fallinasleep
Apr 8, 01, 10:44 pm
Forcing myself to write my first ever trip report by posting a new topic...
Will complete within 2-3 weeks but here are some simple notes on the HKG-JFK nonstop flight.
The first two air segments of the trip were
XO9902 KHG-URC, Y, B757-200, sch'd dep 1:30am, arr 3:00pm
CZ3912 URC-CAN, Y, B757-200, sch'd dep 3:15pm, arr 7:05pm
UA 820 HKG-JFK, C, B747-400, sch'd dep 6:35pm
(arrived about 9:55pm same day local time)
Departure (push back from jetway) from Gate 61 was actually about 10 minutes early since all pax had boarded on time. Arrival was 10-15 minutes ahead of schedule.
Returned to JFK on one of the newly reconfigured 747-400s. It was so new that most of the JFK- and HKG-based FAs I spoke to in C didn't realize that there were only 26 seats in the upper deck.
It must have been the lightest load I have ever seen on a 747.
70-75 pax in Y (every Y pax could have had their own row of 3 or 4 seats to sleep)
30-35 pax in C and F (nice C pitch on the new config and plenty of Godiva chocolate for everyone!)
Interestingly, the earlier UA flights from HKG to SFO and LAX that morning were quite full, but the nonstop service was only one week old.
Didn't check the manifest but I was told that I was the only 1K in C on the upper deck. The senior FA dropped by to thank me for my business 10 minutes into the flight. The galley chief came by and introduced herself to every pax and took meal orders from front to back. No priority given to status. Didn't matter though as I got my first choice, the Chinese sea bass.
Service was fine, with most of the pax going straight to bed after the first meal service.
Flight time was approx 15 hours and did not need to go the polar route since the winds were in our favor (directly towards Taipei, then a little south of Tokyo, a high arc over the northern Pacific towards southern Alaska and the Canadian coast, then over to the USA near Seattle and more or less due east towards JFK). At 15 hours, the flight is not much longer than LAX-HKG in the same aircraft. Initial cruising altitude was 33,000 feet before moving up to 37,000 feet for most of the flight. Had a tailwind most of the time and cruising speed ranged from 575mph to 650 mph.
Spoke to the FO briefly about the polar route and was told that only in the event of a serious emergency (i.e. fire) would the crew land the plane in northern Canada or Russia. Otherwise, a sick pax would have to wait until a real airport was reached (as relayed to me by one of the FAs).
Only two immigration lines opened for US passport holders at Terminal 7 on arrival (at approx 10:15pm). Took about 15-20 minutes for the first piece of luggage to land on the baggage belt (First Class and * Gold bags came off first).
Will complete within 2-3 weeks but here are some simple notes on the HKG-JFK nonstop flight.
The first two air segments of the trip were
XO9902 KHG-URC, Y, B757-200, sch'd dep 1:30am, arr 3:00pm
CZ3912 URC-CAN, Y, B757-200, sch'd dep 3:15pm, arr 7:05pm
UA 820 HKG-JFK, C, B747-400, sch'd dep 6:35pm
(arrived about 9:55pm same day local time)
Departure (push back from jetway) from Gate 61 was actually about 10 minutes early since all pax had boarded on time. Arrival was 10-15 minutes ahead of schedule.
Returned to JFK on one of the newly reconfigured 747-400s. It was so new that most of the JFK- and HKG-based FAs I spoke to in C didn't realize that there were only 26 seats in the upper deck.
It must have been the lightest load I have ever seen on a 747.
70-75 pax in Y (every Y pax could have had their own row of 3 or 4 seats to sleep)
30-35 pax in C and F (nice C pitch on the new config and plenty of Godiva chocolate for everyone!)
Interestingly, the earlier UA flights from HKG to SFO and LAX that morning were quite full, but the nonstop service was only one week old.
Didn't check the manifest but I was told that I was the only 1K in C on the upper deck. The senior FA dropped by to thank me for my business 10 minutes into the flight. The galley chief came by and introduced herself to every pax and took meal orders from front to back. No priority given to status. Didn't matter though as I got my first choice, the Chinese sea bass.
Service was fine, with most of the pax going straight to bed after the first meal service.
Flight time was approx 15 hours and did not need to go the polar route since the winds were in our favor (directly towards Taipei, then a little south of Tokyo, a high arc over the northern Pacific towards southern Alaska and the Canadian coast, then over to the USA near Seattle and more or less due east towards JFK). At 15 hours, the flight is not much longer than LAX-HKG in the same aircraft. Initial cruising altitude was 33,000 feet before moving up to 37,000 feet for most of the flight. Had a tailwind most of the time and cruising speed ranged from 575mph to 650 mph.
Spoke to the FO briefly about the polar route and was told that only in the event of a serious emergency (i.e. fire) would the crew land the plane in northern Canada or Russia. Otherwise, a sick pax would have to wait until a real airport was reached (as relayed to me by one of the FAs).
Only two immigration lines opened for US passport holders at Terminal 7 on arrival (at approx 10:15pm). Took about 15-20 minutes for the first piece of luggage to land on the baggage belt (First Class and * Gold bags came off first).