CX I'm disappointed

[Limewood]

"Is CNS capable of receiving or starting a flight from/to North America? Sure, might be great for tourists, but generally those are very big planes, fully laden.

I know that being FNQ-based you're after those services, but my parents try their best to avoid them these days and would probably fly someone else if QF started routing through CNS to HKG".

Qantas used to go to HKG and USA from Cairns years ago, the Int. airport can take the big planes inc the massive Russian cargo plane the Antonov, why your parents avoid Cairns I have no idea, it has all the facilities, the point I'm making is, if QF did go CNS to ASIA or USA direct one way or both ways it would encourage not just locals to use the service by offering an option for domestic and int.pax to enjoy FNQ just like CX do now, or maybe for some after or before business in capital cities on way home.

 

[NM]

Is CNS capable of receiving or starting a flight from/to North America? Sure, might be great for tourists, but generally those are very big planes, fully laden.

Well QF certainly used to have regular scheduled 747 flights from CNS, so I see no reason why they could not operate 787-9 from there as far as runway length and loading is concerned.

 

[OATEK]

Well QF certainly used to have regular scheduled 747 flights from CNS, so I see no reason why they could not operate 787-9 from there as far as runway length and loading is concerned.

We seem to have gone a little off topic with all the QF stuff. To bring it back a little, CX has proven far more consistent in terms of food and service when I have flown, operates with a good J fitout, and has never tried to sucker me with a "cafe breakfast".

 

[samh004]

why your parents avoid Cairns I have no idea

You book J, it takes 90 minutes to get through dinner service, perhaps 60 minutes to get through breakfast service, and the flight time is 7 hours. Thus, you've had 4.5 hours sleep, if that. You then have to get off the plane, go through security checks, end up in a poky lounge briefly before flying onwards to your final destination.

Maybe it makes some sense if you live up there, but if you're going elsewhere like most of the people on that plane, it is a massive inconvenience.

 

[boomy]

You book J, it takes 90 minutes to get through dinner service, perhaps 60 minutes to get through breakfast service, and the flight time is 7 hours. Thus, you've had 4.5 hours sleep, if that. You then have to get off the plane, go through security checks, end up in a poky lounge briefly before flying onwards to your final destination.

Did BNE-CNS-HKG recently and we didn’t need to disembark, instead waited in our seats while the new pax boarded. It was a pleasant surprise as I always avoided that flight because of the inconvenience of getting off and back on the plane in CNS. Is that happening only on the return leg?

 

[samh004]

Did BNE-CNS-HKG recently and we didn’t need to disembark, instead waited in our seats while the new pax boarded. It was a pleasant surprise as I always avoided that flight because of the inconvenience of getting off and back on the plane in CNS. Is that happening only on the return leg?

It's been a long time since I flew the route. I think I recall that when I was younger we initially stayed on the plane, then things changed and we had to get off the plane (presumably 9/11) and now, who knows? But one thing's for sure, you're not sleeping anymore when you're in CNS

 

[boomy]

It's been a long time since I flew the route. I think I recall that when I was younger we initially stayed on the plane, then things changed and we had to get off the plane (presumably 9/11) and now, who knows? But one thing's for sure, you're not sleeping anymore when you're in CNS

The day flight departing BNE at 11:25am is no problem and staying on the plane means minimal inconvenience but the overnight return is a different story and I’m doing my best to avoid that one.

 

[I love to travel]

Can confirm you do need to deplane on return leg

 

[Isochronous]

Note also CX are limited by the Aus-HK bilateral to a certain number of seats to the major airports. Adding CNS allows them a greater Aus-HK capacity.

QF are presumably happy to continue to funnel everyone through MEL/SYD/BNE and aren't close to capacity on their side of the bilateral.

Once those flights are full, then QF would presumably consider more routings (but may have reached max HKG capacity and/or cost of slots at HKG make that problematic).

Both Aus and HK get 70 flights a week. QF and VA are nowhere near the 70 flight cap. CX has maxed out the HKG 70 though so no other HKG airlines can start service.

 

[Mattg]

Both Aus and HK get 70 flights a week. QF and VA are nowhere near the 70 flight cap. CX has maxed out the HKG 70 though so no other HKG airlines can start service.

Does the 70 flights per week apply to all Australian airports, or just SYD/MEL/BNE/PER?

 

[Aussiejosh]

Does the 70 flights per week apply to all Australian airports, or just SYD/MEL/BNE/PER?

All airports

 

[Limewood]

Is CNS capable of receiving or starting a flight from/to North America? Sure, might be great for tourists, but generally those are very big planes, fully laden.

Sure can even the massive Antanov has been to Cairns a few times.

 

[Scott K]

CX pretty much have the corner covered on the HK flights for a good reason. When it comes to market loyalty, the purchasing side of the Hong Kong / Cairns market is a much larger on the HK side than the Cairns side. There simply isn't a high enough demand coming from the Cairns region for Qantas, who has larger market loyalty the area, for QF to offer a service, and the HK side are far more inclined to be purchased by Hong Kongers and Chinese alike.

As for the raving about the service, back 15 years ago CX were pretty much on the ball. Heading to HK I would choose CX well above QF or every other service hands down. But while my next flight I have booked into HKG is via CX, I'm booked to return to AU via QF.

And as for the lack of 'banter' on CX flights, if you ever work in Hong Kong, you'll get that they have quite a sense of humour, but I rarely see any banter in English. They are much more comfortable with doing that in Cantonese. If you can understand enough cantonese, it's hard to get them to shut up!

 

[HockeyMonkey]

I found CX wonderful on my recent European trip with my disabled 70yo mother. Service was great, really enjoyed the 4 course dinners and the seats are much better than the QF A380

 

[David David]

I flew CX J into BNE a few months ago. I like the hardware, but the warmth and engagement I used to see 5 years ago when flying with them monthly is gone.
The one thing that really peeved me was the wine. They were serving Devils Lair Fith Leg Chardonnay. This details for $10 in Dan Murphy’s, so they would Ben getting it for about $6. It was insulting relative to the cost of the flight

 

[amaroo]

The day flight departing BNE at 11:25am is no problem and staying on the plane means minimal inconvenience but the overnight return is a different story and I’m doing my best to avoid that one.

That's my take ..... with the caveat the BNE-CNS sector is a dry run

 

[MEL_Traveller]

The one thing that really peeved me was the wine. They were serving Devils Lair Fith Leg Chardonnay. This details for $10 in Dan Murphy’s, so they would Ben getting it for about $6. It was insulting relative to the cost of the flight

Luckily not a deciding factor for me! When it comes to still wine I know absolutely nothing! I can't tell my merlot from my shirah, my chardonnay from my... is there another white wine? Oh, I know fruity from dry. But that's about it. I tried the Chateau Margaux on EK recently - $700 or something a bottle. I couldn't have told it apart from Jacob's Creek

 

[wendym]

I find business in Cathy is poor quality compared to other airlines whereas economy is probably better quality. Food is not to my taste as it is very Asian orientated, hence meat while as a vegetarian I tend to get slimy mushrooms - not good. I have to fly Cathy sometimes because there is no choice of One World airline to get to where I am going. While I like their lounges their planes unless they are new are of poorer quality than Qantas.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

While I like their lounges their planes unless they are new are of poorer quality than Qantas.

I dunno about the latter bit? CX offer a consistent seat across all their long haul fleet - extra long and wide with no restrictions in the foot zone. QF offers either the advantage seat with legs-in-a-box and narrow footwell, or a drooping (and now arching) Skybed-II, or 2-2-2 angled lie-flats. For regional flights QF offers a 737 with 37 inch pitch (regional being NZ and 5-6+ hours to Bali and Singapore). CX offers a 45 inch pitch as standard.

For me CX gives me the confidence to book knowing I'm going to get a consistent product.

 

[LouiseLorna]

Sounds like pretty much every QF flight ex-Asia overnight to Aus (although there can be more banter, occasionally).

As a long time Cairns resident we have always had little choice getting to Europe and US without back tracking via Sydney or Melb. I am a Gold Flyer with Cathay and have travelled with them extensively, however over the past year or so the planes and crew have become very tired and also expensive. The Gates in Hong Kong has become a debacle with most flights arriving at least an hour late into Cairns. My next 2 trips are already booked and not with Cathay, I have written to Marco Polo and filled in questionnaires but have received little response. Shame for an airline I used to really love.