Cathay Pacific adds more Brisbane flights
The Oneworld member is ramping up its connections to the Sunshine State.
By David Flynn, December 1 2023
Cathay Pacific is boosting flights to Brisbane, with six services a week now running to Hong Kong and back, compared to the previous four-day schedule – and there are clearly hopes that a return to daily flights is on the calendar for 2024.
With Qantas yet to resume Brisbane-Hong Kong, this makes Cathay the only airline with direct flights.
Fortunately, with both airlines being members of the Oneworld alliance, Gold and Platinum-grade Qantas frequent flyers on these Cathay flights can still start their journey at the Qantas Brisbane International Lounge – although unfortunately, that lounge turns out the lights and shuts its doors around 11pm, some 90 minutes before the 12.40am departure of CX156 (which touches down in Hong Kong at 7.30am).
Cathay’s own listed lounge for business class passengers and it Cathay Gold and Diamond frequent flyers is the independent Plaza Premium Lounge, although there’s nothing to stop loungeworthy travellers from calling into both the Qantas and Plaza Premium digs.
And ahead of the 12.30pm departure of CX157 from Hong Kong you’ll have no shortage of lounges to choose from, with HKG hosting five Cathay Pacific lounges along with the Qantas lounge.
For Qantas Platinum and Platinum One frequent flyers, we’d suggest making a beeline for Cathay’s The Wing First Lounge and enjoying an indulgent spell in its private Cabana Suites – although the appeal of flagship The Pier First Lounge is always hard to resist!
Read more: Your complete guide to Hong Kong’s Oneworld lounges
Cathay says CX156/CX157 will toggle between its Airbus A350 and Boeing 777, both of which feature comfortable lie-flat seats in business class along with premium economy recliners.
The airline’s next-gen ‘Aria’ business class suite is set to roll out on aircraft from mid-2024, to be followed by all-new ‘Halo’ first class suites in 2025.
Are you headed to Hong Kong? Here’s how your Australian passport can be used to skip the immigration queues at Hong Kong Airport via the automated e-Channel lanes.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
09 May 2013
Total posts 138
QF used to provide half the status credits if you flew CX on a leg they were operating (60 on CX vs 125 on QF). Now that they are not flying the leg, would it not make sense for QF to provide 120 SC for this leg or wherever they do not provide a competing service?
Cathay Pacific - The Marco Polo Club
28 Oct 2015
Total posts 12
why Qantas does not consider using the leased Finnair A330 to resume flights to Hong Kong, similar to those flights to Bangkok, Singapore operated by Finnair A330 ?
05 Mar 2015
Total posts 413
Maybe because Qantas has only leased two Finnair A330s which are already assigned to Singapore and Bangkok?
19 Oct 2018
Total posts 9
Not quite on topic :P, but. Ever since CX changed their FF entitlements I have not flown with them since the pandemic, and now fly SQ all the time with better entitlements. Also, some of CX's flight connection times have blown out a bit sadly, in particular where I frequent. I hope they get back to where they were, and then I will reassess.
Cathay Pacific - The Marco Polo Club
28 Oct 2015
Total posts 12
Then, Cathay can also operate 2 daily flights to Brisbane, and allow Qantas to codeshare due to shortage of A330 for Qantas to operate Hong Kong - Brisbane.
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