Cathay Pacific Asia Miles - Stuck in the sterile holding pen at YVR

CX888 HKG-YVR-JFK. Mechanical failures in HKG, delayed 1 hr, and now at YVR, delayed at least 3 hours. No CX lounge access :( Meal voucher and phone card issued.

Is this for the 20th or 21st? I was on CX888 yesterday (leaving HKG and arriving YVR 20 June) and the 744 (-HUG(?)) also had a series of errors. Started with a faulty engine controller (the last serious mechanical delay I've had was 232 flights ago and on another CX 744 at HKG with exactly the same problem) and then moved on to a relay fault which led to finding more relay faults. The a/c was hardly working (it was very warm up in 1A and 1K) and pax were disembarked after the 3rd faul was found, being told to remove all belongings due to possible equipment change. A/c eventually was reboarded close to 1700 (was due to leave 1500) and departed shortly after. Still late by 2:15 into YVR.

Its for the 21st. CX888 flight. Outbound in HKG we had an equip change due to a faulty engine and delayed 1 hr. Changed to another plane in HKG, and the plane flew in a very strange course after leaving Japan's airspace, it was flying from a straight line from Hokkaido direct to YVR, and direct landing on the RWY. Gate announced a mechanical delay of at least 3-4 hrs, due to damaged blades in the engine (bird strike?) Lots of irate people in the holding pen. I gave up at 5pm and requested to fly the CX888 tomorrow, and stay with my friend at YVR.

As I was waiting for the CX guys to offload the luggage, I overheard their walkie talkies that the flight is now delayed for departure until 2330 PDT and arrive JFK in the morning ~0700 EDT. They also ordered "1 fried rice, 1 fried noodle" for the remaining 150 pax. :confused: CX lounge is off limits for transit pax due to customs requirements.

If you're in YVR right now, look out for the tech freak sitting at starbucks on the departure level, with lots of electronic equipment hooked up. :p That will be me. I'm trying to pull off a conference call with my HKG managers.

CX's ageing 747-400 fleet better get some replacements soon or else CX will see more serious delays to come. Some of those babies are at least 15 years old now.

Oh yah, your odd course flying over Japan is probably due to the Typhoon around the Japanese archipelago.

Guy Besty,

Here is the list of CX's Boeing 747-400 passenger aircraft delivery dates. From my analysis, only 2 are over 15 years with majority of the fleet age ranging from 9 years to 13 years old. Far from what you are suggesting. Please do your research "properly" before talking out loud. This is your greatest weakness Guy Betsy. :D

Delivery Date: 26/09/1988 : B-HOO
Delivery Date: 08/06/1989 : B-HOP
Delivery Date: 09/02/1990 : B-HOR
Delivery Date: 11/05/1990 : B-HOS
Delivery Date: 28/09/1990 : B-HOT
Delivery Date: 18/01/1991 : B-HOU
Delivery Date: 24/04/1991 : B-HOV
Delivery Date: 20/08/1991 : B-HOW
Delivery Date: 25/09/1991 : B-HOX
Delivery Date: 22/11/1991 : B-HOY
Delivery Date: 22/06/1992 : B-HOZ
Delivery Date: 30/07/1992 : B-HUA
Delivery Date: 09/10/1992 : B-HUB
Delivery Date: 10/12/1992 : B-HUD
Delivery Date: 07/05/1993 : B-HUE
Delivery Date: 20/08/1993 : B-HUF
Delivery Date: 10/12/1993 : B-HUG
Delivery Date: 10/06/1994 : B-HUI
Delivery Date: 23/05/1995 : B-HUJ

That's why I was so surprised when they annouced the purchase of used Boeings form BA. More old 747s?

If you were an airline manager for an airline that had no access to Govt subsidy or support and had to rely on your balance sheet to support the growth of you airline, you will also purchase the used aircrafts.

CX is one of the most strongest financial airlines in the world and the way they carry out their business is far superior to that of any other airline in the world. All my due respect for this airline that gets zero assistance from their Govt.

That's why I was so surprised when they annouced the purchase of used Boeings form BA. More old 747s?

However, despite this, the airline is adding new aircrafts and for their long term aircraft orders, it will order the state of the art fleet so watch this space.

...
Delivery Date: 26/09/1988 : B-HOO
Delivery Date: 08/06/1989 : B-HOP
..

Guess these two will the first to be slated for the cargo conversation.

No one is even questioning my information source. I said 'some of these are at least 15 years old', and not 'all of these'. Please do not add words to my posts.

Maybe just don't add words at all , period.

the reason for buying used 744s from BA is that their fleet is similar in age to those of CX's (no, not the 15+ year olds) and GB is right, the ones over 15 y/o are planned to be converted to freighter, BUT, they may even lease them to other carriers.
anyway, the used 744 were purchased to buy time to analyse the next generation of long haul aircraft. the 773ER, according to my friend, may be purchased even though it's powered by the GE90

Maybe just don't add words at all , period.
GB: to drain out the dribble, oneworldfan and the likes can easily be blocked out with the new Ignore function! It works wonders! :p

How many boarding passes do you get when you take CX888 from HKG to JFK ? If you get one boarding pass for each flight segment, can't you easily just enter Canada in Vancouver if you don't feel like being held in the sterile holding pen for whatever reason (say a delay) and then get back in later to board the flight ?

How many boarding passes do you get when you take CX888 from HKG to JFK ? If you get one boarding pass for each flight segment, can't you easily just enter Canada in Vancouver if you don't feel like being held in the sterile holding pen for whatever reason (say a delay) and then get back in later to board the flight ?

1 BP for the whole flight.

anyway, the used 744 were purchased to buy time to analyse the next generation of long haul aircraft.

I was under the impression they were NOT purchased afer all. :confused:

Zhaobao:

They permitted people to leave the sterile area and go through Canada customs, and come back later (or in my case, who wanted to fly tomorrow) unless he/she does not have the credentials to enter Canada.

The YVR security agents gladly accepted the boarding pass stub for re-entry.

Zhaobao:

They permitted people to leave the sterile area and go through Canada customs, and come back later (or in my case, who wanted to fly tomorrow) unless he/she does not have the credentials to enter Canada.

The YVR security agents gladly accepted the boarding pass stub for re-entry.

But not if your bags have been tagged all the way to New York.

But not if your bags have been tagged all the way to New York.

Mine were, and they were offloaded promptly at my request ;)

By the way, just received 2500 miles from CX as compensation for this debacle :D :D Way to go CX ^