All,

I am currently considering doing the following:

CX451 TPE-HKG, arrives 2120
CX709 HKG-BKK, leaves 2210

The Cathay website allows me to book this routing so clearly it deems the connection time sufficient. However, does anyone have experience of the TPE-HKG route to know how frequently it runs on time? We want to take the 451 routing as it has first class on board!

Many thanks for any comments.

TPE-HKG is generally ontime and reliably so, however 451 serves NRT-TPE-HKG and NRT sometimes has very bad delays due to their runway limitations. This happens a few days a month (maybe 10% of the time). The F service TPE-HKG is very nice but it is a short flight (analogous to SFO-LAX); personally I wouldn't risk being stranded overnight if that connection is the last flight to BKK that night. Of course CX would pay for your hotel room if you did get stranded (don't get too excited, the airport hotel is nothing special, just expensive).

CX451 is probably the least on time of all TPE-HKG flights, as explained by number_6. Since delays are originated from NRT, CX is pretty good at calling passengers and protecting them on 401 or 531.

Thanks...hmmm, tricky one. We are actually flying from NRT to BKK, and I wanted to try out CX First (and avoid regional J). Using the CX451 seemed to be a good way to do it (as the NRT-TPE leg is reasonably long), but obviously there is the risk of having to overnight in HKG if the ex-NRT gets heavily delayed.

Maybe we should just stick with J and connect via HKG?

On Tuesdays, CX flies 333, which I think has the first class. This flight, leaving NRT at 5 p.m., is also a legal connection to the last flight to BKK (and arrives earlier than 450 via TPE).

Many many thanks for the comments.

Am very tempted to risk it and take the NRT-TPE-HKG-BKK routing as it is not much more expensive than business class (because we can buy the TPE-BKK ticket separately). At least we will know if 451 is running late when we are still in NRT. I have some extra questions though and if you can offer any guidance I would greatly appreciate it!

* Assume 451 is late and we need to overnight in HKG (not the worst thing in the world!) If we choose not to stay at the airport will CX pay for a nice hotel in town or offer any contribution?
* We would obviously be charged for our hotel in Bangkok; again would CX help out? Must check if Amex insurance covers it.
* Would they be willing to upgrade us the next day to F on our way out (the last flight to BKK which we would be missing only has J)?

Please do not think I wish to try it on with CX in any way. I am just interested in how it normally works. The 451 routing is so tempting mainly because it offers F and I can not wait to experience CX First...

Unless you want to shop or eat at HKG, just relax and enjoy. Being the last flight of the day it will be held if your a tad bit late. Once they held 828, for over an hour, mid day, and I was the only pax making the contection.