As someone who's lived in HK now for seven years and is delighted to have left behind BA shorthaul flights, except for my required 4 flights a year I'm fairly comfortable with the pricing and love being able to get a full wide body to Taipei, even if it's in economy. So much more pleasant than the misery of a BA 3x3 seating, with flexible business class dividers running up to 15 rows for a 3-4 hour flight.

But I've good news for you UAT747, you can get closer to the BA experience by searching out CX's latest A321neo flights. No seat back entertainment, business class is fairly small (typically sold out), without a lie flat bed. And the prices remain high too... The real benefit of status is really the CX lounges in HKG as well.

Chinese mainland destinations seem fairly good choices for this. Enjoy.