CX vs. UA
 

I was all set to use AA award tix to BKK with the family on CX next month. The 45k award sale was good at the time. Now we can do the same trip on UA for 40k each. So the question is, would you go UA or CX in coach from LAX? I have not flown CX before.

I expect that all the CX lovers here will praise CX and blast UA.

Coach is coach is coach. They are just about all equally bad. If you can manage a seat in Economy Plus (you must be a Premier or better), you'll have a little more room.

For 5,000 miles, I'd go UA. Coach is coach is coach.

while i won't go to the extent of "blasting" UA, if you have not flown long haul economy on an asian carrier before, CX is an apt introduction.

asian carriers tend to have more attentive FAs, regular drinks/snack patrol throughout the flight, better food presentation, greater IFE variety than US carriers.

also, in light of the present difficulties, asian carriers may be safer.

CX has all inseat videos whereas I don't think UA has them on their 747s.

The seat pitch on CX may be 1" (32") over UA's 31" in coach.

Flight attendants on asian carriers may be less frumpy and grumpy than american carriers and asking for a glass of water enroute isn't too much trouble for them.

True. None of UA's 744s have in seat video in coach. The 777s do, however, and that is the only type of aircraft UA flies into BKK.

But, if you're in economy plus, either with premier status, a full Y ticket, or seat change on the day of the flight if loads permit, you get 34".

I'll agree with the frumpy and grumpy, but UA does fairly regularly roam the coach cabin with a tray of water. From Tokyo to Bangkok, you'll have a Tokyo based crew (they just fired everyone in BKK).

If the miles were the same, I'd go CX. But for 5,000 miles, I'd fly UA.

[This message has been edited by Always Flyin (edited 10-13-2001).]

I have flown CX aircraft without TV screens in econmy. Was it 777? But it's short-haul equipment, I would think. CX's long-haul has more variety in programs than UA's 'expanded' entertainment. I don't like CX's short-haul programs. (SQ is better as they often don't discriminate between short and long hauls.)

[This message has been edited by Chiangi (edited 10-13-2001).]

Chiangi --

I could be wrong on this, but I'm fairly certain that 100% of CX's fleet has individual video units at each and every seat. They were advertising that fact a while ago.

Are you sure it was actually a CX plane?

Chiangi is correct.

Only 1 of CX's B777-200 series has ITV in economy class. CX was only taking these aircraft as an interim prior to getting the B777-300s but they kept them on. These B777-200s which are ITV less are flown mostly on meidum haul asian routes only.

Bclass on cathay is not good at all. They dont even have powerplugs in the seats. Also the seating is much older than the other airlines. Also using miles on Cathay costs alot more. UA gives better miles when you travel on UA flights. Cathay is very stingy with miles. The only good thing is that Cathay does upgrade you every so often. UA seldom upgrades.

Tfong - I think what you are griping about is specifically about Asiamiles in general. Let me just comment a few points here.

Yes I do agree that Asiamiles is not perfect in that in order to use points to upgrade to the next class of service, you do need a lot more than what its partner American Airlines requires. 25K roundtrip from economy to Business and 40K from J to F on AAdvantage versus something like 50K and 95K respectively. However, Asiamiles does have the advantage in that you can upgrade from any economy class fare to Business, whereas on AAdvantage you can't (only Y, Y2 YRX fares). And that on Asiamiles, there are sometimes 'discounts' like the current one just past where one gets 30% off for upgrade to J from economy class. Asiamiles also lets you waitlist on an award ticket whereas I don't think any of the others, American/United allows that.

Yes the seats on CX is quite old, but compare that with the old UA seats and you'd see that CX is better. The new J class seats on CX is above and beyond most airlines' new Business Class. So you'd just have to be patient.

On the subject of 'giving miles' - tfong - you obviously mean that as a Premier on UA, you get 50% more miles when travelling on UA. Whereas on CX you don't right? Well, if you're a Marco Polo member, you can get the required status counting 25%, 50% or 100% bonus when travelling on CX flights between now and Mar 2002. Something to help you build loyalty. True, CX should implement something like this in the long run but maybe that's what they are looking at with this test period.

AAdvantage members get 25% and 100% bonus miles on ALL oneworld flights. Something that's better than United.

For overall service quality, asian carriers fare better than their north american ones. But again it's a matter of taste. I for one would take even Korean Air over United anyday!

Guy Betsy ... I know you are shunning UA http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif so you are probably not aware but UA does let you be waitlisted, be it for upgrade with miles or certificates or for award seats, so long as those inventory classes are open.

I find AA's FFP to be the best among all that I deal with but this no-waitlist policy is a drawback.

Actually a lot of airlines have a no waiting list policy as far as award bookings go.

sad thing is that we are not comparing AA to UA we are comparing Cathay to UA. Be patient is not an option. Do you really think that in the current economy that Cathay can afford to upgrade all their bclass seats? Get real!!!!!!

No, he's just griping about CX. Remember that CX is about to drop-ship 10,000 Mainland Chinese Pilots to replace the greedy white pilots.

Thanks for the comments.
Due to AA's having posted the 20/20 promo bonus already, my family is now able to go to JNB on CX instead of BKK for only 10K miles more each. So, that is where we are headed. The flights are looking like miserable ones, though: 15.5 hours + 13 hours, approximately. Has anyone survived this trip? http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif
How can I verify the type of aircraft? I did not see this info on the CX site. I am considering joing Marco Polo just for a respite on the ground...