First Class: BA or Cathay Pacific?
#16
FlyerTalk Evangelist



Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: DCA
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Posts: 22,314
Hey, I will never turn down CX F!!
But I don't think we should let everything else wonderful about it cloud judgment about the food which outside of a couple of high points is really quite average.
#17

Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Scottsdale
Posts: 2,953
When I rated CX food at 8+, the rest of my comparison in F is:
OZ - 9.6
SQ - 9.4 (ex NRT, it's 9.6)
JL - 9.4
NH - 9.3 (used to be 9.8)
LX - 9.2
BA - 8.6
LH - 8.4
UA - 6.5
AA - 6.5
#18
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 1,913
I am flying on Oneworld Miles so I have to make due with CX the whole way from DXB. I have always wanted to fly one of the premier Asian Carriers in F whether it was SQ or CX. I am not a picky eater and eat everything so to me I am sure the food will be amazing! I am interested to see the service and hospitality factor as well.
#19


Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: AA Lifetime PLT , BA Silver , BD RIP , HH Gold, SPG / Marriott PLT , EF Subscriber
Posts: 6,733
Sorry to upset you CX Fans...but on this routing BA wins Hands down....Unless you want to endure awful timing schedules on CX from DXB...No First Class...No Caviar...Terrible Regional Seating...Third Rate Business Class Food...Average to Poor Cabin Service...3 Sectors versus 2 with BA... Possible RJ Coach Only for final USA Domestic Sector...US Immigration, Customs and re-check Bags Farce at US or Canada Gateway
At the moment one of the 2 DXB-LHR is designated to be operated by New First and around 40% of the other 777 is likely to be New First.
CX Regional Business IMHO is Very Poor and for 8 Hours DXB-HKG I would never even consider it.
The only downside flying 2 stop BA is IAD Immigration and Customs but if OP is a US Citizen even this is endurable.
Finally if Caviar is important to you, buy some at LHR the BA Crew will be delighted to open it for you.
And the final deal breaker OneWorld awards would require 230,000 Miles against 157,500 for All Partner AAwards J to DXB and F Returning with BA. Although possible OP could change from OW AAward to All-Partner and potentially still endure 8 Hours in CX Regional Business Class.
At the moment one of the 2 DXB-LHR is designated to be operated by New First and around 40% of the other 777 is likely to be New First.
CX Regional Business IMHO is Very Poor and for 8 Hours DXB-HKG I would never even consider it.
The only downside flying 2 stop BA is IAD Immigration and Customs but if OP is a US Citizen even this is endurable.
Finally if Caviar is important to you, buy some at LHR the BA Crew will be delighted to open it for you.
And the final deal breaker OneWorld awards would require 230,000 Miles against 157,500 for All Partner AAwards J to DXB and F Returning with BA. Although possible OP could change from OW AAward to All-Partner and potentially still endure 8 Hours in CX Regional Business Class.
Last edited by UncleDude; Oct 29, 2010 at 11:00 pm
#20
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Valencia, Spain
Posts: 816
Happy Travels.
#22
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: HKG, BOS
Programs: CX SL, AB Gold, AF/KL FB Silver, HU/HX Silver, SPG Gold
Posts: 2,596
+1, CX731/8 (33B) is guaranteed to have the New Business Class (herringbone) while for all 74A operated flights, it's also guaranteed.
#24
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CX, and by a country mile. I would go out of my way (and have) to fly CX F.
I completely agree with Macabus. And if F isn't full, they'll keep dishing out both the salmon and caviar, as much as you like, until they run out. My record is two servings before the main meal, then another as a mid-flight snack. That salmon is like butter.
I've posted this elsewhere on FT, but I've been the only F pax HKG-LAX on 884 twice in the past few years (both times before the conversion to the Olympus product). Once I drank a whole bottle of Krug (I know, Mac, I'm still an amateur compared to you!!) and the FAs, seeing how much I enjoyed it, gave me an unopened bottle as I was deplaning.
I was unimpressed with the food a few months ago on LH, Gleff, but on my January trip I'm taking NH over and OZ back. Can't wait to try them!!
Sorry, can't agree with you on that one. I'd give CX LH F food a B+/A-, and but for one nearly inedible shrimp dish, it would have been A/A- consistently.
I've posted this elsewhere on FT, but I've been the only F pax HKG-LAX on 884 twice in the past few years (both times before the conversion to the Olympus product). Once I drank a whole bottle of Krug (I know, Mac, I'm still an amateur compared to you!!) and the FAs, seeing how much I enjoyed it, gave me an unopened bottle as I was deplaning.
Sorry, can't agree with you on that one. I'd give CX LH F food a B+/A-, and but for one nearly inedible shrimp dish, it would have been A/A- consistently.
#25




Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: RDU
Programs: A few
Posts: 5,506
If time really is of no importance then flying DXB-HKG-(presumably)-JFK-IAD will get the CX experience and for sure the F experience is wonderful. Maybe it's my memory as it's been four years since I flew BA F and I managed CX F a couple of times this year on very long flights... but I would not rate CX F so much better that I would go 5000 miles out of my way and add an extra hop likely on some crappy RJ to take it over BA F. I really quite like BA F, though I am a Brit so maybe the ability to get a proper cup of tea and a Full English sway it for me
And while the CX bed is certainly very comfortable, well if you're gonna be asleep may as well just come back the easy way 
Actually if I was going DXB-IAD I'd try to do United. Their new F looks pretty good and it's one way direct!!!!
And while the CX bed is certainly very comfortable, well if you're gonna be asleep may as well just come back the easy way 
Actually if I was going DXB-IAD I'd try to do United. Their new F looks pretty good and it's one way direct!!!!
#28
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 1,913
Well I ended up choosing CX after all...DXB-HKG on the 11:55 PM flight which I think has the new business class. I get into HKG at like 11:40 and then my CX flight leaves for JFK at 5 PM. I am excited to get to enjoy the Wing lounge at CX and get to fly CX for the long flight. I am going to stay over in NY that night with some friends then catch the first flight to DCA. Actually what the deal breaker was BA was going to charge like over $750 in taxes if it was all on BA while flying with CX is only around $200. So I don't mind at all flying out of my way to save a good amount of money and getting to fly CX!
#30
Moderator, OneWorld




Join Date: Feb 2002
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Well I ended up choosing CX after all...DXB-HKG on the 11:55 PM flight which I think has the new business class. I get into HKG at like 11:40 and then my CX flight leaves for JFK at 5 PM. I am excited to get to enjoy the Wing lounge at CX and get to fly CX for the long flight. I am going to stay over in NY that night with some friends then catch the first flight to DCA. Actually what the deal breaker was BA was going to charge like over $750 in taxes if it was all on BA while flying with CX is only around $200. So I don't mind at all flying out of my way to save a good amount of money and getting to fly CX!

