipment.
http://info.flightmapper.net/flight/...Pacific_CX_548
http://info.flightmapper.net/flight/...Pacific_CX_542
There are some NRT flights too which you can look up by searching for F.
CX's infamous regional equipment swaps are rare on these routes, but they do happen.
Jan 27, 2016, 1:37 am
#4
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 7,464
FWIW, I would choose CX purely as I know (and very much like!) the product. I have not flown regional JL (only longhaul) therefore I would not comment on the positives or negatives of it.
I am a Cathay lover though, so that my explain my bias
I am a Cathay lover though, so that my explain my bias
Jan 27, 2016, 3:41 am
#6
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: London, UK
Programs: Ronin - churn and burn
Posts: 701
Go for F on the CX 747.
This is one of the very last opportunities to fly CX F in the nose of a jumbo.
I've done it several times and can attest to this being enormously worth the small premium over J.
This is one of the very last opportunities to fly CX F in the nose of a jumbo.
I've done it several times and can attest to this being enormously worth the small premium over J.
Jan 27, 2016, 8:36 am
#7
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: NRT / HND
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Posts: 5,665
I like CX significantly better even if you get the regional C. The 744 to HND is definitely regular lie flat C, and believe all of the 773 are as well. NRT gets a lot of regional seating (if not all). Look on Expertflyer, if the flight has F then it's definitely the long haul product.
Jan 27, 2016, 9:43 pm
#8
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 1,498
I like CX significantly better even if you get the regional C. The 744 to HND is definitely regular lie flat C, and believe all of the 773 are as well. NRT gets a lot of regional seating (if not all). Look on Expertflyer, if the flight has F then it's definitely the long haul product.
JL fly their 772 with angled lie flat seats on this route. I found them pretty uncomfortable as far as Business Class seats go, even in an upright position (not enough padding, inadequate thigh and butt support). Entertainment on CX is better. Food on JAL can be quite good but not so great that I would consider it a deal breaker given the other factors.
I would go with CX.
Jan 28, 2016, 12:58 pm
#9
Join Date: Jul 1999
Programs: QF WP, AA EXP
Posts: 3,520
If you can fly F on CX, go for that. It then becomes a toss up between JL or CX for J. If it's one of CX's long haul jets you will get a nice lie flat seat, if that is important to you. If you fly JL the food/drink will be better.
Feb 1, 2016, 1:21 pm
#10
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2008
Programs: BA Executive Club, Bronze
Posts: 438
Thanks for the feedback everyone, Unfortunately the daily CX flights with the new J product wasn't available via Avios, and the only other flight with timings that worked for us was the JL flight. However I did notice they've changed the equipment to a 787-8 so I've gone for that flight just to try out the 787 for the first time!
Feb 2, 2016, 12:55 am
#11
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Hope this doesn't find you too late. The 788 on that route for JL does not have lie flats, it has horrible, uncomfortable angle flats.
Your better bet is the 777 to HND depending on your dates. See here for info:
https://www.jal.co.jp/en/inflight/inter/rosen/index.html#suite787
Any route not listed will not have lie flats and 788 angle flats are awful IMHO (I flew them last year BKK - NRT and they were really uncomfortable)
Your better bet is the 777 to HND depending on your dates. See here for info:
https://www.jal.co.jp/en/inflight/inter/rosen/index.html#suite787
Any route not listed will not have lie flats and 788 angle flats are awful IMHO (I flew them last year BKK - NRT and they were really uncomfortable)