Trip Reports - Half Way Across the World in CX F




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b-kpf
Oct 8, 09, 9:13 pm
This is my first trip report, so please do give comments and feedback. I felt bad as I've been reading trip reports for a while now, but have not given my own contribution. Seems fair that I write one myself. Hope you enjoy it!

Pre-trip

An initial trip to the CX reservations office in downtown Toronto mid-September ends in disappointment.

“Sorry, the flight is full for January 5th.”
“What is the closest flight available?” I enquire. Surely there would still be ONE measly economy ticket left 4 months in advance?
“December 31.”
*Raise eyebrows*
“Or January 11th”
* Falls over dead*

Well no, I didn’t really fall over, but you get the point.. A couple of quick phone calls later results in this reply from my father.
“Okay, business it is. Go buy your ticket tomorrow”
*Insert happy dance here*

So there it is, my first trip in the new coffins was set to be January 5th, departing HKG at 4:35 in the afternoon.


Flight: CX 826
HKG-YYZ
Departure Time: 4:35 pm
Arrival Time: 6.25 pm
Departure Date: January 5, 2009
Aircraft: 777-300ER (B-KPH)
Seat: 2A

January 5, 2009

10:30 am
A beautiful winter day in January is what I wake up to this morning, even though winter doesn’t really justify the weather we see in Hong Kong. A quick check of passports and locked luggage. Check. Okay, time to go.

11:00 am
Opting for a less expensive route this time around (yes spoiling myself on a J class tickets has me feeling guilty), I step aboard the A12 bus heading towards HKIA .

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_tG_WPaueffs/Ss6RrbJD-PI/AAAAAAAAACc/_eyLvgdm_2Q/s400/P1060584.JPG

12:15 pm
Ahh. One of my favourite places in the world. No words can describe the beauty of this airport. Heading over to the J class counter, a member of the CX crew calls me over.

12:30 pm
Check in procedures. Check. Bags. Check. Teary goodbye to mom. Check. Security and immigration. Check. Airside. Check.

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_tG_WPaueffs/Ss6RzXqs-vI/AAAAAAAAACo/iAukbriyGes/s400/P1060611.JPG

12:40 pm
The reason behind why I arrived at the airport so early was because I had promised my friend to meet her at The Wing for some famous noodles at the Noodle Bar as well as a drink at the Long Bar before our 15 hour ride.

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_tG_WPaueffs/Ss6Rmbxj5vI/AAAAAAAAACY/MRKfDL2b5Uc/s400/P1060593.JPG

So my next 3 ish hours were spent here, giving me some time to check out some things on the Internet as well as taking a nice shower. A quick glance down to gate 1, and I see the 2 lines of people moving past the gate agent one by one. Oops, gotta go.

4:00 pm
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_tG_WPaueffs/Ss6RjHykiOI/AAAAAAAAACU/DTClqTUy8l8/s400/P1060585.JPG

Eyeing the long (and I really do mean long) Y line, I felt relieved that today, I would not have to be one of the people standing in the line.

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_tG_WPaueffs/Ss6R39CHEZI/AAAAAAAAACw/kE0BRjtAEDI/s400/P1060615.JPG

I also do a quick shot of the plane I'm flying on today.

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_tG_WPaueffs/Ss6R02x2YQI/AAAAAAAAACs/bK3LZR2FDJY/s400/P1060607.JPG

Oh wait, my phone’s ringing. Hrmmm, I wonder who’s calling?

4:05 pm
Ah yes. My mom.

“Seung jor gei mei ah?” (Have you boarded yet in Cantonese)
“Not yet mom. I’m lining up”
“Ho la, siu sum di la!” (Ok, be careful!)
“Ok.” At this point I’m handing my ticket and passport to the gate agent.
“Lei hui dou...” (When you arrive…)

The next 15 seconds of this phone conversation suddenly flew out my ear, because the following occurred. I was watching the gate agent check my passport and scan my boarding pass. At that point I don’t know why it didn’t really occur to me that ticket machine has the ability to show two colors. But then, I saw red, and my brain suddenly paused and produced three words: Oh. My. God.

“Miss b-kpf, there has been a seat change for you today. Enjoy your flight!”
*Insert jealous look from friend here*

I had known that this flight would be full, but would have never guessed it to be so full that J passengers had to be bumped up as well. I think my heart was going at a mile a minute.

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_tG_WPaueffs/Ss6R67MEoaI/AAAAAAAAAC4/stekTIFhdVo/s400/P1060619a.jpg

15 seconds later, a still jealous look from my friend behind me only meant one thing. Whoops. She was still holding a ticket for 17D.

“Wai, lei hai ng hai dou ah?” (Hello, are you still here?)
Oh right, I was still on the phone.

A quick explanation and a few “I love you”s were exchanged, and I suddenly found myself standing at the door, being welcomed by a very lovely FA.

“Good afternoon, may I see your boarding pass?”

I didn’t really need directions, because I was fully aware of where 2A was on this plane. I’d seen it many times, but would have never thought that I’d be sitting in it so soon. Alas, I was still a bit in shock, so I just did what she told me to do. A quick glance, and she immediately called over a SP(senior purser).

“Miss b-kpf, right this way.”

4:20 pm
“Would you like anything to drink Miss b-kpf?”
“Ginger ale please”. For those that wonder why I didn’t have a bubbly, I don’t drink
“Certainly”

Ahh… International First Class on CX. The F cabin was everything I thought it would be and more. Seats so wide that it could fit 2 of me, all the legroom I can ask for, private cabin… the list just goes on. I was in heaven.

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_tG_WPaueffs/Ss6R5YsIkpI/AAAAAAAAAC0/sp0k85A6kDA/s400/P1060618.JPG

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_tG_WPaueffs/Ss6SXt4wB5I/AAAAAAAAADk/zLFgeNTltOg/s400/P1060721.JPG

A couple of minutes later, I was given my drink, along with the infamous Shanghai Tang PJ’s and the Ipa Nima amenity kit. Ooohhh… souvenirs.

4:55 pm
Boarding finishes, and I find myself knowing half of the people flying in F today. Apart from myself, two acquaintances from high school were flying with me to YYZ. I also had my friend in J, and another in Y. I felt sorry for the guy in Y. With cabin doors closed, we pushed back from gate 1, allowing me to see, for the first time, the airbridges being retracted. A long taxi followed, which would have definitely pissed me off had I been sitting in cattle class… But no rush here. Take all the time you want.

5:05 pm
An FA comes back to take my half finished, pre-take off drink. No worries, I can just get another one later. I turn on my camera, and I start snapping. The beautiful sunset at this time allows me to take some pretty good photos.

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_tG_WPaueffs/Ss6SAteYDKI/AAAAAAAAAC8/ufjGfXLNcgs/s400/P1060649a.jpg

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_tG_WPaueffs/Ss6SCyEsD0I/AAAAAAAAADA/jWqvdsCLKZE/s400/P1060653.JPG

5:10 pm
We head towards a departure from 07R. With our aircraft all lined up, we start to roll down the 3800m long runway to the quietest take off I’ve ever experienced.

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_tG_WPaueffs/Ss6SEsRA1kI/AAAAAAAAADE/KvVVCHbdUc8/s400/P1060658a.jpg

We first turn Southward, heading out above the South China Sea, but we turn just as quickly back towards the north, taking us towards the top of the world.

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_tG_WPaueffs/Ss6SKVNwBbI/AAAAAAAAADM/Ogq5Z2lS13M/s400/P1060685.JPG

5:15 pm
The signal for the FA’s goes off, and they all spring into action. I always love this part of the flight. I haven’t really figured out why, but I think it has to do with the fact all the bustling is oh so exciting. The ISM comes over at this point to introduce herself and tells me to ask if I needed anything. A couple of minutes later, the SP comes along, handing me the menu and wine list for tonight.

5:30 pm
The SP comes back again to take my order for dinner. So what did I have? Balik Salmon and Caviar? Yup. Soup? Yup. Main? Beef. Dessert? Berries.

A quick look at the cover of the Studio CX magazine and I already know what I want to watch. The cover featured none other than the beautiful Keira Knightley, and I knew at that point, the January movie feature was The Duchess. Excited, I pull out my unusually big screen.

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_tG_WPaueffs/Ss6SHftACYI/AAAAAAAAADI/OkP-Ho9P9-o/s400/P1060669.JPG

6:00pm
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_tG_WPaueffs/Ss6SOIi0PQI/AAAAAAAAADU/jV0MOqZHzXM/s400/P1060697.JPG

As sunset comes along, one of the pursers comes out from the galley, bringing me another infamous CX item. Balik salmon with caviar. *insert cheesy “The skies open up, and Heaven appears” music*. Umm, wait a minute. There’s something missing? Yes readers, it’s up to you now to spot what is missing from this dish.

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_tG_WPaueffs/Ss6SMff579I/AAAAAAAAADQ/CjFZYceed2k/s400/P1060692.JPG
Psst, where are the potatoes? Or maybe some toast perhaps?

2 minutes and a few apologies later, the problem is fixed, and I settle in for the best meal I’ve had in the sky so far.

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_tG_WPaueffs/Ss6SPl1UWyI/AAAAAAAAADY/hx9OgrZVgN0/s400/P1060703.JPG
Roasted Butternut Squash Bisque with Crayfish

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_tG_WPaueffs/Ss6SRnC0G2I/AAAAAAAAADc/rU_CziL9lRU/s400/P1060704.JPG
Grilled beef tenderloin with greenpeas potato mash asparagus, carrots and roasted capsicum

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_tG_WPaueffs/Ss6ST1AcITI/AAAAAAAAADg/eUZRaKeGqdw/s400/P1060709.JPG
Fresh seasonal berries with cream

7:45 pm
Almost two hours after the first course, I am now sitting in my seat with a content belly. I settle in for yet another TV show I’ve been dying to watch.

9:30 pm
A couple of episodes later, I start nodding off from the fact that
1. I have a full belly
2. I did not get enough sleep the previous night, as I procrastinated in packing for my trip back
3. The seat was way too comfortable.

I get up to put on my comfy PJ’s, and just as I was heading towards the washroom, the SP comes out and asks if I would like my bed made.

Note: I swear the cabin crew spy on you the entire time behind the curtain so they know when you need something.

I said yes, and thanked her before heading to the washroom to change.

5 minutes later, I was in bed and ready for a quick nap. I think to myself that I’ll probably wake up a few hours later, as I always do on a plane.

10:45 pm
Passing through areas near Japan, the turbulence now picks up, and the pilot explains to us that this will continue for about 20 minutes. He then tells the cabin crew to sit down.

I’m definitely NOT a fan of turbulence, and there were a few shakes that did get me quite nervous. But 10 minutes into the turbulence, I just found myself dozing off again.

11:30 pm
I wake up again, only to find myself a bit thirsty. I press the call button, and a purser was standing in front of me in 5 seconds flat. I ask for an Oriental Breeze, and I finish it in about 3 minutes time. Looking at my watch, I thought: still early, I’ll just sleep a bit longer.

5:50 pm, Toronto Time (30 min before arrival)
I wake up to the announcement coming from the flight deck, telling us we’ll be arriving at Toronto Pearson about 30 minutes from now. DRAT! I SLEPT THROUGH IT ALL??!! I started cursing myself for not telling a flight crew member to wake me up. *insert profanity*

It’s too late to have any proper food before touchdown, so I opt to get up and change back into normal clothes, only to see the person in 2D waking up as I came back to my seat. The purser was right beside her, saying “You looked really tired so I didn’t want to wake you up. You slept through the whole flight!” AH-HAH! At least I still had dinner! A quick look at my seat, and I see that someone has already made my bed (or in CX terms, take everything away and stick it in the closet). Ahh… the efficiency of F class.

At 6:30pm, Toronto time, we land at Pearson Airport on a cold, dark night. No snow on the ground, but there were piles of it sitting on the tarmac at various places. I counted about 3 or 4 on our taxi to the gate.

6:45 pm
We pull up to gate C35, aka “the gate so far from immigration that you would think you were actually going from one terminal to another”. The ISM and SP thanked me for flying CX, and said that they hoped to see me again.

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_tG_WPaueffs/Ss6SbcYrQiI/AAAAAAAAADo/I4q_fwAGLCA/s400/P1060752.JPG

8:00 pm
Originating from HKG, and then stepping off of a CX flight in F, you can’t help but notice how inefficient Pearson really is. From the long walk to immigration, the long wait AT immigration to the EVEN LONGER wait at the luggage belt (even if you have a priority tag), it really is a nightmare. But with luggage in hand an hour and 15 minutes later, I step out into the blistering cold weather of Toronto, and hop into an airport limousine with my friend, all the while planning how I could get back on CX F again as soon as possible.


Hope you enjoyed reading!


b-hqb
Oct 8, 09, 10:40 pm
I have to say, this has got to be one of the easiest-to-follow trip reports I've ever read!^

Particularly love the way how you post in little chunks of time with the relevant photos, unlike others who just write a paragraph, lots of photo links, another paragraph etc.

And I'll have to admit, our mums sound pretty similar -_-.

justforfun
Oct 8, 09, 10:51 pm
And I'll have to admit, our mums sound pretty similar -_-.

Do b-hqb and b-kpf have the same mum?! Such similar handles. :D

Great trip report, b-kpf. Longhaul CX F is a real treat. I always force myself to stay awake as much as possible. I can sleep in my own boring bed when I get home. I'd also be upset if I slept through the flight! (which defeats the purpose of having such a comfy bed and arriving rested, but oh well).


JHIN
Oct 8, 09, 10:56 pm
Loving it!!!!!! Reminds me of my first F trip on CX good job

janehoya
Oct 8, 09, 11:00 pm
I loved the combination of interesting narrative and great photos. I am still working on my trip report for a trip from August. Like you, I always enjoy trip reports posted by other fliers.

b-hqb
Oct 9, 09, 12:51 am
Do b-hqb and b-kpf have the same mum?! Such similar handles. :D
1) No
2) Just a total coincidence!! My particular aircraft is gone anyway.

b-kpf
Oct 9, 09, 8:46 am
Thanks for all the positive feedback. I might start one for another J class trip on the same route (I finally got to fly it this August) so do look out for it!

And I'll have to admit, our mums sound pretty similar -_-.

Oh yes, to them, we'll always be kids.

My particular aircraft is gone anyway.

Ahhh... i miss hqb as well. it was a pretty aircraft i must say.

sobore
Oct 9, 09, 2:02 pm
Nice report. I guess everybody's mom makes that same call. (There must be a script)

hoyateach
Oct 9, 09, 7:35 pm
Very well done. Loved the pictures, although I'm sorry the commentary wasn't as detailed as you might have wanted. Slept all the way through, eh? My sympathies.

chanp
Oct 10, 09, 12:50 am
Great report. Ahhh I miss CX F! lol

toyotaboy95
Oct 11, 09, 2:41 am
Wow. A Green tier getting an op-up to F?! I would expect a few higher tier MPO members in J.
Anyway, hope you enjoyed that memorable trip.

f4freeJunior
Oct 11, 09, 4:42 pm
^^^^^

MWRFlyer
Oct 12, 09, 2:09 am
The service sounds amazing. Thanks for the great writeup.

b-kpf
Oct 12, 09, 7:45 pm
Yes, i was surprised that I got op-uped as a green to F as well. It was probably because of the extra students returning home to YYZ that caused the overbooking of Y and J.

HIDDY
Oct 12, 09, 8:42 pm
A really nice F report b-kpf with super pictures - the food looked pretty yummy I must say.

Please do your J return trip. ^

SFflyer123
Oct 13, 09, 11:52 pm
i would like to fly CX J or F one day. It seems so luxurious!

TrayflowInUK
Oct 15, 09, 12:55 am
I really enjoyed your TR... wonderful pictures and commentary. Thanks!

ORDnHKG
Oct 16, 09, 12:53 am
Nice report !

Why didn't you translate your reply to your mom in cantonese also ? It is so funny when you type it in spoken cantonese. :D

Btw, I had gotten op up to J twice as AA general member on LAX-HKG, who knows why, and no, they didn't see my UA status. :p

b-kpf
Oct 16, 09, 9:49 am
Nice report !

Why didn't you translate your reply to your mom in cantonese also ? It is so funny when you type it in spoken cantonese. :D


That's because I really did answer her in English, and not cantonese! Will keep it as a reminder for my next report to include cantonese ;)

chris78cpr
Oct 20, 09, 1:29 pm
Great report! I recently had the pleasure of flying CX F and thought it was fantastic, i didn't get the full service you did as i was only on a HKG-SIN-HKG sector but the F on the 744 is exactly what F class should be! Would like to read your other report if you post it! :)

Chris

sfducati
Oct 20, 09, 3:44 pm
Very thorough and entertaining trip report! Enjoyed reading it a lot ^

b-kpf
Oct 25, 09, 12:22 pm
have been busy with work so i'll post the J sector asap!

makin'miles
Nov 2, 09, 8:14 am
Thanks for this report - I enjoyed reading it.



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