Cathay Pacific Asia Miles - CX F worth extra hassle over AA for 6hr flight?

It looks like I will be doing a transcon between JFK and SFO later on in the winter. I am an AA frequent flyer, and was going to take this time to cash in some miles and go F on their Flagship transcon service. However, I realized that if I am doing an award ticket, I could do CX JFK-YVR, and then hop on AS for the last part. However, it would mean the night at YVR, and both US and Canadian customs. Not a huge deal, but I just want to know if CX is really worth it. I've always wanted to try either that or SQ, but never go to Asia, so have never really considered it. And, will their service on this flight be that great, as if I were going transpac? Or should I just get on AA instead, and be assured that the convenience will outweigh the service/comfort deficiencies for this relatively short flight?

I think this is an entirely personal decision - only you can determine whether routing JFK-YVR-SFO versus JFK-SFO is "worth it." It's a bit much to ask others to make that choice for you. :confused: From a pragmatic perspective (after all, isn't the point of flying to get there?) the answer is an absolute no. That being said, if trying CX's F service is vitally important to you (at the expense of a reasonable routing and a significant amount of wasted time) - then I suppose the answer certainly lies with visiting Vancouver.

CX's F from JFK-YVR (as reported recently on this board) is the real deal (actually better then the transpac portion of this flight) in terms of premium long-haul catering, comfort, and service. You'll get Krug, caviar, a full 5-course dinner and SHT PJs.

Whether this is actually worth the gross inconvenience of routing through YVR is a decision only you can make. Personally, I value my time a bit more.

-FlyerBeek

Have you checked to see if the award is even available when you want to fly? This flight is now operated by an A340 (either -300 or -600), which means it lost 4 F seats from when it was a 744 flight. You may very well not find award seats on this flight.

Btw, if you are only going to do it one-way (and use AA in F the other), you are likely to get more of an International F experience on the CX 889 JFK-YVR than the other way around. The caviar and salmon are served on this leg of the CX 889, but on the HKG-YVR leg of the CX 888 (although the meal served on the YVR-JFK portion of CX 888 is quite good).

Btw, if you are only going to do it one-way (and use AA in F the other), you are likely to get more of an International F experience on the CX 889 JFK-YVR than the other way around. The caviar and salmon are served on this leg of the CX 889, but on the HKG-YVR leg of the CX 888 (although the meal served on the YVR-JFK portion of CX 888 is quite good).


Thanks for that info. I had actually thought of doing it the other way, because of not having to spend the night at YVR. However, now that you told me that, I will consider doing it the other way. Thanks.

Have you checked to see if the award is even available when you want to fly? This flight is now operated by an A340 (either -300 or -600), which means it lost 4 F seats from when it was a 744 flight. You may very well not find award seats on this flight.

FYI, CX889/CX888 will revert to the 744 for the winter timetable. On 1 December, CX889 will be a 744.

The JFK-YVR sector in F is tops; though I think the YVR-HKG sector is equally fantastic. In September, I thought the FAs in F for YVR-HKG were more polished and more attentive than the ones for JFK-YVR.

Take the time and visit Vancouver for a change. Overnighting is no big deal especially if you're flying just because you can... take a few days and see the sights of this beautiful Canadian city (when it's not raining).

But that said, CX F beats the living daylights out of a transcon AA domestic service. I'd say after the CX flight, you'll never ever want to fly on AA F ever again! The JFK-YVR sector is the first part of the the JFK-HKG flight. Service here is a full blow F service. Caviar, 4 courses, Champagne, Desserts, Ice Cream, AVOD, and nice smiling FAs who will cater to your every whim and fancy on board.

Take the CX flight - even if its a 24 hour sidetrip. You won't regret it.

Flying CX in F is one of those rare instances in flying where getting there is all the fun.

Flying CX in F is one of those rare instances in flying where getting there is all the fun.

Not only getting there... but you wish that the flight is actually longer...

I've had moments when I get aboard and whine.. when the Captain announces that the flight would be faster because of tail winds.

Certainly not enough time to enjoy the whole CX F experience and all the great movies I want to watch on their AVOD!

And oh yeah, you get Shanghai Tang PJs too between JFK and YVR!

I'd agree that if this will be your only chance to fly CX F, go for it (assuming you can get the availability.) As stated above the difference bewteen AA domestic "flagship" F and CX F is too wide to even describe-- annd of course, you're essentially on JFK-HKG on CX, so it's somewhat understandable. But that notwithstanding, the CX experience is SO much better in this case that I think the caziness of the routing vs. the non-stop is well worth it.

Put another way, if the tickets were for sale-- let's say in a charity auction environment-- just being extremely hypothetical here-- I personally would pay, say, $1500 for a r/t JFK-YVR on CX. If the next auction was for a AA F JFK-LAX r/t, I'd go about $350. :)

i tried to do this on an award and was told that cx is excluded from any non pacific awards.

call aa and see if they even let you book this

They should. And they have in the past. Unless something has changed.

JFk-YVR-SFO-JFK on combination CX/AS/AA.
45K for Business Class (F on AS)
60K for First Class

Some AA agents tend to forget that CX flies JFK-YVR with full traffic rights.

They should. And they have in the past. Unless something has changed.

JFk-YVR-SFO-JFK on combination CX/AS/AA.
45K for Business Class (F on AS)
60K for First Class

Some AA agents tend to forget that CX flies JFK-YVR with full traffic rights.
i tried to book lax-yvr-jfk-lhr
on as-cx-aa and was told cx is excluded from any award unless you are going transpac

i tried to book lax-yvr-jfk-lhr
on as-cx-aa and was told cx is excluded from any award unless you are going transpac
The LHR thing could have been a factor in that?

The LHR thing could have been a factor in that?
thats what i thought, to keep people from using cx to go lax-lhr via hkg on one award, but was told that the computer can exclude certain partners on certain routes.

she did say that a jfk-yvr could be on cx and that was an exception to the rule.

..she did say that a jfk-yvr could be on cx and that was an exception to the rule.
Now I'm totally confused-- isn't that what the OP is looking to do?

How does the above comport with:

"on as-cx-aa and was told cx is excluded from any award unless you are going transpac"
and
"cx is excluded from any non pacific awards"

I'm very confused as to what you're saying CX JFK-YVR is excluded (or not) from. The statements seem contradictory to me-- can you clarify what your understanding is?

Answer here:
http://flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=492725