Flying to Hong Kong shall I risk the cheap airlines?

[CaptainRAVE]

I might keep my eye on the prices. The £200 saved would be a lot of my spending money there as I'll have free accommodation.

That’s a few hookers at least.

 

[dpbadger]

I went with Cathay direct in the end, £639. I thought I didn't want to get stuck in Peking if the connecting flight was late or cancelled. I found a Swiss air flight from London city via Zurich for £320 but I got all the way to the final checkout and it went up to £670.

 

[mid_gen]

I'm planning to fly London to Hong Kong in March next year. I've found tickets cheap tickets with Air China, Eastern China airlines via Beijing for about £360 return. Is it worth the risk or should I just stump up the £600 to go direct with Cathay? I'm going from London so if I can find a cheap European airline provider I'd rather do that ie Swiss or Lufthansa. I'm taking hand luggage only so they can't lose my baggage.
I don't want to be stuck in Beijing for hours if they cancel the onward flight. Has anyone used the cheaper Chinese carriers?

Beijing is a fair old detour.

I used to fly Cathay or BA when I was living in HK.

One time I cheaped out and went Aeroflot via Moscow and ended up arriving a day late after having spent a night sharing a hotel room outside Moscow airport with some total random.

I used Air China a few times for regional flights, they are fine. You might find some of the Chinese cultural norms around coughing and spitting a bit off-putting though.