Cathay or Qantas from Lon to HKG
Jul 10, 2008 | 3:19 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: NY
Programs: UA 1K (1mm), Marriott Titanium, HH Gold, Hertz Pres
Posts: 433
Cathay or Qantas from Lon to HKG
I'm wait listed on my Cathay flight CX252 from Heathrow to HKG. Flying business class with wife and son. There is a Qantas flight that leaves around the same time and has space available. Anyone care to provide opinions?
Jul 10, 2008 | 7:14 pm
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Melbourne
Programs: ►QFWP/LTG►VA WP►HyattDisc.►HiltonGold►ALL Plat.
Posts: 22,337
Hi johnathome, welcome to FT. 
Assuming you are travelling on a DONEx or a DGLOBnn, I'd suggest taking QF. I feel, it's better to have confirmed bookings.
If it helps any there are reports around that the London based crew who normally operate the LHR-HKG route on Qantas are among the "best" for service.
Other than that, there's a few threads around about the differences in the products but IMHO there is little between them.
Certainly any perception that CX may be slightly better would not be enough to stay with in your situation.
Assuming you are travelling on a DONEx or a DGLOBnn, I'd suggest taking QF. I feel, it's better to have confirmed bookings.
If it helps any there are reports around that the London based crew who normally operate the LHR-HKG route on Qantas are among the "best" for service.
Other than that, there's a few threads around about the differences in the products but IMHO there is little between them.
Certainly any perception that CX may be slightly better would not be enough to stay with in your situation.
Jul 10, 2008 | 7:48 pm
#3
Moderator: Asiana & Qantas Frequent Flyer
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: STR/SYD/SMF
Programs: QF LTG / P1 , LH LT SEN / HON, OZ LT Diamond +, Marriott LT PT, HH Diamond,
Posts: 15,153
Welcome to FT and the OW forum, johnathome! CX new business class is very nice but not ideal for everyone. The pros IMHO is the fully flat seat. The downside is the heringbone and chicken cage style layout which I find unpleasant. It is also not suited to travel together with other people. So with family I would not use CX.
The downside of the QF flight is the angled flat bed. If this is not too much of an issue, go with them. You can get three seats together which is good for family travel. Service and IFE is about the same even so I personally prefer QF while the majority of people prefers CX.
The downside of the QF flight is the angled flat bed. If this is not too much of an issue, go with them. You can get three seats together which is good for family travel. Service and IFE is about the same even so I personally prefer QF while the majority of people prefers CX.
Jul 11, 2008 | 4:27 am
#4
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: SYD
Posts: 3,045
Welcome to FT and the OW forum, johnathome. My recent flights with Cathay on my current trip has reinforced my preference for QF over CX whenever there's a choice (alas there's none on many routes for this trip). Personally I find the service and catering at QF to be heads and shoulders above CX's. Plus you get superb crew for LON-Asia (though as I recently learnt QF31/32 via SIN is still entirely SYD-based crew - still awesome service nonetheless). Skybed and NBC are both adequately comfy - but I do not like the new herringbone CX seat, too cramped and anti social. The ability to get confirmed space on QF is even more reason to go with them.
My recent flights with Cathay on my current trip has reinforced my preference for QF over CX whenever there's a choice (alas there's none on many routes for this trip). Personally I find the service and catering at QF to be heads and shoulders above CX's. Plus you get superb crew for LON-Asia (though as I recently learnt QF31/32 via SIN is still entirely SYD-based crew - still awesome service nonetheless). Skybed and NBC are both adequately comfy - but I do not like the new herringbone CX seat, too cramped and anti social. The ability to get confirmed space on QF is even more reason to go with them.
Last edited by Keith009; Jul 11, 2008 at 4:38 am
Jul 11, 2008 | 4:42 am
#5
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Nottingham, UK
Programs: BA Gold, Amex P
Posts: 85
Having flown with both CX and QF long haul business class (admittedly not on this route) the flat bed would come out tops for me. I also find CX service better than QF (but only marginally and again not based on experience of this route).
Have you considered BA? They have flat beds and usually quite good service, not sure how I'd rate the food, but that is usually a minor consideration for me.
C.
Have you considered BA? They have flat beds and usually quite good service, not sure how I'd rate the food, but that is usually a minor consideration for me.
C.
Jul 11, 2008 | 8:57 pm
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: NY
Programs: UA 1K (1mm), Marriott Titanium, HH Gold, Hertz Pres
Posts: 433
Thanks for the suggestions. Sounds like the QF flight is a good choice and will remove myself from the CX waitlist. Didnt realize CX had the new business class seats already on this route. BA was a option but timing didnt work as well for us.
Best,
Best,
Jul 12, 2008 | 1:21 am
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: SYD BXG
Programs: QF WP/LTG | UA P
Posts: 13,664
If timing and tight connections are an issue, be aware that QF is having dreadful reliability problems with long hauls leaving Oz - industrial action. QF 1, 5, 31 and their returns are hit hard with delays sometimes 4 hrs and occasionally 22 hrs. Check the QF web site (departures) for determining a trend. Therefore, if reliability is vital, go with CX. Otherwise, as others have commented, go with QF. Don't forget that BA also does this run and many prefer the BA seat / flat bed to anything else.
Jul 12, 2008 | 7:19 am
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: NY
Programs: UA 1K (1mm), Marriott Titanium, HH Gold, Hertz Pres
Posts: 433
Tks, apparently QF30 hasnt been on time for last 3 days! Unfortunately the BA flights leave in the evening and I get into Heathrow in the am. Will hope for the best!
Jul 12, 2008 | 11:35 am
#9
In Memoriam
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Katoomba (Blue Mountains)
Programs: Mucci
Posts: 8,083
If timing and tight connections are an issue, be aware that QF is having dreadful reliability problems with long hauls leaving Oz - industrial action. QF 1, 5, 31 and their returns are hit hard with delays sometimes 4 hrs and occasionally 22 hrs. Check the QF web site (departures) for determining a trend.
Dave
Jul 13, 2008 | 10:04 am
#11
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: SYD
Posts: 3,045
QF25 MEL-AKL-LAX on 29JUN departed more than 6 hours after scheduled departure.
Jul 13, 2008 | 3:32 pm
#12
Moderator, Hilton Honors
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: on a short leash
Programs: some
Posts: 71,445
This must be costing QF a fortune in irrops costs and lost future bookings. How many people have sworn off flying QF due to an excessive delay?
Jul 16, 2008 | 6:57 am
#13
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: HKG
Programs: CX DM, SQ, BA, TG, Sheba, VN, MPO since 1980
Posts: 1,058
How service can be important when you are leaving at midnight with the intent to sleep is hardly relevant and the narrow CX coffin seats in J are not suitable for family travel unless you are all 7' basketball players in order to see each other.
On principle I will not fly Qantas now that they have stooped to selling a 'legal' product on board - cigarettes - I would not like my children to see that. A retrograde step for a oneworld airline.
On principle I will not fly Qantas now that they have stooped to selling a 'legal' product on board - cigarettes - I would not like my children to see that. A retrograde step for a oneworld airline.
Jul 16, 2008 | 7:26 am
#14
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Duluth, GA
Programs: AAdvantage PLT, AA 2MM, Marriott Gold
Posts: 2,268
How is this different from distributing large packages of cigarettes purchased pre-boarding in duty-free? Not knocking your stand ... examples are important.
Jul 16, 2008 | 8:35 am
#15
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 459
Although CX will be the real winner on this route (seats - eventhe herringbone and OBC, meals, service, and most important schedule!) don't you think your reason of banning an airline a bit ...... Is it not like they are selling them to Children.