MEL-JFK Qantas(J+Y) or Cathay Pacific(J) ?

[glenn.im]

So,
I am flying to NewYork next week, and I have booked my tickets via Qantas on Economy. I have enough points for upgrades, and I have requested a business upgrade which is not yet confirmed.

However, I just checked CathayPacefic, and they have an award seat J class from MEL-HKG-JFK full in Business class for just 110k Asia Miles.

I would be flying A380 and B747 on Qantas and A330 and B777 on CP. A380 Fascinates me big time however I am confused.
Should I go with CX J class all the way to New York or try my luck with QF and see if they give me Business upgrade?

What would you guys suggest? Who's business class is better, CX or QF? CX seems to be highly rated over QF, but I am not much impressed by CX J Class reviews on youtube.
And not to forget, I have full paid price economy ticket on QF.


Expert views, please

Cheers

 

[aussiel]

It's a long way in Economy, and you have to be prepared to do the trip in Y, as the upgrade may not come through. The QF Skybed Mk2 is acceptable, particularly if flying as a couple, but not world beating. As a solo traveller, it lacks the privacy of the suites or the CX window seats. If economy was refundable, and you have no other plans for the miles, I'd take CX via HKG.

 

[glenn.im]

It's a long way in Economy, and you have to be prepared to do the trip in Y, as the upgrade may not come through. The QF Skybed Mk2 is acceptable, particularly if flying as a couple, but not world beating. As a solo traveller, it lacks the privacy of the suites or the CX window seats. If economy was refundable, and you have no other plans for the miles, I'd take CX via HKG.

Thanks for the view. Yes economy is refundable and there is no guarantee that I would get a business.
Would you rate CX Business over QF Business ?

 

[aussiel]

Thanks for the view. Yes economy is refundable and there is no guarantee that I would get a business.
Would you rate CX Business over QF Business ?

I can't compare CX to QF in business, sorry, yet to try the CX product. I'd certainly take CX J (including extra few hours due to HKG stop) over any Y though! Have you checked the flight loadings, and do you hold QF status?

 

[Hvr]

As someone who has done both trips in J, i.e. MEL-LAX-JFK (QFi) and JFK-HKG (CX) I preferred the Qantas product.

I found the CX seat very narrow. No pyjamas and while the CX service is acceptable, on their best day Qantas FAs have a personality that makes the difference.

However, if there was a choice between maybe J in Qantas or definite J in CX I'm flying CX.

Look forward to hearing your choice and about the actual trip.

 

[glenn.im]

Yeah. MEL-LAX leg on QF has some seats available (9). LAX-JFK not many.
Unfortunately not. I do not hold any QF status. I will go nuts all my flight if I do not get upgrade to J

 

[aussiel]

Unfortunately not. I do not hold any QF status. I will go nuts all my flight if I do not get upgrade to J

Please no! I've had this attitude going into a flight before which was showing a lot of availability. When I got the rejection beeps at the gate, I got a bit happy, only to be handed my original boarding pass back. Talk about ruining a flight back (as if 10 hours in economy isn't bad enough in the first place!). Pay for economy, be prepared for economy!

 

[glenn.im]

As someone who has done both trips in J, i.e. MEL-LAX-JFK (QFi) and JFK-HKG (CX) I preferred the Qantas product.

I found the CX seat very narrow. No pyjamas and while the CX service is acceptable, on their best day Qantas FAs have a personality that makes the difference.

However, if there was a choice between maybe J in Qantas or definite J in CX I'm flying CX.

Look forward to hearing your choice and about the actual trip.

Yeah! Even I would prefer QF Confirmed J seats over CX. I think I will go ahead with CX booking and keep QF booking alive. If I get QF upgrade, I will cancel CX J and use those points somewhere else.

 

[glenn.im]

Please no! I've had this attitude going into a flight before which was showing a lot of availability. When I got the rejection beeps at the gate, I got a bit happy, only to be handed my original boarding pass back. Talk about ruining a flight back (as if 10 hours in economy isn't bad enough in the first place!). Pay for economy, be prepared for economy!

Oh Yeah! Agreed. Pay for economy and be prepared for economy. But its the case here where I wanted to pay for J but Mistress didn't allow lol

 

[trippin_the_rift]

You should also factor in the extra transit on QF (syd,lax) versus 1 with CX.
Shorter overall travel time on CX.
Taxes will also be lower on CX.

Even if it were business on both - unless you were set on flying an a380 I would be going through asia as an ex-per.

 

[mviy]

On QANTAS in J between LAX and JFK you may be on a non-refurbished 747 and stuck in Skybed Mark I seats (if not in the old first seats in the nose). Skybed Mark I seats don't quite lie flat (they are still much better seats than Y). Equipment changes can happen closer to the flight time so even if you originally have a refurbished plane scheduled it could be changed to a non-refurbished one.

 

[Pleb Status]

Provided I could get a refund from QF for the Y ticket, I would have already booked the guaranteed CX J seat. Travelling in long haul Y is not a risk I am willing to take even if I need the small number of SC/points you will forego by taking the award seat.

The A380 will be in the QF fleet for a few more years at least.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

So,
I am flying to NewYork next week, and I have booked my tickets via Qantas on Economy. I have enough points for upgrades, and I have requested a business upgrade which is not yet confirmed.

However, I just checked CathayPacefic, and they have an award seat J class from MEL-HKG-JFK full in Business class for just 110k Asia Miles.

I would be flying A380 and B747 on Qantas and A330 and B777 on CP. A380 Fascinates me big time however I am confused.
Should I go with CX J class all the way to New York or try my luck with QF and see if they give me Business upgrade?

What would you guys suggest? Who's business class is better, CX or QF? CX seems to be highly rated over QF, but I am not much impressed by CX J Class reviews on youtube.
And not to forget, I have full paid price economy ticket on QF.


Expert views, please

Cheers

Difficult to compare QF and CX J. For the seats, CX wins. Long full flat beds, no droop, and private. QF wins on the soft elements such as food and beverage. Amenities - probably about equal (no PJs on CX though). Service... depends on the QF crew. With CX you will almost never encounter a 'bad day'. On QF that can be very common. CX probably has the best lounge for business class at the new Pier in HKG.

I would take CX business class, window seat. Selecting the angle of the seat (left or right) as per your normal 'relax mode' at home... this can make a significant difference to the seat comfort and 'fit'.

 

[pythonisman]

If you're in a refundable economy bucket you've likely got more chance of landing an upgrade, but I echo the "if you buy economy be emotionally prepared to fly economy" sentiment.

I recently flew CX J on their A330 and 777. The CX Hard product (in my opinion) was outstanding, particularly on the 777. (The IFE was significantly better and I'd liken it to the difference between standard and high definition TV).
The food was very good, though I slept through the breakfast service on my return flight to Sydney, so can't compare that with QF (I find breakfast one of the worst meals to eat on a plane, it's always pretty bad).

The service however, I thought was impersonal, fairly cold, and definitely lacked anything 'special'. As a Oneworld emerald I would have expected even a smile or a hello or something, but past the greeting at the door on entry to the flight I was definitely not made to feel special, or like they cared.

TLDR: I loved the seat, the food was tasty, and the service was meh.

Not having to deal with LAX or SYD transits is also a pretty big positive, and CX's lounges in HKG (the one I went to anyway) were great.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

The service however, I thought was impersonal, fairly cold, and definitely lacked anything 'special'. As a Oneworld emerald I would have expected even a smile or a hello or something, but past the greeting at the door on entry to the flight I was definitely not made to feel special, or like they cared.

As a business class passenger you get a greeting from one of the senior cabin crew as standard, and OWE doesn't usually make much of a difference over and above that (unless the flight is really short, and full, then OWE might come in to play).

I guess service could come across as a bit impersonal... but I have a non-standard drink order and that usually breaks the ice and they warm up a bit. They often just need a hook to get into the conversation with you

 

[bsb]

CX J over QF Y to NYC is such a no brainer. Unless you're paying for J, as others have said, expect Y and that's a looooong way in the back of the bus. Plus I think CX J hard product beats QF which is old and very very very tired. Service on QF is better, but CX isn't bad. HKG lounges are cool.

 

[pythonisman]

As a business class passenger you get a greeting from one of the senior cabin crew as standard, and OWE doesn't usually make much of a difference over and above that (unless the flight is really short, and full, then OWE might come in to play).

I guess service could come across as a bit impersonal... but I have a non-standard drink order and that usually breaks the ice and they warm up a bit. They often just need a hook to get into the conversation with you

Yeah, impersonal is the right word. Perhaps the two crews I had were just flat on the day.

I try to connect, and I don't just "expect" service - I like to smile, be friendly and I'm always very, very polite to cabin crew - They're doing a hard job often in quite challenging situations, and dealing with demanding passengers is the last thing they want.

 

[Mr_Orange]

Would you rate CX Business over QF Business ?

In a word, 'yes'.

 

[ellen10]

I did exactly the type of flights in September October 2015 you are talking about.
Flew Qf J to NYC. It was our first trip in J and a very enjoyable flight. We flew as a couple in the mini cabin row 12. Very comfortable seats service food excellent and service good at mealtimes. However we felt the cabin crew went "missing" once meal time was over. Still a nice experience.
LAX immigration was a night mare and took forever, no chance to try the lounge.
Flight home home CX was very nice seats comfortable and service very attentive. Wine choices very nice. Transit through HK was very easy allowing some nice lounge time. Flight from HK to SYD, we chose two window seats which were very nice, service again was very good and I liked their food trolly to choose from, The FA were very attentive and yes maybe not as flamboyant as QF but very good.

 

[glenn.im]

So Qantas is kind enough to upgrade me to Business Class. So yeah me and my wife have ended with 2 Business class tickets on
Cathay and Qantas.

What a difficult choice to make now