Yesterday I booked a RT in V and L classes to SYD. The CX flights were over $400 less expensive than anyone else - but that was yesterday. Today may be a different story PLUS, because I am OW Sapphire status, CX waived the $400 USD for booking me into the 54H exit-row seats on the four A330 flights that have extra legroom. That would not have happened with *A and ST airlines - who had higher prices, and no lounge access like the CX flights give me.

So: booking early gave me lower costs, and exit-row seats on all flights. Later, the seats will be taken. Later, I doubt the prices will be any lower.