Cathay Pacific Asia Miles - Would you go out of your way to maximize for F experience?

I would.

I was scheduled to fly F from LAX to HKG on flight 881 departing at 1:05 a.m.
I noticed on the AsiaMiles site that flight 841 from JFK to HKG departing at 10:15 a.m. had an award seat available, so I snagged it.

Instead of flying MCI->DFW->LAX->HKG, I'm now flying MCI->ORD->JFK->HKG.

My rationale is pretty basic, flight times to the East coast from KC are a bit shorter, but more importantly, I get to spend a little more time in CX F and more hours awake since it's a late morning depature.

i would too...part of every vacation is the flight for me!! more time to consume your Krug...

I would.

I was scheduled to fly F from LAX to HKG on flight 881 departing at 1:05 a.m.
I noticed on the AsiaMiles site that flight 841 from JFK to HKG departing at 10:15 a.m. had an award seat available, so I snagged it.

Instead of flying MCI->DFW->LAX->HKG, I'm now flying MCI->ORD->JFK->HKG.

My rationale is pretty basic, flight times to the East coast from KC are a bit shorter, but more importantly, I get to spend a little more time in CX F and more hours awake since it's a late morning depature.

No, the service on the JFK-HKG, especially the am flight is not that great. They serve a very quick breakfast immediately after take-off, then close the shades and turn-off all the lights. Service quality was also not that good, second meal was rushed, drinks were not refilled, bread was cold and hard, soup was not very hot, meal was cold in the center (these happen on 3 of my last 4 flights). I'd rather take the night flight, drink a glass of wine and go to sleep. CX service is not what it used to be.

I would.

I was scheduled to fly F from LAX to HKG on flight 881 departing at 1:05 a.m.
I noticed on the AsiaMiles site that flight 841 from JFK to HKG departing at 10:15 a.m. had an award seat available, so I snagged it.

Instead of flying MCI->DFW->LAX->HKG, I'm now flying MCI->ORD->JFK->HKG.

My rationale is pretty basic, flight times to the East coast from KC are a bit shorter, but more importantly, I get to spend a little more time in CX F and more hours awake since it's a late morning depature.

My boss told me F class in JFK-HKG is not that great compare to LAX-HKG for some reason. That's why he always take the EVR-LAX-HKG route. It cost him a few more hours but he's in no rush. He only takes JFK-HKG F when he is in a rush.

We're flying BOS-YYZ on AE and overnighting in YYZ. Then, we're flying YYZHKG in CX F and overnighting in HKG. Then, it's HKGDPS in CX J. We could have done the whole thing in CX J without the overnights (other than the one on the plane), but we wouldn't get the rockin' pajamas.

It's all about getting there.

Mike

Interesting thread - I'm contemplating what to do myself in a similar situation...

I'm currently scheduled to fly DTW-(AA)-DFW-(AA)-SFO-(CX)-HGK-(CX)-BKK.
The flights to SFO are in C, the CX flight to HKG is in F (CX 873 leaving at midnight - equip is 744).

I've noticed that the YYZ-HKG flights in F typically open up a few days before the flight. So, there's a reasonably good chance that I could switch to that flight (in a 77A) instead of the SFO flight.

There are two of us flying, and we have secured 1A and 1K on the SFO-HKG flight.

The quetsion is - should we switch to the YYZ flights?

Clearly, flying DTW-ORD-YYZ is shorter than DTW-DFW-SFO (allowing us more time to enjoy FC flying YYZ-HKG than SFO-HKG), however the FC experience on the 74A is (apparently) better than the experience on the 77A.

Time of day is not a factor, as both flights are midnight flights.

Thanks for your advice,
Bostonbali

No, the service on the JFK-HKG, especially the am flight is not that great. They serve a very quick breakfast immediately after take-off, then close the shades and turn-off all the lights. Service quality was also not that good, second meal was rushed, drinks were not refilled, bread was cold and hard, soup was not very hot, meal was cold in the center (these happen on 3 of my last 4 flights). I'd rather take the night flight, drink a glass of wine and go to sleep. CX service is not what it used to be.Eh? I don't think you've quite got the hang of travelling in First. In First you eat whatever you want whenever you want (not "first meal, second meal" on some sort of schedule set by someone else), you can have the blinds open or closed as you wish, if, by some chance, your drink is not refilled you have a little button to press and someone will be there in seconds. And if the food isn't to your liking then ask for something else.

CX service is not what it used to be.
This issue has been more prevalent in J than in F from my experiences. F IMO still remains top notch at a very high quality level and my recent SFO-HKG-SFO trip remains proved so.

But J is a totally different story. The service and meals can be so erratically inconsistent. I've gotten a mix bag of good, mediocre, sloppy, and plain bad that I no longer consider CX J worth the premium to pay for compared to in the past. Combine these factors to my hatred towards the new long haul J seats, and I've got a poison combo dose that easily lure my J choices to other carriers. The gap between F and J at Cathay has balooned dramatically over the past two years. Thank heavens there is still the former.

Though as much as I still dearly love CX F, when it comes to crew service and meals in F, no one beats NH. NH F easily smokes both SQ F and CX F in these two areas.

I would too ^ and I should say I have done so in the past :D well worth it if your on CX the longer in that F seat the better in my book it's all part of the whole vacation/travel experience and who wouldn't want to make the most of their miles or money.

Eh? I don't think you've quite got the hang of travelling in First. In First you eat whatever you want whenever you want (not "first meal, second meal" on some sort of schedule set by someone else), you can have the blinds open or closed as you wish, if, by some chance, your drink is not refilled you have a little button to press and someone will be there in seconds. And if the food isn't to your liking then ask for something else.

Once again, I'm in complete agreement with Christep. I flew YYZ-HKG in F in August, and found no fault. Full breakfast shortly after departure, with another meal later in the flight. Although on this flight I did eat at the prescribed times (because they suited my sensitive stomach's schedule that day), on the return (HKG-JFK) I declined the first meal when it was offered. It was the morning departure out of HKG, and my stomach expected breakfast at that hour. Knowing that breakfast would not be served, I had eaten a lovely breakfast in the dining room at The Wing, so I wasn't hungry at all. The FA asked what my selection would likely be so that she could set aside my choice to ensure its availability when I was ready to eat.

I've read much here about the alleged decline in CX F service. While I can't speak for anyone else, I can say without question that I have not experienced any such decline, on an average of 8 CX F long hauls per year.

i would too...part of every vacation is the flight for me!! more time to consume your Krug...

So are they or are they not still serving Krug in First?

i would too...part of every vacation is the flight for me!! more time to consume your Krug...

So are they or are they not still serving Krug in First?

wow...if you look at your post and my post...we are both thinking the same thing...OK, I am sure everything is thinking this also....

Looks like it, mkjr. Does anyone know?