CX vs QF Business Class

[winfred]

Have anyone compared/discussed the CX new business class vs QF?

I have been flying CX's in their new business class seats but is causing me to have claustrophobia. I have not been on QF international business class seats for over 1 year and is keen to know people's opinion and assist me in deciding on my MEL-HKG-MEL trip later this year.

Thanks in advance.

 

[simongr]

Can. Worms. Open.



This topic is often discussed and the consensus is that "it is all down to personal perference".

Personally I prefer CX staff, I like the solitary nature of the CX seats and I like the lie flat seats.

As QF now have lie flat on the A380 the benefit of CX over QF on some routes diminishes (although as you can now get F seats with J service on QF on some routes if you have QF status that flips again.

For me though the biggest gamble on QF is the service and the food. CX is consistent for me and QF is a rollercoaster.

Now I wait for a number of others to join in and vehemently disagree

 

[drron]

Having just had my first flight on the upper deck on a CX747 I can only say i will try and avoid it in future.I am nearly always travelling with mrsdrron and this set up is just terrible for couples.i also found the seat uncomfortable-quite narrow and I like to curl up to sleep-no way i could do that in this seat.Also the fact that you face away from the window adds to that claustrophobic feeling.
Although the CX service is very good i have not been impressed as much with the food-I put it on par or just a little better than QF.
Of course it is personal preference.I for one find the AA international F the best seat to sleep in-have never been in QF F though have experienced BA and CX.

 

[2muchplastic]

A colleague recently described the seat as "feeling like being in a coffin", which summed it up pretty well for me.
I don't mind the QF Skyslopes at all, and while I find I'm treated better as a OWE on CX than I am as a WP on QF, my preference is for the QF product.

 

[NM]

The scotch is better on CX

Agree with drron about travelling with a partner.

 

[codash1099]

I'd take QF over CX. I didn't rate CX's service in J on my last 2 flights with them as anything out of the ordinary. Because I was asleep, they didn't give me any US landing cards and even when I asked, they only gave me one of the 2 required.

I also noted a strange food schedule. Arriving at YVR at about 10 pm, their pre landing meal was breakfast!

As a single traveller, I don't mind the herringbone arrangement but the seats are definitely narrow.

 

[dajop]

It is all down to personal preference.

My opinion is that, despite their narrowness, I'd rate CX's fully flat new business ahead of the sloping beds on QF. Still better to lie flat when sleeping than at an angle, after all I don't sleep at home on a slight angle to the floor. This, obviously will differ for the new seats on the QF A380. Another factor is direct aisle access from every seat, no climbing over or being climbed over. With these last two points in mind, for a day flight the QF seats might be better though.

The herringbone design doesn't bother me, even when travelling with my partner, and it doesn't bother me facing away from the windows (which let's face it, usually have the shades shut for most of the duration of long haul flights anyway). Still like SQ's new J better than either though.

 

[Keith009]

Can. Worms. Open.



This topic is often discussed and the consensus is that "it is all down to personal perference".

I think this is the only bit where simongr and I can agree upon.

Whilst at the end of the day I think both QF and CX are very good airlines in the grand scheme of things, on the whole I personally have had exemplary experiences on QF and have found them better than CX in most aspects. QF's product is simply superior in every conceivable way, especially the all-Australian wine lists, the inventive mod oz cuisine and the personable crew which I rate as the best in the industry. CX just seems clinical and generic, and at times OTT. Whilst once upon a time I think the 2 hard products are similar, the claustrophonic and anti-social nature of CX's new J kills it for me and I now find the QF skybeds I and II far superior.

The only exception with CX I've found is if you get the Sri Lankan or Fillipino crew, then they are excellent and rather on-par with QF crew.

 

[QF WP]

Whilst I have used either product for a while, I'd have to agree that consensus here. Letters from readers of Business Traveller Asia Pacific have lambasted the product with the "claustrophobic" feeling, de-personalisation of travelling couples or business groups. CX trot out the phrase that it was done with a lot of feedback from their regular travellers, but I don't know anybody who was contacted. Of course, CX are not about to admit that it has been a failure yet, but loss of revenue will be the yardstick that they should be measuring (from their regular fliers).

 

[winfred]

The CX seating arrangement was very good as I travelled with a colleague last week MEL-HKG-CDG. If I was on QF, I would have to entertain him or do some work with him during the 22 hrs flight.

I intend on taking my wife and 2 kids (5 yo & 10 mths) to HK in Dec and the CX seating arrangement will be a big problem.

I have been flying CX for over 20 years MEL-HKG-MEL and have to admit that service standard has slipped in the past few years.

Are the Qantas seats flat but at an angle? Any idea when they may upgrade their seats?

 

[Alanslegal]

I intend on taking my wife and 2 kids (5 yo & 10 mths) to HK in Dec and the CX seating arrangement will be a big problem.

If you're travelling with the family then the QF J set up is definitely the way to go - unless on CX you plan to flip open the IFE and deliberately plan to avoid the family for 10hrs

 

[NM]

Are the Qantas seats flat but at an angle? Any idea when they may upgrade their seats?

Qantas will not be upgrading their business class seats any time soon. The Skybed Mk I (sloping) installed on the A330 and 744 will remain as they are for many years. The Skybed Mk II on the A380 is fully flat. There is no plan nor intention to install Mk II on anything other than the A380.

 

[Evan]

<..>

Are the Qantas seats flat but at an angle? Any idea when they may upgrade their seats?

Flat but on a slope (ie not horizontal). That does not worry me, i actually sleep better on the angle than on the horizontal beds, it can feel like your actually sleeping down a hill which is not very nice, i prefer to sleep up a hill for want of a better description.

I have not tried the CX new business class as a bed, but i have seen then when i took a look when i was in F one day. Look pretty good but the QF ones looked wider.

No chance the QF ones will be updated on the A330's or B744's as that would mean a reduction in seat count and in the economic situation thats not going to happen nor does it make sense given there is nothing at all wrong with the current seats for most people. If you want the Mk II seats which are 100% horizontal then pick routes that the A380 flies.

 

[SnowYeti]

winfred, I had my first ever international J flight this week, trip report is here ...

So I guess that is a newbies impression of QF J

 

[JohnK]

Having just had my first flight on the upper deck on a CX747 I can only say i will try and avoid it in future.

I don't know what it is but I enjoyed the few flights I had on CX 747 upper deck. Only ever had a few people on the upper deck and it is a good feeling walking up the stairs....

 

[drron]

I don't know what it is but I enjoyed the few flights I had on CX 747 upper deck. Only ever had a few people on the upper deck and it is a good feeling walking up the stairs....

But now you get up there and with the new J seating it feels like they have put you in a cage.

 

[AnonymousCoward]

But now you get up there and with the new J seating it feels like they have put you in a cage.

+1

Found the new CX J quite confining. If travelling with colleagues/family, it's not really suitable at all (unless you want to avoid them). Even having a conversation is difficult unless they get out of their seat.

I appreciated that there's no one even climbing over you to get to the aisle, but the whole experience is quite claustaphobic. Would take QF seats anyday over new CX J seats. Soft product is another question.

 

[Archphoto]

I've travelled both and CX just has the edge, but only because I continuosly slide down the seat in QF business class as it is not completely flat.

Shortening the footrest doesn't help - just means I prop myself up while sleeping - very, very uncomfortable. At least on CX I sleep flat and almost all the way. I do understand though if you are flying with a partner, not an ideal setup - in which case I choose QF or BA when this occurs.

As others have stated - it's all personal preference. If you can handle the claustrophobic situation and really appreciate a "true" flat bed experience, CX is the way to go. Otherwise, go for your 2nd choice: QF.

 

[Muzfly]

I might be a voice in the wilderness here, but my preference would definitely be QF. I find their J Class service to be excellent. Have clocked up lot of miles over the past few years and its my experience that the service levels on CX & SIA have fallen dramatically. At the same time I've observed the QF service has improved. Mind you I am one of those flyers who simply want a drink then be left alone and hate being fussed over. On CX & SIA there have been numerous times when my meal choice is unavailable, landing cards not give out etc.

Maybe I'm lucky but am unable to engage in the usual Qantas CC grumbles.