HKG-LHR in J - CX or QF?

[Homer]

We are doing a DONE4 in September/October and are currently on QF 29 HKG-LHR. Neither of us have ever travelled on CX but from some of the posts on this forum I think I should consider switching from QF to CX for this sector.

Would anyone care to comment? Is CX better than QF in J or is it really only "the best" in F?

 

[Leumas]

IMHO, if you want to sleep, the QF seat is better for sleeping. In terms of service, CX is better on average.

Both have arrival lounges, but the BA lounge at LHR T4 is better. Departure lounges are non-issues, you can probably still use CX lounges at HKG despite flying QF.

Depending on your QFF status, you can also get more miles with QF than CX. Another point to consider, depending on which CX flight you choose, you may be going on an Airbus - personally, I hate that aircraft.

Personally, I'd go with QF unless you really want to try CX. The extra miles apart, I'd pick CX for day time flights and QF for night flights.

 

[garyjohn951]

Agree QF is better for evening flight. Took 747 CX in May HK to Lon. Service was excellent.
Dispute the commentthat the lounges in HK are not different. CX is far better than BA/QF. CX has better food, drink and the wireless internet is free not like the BA/QF vultures.

 

[Dave Noble]

We are doing a DONE4 in September/October and are currently on QF 29 HKG-LHR. Neither of us have ever travelled on CX but from some of the posts on this forum I think I should consider switching from QF to CX for this sector.

Would anyone care to comment? Is CX better than QF in J or is it really only "the best" in F?

I would switch to CX and take a daytime flight to HKG then overnight in a hotel and continue on on CX's daytime flight since it leaves at a more civilised time (choice of 0945 or 1450). If you want a night flight ex-MEL through to London, then QF would be the choice

Dave

 

[NM]

Both have arrival lounges, but the BA lounge at LHR T4 is better. Departure lounges are non-issues, you can probably still use CX lounges at HKG despite flying QF.

No arrivals lounge at LHR for QF29 arrivals. The arrivals lounge closes around 2pm.

 

[Homer]

So NM would you recommend a CX mid-morning or mid-afternoon flight over QF 29?

 

[Mal]

I'm always torn between Qantas and Cathay Pacific.

The Qantas skybed is better than the J Cathay Bed. (I tend to slide down the Cathay bed/feel like it's too short. No problems with the Qantas Skybed).

Service on Cathay is a lot better than Qantas.

Cathay treats OWE's a lot better than Qantas.

Food is similar, but I like the different types of offered food with Cathay.

Flying Cathay and crediting to Qantas means a points difference (lose status bonus that a WP would get on Qantas).

 

[NM]

So NM would you recommend a CX mid-morning or mid-afternoon flight over QF 29?

For me it would be a tough choice. I would definitely be going for a daytime flight, so QF29 would fit the bill. I would be wanting to get some rest, putting QF Skybed ahead of CX. However, the CX AVOD is very good and reliable.

My first choice would be to spend some QF FF points and take QF29 and waitlist for an upgrade to First Class.

I am not a big fan of the CX A340-300 compared with a 744, so would probably lean towards the QF flight since the CX257 and CX253 are A340-300.

However, if the 7:40am QF29 departure was going to be inconvenient, then I would happy with the 9:45am CX257 since its a daytime flight. The Scotch on CX is better than QF (JW Gold vs The Glenlivet 15yo for business class), and CX have upgraded me to F on all my long-haul J flights, so those would be considerations.

Another factor would be the FF program. If crediting to QF then the QF flight earns the Status Bonus. For AAdvantage it does not matter if I take QF or CX.

 

[Homer]

Thank you to everyone for your replies. I will stick with QF 29 on this occasion.

 

[Alan in CBR]

Both have arrival lounges, but the BA lounge at LHR T4 is better. Departure lounges are non-issues, you can probably still use CX lounges at HKG despite flying QF.

Does CX really have an arrivals lounge at LHR? I recently switched from a CX HKG-LHR flight to a BA one specifically because I needed to be able to access a lounge on arrival, and thought CX didn't have one.

 

[NM]

Does CX really have an arrivals lounge at LHR? I recently switched from a CX HKG-LHR flight to a BA one specifically because I needed to be able to access a lounge on arrival, and thought CX didn't have one.

No mention of an arrivals lounge on their web site.

 

[Leumas]

No mention of an arrivals lounge on their web site.

CX use the AA arrival lounge.

 

[Alan in CBR]

CX use the AA arrival lounge.

Well I've certainly learnt something today. Now I'm kicking myself for changing flights, because I've yet to experience CX in J.

 

[HardieBoys]

CX used to offer a complimentary limousine transfer service on flights from HKG to LHR (as did BA), though I'm not sure if they still do. CX don't offer the status point bonus, whilst QF and BA do, though you do get the cabin bonus and the status credits.

In terms of comfort, I prefer the QF seat, which is longer than the CX one. The CX IFE used to be much better than QF, but I think the difference is less pronounced now.

In terms of service, QF can be as good as CX, but CX is much more consistent in it's service. QF long haul staff, even in J, have been known to provide an uneven service. Their service seems to depend on how they're feeling on the day, amongst other factors. I've had some of the best, and some of the most mediocre, service on QF.

 

[Reggie]

I agree with HardieBoys, The seats on QF are better, the service on CX is consistently better than QF. The food range and availability is also better on CX. Points accrual is better on QF when status points are taken into consideration. QF service can occasionally be exceptionally good, but seems to depend on the CSO.

 

[HardieBoys]

To be fair to the QF vs CX staff service issue, the CX staff do have an enforced retirement age (like many Asian airlines). Fundamentally, they're both pretty good options, when you consider that we could be debating the relative merits of North American airlines.