Cathay Pacific and Singapore Airlines shuffle London flights
By John Walton, January 10 2013
Cathay Pacific and Singapore Airlines are shaking up their London Heathrow flights, with Cathay offering more of its newest business class seats and SQ swapping around its Airbus A380 and Boeing 777 jets.
The 2013 changes come into effect in July for Singapore Airlines and October for Cathay Pacific, so if you're booking now for the UK summer and autumn conference seasons you'll want to make sure you get the right flights for the long leg to London.
Cathay flights CX255 to London and CX252 back to Hong Kong will be upgraded to a Boeing 777-300ER with the airline's newest business class seats three days of the week from 27 October.
That leaves only four weekly Hong Kong-Heathrow flights on Cathay's Boeing 747 with the older "coffin class" biz beds: CX 252 and CX255 on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. They're the ones to avoid in the schedule.
Meanwhile, Singapore Airlines is planning a swap between its Airbus A380 and Boeing 777-300ER jets from 1 July.
SQ305 and SQ306 get an upgrade to the Airbus A380, while SQ318 and SQ319 move to the 777-300ER.
Business classes are the same on both jets, but the A380 has more business seats, a lower cabin pressure and is quieter. There's also a chance of the upper deck economy seating, in a more spacious 2-4-2 layout with business class-style side bin storage and work space for window passengers.
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Aviation journalist and travel columnist John took his first long-haul flight when he was eight weeks old and hasn't looked back since. Well, except when facing rearwards in business class.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
19 Aug 2011
Total posts 165
Doesn't the A380 have HIGHER cabin pressure? It is no great advantage for it to be lower. The 787 will be another leap upwards in that department, although I've yet to read a trip report from someone who has flown long haul on it who has noticed.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
17 Aug 2012
Total posts 2199
It's "lower" in that the pressure is of a lower altitude; but it's "higher" because the pressure is higher. Confusing, isn't it?
10 Jan 2013
Total posts 3
Both A380 and B787 are designed to increase cabin pressure for passsangers' comfort. Therefore it should be described as having "a higher cabin pressure".
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
17 Aug 2012
Total posts 2199
Yes, and that higher pressure is that of a lower altitude. I know it doesn't make sense, but that's what they mean - it's the pressure of a lower altitude, and somehow, someone's started calling it a "lower cabin pressure".
10 Jan 2013
Total posts 3
Where is the source of reference?
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
17 Aug 2012
Total posts 2199
Logic. How else do you think everyone's started calling it a "lower cabin pressure"? The term "lower cabin pressure" is being used all over the place.
I know it's wrong. I'm not denying that it's wrong. I'm merely attempting to figure out why people are calling it that. If you've got a better explanation, I'm all ears.
10 Jan 2013
Total posts 3
Since you have admitted there is flaw in the article, the point is made.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
17 Aug 2012
Total posts 2199
...I was attempting to explain why the flawed term was used in the first place, and never denied it being flawed.
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