CX710 - CX884 connection time

[Jleno]

Hi

I'm looking at a QF rewards booking on CX from SIN-LAX.

The QF booking system selected a CX710 SIN-HKG (8am - 11:55am) followed by a CX884 HKG-LAX (12:45pm dep).

The 50 mins connection time seems very short but given QF/CX system automatically allocates these two flights, I'm assuming CX thinks this is fine. Wondering whether anyone has had issues with catching the connecting flight?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Hi

I'm looking at a QF rewards booking on CX from SIN-LAX.

The QF booking system selected a CX710 SIN-HKG (8am - 11:55am) followed by a CX884 HKG-LAX (12:45pm dep).

The 50 mins connection time seems very short but given QF/CX system automatically allocates these two flights, I'm assuming CX thinks this is fine. Wondering whether anyone has had issues with catching the connecting flight?

50 mins is plenty of time to connect at HKG. We did it with a wheelchair and were in the lounge within 15 minutes of arrival. So without a wheel chair you could be there in about 7 minutes. For those who smoke you have time to do that. Otherwise time to check emails quickly, have a coffee, and head back for boarding.

If your inbound is late and you can still possibly make your next flight they will have someone waiting to escort you right the way through. A frind of mine made a connection MEL-HKG-CAN in about 20 minutes from the time the plane arrived at the terminal (with escort).

 

[SeatBackForward]

It wouldn't return in their search engine if it wasn't permissable.

 

[Pushka]

It wouldn't return in their search engine if it wasn't permissable.

Is that really true though? Maybe it’s minimum allowable but twice in the last month I’ve been a little concerned and have called for clarification. On both occasions the consultant has changed the flights saying it’s just too tight. I’m always a little antsy about luggage making it too. Hong Kong and Singapore are probably two airports where it’s ok. And just the other day AA changed my booking and when calling up the consultant said it made no sense.

 

[SeatBackForward]

Is that really true though? Maybe it’s minimum allowable but twice in the last month I’ve been a little concerned and have called for clarification. On both occasions the consultant has changed the flights saying it’s just too tight. I’m always a little antsy about luggage making it too. Hong Kong and Singapore are probably two airports where it’s ok. And just the other day AA changed my booking and when calling up the consultant said it made no sense.

Well the serach results are all done by algorithms, and the minimum connection time is just a variable used in the calculation. Humam intelligence is what says "too tight" becuase a human is better abel to understand the greyness between the 0 and the 1 that the computer uses ..I need to get to bed.

 

[Pushka]

Well the serach results are all done by algorithms, and the minimum connection time is just a variable used in the calculation. Humam intelligence is what says "too tight" becuase a human is better abel to understand the greyness between the 0 and the 1 that the computer uses ..I need to get to bed.

But humans know that planes can be late because of operational and sometimes human frailties and sometimes nature. Sleep well!

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Is that really true though? Maybe it’s minimum allowable but twice in the last month I’ve been a little concerned and have called for clarification. On both occasions the consultant has changed the flights saying it’s just too tight. I’m always a little antsy about luggage making it too. Hong Kong and Singapore are probably two airports where it’s ok. And just the other day AA changed my booking and when calling up the consultant said it made no sense.

Some of the QF connections via SYD might be legal connecting times... but not for your sanity! A one hour connection to get from domestic to international, go through immigration and make the plane is just silly

HKG and SIN agree it's very easy. FRA/LHR/ICN wouldn't try for anything that close in. Some USA connections can be as little as 35-40 minutes... but often they don't allow for the fact a regional jet arrives way out at the very last gate at the end pier and you have to race to the other side of the airport for your mainline flight.

 

[Pushka]

Some of the QF connections via SYD might be legal connecting times... but not for your sanity! A one hour connection to get from domestic to international, go through immigration and make the plane is just silly

HKG and SIN agree it's very easy. FRA/LHR/ICN wouldn't try for anything that close in. Some USA connections can be as little as 35-40 minutes... but often they don't allow for the fact a regional jet arrives way out at the very last gate at the end pier and you have to race to the other side of the airport for your mainline flight.

My AA one was 30 minutes. Just too tight given there was only one flight for the second sector. Miss that and we are in Phoenix overnight and most of the next day. Instead of Vancouver. Or luggage wouldn’t have made it.

 

[Jleno]

An example is the QF56 from LAX-BNE yesterday (Saturday) - arrived late due to headwinds (according to the pilot) so quite a few passengers missed their domestic connections which no doubt were booked on the one ticket.

Anyway - reporting back on my SIN-HKG-LAX flight from a couple of weeks ago. The 50 mins was sufficient, although I did have a bit of trouble working out where to go (as a first timer) once I got to HKG. There just wanted sufficient signage or directions. I did board the HKG-LAX on time but it was already boarding by the time I got there. Am still disappointed I didn't get any time to try out the first class lounge. A lesson for next time!

LAX was another matter. Arrived LAX at 9am and didn't get my passport stamp until 10:55am. A couple of planes from Asia arrived just before mine and I was stuck in the queue. Mate of mine arrived LAX at 6:30am that morning but was able to clear customs to jump on an 8:40am LAX-EGE. Definitely a roll of the dice at LAX then it seems.

 

[albyd]

I have a similar question about different flights - thought would be most appropriate to post in this thread. I'm flying CX SYD-HKG-HND next few weeks. I'll be getting into HKG on CX0110 at 15:25 and my next flight to HND is CX0542 departing at 16:20. I didn't think anything of it when I booked my flights as was looking to minimise my time in transit. I'm now wondering if 55 mins will be sufficient (particularly given other factors such as mother nature might mean we can't keep to the original schedule). Both flights land and depart from Terminal 1 and was also planning a very quick visit to the Amex lounge in Terminal 1. Am I being a little ambitious here given the time frame?

I've not had any experience of such short connections before with revenue or award tickets. What happens if I miss CX0542 due to my original flight from SYD getting in late? Both flights are reward redemptions in J.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I have a similar question about different flights - thought would be most appropriate to post in this thread. I'm flying CX SYD-HKG-HND next few weeks. I'll be getting into HKG on CX0110 at 15:25 and my next flight to HND is CX0542 departing at 16:20. I didn't think anything of it when I booked my flights as was looking to minimise my time in transit. I'm now wondering if 55 mins will be sufficient (particularly given other factors such as mother nature might mean we can't keep to the original schedule). Both flights land and depart from Terminal 1 and was also planning a very quick visit to the Amex lounge in Terminal 1. Am I being a little ambitious here given the time frame?

I've not had any experience of such short connections before with revenue or award tickets. What happens if I miss CX0542 due to my original flight from SYD getting in late? Both flights are reward redemptions in J.

You're in the same position as the poster above you

55 minutes is plenty of time for the connection. If your inbound is late, as much as 20-30 minutes, someone will meet you at the gate and personally escort you to yournext flight (your bags might not make it, but they will be sent to your accommodation in Tokyo for you).

If you are too late on the inbound, CX will arrange for onward travel, either on CX or possibly another airline. If CX doesn't provide accommodation (which can happen if there are major disruptions and all local hotels are full), you may need to rely on your travel insurance to cover a city hotel. Being on a revenue or award will make little difference. The airline will take control of the ticket and look after you (your onward travel won't be dependent on award availability, they'll rebook you on a standard seat).

Whether or not you will have time to use the lounge depends on the day. A delayed arrival of say 10-15 minutes will pretty much wipe out any lounge time. If you arrive bang on time you might have 10 minutes in the lounge.

 

[albyd]

Thanks for your guidance on this MEL. Sounds like it should all be ok as long as we’re running on time.

Though the lounge time in HKG will be enough for a brief glimpse.of the lounge

Good to hear about the options should I miss my onward flight. Good to hear make up onward flight will be in J regardless of award seat availability should I miss original flight through no fault of my own.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Thanks for your guidance on this MEL. Sounds like it should all be ok as long as we’re running on time.

Though the lounge time in HKG will be enough for a brief glimpse.of the lounge

Good to hear about the options should I miss my onward flight. Good to hear make up onward flight will be in J regardless of award seat availability should I miss original flight through no fault of my own.

Once the ticket is in airline control the underlying payment (award or revenue) makes no difference. They have full aothority to uplift you as they need. The only complication might be if onward flights have no J seats left at all to start with... in that case you will have the option to wait until the next flight with J (whenever that is) or grab a seat in premium economy or economy if those happen to be available now.

 

[albyd]

In the event I voluntarily downgrade, is there usually some make up from CX such as points difference refund?

I imagine the downgrade is my choice so that may not be forthcoming.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

In the event I voluntarily downgrade, is there usually some make up from CX such as points difference refund?

I imagine the downgrade is my choice so that may not be forthcoming.

If CX downgrades you due to IRROPS you will have to go back to Qantas to sort out any refund of points. The difference between J and Y awards on multi sector tickets may be little or nothing.

If you downgrade through your own choice you can still go back to QF and see if there is any points refund owing (same caveat as above).

If CX downgrades you on the day of departure due to their operational needs (for example an aircraft change) you'll be given cash compensation on the spot (usually in an envelope at check-in). You then have to go back to Qantas to organise any points refund (if there is one).

 

[albyd]

Thanks MEL. I redeemed Asia Miles. Not sure if that changes anything but good to have an idea of what to expect.

 

[JohnK]

With QF award search engine I can do a multi-city search selecting MEL-SIN arriving 16:50 and offered onward flight on 3K SIN-BKK departing 16:50.

I'm sure it will error out trying to book but interesting how it's not filtered out of the search.

 

[dajop]

With CX I would be reluctant to do tight connections. My partners mother did MEL-HKG-KIX 18 months ago and the inbound flight was late - such that the connection time was reduced to 54 mins. On arrival they had already been rebooked onto a flight 8hrs later and wouldn’t put them back on the original flight - which was departing a mere 500m away with security in between.

Also happened to me with late inbound leaving 40mins enroute from SIN to NRT. But I only had to wait 90mins and at that time still had access to the Wing F lounge so didn’t phase me.

At Changi they would never proactively rebook with 40mins to transfer.

 

[albyd]

Thanks for the heads up about this. When would you be told you’ve been re-booked?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Thanks for the heads up about this. When would you be told you’ve been re-booked?

I'm sure it does happen (that CX rebooks on another flight) but there could be several good reasons why they did so.

But having been to HKG more times than I can remember, it's extremely common that they'll have someone at the gate to rush you to the next flight if it's humanly possible to make it.

You'd normally find out on arrival which way it's going to go (rush to next plane or being re-booked).