MEL-PEK: QF or CX?

[browniedx]

There is a very good chance I will need to book flights from MEL-PEK for late Jan/early Feb within the next few days so I wanted to get opinions on which of these two airlines it is best to fly with.

If I fly with QF the route will be MEL-SYD-PVG-PEK, with the last leg on a China Eastern codeshare.
If I fly with CX the route will be MEL-HKG-PEK, and the second leg can either be a CX or KA flight depending on the flight time I choose. I will most likely choose CX for both legs if available.

Either way I'll be flying discount economy.

Important considerations for me are:
- seat comfort
- in-flight entertainment options
- food
- points earning

I'm particular curious about points earning, because although the rules for QFF and Asia Miles state that there is a discount economy earn rate of 0.5, when I put my itinerary into the CX website I get quoted 11,000 or so points, which is an earn rate of 1. I guess I would rather fly CX as I have heard good things about them in the past (although that may be more relevant to J travel), but I'm trying to build up my points balance as well so if I would earn more with QF I will fly with them.

 

[N860CR]

I've done SYD-PVG-PEK with Qantas and would never do it again.

The transit in PVG is a shocker and you'll have to collect your bag, lug it across to the other terminal and line up to re-checkin at the standard MU economy queue which was huge when I did it.

The wait in PVG is a number of hours and the domestic legs on MU are pretty ordinary.

Personally, I'd give-up a few miles and go on CX. The DragonAir leg from HGK-PEK is quite pleasant.

 

[ozmerish]

FWIW - I'd take CX over QF...

The Wing in HKG over the PVG transfer - no brainer

 

[docjames]

Another who'd choose CX - and take dragonair rather than China Eastern.

 

[mvjs]

Bear in mind that some CX fares earn zero points in QFF. I travelled from MEL-PVG last April on an S class fare. Earned zero points or SCs.

 

[mannej]

Bear in mind that some CX fares earn zero points in QFF. I travelled from MEL-PVG last April on an S class fare. Earned zero points or SCs.

The CX booking website is quite transparent when it comes to showing what booking fare the ticket is being booked in.

 

[browski]

Important considerations for me are:
- seat comfort
- in-flight entertainment options
- food
- points earning

Seat comfort: Cathay's shell seats will result in you shooting yourself before arrival at your destination.
IFE: not important
Food: not important
Points Earning: both One World, both third World.

Recommendation: If you fly Qantas, you will transit Sydney both ways - this will also result in you shooting yourself (especially inbound!).
Best you fly the 11.20am SQ flight out of Melbourne that connects with the 4.55pm out of Singapore and forget the useless QFF points.

 

[markis10]

Interestingly there is a trip report on SMH for PVG-SYD-MEL:

Airline review: Qantas economy class

Summary - dont ask for T shirts (tissues) and dont expect a quick getsaway in Sydney - 55 min wait for baggage!

 

[browniedx]

Thanks for all the replies - I guess my preferred option would be to fly QF to HKG and then CX/KA on to PEK to get the "best of both worlds" - i.e. avoiding annoying transfers in SYD and PVG but still more or less maximising my points earning.

Can someone also let me know what the best website is for booking multi-carrier tickets (i.e. Jetabroad, Zuji etc)...on the QF website I've been able to find a ticket going to PEK via HKG, but coming back I can only take the PEK-PVG-SYD-MEL route, but on Jetabroad on the same dates I can only get the reverse. Which booking site gives the most flexibility?

 

[N860CR]

Originally I was booked on a SYD-PEK direct flight, however they later changed it to SYD-HKG(QF)-PEK(KA) - but then later changed it to via PVG. Give that, it may be possible for QF to sell a KA leg. Maybe try calling reservations and see if they can do it there.