BA over CX hands down!!
If you stick around CX, they will attempt to make you sign a new contract to take or keep a base. This does not mean that they are always successful.
If you watch what is happening in the US right now, you will understand. All officers are 'required' to sign a contract by December 4th in order to keep their base.... clearly in contravention to good faith bargaining under the Railway Labor Act in the USA. The kicker and divider is this. Most US based pilots do not have the right to work or live in the US. If any of them returned to HK, they would never get a North American base (judging by their seniority numbers). Therefore, those suckers will sign the dotted line, and complain that a gun was pointed at their head. What these individuals do not know (but should), is that CX wants them to validate their paycut in 2008, and sign the contract. After Dec 4th, CX will be make it mandatory to prove the right to work in the US, and if that condition is not met, these officers will have to return to HK anyway as of Jan 1st; hence the Dec 4th deadline.
Now do you see why they can't open a NYC base???
Once you understand how CX operates, BA looks pretty good!! Eventually, you can fly the trunk routes to destinations throughout the commonwealth, and live in a civilized country.
Just a rumor of course, but that is what this board is all about.