Greetings Flight Report community and thanks for stopping by this report. This is the continuation of our trip to Vietnam that became a reality after a Cathay Pacific "mistake" fare that was honored. Feel free to visit the SNA-ORD report for more background on the planning, etc.
Flight routing
- 1
- 2
- 3Peach Aviation Economy HND-ICN
- 4Vietnam Airlines Economy ICN-CXR
- 5
- 6
- 7Cathay Pacific First HKG-JFK
- 8American Airlines First JFK-LAX
Jennifer and I spent the night at the Regal Airport Hotel. It's a pretty run down property but it was just what we needed to get some good sleep and be ready for a very special travel day. This is Jennifer's first time flying Cathay Pacific in any class of service and we were both very excited to share the experience. As a lifelong commercial aviation enthusiast I know spending 24 hours in a travel day, in premium cabins in this case, is a joy for me, but will Jennifer find the same enjoyment? Or any enjoyment? The outbound went well, even with two Y flights at difficult times so I am optimistic that we'll have a great day.
The pier first class lounge
I find The Pier First Class Lounge to be one of the most lovely lounge spaces in terms of design. Jennifer confirmed my biases, it's true love.
After securing a foot massage treatment for Jennifer we made our way to the dining room for breakfast. We were quickly seated and presented menus.
Our drinks order was promptly taken. A cappuccino and vitilizer for me and a Cathay delight for Jennifer.
For breakfast I selected the "Western Set" with poached eggs. The eggs were prepared perfectly.
Jennifer selected the "Chinese Set" and added the Dan Dan noodles on my recommendation. There are a lot of flavors to sample here and she enjoyed tasting all of it. Her least favorite was the Dan Dan Mein!
Shortly after breakfast concluded Jennifer's buzzer alarmed and indicated that it was time to head to The Retreat for a foot massage.
While Jennifer enjoyed the spa treatment I enjoyed a shower. I skipped the dismal hotel shower knowing the space and amenities would be far superior here.
Both refreshed we reunited and I gave Jennifer a tour of the rest of The Pier. The Pantry buffet area was our first stop.
The Bureau should you have some work to do. We did not.
The bar for some breakfast Champagne.
The Library.
A quick stop to check out a day suite. One of my favorite features of this lounge.
A little bit of time left for simply lounging.
CX830 HKG-JFK
Boarding was oddly civilized and competent, additional security screening aside.
We were greeted by the friendly Filipino purser. She welcomed us aboard and handed us off to Cherie to be shown to our seats. Jennifer in 2D and myself in 2K. She gives met he window seat because she know how much enjoyment I get from it. Is it any wonder we've been married for 16 years?
The seat is well documented. It's spacious and private. Despite being a previous generation F product I still find it very good.
2D in the center section.
Vanessa, the other exceptional flight attendant in first, offered a beverage of our choosing. The Champagne please! It would be a 2004 Krug on this day. I requested water with ice and Jennifer requested water with no ice.
My best buddy in the buddy seat.
The crew, aware of our overt excitement, were instantly fun and upbeat offering to take pictures. Going into the flight I was a bit concerned how the "mistake fare class" would be received. Are we not quite F passengers? A nuisance? If there was any animosity I could not detect it. We were treated with generous service, some of the best I have ever experienced on board Cathay Pacific. The load today was 5/6, FWIW.
Sneaking a peek into the mini J cabin.
Exploring the amenities.
Getting acquainted with the meal options.
Taxi and push back. I have no idea if we left on time. We were such giddy children enjoying our circumstances that I lost all perception of time.
Taxiing past Haeco for a 7R departure.
Lining up for 7R and the off.
A look at the menu for today.
Soft drinks.
Adult beverages.
Service started with a reprise of the lovely Krug. The amuse was served at this time. Previous versions of this service saw the amuse served on the ground. Poke style raw tuna for today.
We delayed lunch for a couple of hours and Jennifer went straight into lounge in bed in your PJs mode. It's funny how comfort preferences differ. I'm far more comfortable in the reclined chair. To each their own. Cherie took our meal preferences and reserved them to enjoy later.
I also visited the lavatory to don the lounge wear.
This aircraft has not received the screen refresh and touch screen controller.
About 2 hours into the flight Cherie asked if we were ready to enjoy lunch and offered to setup the extended tray so that we may dine together. Let's start the show.
We started with the beautifully presented caviar paired with the 2004 Krug.
The accoutrements down to the mother of pearl spoon are all perfect. On our ANA outbound Jennifer tried caviar for the first time and she was not impressed. Today was a different story as everything came together for her to thoroughly enjoy the experience.
The Chablis to enjoy with the fig and prosciutto salad.
A bread basket is delivered with the salad course.
I asked for a glass of the New Zealand Pinot to enjoy with the soup.
Wine traffic jam.
The mushroom cream soup was fantastic. Earthy and rich with cream.
Jennifer opted for the black cod as her main and was reasonably satisfied.
My wine selected the main course, the fantastic Lynch Bages Grand Cru Classe, synonymous with Cathay Pacific First Class.
Fail on the presentation but my goodness that beef and that wine were fast friends. A very delightful experience to savor.
The cookery was more medium than I would have preferred but it was by no means a lost cause.
The mains were cleared and we opted for a pause to enjoy a few sips of wine. I know we're rather difficult guests with our timing and specific requests but all of these idiosyncrasies were accommodated in a very first class way without any hesitation or sense of frustration, as they should be.
We decided to go with the one of everything method for the final course.
To most people 16 hours on an airplane is bordering on insanity. When you are fortunate enough to travel with Cathay Pacific in first class it's a perfect amount of time to fully experience the decadent product.
After a few hours break I was anxious to try something else from the menu and had my eye on the laksa since the moment I saw the menu. I rang the call button and Vanessa appeared within seconds. I requested the laksa and she informed me it would be about 10 minutes. She offered a drink and I opted for the Champagne. She also asked if I would like chili and if I had enjoyed laksa before. We then launched into a long conversation about the dish and the variations found all over Southeast Asia. Vanessa is from Singapore so she is a laksa veteran. She was quite surprised at my experience with Katong, Sarawak, and Asam, laksas. I really enjoyed hearing about being Singaporean and the culture there in general. It was a break from the sometimes formal façade that one experiences with Cathay Pacific staff.
The laksa was in the katong style and was imminently pleasant.
The morning departure delayed my ability to sleep but the alcohol hastened it too. My bed was made and I managed a nap for a few hours.
Jennifer has slept much earlier than I did and took her pre arrival meal while I slept. I awoke about 2 hours before landing and accepted the offer to store my bed. At about 90 minutes to arrival Cherie asked if I would like to order dinner. I wasn't interested in the dinner meal per se but the hamburger from the snack menu sure sounded like a fun way to wrap up this fantastic flight. Cherie said she will start it right away and it would take about 15 minutes. She also asked if I would like to start with some caviar while she prepared the burger. Yes, yes I would enjoy that.
A second encore for the 2004 Krug.
Had I known that a caviar service was a possibility I would have skipped the burger. It was another excuse to break out the Lynch Bages. It works with burgers too, in case you were wondering.
The burger was very tasty, the potatoes not as much. How could they be sitting for so many hours and then reheated. Perhaps some crisps would be a better choice if you feel the need to serve a starch with the sandwich?
Out over the Atlantic to line up for landing.
The fastest 16 hours of my like had elapsed as we gracefully touched down on 4R.
2 engines 4 long haul. The 777-300ER is an amazing machine.
What an amazing looking flight. Cathay does it again! Thank you for sharing!
Greetings 757Fan and thanks for the note. We sure had a wonderful time with CX. Happy flying.
Fantastic report! Boy, it's been a week of ups and downs for CX premium cabin reports. This is more like the Cathay we all know and love. And I do hope that if Cathay are experiencing a rough patch with everything going on, that they will quickly recover and get back to their usual high standards.
There's something I really like about the plushness of CX's F seats. As I've said before, I really don't think you need to be closed up with a door to have a First class experience. To me, enjoying luxurious service with a loved one, like you both are in this report, is the epitome of First class experiences. I really love suites that allow couples to dine together like this. The wine list is first class all the way.
Hi Kevin, thanks for the feedback, always a pleasure.
-It's troubling that CX can be so inconsistent. CX mishandled Atco's travel from every point of contact while Jennifer and I had the experience we've all come to expect with Cathay.
-I just don't see how the situation on the ground could not be a major concern and distraction for the men and women who work for CX. I echo your sentiments for a quick and equitable recovery and return to normalcy.
-Well said. A shared experience is usually a heightened one.
Thanks again for the note and happy flying.
I always put up at the Novotel when I am doing CX F. A short bus ride away which is complementary and happens every 20 minutes, I find it much more comfortable than both the marriot and regal connected to the airport and there is an attach mall downstairs with 24 hrs dining possibility should the hunger pangs sound.
Greetings JW19 and thanks for the note on the Novotel. Happy flying.
What a truly wonderful report Socalnow, an absolute delight to read.
I love the sheer joy and enthusiasm that you brought to this flight experience and how much it meant to you having your wife along to share with.
This was obviously a special experience and I'm delighted you had such a fabulous time.
This has only made my desire to fly CX F even stronger!
I do so enjoy your reports from start to finish. I think we are very alike in many ways. I get far too excited about flying each and every time. It starts as soon as I make a booking and gets more intense as we get closer to departure. When travel day comes its like being a child on Christmas morning again.
Your reports have been a great inspiration for me in how you tell a story rather than just weave a few facts amongst some photos.
I hope you don't feel that I've been copying or trying to imitate you at all, its just the natural way I like to share the story and my excitement and delight at being in the skies and of course being in the nice seats!
Especially of course in premium cabins. A place that an average joe like me feels like he doesn't belong many times. Our last trip that I'm reporting on now often featured me wondering how on Earth I was in some of these incredibly fancy places and wondering what on Earth I was doing there.
I never imagined for a minute that I would ever experience First Class, but I did and wow what a way to travel!
Thank you so much for your wonderful reports. Each one is a delight to read and soak in and I hope that you never lose that wide-eyed wonder and enthusiasm for flying and of course flying in style!
I hope that we see many more reports of you both flying together. I tend to always take trips with my other (better?) half and it makes everything far more special when you have someone to share it all with. My wife isn't into aviation other than she likes flying at the front of the plane! and she quietly puts up with my strange routings, odd flight times (because flight X is operated by aircraft Y which is was better than aircraft Z etc!) and the many hours I spend taking photos of planes.
Looking forward to the rest of the CX reports and your next trip later this year. Hopefully the current unrest can be settled peacefully soon and both CX and the SAR can get life back to normal ASAP. Thanks again for one of the most enjoyable flight reports I've ever read.
Greetings Atco and thank you for the thoughtful feedback.
-Thank you Atco. We both got lucky to have spouses that embrace our over-the-top passion for commercial aviation experiences.
-That's a relief, I was concerned it might be like pouring salt in an open wound.
-Yep. I took my first flight on Western Airlines when I was 6 days old (I'm told) and I'm 46 today and show no signs of the excitement waning.
-Very nice of you to say.
-Never crossed my mind. As you say it's the natural way to tell a story with emotion and passion, at least for you and I.
-Amen brother.
Thank you again for the kind note and for all of the fervor you bring to your writing and, finally, for sharing it here with us.
Thanks for yet another amazing trip report, socalnow, and that on my frequent route too! I'm glad that you had a good experience onboard CX F! Even though I fly from HKG very often, I have yet to experience The Pier lounge for both First and Business Class, which I've heard so many good things about! However, I do hope that I'll experience them at some point very soon! Also, I'd have to say that CX F still remains to be one of the best out there!
I know what you mean. Even I feel like a little kid whenever I'm at HKG as I love to take advantage of the views!
I can relate to that! I must admit that the wine selection does look amazing!
Thanks once again for sharing! Happy travels! ;)
Hello Rbix and thanks for the note. Your screen name is synonymous with HKG-NYC travel on CX in premium cabins!
-Well that is surprising. I look forward to your thoughts on the lounges.
Thanks again for the note rbix and happy flying.
Thanks for the report Socalnow!
It's great to see that, as promised, CX has not downgraded any aspects on this trip.
This looks like a great selection - I probably would agree with your wife's tastes personally.
2004 Krug! If anything I would say that's an upgrade from the norm eh?
Just curious, what made the difference? The accompaniments? I know ANA always does it a little differently.
In my opinion, the longer the flight, the easier it is to adjust timezones.
A second serving! Never say no to that!
Thanks again for the flight report Christian.
Thank you for the feedback YGeorgeW, it's very much appreciated.
-What?!? You're taking sides? ;)
-It's a lovely wine. I like how Cathay is rotating the prestige Champagne selections. The Comtes comes around every so often and it's wonderful too.
-Hard to say for her. It was a different caviar supplier and the perhaps a higher quality. As I recall the eggs were somewhat larger and more firm on the CX serving so perhaps texturally they were more pleasing. And yes, the traditional cut eggs, blini, etc. are a fine way to enjoy the treat.
-I concur. Time for e a proper extravagant meal and a proper rest.
-I can't imagine saying no. But someone on board did I suppose that's why there was an extra. I wonder who...so I can thank them myself.
Thanks again YGeorgeW and happy flying.
Hey Christian, most enjoyable way to return to F/R, reading one of your excellent reports.
Just one question, why has your lovely wife been relegated to the ottoman?
Greetings Mark and thank you for leaving a note.
-I'll keep them coming if that means we get some Rewardflying gems every now and again!
-She fits.
Thanks for checking out the report and leaving a note. Happy flying.
Nice report!!! Looks like Cathay Pacific exempted First Class from all the cost cutting actions! I actually flew their 777-300ER LAX to HKG and back earlier and it was a pretty disappointing experience. Glad you enjoyed it! On a totally unrelated note, how old are the kids?
---Harry
Greetings Harry and thank your for the note.
- It would appear so. The data lately paints a pretty dim picture of the CX J and Y offerings. Such a shame considering their history of exceptional performance.
- I just saw your report, look forward to reading it.
- We have wee ones, 3 and 5. Got a late start on that part of life.
Thanks again Harry and happy flying.