CX/NZ Partnership to HKG - Anyone taken the CX Flight
Jun 24, 19, 1:32 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Auckland
Programs: NZ*GE
Posts: 2,249
CX/NZ Partnership to HKG - Anyone taken the CX Flight
Hi, I 've tried searching the forums but can't find a definitive answer. Now that Air NZ has shifted their close-to might night flight out of Auckland to Hong Kong to a day time flight, i thought id like at the CX option on the A350.
Any flown on the A350 in business and what is it like compared to Air NZ? The return flight also from Hong Kong is later in the evening so I am looking at CX metal both ways (on an NZ Ticket)
Any flown on the A350 in business and what is it like compared to Air NZ? The return flight also from Hong Kong is later in the evening so I am looking at CX metal both ways (on an NZ Ticket)
Jun 24, 19, 3:09 am
#2
Join Date: Dec 2007
Programs: Air New Zealand Elite
Posts: 338
I’ve flown both. Thought they were both much of a muchness. I was talking to a pilot travelling on CX. He spoke highly of Nz j. Said the cabins are less pressurised, or something, in NZ, thus making the cabin more comfortable to fly in on Air Nz. Any aviation geeks can correct me if I’ve got that wrong.
Jun 24, 19, 3:26 am
#3
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 1,083
Originally Posted by Ellice
I’ve flown both. Thought they were both much of a muchness. I was talking to a pilot travelling on CX. He spoke highly of Nz j. Said the cabins are less pressurised, or something, in NZ, thus making the cabin more comfortable to fly in on Air Nz. Any aviation geeks can correct me if I’ve got that wrong.
Jun 24, 19, 4:10 am
#4
Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 286
Originally Posted by Rebound
Hi, I 've tried searching the forums but can't find a definitive answer. Now that Air NZ has shifted their close-to might night flight out of Auckland to Hong Kong to a day time flight, i thought id like at the CX option on the A350.
Any flown on the A350 in business and what is it like compared to Air NZ? The return flight also from Hong Kong is later in the evening so I am looking at CX metal both ways (on an NZ Ticket)
Any flown on the A350 in business and what is it like compared to Air NZ? The return flight also from Hong Kong is later in the evening so I am looking at CX metal both ways (on an NZ Ticket)
Jun 24, 19, 4:15 am
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Auckland
Programs: NZ*GE
Posts: 2,249
Originally Posted by Ellice
I’ve flown both. Thought they were both much of a muchness. I was talking to a pilot travelling on CX. He spoke highly of Nz j. Said the cabins are less pressurised, or something, in NZ, thus making the cabin more comfortable to fly in on Air Nz. Any aviation geeks can correct me if I’ve got that wrong.
Jun 24, 19, 6:10 am
#6
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: PPQ/WLG/BKK
Programs: TG*G, Accor Gold
Posts: 7,483
Originally Posted by nzkarit
The 787s run a higher pressure, so lower apparent altitude. So less jet lag as you get less hypoxia
OT. No 'apparent' about it - cabin pressure is 'actual'. But I know what you meant, and the benefits are real.
By this I mean if the cabin pressurization is set by flight deck crew to achieve a cabin 'altitude' of (say) 7,000' then, then the cabin atmosphere is at 7,000'. This is a critical consideration when flying certain medical evacuation flight profiles (eg a diver with the 'bends').
For the interested reader, the cabin altitude is set by selecting a pressure differential (usually calibrated in old-school 'psi'). The cabin is pressurised to a certain pressure differential of (say) 3psi, and as the aircraft climbs, and the outside air pressure reduces, the pressurisation system works to maintain the selected differential until a flight altitude is reached where the aircraft's pressurisation is 'maxed out' and any further climb will see a concurrent rise in cabin altitude.
Consequently, the aircraft fuselage needs to be stronger (and better sealed) to operate with a higher pressure differential to achieve lower cabin altitudes for any given flight altitude.
I flew the F-27 Friendship, which was rated for a cabin altitude of 8,000' when cruising at 20,000' with the max pressure differential of 4.16 psi. Modern types operate around 8-10 psi.
Last edited by Thai-Kiwi; Jun 24, 19 at 6:19 am
Jun 24, 19, 9:54 am
#7
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: New Zealand (when I'm home!)
Programs: Air NZ Elite
Posts: 543
I'd rather give up space to have better cabin pressure any day. I'm having to cut back future travel because jetlag is starting to effect my health. So I will take any help I can get!
Jun 24, 19, 7:20 pm
#8
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 549
Jun 24, 19, 7:27 pm
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Auckland
Programs: NZ*GE
Posts: 2,249
Originally Posted by poopbunny
Jun 26, 19, 4:26 pm
#10
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 195
Did AKL-HKG-DUB last summer, A350 both legs. Got off the plane in Dublin feeling great and ready to rock after two good sleeps.
Personally I MUCH preferred the seating arrangement on Cathay, I felt like I didn't see another person for the entire trip expect for the crew, who were great. I also thought the IFE on Cathay was better. Only complaint was after dinner they vanished for the night compared to Air NZ doing more walkthroughs with water, snacks etc. Didnt notice any difference in jetlag due to the pressure.
Having said all that, when we landed we were stuck for 45 minutes before being towed to the terminal due to this: Also meant they couldnt open the cargo doors so my wedding suit had to follow me a few days later
Incident: Cathay Pacific A359 near Dublin on Jul 28th 2018, nose wheel steering fault
.
Personally I MUCH preferred the seating arrangement on Cathay, I felt like I didn't see another person for the entire trip expect for the crew, who were great. I also thought the IFE on Cathay was better. Only complaint was after dinner they vanished for the night compared to Air NZ doing more walkthroughs with water, snacks etc. Didnt notice any difference in jetlag due to the pressure.
Having said all that, when we landed we were stuck for 45 minutes before being towed to the terminal due to this: Also meant they couldnt open the cargo doors so my wedding suit had to follow me a few days later
Incident: Cathay Pacific A359 near Dublin on Jul 28th 2018, nose wheel steering fault
.
Jun 29, 19, 9:01 pm
#12
Moderator, Hilton Honors
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: hopefully travelling
Programs: up in the air
Posts: 70,862
Another vote for CX seat being much better than NZ in business. Food & beverage quality good but quantity mixed (okay some flights and a bit miserly on others).
