LHR-HKG Airline choice

[codash1099]

I apologise in advance since I'm sure this has been asked before (but I obviously can't find the answer ).

I am in the final stages of planning a DONE4 with the LHR-HKG leg still in question. I have the choice of QF, BA or CX. Timing for all of this is OK by me, QF offer the advantage of status bonus and possibly upgrade.

Is there any good reason (comfort, service or other) to choose either BA or CX?

 

[simongr]

Comfort - BA has lie flat beds which might be easier to sleep in than sloping skybeds. I find the CX old Business class (the non-herringbone sloping) to be a little short. If you are a little person you should be fine.
IFE - BA and QF are dogs that should have been sent to the glue factory years ago
Food - Tricky. QF has been uniformly disappointing in J recently. BA is ok. CX has garlic bread... I really like garlic bread
Service - QF J is inconsistent and often bad. CX is consistent but not chummy (I like that personally - others do not). BA has been generally good

Personally I would check loads in F on QF an pick based on the potential for points UG to F. If F is fullish then I would go BA. I would love to recommend CX but unless you can "guarantee"* the new seats on CX and are not a midget I can't recommend them at the moment for long haul.

* As much as you guarantee any seat on any airline

Hope that helps

 

[Keith009]

I agree with simongr on comfort - a flat bed is clearly superior to a sloped one.

However I must disagree on every other point.

IFE - QF is usually big and contemporaneous on content. However the CX systems, whilst a little less exciting in content, is far more reliable.

Food - Much of a muchness. If anything, QF scores here for presentation.

Wine list - QF trumps the other 2 massively here. CX's list is rather limited and the choices are usually pretty poor in J.

Champagne - QF usually offers a choice between Lanson NV or Charles Heidsieck Mis En Cave; the former ok and the latter fantastic. BA offers either Monopole Charles Heidsieck Mis En Cave; Monopole is quite quaffable but for the price of an average Club ticket it's a bit of an insult to be serving it in J. CX serves Deutz on its long hauls, the stuff they use to unblock drains.

Service - QF is my favourite for having the friendliest and most down to earth crew members. The LHR-HKG leg is crewed by the UK base which has received rave reviews and is widely regarded as being the best in the network. If I have to discriminate amongst crew bases I'd have to agree. On my DONE4, I especially enjoyed the SIN-LHR segment which is also crewed by the UK base. Often makes a memorable flight when there's chemistry between crew and pax, which is almost always the case on QF. BA is inconsistent - but also has rather charming crews on a good day though the perfunctory ones are more common these days. I can't say that CX has bad crew members - I'd consider them competent; efficient, professional but with all the charm and personality of a doorknob and totally forgettable. But like simongr you might appreciate "not chummy."

CX also offers a limo transfer to Heathrow which you can book via the London office via email - that might be a factor to consider.

On balance, I'd stick with QF. Sure the seats aren't as good as the others but QF30 is a day flight and the Skybeds are totally comfy for a daytime flight.

Obviously a huge YMMV here, and I hope we've not confused you further.

 

[Evan]

I would pick QF, BA, CX in that order for that flight...

Why?
- I prefer skybeds to the BA seats, old CX is not going to impress anybody, new is unknown to me
- QF & BA service i prefer to CX

(I thought QF009's description of CX cabin crew was right on the money... but explain to me why the KA cabin crew have much better personality compared to CX, and i am going to say better looking as well, from my point of view anyway)

E

 

[garyjohn951]

On balance, I'd stick with QF. Sure the seats aren't as good as the others but QF30 is a day flight and the Skybeds are totally comfy for a daytime flight.

QF30 is classed as a night flight, arrive 7.00am into Hong Kong.

 

[codash1099]

My thanks to all for the helpful and prompt comments.

I've decided on QF. If it turns out to be the wrong decision, I'll know where to find you .

 

[Keith009]

QF30 is classed as a night flight, arrive 7.00am into Hong Kong.

Thanks for that correction. I'd personally find it hard to go to sleep though given that kind of departure time. As I'm not a morning person and am usually connecting from somewhere else in Europe I usually opt for QF10 or a BA/QF combination via SIN.

Anyhoo if it's classed as a night flight it'd be even more comfy with the pyjamas party.

 

[garyjohn951]

Whether they class it as a night flight or not one, to me isn't relevant as I get off and catch a ferry into China for a full day's work, so it is sleep for me on QF30.

 

[Dave Noble]

I would take CX plus take advantage of the free chauffeur drive service to LHR that they offer; personally I find CX crew very professional

Dave

 

[MelUser]

what is finnair J like from LHR-HEL-HKG?

 

[aus_flyer]

I'm just disappointed that I've never taken advantage of the limo service!!
I didn't think CX offered it for RTW tickets.

 

[simongr]

what is finnair J like from LHR-HEL-HKG?

LHR-HEL is no different to BA Club Europe

 

[garyjohn951]

LHR-HEL is no different to BA Club Europe

But Hel - Hong Kong is same seating as QF.

 

[Keith009]

Here are some comments from a BA Gold mate of mine who went on QF J for the first time; he did QF6 FRA-SIN :

QF J was memorable. I moved myself from 3K to 23A (the bulkhead seat in the 2-row J cabin) and it was only about half full. The food and AVOD were certainly better than BA. Nice pyjamas.

Like my QF F flight last year, the crew were great. They certainly scored marks in my book for, without prompting, offering seconds of the main course (I was starving as I had only had the pathetic BA afternoon tea that day!) and slipping me a coffee just before landing. They also look a lot better dressed than their BA counterparts.

The only area where BA is definitely better is the seat. Whilst the Skyslope is comfortable as far as a slopey bed is concerned (you're right about it being quite wide), it still isn't a flat bed.

Nevertheless, I'd have no hesitation in taking again QF J or F ex-FRA (having done both now) given the product and the keen prices. If in J, I'd probably still go for BA metal QF codeshare coming back from SEA though given my record so far on opups on that route.