Cathay Pacific Vs Singapore Airlines - Business Class

ryefig on 15/03/2023 - 09:29

Bit of a niche topic: I am joining what seems like the rest of Australia and visiting Japan later this year.
As it will be celebrating a milestone anniversary, we are going to treat ourselves and fly in business class.
The options for a direct flights are JAL, ANA and Qantas which are way over my budget. This leaves me with a couple of feasible options that include stopovers: Singapore Airlines or Cathay Pacific.

From what research I have done, I am swinging slightly more toward Singapore airlines given the 'book the cook' menu seems good and the flight between Sydney and Singapore will be on a double decker A380 - would be my first time on such a plane.

Having said this, I am open to the opinions and experiences of other travellers on these airlines.
Does anyone have a recommendations or experiences on these airlines or have recommendations on other factors that I should consider?
I will be flying from Sydney to Tokyo (I don't care which airport as they are both easy enough to travel to and from).

Note: Vietnam airlines was another option but involved an 8- or 10-hour layover at night-time which is not what we are after.

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Comments

  • GG57 on 15/03/2023 - 09:38
    +6

    My preference would be Singapore, but I would choose a stop-over there as part of my trip. I've never had a bad flight with Singapore, and always found Singapore airport easy to navigate.

    • ozbargainsam on 15/03/2023 - 09:40
      +3

      Not to mention the airport itself is a destination if you've never explored it.

      I can't compare Cathay (only economy) and SG (flown Business and Suites), but SG has been great for me.

      • GG57 on 15/03/2023 - 09:57
        +1

        And the Singapore business lounge at Changi is always good, for food, drinks and a shower.

  • MrThing on 15/03/2023 - 09:42
    +3

    Singapore any day of the week and part of that reason is transiting via Changi

    The singapore airlines business class hard product from sydney is better than the cathay offerings

    cathay had that horrible reverse herringbone when I went. where as Singapore either has the excellent B777 business class or you get lucky and get the new A380 business class (yet to fly that one)

    the business from singapore to japan (on the 787 business regional product) thou is a bit cramped if your a taller person

    I always fly with points so no idea what the price difference is

    • Pcoder on 15/03/2023 - 10:49
      +1

      Although Changi is a better airport terminal, when your in business you'll be going to the lounge anyway and this is where Cathay excels as the pier business lounge is heaps better than Singapore's lounges at Changi.

      Also last time I transferred at HKG in 2022, it only took me like 5 minutes to go through security again and since it's not done at gate, it's easier boarding (they now don't require passports or tickets at HKG at the gate). The bar in all of the HKG lounges are excellent too with everything from Champagne to great cocktails like Blue Hawaiian and the great Cathay delight https://cdn.loyaltylobby.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Hong…

      The Pier business lounge is also much better designed with low ceilings and a comfortable living room setup, it has great spaces where you can relax without the clanging and noise you commonly get at all these marble and hard surface lounges like Singapore's.

      I also find Cathay's reverse herringbone seat easier to sleep in than Singapore Airlines seat as the Singapore seat looks like it would be good but I could not get to sleep easily as the sleeping position is terrible.

      Singapore's inflight catering is usually much better specially for book the cook, and although Cathay has improved on medium and long haul (ie SYD to HKG) , regional (HKG to HND) still uses meal cooked in single bowl, which can be a bit of a hit or miss.

      In the end of the day, I'd also compare on price too as if one if much cheaper than the other, I'd go with the cheaper one was they're still excellent products.

      • ryefig on 16/03/2023 - 08:51
        +1

        Thanks for sharing! I have read that the Cathay lounge in HK is superior to Singapore lounges in Changi. And I have to agree that security at the gate in Singapore is very annoying.

        Interesting opinion about the sleeping position for Singapore.

        My 'first world problem' is that prices are essentially identical.
        Perhaps I'll flip a coin to make my decision.

        • Pcoder on 16/03/2023 - 11:34
          +1

          The key thing here is that both airlines have lie flat business class seats, reasonable lounges, champagne and drinks on boarding and good service as I can remember both Purser's on Singapore and Cathay checking up on me.

          Another thing to note, Cathay have amentity kits (and slippers for longer flights) and although you can get a cute little teddy on Singapore, they at most provide you a minimal of amenities at your seat and you have to get extra ones from the toilet or by asking (ie for teddy)

          I very rarely find snarky cabin crew for most airlines as the simple thing to make even the hardest battle ready crew member to be polite and helpful is the be polite yourself and use the keywords please and thank you.

          • ryefig on 17/03/2023 - 10:22
            +1

            @Pcoder: I do enjoy an amenity kit.

            Taking into account all considerations I ended up booking with Singapore.

            There is a 5-hour layover meaning there will be time to both explore Changi and spend time in the lounge vs. Cathay where we would face a 6 hour layover at night where the only thing to do is spend time in the lounge, as good as it may be.
            Additionally, the flight time between SYD-SIN, and SIN-HND is about equal in flight time meaning at least I can try to get some rest on one of the flights, whereas the flight between HKG-NRT is only 4.5hrs meaning if I didn't sleep well on flight 1, there won't be much opportunity to catch up on rest on the second flight.
            With the help of this article ( https://www.pointhacks.com.au/krisflyer/singapore-airlines-s… ) I managed to play around to select the planes with the best seats and managed to work it so that only one of the four flights will be on the regional business class seat (which looks be at least equal in comfort to Cathays product)

            Phew, who knew there would be so many considerations when it comes to booking flights!

            • Pcoder on 17/03/2023 - 10:35
              +1

              @ryefig: Although the Lobster thermodor is tempting, also consider trying the Japanese Kaiseki meal on Book the Cook as I have heard good things.

              Edit:Doesn't look like they offer it currently

  • HappyACS on 15/03/2023 - 09:46
    +1

    Singapore hands down

  • LeifSmart on 15/03/2023 - 09:49
    +2

    I love singapore. Flew with them Economy to Japan in '19 and their service was amazing. Can't recommend them enough.
    Flying with them next month NYC - Singapore Business, so I'll know more about that end of the place then.

    I'd highly recommend a day or two stopover in singapore. Great city to see, with lots of things close by and easy to get to. When we went, singapore airlines had an awesome deal where you could get a nights accomondation for $1 if it was a stopover, along with a pass for free admission to attractions like the ferris wheel. Would be worth investigating if they have something similar now.

    • MrThing on 15/03/2023 - 09:50
      +1

      The Jewel at Changi is also pretty damn cool if you visit in the evening

  • Stewardo on 15/03/2023 - 09:53

    Singapore easily, depends which plane and departure airport ,as I don’t like Singapore’s regional business class.
    But it’s still miles ahead of Cathay as is Changi ahead of HK airport.

    • ryefig on 16/03/2023 - 08:36

      Yes I was surprised that business class seats on Singapore's international fleet are not created equal.
      The route from Singapore - Tokyo and vice versa will be a regional business class seat unfortunately. However, from what I can see, the regional seats on Singapore at least match the specs of Cathay business.

  • nightelves on 15/03/2023 - 09:56
    +2

    Singapore Airlines hands down as well if you're flying business. The only thing that's good about Cathay is their business lounge in Hong Kong but their service up in the air can't compete with Singapore.

  • Bargainitis on 15/03/2023 - 10:41
    +1

    agree with others. Singapore if possible.

    However, you never mentioned if you have any affiliation with either alliance (oneworld or star alliance), if you are using points or cash or cash and points, etc. They should all be factored in as well.

    • ryefig on 16/03/2023 - 08:32

      Good point. I did not consider that!
      Looks like Cathay Pacific is One World (aka Qantas) and Singapore is Star Alliance (closest airline to home being Air NZ) but also partners with Virgin Aus - I'm not precious either way and do most domestic travel with Virgin Aus so I think Singapore benefits me the most here.

      • Bargainitis on 17/03/2023 - 10:36
        +1

        Well i think you got your answer. Singapore it is.

  • GourmetFoodie on 15/03/2023 - 12:08

    Singapore better in air. Cathay has better Lounge.

  • Drakesy on 15/03/2023 - 13:37
    +1

    Have travelled SIA, not Cathay in Business.

    SIngapore's product is sensational, nothing like lobster at 40,000ft, plus their lounges are superb.
    Having said that, Cathay's lounges in HongKong are pretty much the best.

  • AustriaBargain on 15/03/2023 - 14:52

    Singapore still do unlimited free booze on international flights don't they? Comes in tiny plastic cups, but free is still free.

    • Ashbargin on 16/03/2023 - 08:58
      +2

      Are you referring to economy? Having just flown RTW business I can confirm the booze is unlimited including cocktails and it doesn’t come in tiny plastic cups.

  • Gammanone on 16/03/2023 - 13:48

    Having flown both and choosing between the two Singapore air all the way.
    I just returned from Japan flying Singapore.

    However, be aware that the detour to Singapore add considerable time to the trip.

    I would be flying Jetstar business class directly to Tokyo/Osaka if you can. It really is Business Class I have flow this way a couple of times and is considerably shorter.

    • ryefig on 16/03/2023 - 14:44
      +1

      You must be joking?
      While I can appreciate the route could be shorter, their reliability is the worst but not to mention their business seat is not business class at all, premium economy… if that.

      • Gammanone on 17/03/2023 - 13:05

        Well yeah it’s a slightly better than premium economy.
        However for the price it’s hard to beat.

        I would try to find something direct, all the money in the world can’t buy back time.

  • streetsmart on 17/03/2023 - 22:27

    Singapuraaaaaa anytime!!

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