Cathay Pacific Asia Miles - CX845 in F - when to sleep, eat, and drink?

Hello all!

First time ever posting in the CX forum. I'm usually either in AA or Marriott, but I figured I would stop by here to gain some knowledge from you all.

I finally booked my first CX F flight on 845 (JFK-HKG) for this coming December 2012. I'm really excited about it and can't wait to try out this frequently talked about product.

Any tips or suggestions are welcome. I am curious about meal service and suggested timing for a flight that leaves at 12:20am. What do those of you who have flow this flight before do? Sleep once you get on board? Try to stay up? Is dinner/breakfast on demand? I'd hate to miss out, but I fell like I will want to sleep for a few hours first.

Also, do most people find this flight full or completely empty in F?

Thanks again in advance to everyone for any suggestions.

Hello all!

First time ever posting in the CX forum. I'm usually either in AA or Marriott, but I figured I would stop by here to gain some knowledge from you all.

I finally booked my first CX F flight on 845 (JFK-HKG) for this coming December 2012. I'm really excited about it and can't wait to try out this frequently talked about product.

Any tips or suggestions are welcome. I am curious about meal service and suggested timing for a flight that leaves at 12:20am. What do those of you who have flow this flight before do? Sleep once you get on board? Try to stay up? Is dinner/breakfast on demand? I'd hate to miss out, but I fell like I will want to sleep for a few hours first.

Also, do most people find this flight full or completely empty in F?

Thanks again in advance to everyone for any suggestions.

Congratulations, you should enjoy the experience.

1.) My 1 experience on CX845 F this year, it was full 6/6.

2.) Meal "service" is whenever you want it. If it's your first time, it probably FEELS like they have times they want to serve you (particularly right after take-off). They will approach you with the menu and say "what would you like, yadda yadda". Just know that you can say "I'd like this in 2 hours, this in 8 hours, etc. etc." It's up to you what you want when you want it. In my experience most of the F cabin usually takes caviar and main courses first soon after takeoff, but this is absolutely not required.

3.) Out of I think 3x on CX845 (the other two in J, which ex-JFK is the new "Cirrus" biz class) this year, each time I slept for duration twice. The first sleep was an hour or two after take-off, when I couldn't stay awake any more, and I conked out for 6 hours. The second was right before landing, when I slept for another 3 or so. This strategy was accidental but it ended up working well for the 5am or so landing in HK. Normally I try to get on local time immediately (so, for similar midnight flights ex-SFO or ex-LAX I stay up for 3 or so hours, and then sleep until landing), but the JFK flight is so long that I find it difficult to stay up long enough to have success with that strategy.

4.) J class was also full or nearly-full on the times I've taken CX845. I'm not sure about Y, but I have to imagine for all three classes this is a popular flight. Which is why I'm completely baffled THAT's the flight they cut back on (perfect business timing....depart JFK after dinner, land HKG in the morning, and similar for CX846), but that's a different thread...

From a timing perspective, I think CX845 and CX846 are as good as it gets to/from JFK.

In terms of getting to HKG with less jet lag, my strategy would be to eat immediately after take off, and then sleep, and then eat before landing. Therefore, it will feel like you have gone to bed, had a sleep and woken up at your normal time. These meal times will be the same as what they "offer" to you anyway.

Great feedback everyone, thanks.

I have seat 2A, but I am required to give it up if someone with a bassinet comes aboard. What % of the time do people with bassinets actually come abroad a 12:20am flight?

Great feedback everyone, thanks.

I have seat 2A, but I am required to give it up if someone with a bassinet comes aboard. What % of the time do people with bassinets actually come abroad a 12:20am flight?

I wouldn't sweat it. I've never seen it happen, but I'm sure it does.

My wife and kids flew 845 last year, there was a woman in 1K that made a stink she wasn't seated next to her husband (he was in 1A), but the FAs thankfully didn't relent, so my wife stayed in 1D and kids were 2D and 2K. BA lounge stays open at JFK, at least the J side, F might have been shut down by that hour. If it was me, I'd go have a big dinner in NYC, then immediately go to sleep upon takeoff with STRICT instructions to wake me up 6.5 hours into the flight, with a Pacific Sunrise. Then I'd basically enjoy the inflight service until landing. Good luck, the beauty of this flight is you back off the gate, and almost immediately take off. Very little activity at that hour. Safe travels - Jamie

BA lounge stays open at JFK, at least the J side, F might have been shut down by that hour.

A few weeks ago when I passed through JFK, the BA lounge was still open at 1am for the 1:30am departure of CX845 (time varies at time of year presumably due to daylight savings time).

I wouldn't sweat it. I've never seen it happen, but I'm sure it does.

My wife and kids flew 845 last year, there was a woman in 1K that made a stink she wasn't seated next to her husband (he was in 1A), but the FAs thankfully didn't relent, so my wife stayed in 1D and kids were 2D and 2K. BA lounge stays open at JFK, at least the J side, F might have been shut down by that hour. If it was me, I'd go have a big dinner in NYC, then immediately go to sleep upon takeoff with STRICT instructions to wake me up 6.5 hours into the flight, with a Pacific Sunrise. Then I'd basically enjoy the inflight service until landing. Good luck, the beauty of this flight is you back off the gate, and almost immediately take off. Very little activity at that hour. Safe travels - Jamie

Is the BA lounge worth it? I'm in the city all day so I could potentially come to the airport an extra hour or so ahead of time to check it out. Are there beds/day rooms? If so, maybe I can get some sleep before the flight, and then stay up for the first half, then sleep the second.

Is the BA lounge worth it? I'm in the city all day so I could potentially come to the airport an extra hour or so ahead of time to check it out. Are there beds/day rooms? If so, maybe I can get some sleep before the flight, and then stay up for the first half, then sleep the second.

I'd rather spend time in Manhattan. No close views of active runways, food is fine (but eating on board is more fun), no day beds unless something has recently changed. Boring terminal, not enough room for serious exercise (unlike walking the entire length of HKG). Totally up to you, but plenty of options to relax in Manhattan and the taxi ride only gets shorter as the night rolls on. If this was the Wing or the Pier, I'd head out. For BA Terraces at that hour, I'd find better entertainment.

Thats what I figured - I'm excited to try the Wing at HKG.

Thats what I figured - I'm excited to try the Wing at HKG.

It will be opening right after you arrive, if you are connecting on somewhere. If not, plan on ample airport time when you return from HKG. I typically try to hit each of the CX lounges (as I suspect most FT'ers do), sort of a one-man dim sum/champagne pub crawl. Family usually stays behind in Wing because they aren't as interested in airports as I am. Safe travels - Jamie

I took CX845 before on J...I slept as soon as we boarded and couldn't wake up for the meals. This flight always arrives early in HKG.