Working on booking three oneworld business awards. One segment is HKG-SYD, which has both QF and CX flights.

Any suggestions as to which is better if I have the choice?

I also realize I may well not be able to keep all three awards together, and so may have to split between two flights (my Dad will have to accompany my Mom and her travelling wheelchair).

Thanks,

Steve

I suspect CX will get the majority of the votes and would be my preference, but QF offers a good product and will be the preference of some.

If you're taking a night flight, I would suggest QF128 because it's a 744. I find upstairs in J to be much better than on a single deck aircraft. This is the only OW 744 flying this route.

If it's a day flight, then I would go with CX on their 330.

Very nice perspective on those details.

Thank you very much.

Steve

QF has a better seat (particularly in bed mode). CX has better everything else. Not sure that upper deck on the 744 is the best seating for someone using a traveling wheelchair (or if they even allow pax with mobility problems on the upper deck, though the 744 straight staircase is a lot easier than the original spiral 747-100/200 staircase. In any case I suspect you won't have too much choice of airline when looking for award availability if you are tied to date/time.

The QF J seat is slightly better than the CX J seat for me. I don't love either however. I agree with the other poster that the upper deck is not a place I would shoot for if someone has mobility problems. I've actually stopped sitting in the upper deck this year as the storage space is always limited.

I have tried to tell my Mom that I didn't think the airlines would allow her on the upper deck. Part of the attraction for me is a little space from them (total of a month travelling with them), which they don't mind as they don't usually sit next to each other when they have the choice.

I was looking on SeatGuru, and the both the Qantas and Cathay Pacific lie-flat seats don't go horizontal.

So, the "inventive" routing I and CS rep had to come up with (it was my 9th alternative idea to get to either SYD or MEL) was HKG-BKK-SYD, doing the longer overnight leg on BA (w/ actual flat-beds on their 747--I believe the long-haul flight between LHR and SYD), and two days earlier on 9/25/07 (so only two full days in Hong Kong). Unfortunate for them, as this will be the only time they will travel that far; I figure I will be able to catch it again in the future as a freebie gateway stopover. I worried a little over the two and a quarter hour layover, if there is immigration to go through in that transfer, but the CS rep said that the system accepted that as a legal transfer (enough time). Any insight from you guys?

I called back and nabbed a continuation to Hobart--might as well get that while I can, and it will turn a tight connection later into the Sydney stopover--always a good thing in the spirit of flexability.

Thanks for the help and advice everyone!

Steve

A two-and-a-quarter hour transfer in Bangkok? More than ample.

It is only the United States which makes international transit passengers clear customs and immigration. At most Asian airports, 55 minute transfers are both legal and commonplace since it's simply a matter of walking to your next gate and reclearing security.

Thank you.

I was looking at the airport and terminal maps for Sydney, and apparantly British Airways does not have a lounge there. Might an international business arrival on a BA flight be able to use the Qantas Club?

It looks like it is inside security. It looks like we will be continuing through to Hobart 8 hours later, so after immigration would we be allowed back in to that lounge to spend the time?

Thanks,

Steve

One other thing to note is that CX sometimes switches a regional A330 onto the Sydney route, as I have just discovered today - sitting at the temporary QF F lounge in SYD not exactly looking forward to 9 hours in Economy Plus (known laughingly by CX as "Regional Business Class")

Yeah, I read in other topic that Qantas likes to switch their 3-class 744 for a 2-class on that flight.

There are no arrivals lounges at any Australian airport. BA uses the QF lounges, and if you have access to any departure lounge, you can use the showers there. The BA horizontal bed has several disadvantages to the QF flat but not horizontal bed; it is smaller, narrower, harder to get into/out of, has less storage space and doesn't have a massage function. Many people prefer the QF bed over the BA bed; it is newer technology and pretty cleverly done. But it all depends on how you sleep.

What compensation does a Diamond get for this kind of a switch? I would expect it to be substantial????

I am not aware of QF switching their 744 for a 743 on that route (HKG-SYD). In fact they are more likely to switch the 333 for a 767 on the 188/189. QF NB however would be the person to confirm.

Going HKG - BKK - SYD would mean that you would probably have to take CX 713 which is the morning flight as I am not sure a 45 min connection time is legal (although I could be wrong) and then take the flight from BKK to SYD. It effectively doubles the total journey time compared to going from HKG direct to SYD. I don't think I would ever do that to my mother!

Even if you got her on the later flight, it still adds an extra 4 hours to a 9 hour journey!

If this was a mileage run I would understand, but if it is a family member on an award ticket who has an opportunity to fly two very decent (both definitely in the world top half dozen anyhow) carriers on a direct service, I know what I would do.

I would much prefer to be sitting in CX's RBC rather than another carriers Y+ any day. Whilst it is not as good as long haul J, it still not bad.

QF does have 2-class 744s.