a related question:
what is the booking class? if it is full fare first, class F, it is fully endorsable/re-ticketable.
=> what i mean is: the BA fare is only for the uninformed and total rip-off. any good travel agent should advise you to buy CX fare in such case.
(we did this a few times from TPE-HKG, where the full fare J for BA is lower than CX, and there had been no problem at all. later BA raised its fare)

therefore,
buy the CX ticket even if you choose to fly BA (just call BA to make the reservation, tell them your ticket number, get a sticker at BA counter at the Schipol) -- although i would still choose to fly CX if the pilot mess is solved
(i suppose u r comparing AMS-LHR-NRT vs AMS-HKG-NRT. the only real trade-off is the massage at T4 vs cabana at the Wing + full 12-13 hours of better product. i would choose CX since the massage is usually fully booked is the afternoon and you might not have enough time to connect due to BA delay anyway--- and with the 2000$ you saved, you can have 20 massages at the Elemis in the WING)

of course, you can also do AMS-LHR-HKG-NRT for the same price. BA transit at T4 - same as where u fly in from AMS, whhereas CX at T3. i think the AMS-HKG direct flight is only 3-4 day/week)

if it is A class, or there is some clause saying CX only at the top or bottom of the ticket, then you dont have such flexibility.

the last thing is tier point.
you get 80xclass on BA, but 50xclass on CX. but i guess u don't need these extra point and already have enough to renew.


[This message has been edited by pegasus8228 (edited 07-14-2001).]