I agree with you tiger! We used Cathay Pacific on our recent holiday to Philippines last April, 2 hours of stop over but never had the time to wait for our next flight in the airport as we were transferred directly to the connecting flight when we arrived to Hongkong. Boarding just after arriving! 12 hours from Heathrow-Hongkong, then 2 and half hours form Hongkong-Cebu. £645 each of us considering it was an Easter season. We booked the flight 6 months before though.
I remembered flying with Qatar airlines going to England, it was ever so long journey...almost 24 hours I think plus not to mention the 8-hour stopover at the airport.