CX - New J Class product SYD-HKG-LHR and compare to BA J

[Paddy55]

Folks

With CX having produced a 2 4 1 offer in J Class I'm looking at them as a cheaper alternative to flying with BA

Read some great reviews of their new J product, however I'm wondering if it is usually available on:

CX100 SYD-HKG on an A330 travelling on a Friday, then
CX255 HKG-LHR on a 744 travelling that night (early Sat in fact), and

CX252 LHR-HKG on a 744 travelling on a Friday, then
CX139 HKG-SYD on an A330 on the Sat day flight

It sounds from other reviews CX New J is preferred to BA J, but I'm assuming the CX Old J doesn't compare as well

Thanks in advance to opinions
Paddy

 

[NM]

I suggest that if travelling by yourself, then CX is good and so is BA. If travelling with a partner, then BA is probably better for communicating during the flights. CX is certain to get AVOD while BA are still in the process of rolling it out. The soft product is similar in standard.

BA will be the same aircraft all the way, which means no chance of a missed connection in Asia. However, CX have multiple flights per day SYD-HKG and HKG-LHR so a miss won't mean a huge delay anyway.

I would be choosing the one with the most convenient schedule if the price is the same.

 

[Paddy55]

NM

Appreciate the swift response and thoughtful opinion

Paddy

 

[Leumas]

Just double check on CX's web site. Aircraft type "330" means it's regional J, which is best comapred to domestic J with QF. Regional J won't have any decent AVOD, any decent seat, anything except good service. (I'm pretty sure SYD-HKG is regional J on CX...)

I'd definitely go with BA in this case. Pick the BA codeshare with QF when it uses the A380.

 

[NM]

Just double check on CX's web site. Aircraft type "330" means it's regional J, which is best comapred to domestic J with QF. Regional J won't have any decent AVOD, any decent seat, anything except good service. (I'm pretty sure SYD-HKG is regional J on CX...)

This is not reliable any more. Aircraft type "330" is used for all 2-class A330-300s operated by CX, which includes both the old Regional config and the new herringbone long-haul config. All CX "330" flights to/from Sydney and Melbourne are long-haul config and its now extremely rare for an aircraft swap on those routes to regional config.

BNE and PER flights are now a mixture of 343 and 333 meaning you get the old long-haul J an possibly even an od F seat on a 3-class 333 sold as 2-class. So there does not seem to be any more scheduled regional config 330 flights to/from Australia.

I'd definitely go with BA in this case. Pick the BA codeshare with QF when it uses the A380.

Why the preference for BA? CX's new business class out of SYD and MEL is very good (as is BA's New New Club World). All options (CX, BA and QF A380) offer lie-flat beds.

 

[Evan]

Some considerations....

- If crediting to QF then the BA flights will earn status bonus !!! (CX wont)
- CX, BA, QF all have good beds.

Some other considerations other may not agree with or consider inportant...

- CX i rate the service, love it
- BA has FA's with cute English accents
- BA have bacon rolls for breakfast often, and they are good !
- QF may have an Aussie sourced crew so you feel like your on your way home, i like QF crew
- QF could have a London based crew so you get cute English accents
- BA have better bubbles in F (very personal opinion that because i love the bollinger)
- QF have a better wine
- CX, others have said they have better scotch, can't comment because i mix it with coke or dry.

Honestly i pick the one with both availability and best times for me, but generally i end up on QF/BA due to times and status bonus. Having said that i love CX and use them all around the rest of Asia.

 

[Leumas]

Why the preference for BA? CX's new business class out of SYD and MEL is very good (as is BA's New New Club World). All options (CX, BA and QF A380) offer lie-flat beds.

No particular reason - I just answered within the premise the OP posted - CX or BA.

 

[NM]

- If crediting to QF then the BA flights will earn status bonus !!! (CX wont)

But if crediting to AA, then CX earns the status bonus and BA does not

- CX, others have said they have better scotch, can't comment because i mix it with coke or dry.

CX is def ahead of QF in the scotch realm. But BA is similar. CX have JW Gold and BA have Glenfiddich (15yo Solera Reserve I think). Both very good and better than QF's 12yo Glenlivet. BA tend to be a little more generous with the flow of the whisky compared with CX.

Honestly i pick the one with both availability and best times for me

Indeed as I recommend.

 

[Evan]

But if crediting to AA, then CX earns the status bonus and BA does not

CX is def ahead of QF in the scotch realm. But BA is similar. CX have JW Gold and BA have Glenfiddich (15yo Solera Reserve I think). Both very good and better than QF's 12yo Glenlivet. BA tend to be a little more generous with the flow of the whisky compared with CX.

Indeed as I recommend.

And there is that side of it as well Been a while since i have credited to AA since i want to get to LTG first before going back and QF just suits my Asia/Europe travel now and in the next few years better.

 

[pauly7]

CX's new business class out of SYD and MEL is very good (as is BA's New New Club World). All options (CX, BA and QF A380) offer lie-flat beds.

Is it correct only the BA 747's have the new club world on them at the moment?

 

[Dave Noble]

Is it correct only the BA 747's have the new club world on them at the moment?

Some 777s have , iirc, the latest incarnation

All the 777s do have at least the previous incarnation with full flat beds

Dave

 

[Alanslegal]

I really like BA CW lie flat seats, it feels very cosy and private and if you're flying backwards you won't need to see anyone for the entire trip apart from the attendants when serving your meals. Also you get windows which the CX product will not unless you can swivel (and strain) your neck like 150degrees! Also I feel I get better positions on the BA seats than the CX.

Otherwise CX J's food IMO is much nicer, the AVOD is better, and the service I find a bit better (although some may think its a fake kind of) service. Their seats however feels too narrow for my liking and the partitions are definitely not couple friendly.

Until I fly QF 380 J's I can't compare but I would like to think they are better proucts than CX and BA. (give me a couple of weeks and I'd let you know)

 

[Paddy55]

Thanks to all for responses

Have booked CX J for Mrs Paddy and I to London in July. At $11.4K is just about exactly $2K cheaper than either SQ or QF/BA.

Impressed with booking engine on website that allows seat allocation/request online - suggests that A330s on these days are flying with new J product.

Will do trip report... will be Mrs Paddy's first experience with J class and I'm so far managing to keep it as a surprise!

Paddy

 

[JohnK]

- CX, BA, QF all have good beds.

Hmm.... When someone starts referring to airline seats as beds it must be that good. What else am I missing out on by not travelling business class?

 

[Evan]

Hmm.... When someone starts referring to airline seats as beds it must be that good. What else am I missing out on by not travelling business class?

hahaha, well maybe not a bed, but good enough for a bed when it needs to be. J is very nice these days pity i do a lot of whY flying. (But enough J to know i don't like whY all that much but for the price i will take it)
E

 

[Keith009]

Thanks to all for responses

Have booked CX J for Mrs Paddy and I to London in July. At $11.4K is just about exactly $2K cheaper than either SQ or QF/BA.

Impressed with booking engine on website that allows seat allocation/request online - suggests that A330s on these days are flying with new J product.

Will do trip report... will be Mrs Paddy's first experience with J class and I'm so far managing to keep it as a surprise!

Paddy

At that price I'd defo go with CX. Even though I normally prefer QF or BA I don't like them as much as to pay $2k extra! That's extra money that can be spent on other things during the trip* like shopping, top restos or nice hotels.

Enjoy your trip!

*or after the trip should Mrs Paddy decide that JCL and above is the only way to travel for future trips.

 

[sr81]

...Will be Mrs Paddy's first experience with J class and I'm so far managing to keep it as a surprise!

That sir, is a very slippery slop. But one, I would suggest, that you are quite happy to take on.

Great price at $5.5K per person. Well done.

 

[KitKat]

I am planning to take advantage of the CX 2 for 1 deal as well. Just wanted to see if my fellow wise travelers could help me out with a query.
I plan to fly MEL/HKG/LHR and LHR/HKG/MEL with a stopover in HKG for 2 nights on the return leg - which is priced at AUD$11419.54 via the CX website.
I am tagging on a return Club World flight from LHR to MXP return to the LHR end of the CX flights with at least 3 hours in between flights at LHR.
I need help to find out if I do not book via a travel agent, would I be able to check in my luggage all the way to MXP on the first leg and on return if I could check in my luggage all the way to HKG for the stopover on the return leg?
Also as they are all one world flights is there a way of linking them all up so that it is on the systems that I have onward connections to meet etc.

Thanks
K

 

[Dave Noble]

I am planning to take advantage of the CX 2 for 1 deal as well. Just wanted to see if my fellow wise travelers could help me out with a query.
I plan to fly MEL/HKG/LHR and LHR/HKG/MEL with a stopover in HKG for 2 nights on the return leg - which is priced at AUD$11419.54 via the CX website.
I am tagging on a return Club World flight from LHR to MXP return to the LHR end of the CX flights with at least 3 hours in between flights at LHR.
I need help to find out if I do not book via a travel agent, would I be able to check in my luggage all the way to MXP on the first leg and on return if I could check in my luggage all the way to HKG for the stopover on the return leg?
Also as they are all one world flights is there a way of linking them all up so that it is on the systems that I have onward connections to meet etc.

Thanks
K

If you havent purchased the LHR-MXP flight, I would consider whether it is worth paying extra for business class. BA does not have Club World on that route , only Club Europe which are just economy seats but with better service. It used to be that they stretched the seats to be slightly wider in a 2-3 configuration but I hear that they now just do 2-2 with an empty middle seat. It is not worth, imo, paying much extra for CE

If connecting to/from a European flight you will be able to get lounge access anyway

I suspect that CX would check your bags through to MXP. Since CX is a OW carrier BA can check the bags through on the way back

CX and BA use different systems and linking, if it could be done, serves no purpose. Since both tickets are separate , the airline is not responsible for missed connections

Dave

 

[Oneworldplus2]

I found that CE on BA was like Virgin Premium. So, same economy seat, bigger arm rest and better service, ie more food choice. I only did LHR to TXL, short flight.