Cathay Pacific Asia Miles - JFK-YVR in C, What to Expect?

Hi all,
I'm thinking of getting two r/t C tickets JFK-YVR for late August/early September of this year (gulp!) using AA miles.

First though, what can I expect on both segments in terms of priority check-in, lounge, boarding, and the flight itself? For such a relatively short flight for CX, would I still be able to experience the much-talked about service?

I've read in some older messages that the BA lounge at T7 is not available for CX pax--is there another lounge available? I also read C and F cabins are sometimes 1/2 full on JFK-YVR-JFK. Is that year-round, and is Y also fairly empty?

Any other comments you have would be most appreciated.

Thanks,
Will

Please, please do a SEARCH here as well as on Trip Reports. There have been many many reports of this flight/route.

You are allowed to use BA's Terraces lounge. Just not the Concorde Room lounge, or the BA Dine before you fly option unless you hold a F class CX boarding pass.

:rolleyes:

Almost all of the JFK-YVR posts deal with if flights are available, mileage bonuses, and op-ups. A few do describe the flight--but in F, not J.

Trip reports weren't much help either, since some were brief and some were written a few years ago.

So hence, I return to my original post for answers.

Thanks.

-Will

Well JFK to YVR is quite a nice flight...about the loading, I don't think anyone can give you a concrete answer. With the nonstop flight, the loading is not as crazy as before, but the late evening departure time still makes it a very attractive flight for business travellers even with the stop at YVR. Also the price for the one stop flights are cheaper, and the daytime flights also make some connections difficult... and also CX sells its JFK to YVR flight fairly cheap in Y... so the loading really fluctuates... don't expect an empty flight.

There will be separate F/J check in at JFK, all done by BA.

You can use the Terraces, which is nothing out of ordinary... better than most US domestic airline club, but foodwise is still very limited -- only snacks.

The flight will feature a main meal on both directions. A supper on JFK to YVR, which is a bit less spread out than your lunch on return YVR to JFK for obvious reasons... you can search the J menu thread and will see some J menus.

You will get an amenity kit from JFK to YVR, due to the fact that it is an overnight flight over three hours. But no amenity kit on the way back from YVR to JFK.

Really nothing has changed much here... so old reports are still reliable.
As Guy Betsy mentioned, this topic has been discussed many times here. So don't worry and enjoy the trip!

However, I think the problem will be on getting the award seats. It is not impossible, but pretty tough these days. Maybe you should reserve the seats before getting more information.

Carfield

From the tone of your posting you will be disappointed. CX F service is exceptional, as is the food/wine, while CX J service/food/wine is about the same as AA on JFK-LAX (a bit better, but not so different, for JFK-YVR). The arrival time of JFK-YVR is very inconveninet -- when you arrive the airport is all but closed down, and it takes up to 2 hours to clear Canadian customs as they are short-staffed. Then you find no shuttle buses are still running, and the few cabs all want a hefty premium. I did this trip once, and it was 4 am by the time I got to my hotel in Vancouver -- really not a great way to go to YVR. Doing the trip in F makes sense ... sufficiently offsets the drawbacks ... but in J it isn't really that nice.

I did this trip once, and it was 4 am by the time I got to my hotel in Vancouver -- really not a great way to go to YVR. Doing the trip in F makes sense ... sufficiently offsets the drawbacks ... but in J it isn't really that nice.

It should be noted this flight gets into YVR at 12:10am (vs. 1:45am) beginning 10/29/2006 which coincides with the change in daylight savings time (yes, Winglets, I realize you're leaving in August/September).

So rather than getting to your hotel at 4am, you can ge there at 2am! :D

Check no bags and it'll be even faster.

I fly on CX889 from JFK to VYR a couple of times a year, and find that even with checked luggage I am usually out of the airport about half an hour after landing.

Check no bags and it'll be even faster.

Actually it doesn't matter, by the time you are done with immigration, all the bags are out, as the immigration at that time is extremely slow. Besides, there are not really that many people get off at YVR, probably between 10-20, sometimes may even less.

Well JFK to YVR is quite a nice flight...about the loading, I don't think anyone can give you a concrete answer. With the nonstop flight, the loading is not as crazy as before, but the late evening departure time still makes it a very attractive flight for business travellers even with the stop at YVR. Also the price for the one stop flights are cheaper, and the daytime flights also make some connections difficult... and also CX sells its JFK to YVR flight fairly cheap in Y... so the loading really fluctuates... don't expect an empty flight.



I did this flight a while ago, was sitting in the 2nd section of J class on A346, believe or not, they actually ran out of all the entrees, all they left are snacks (reuben sandwhich and chinese duck with noodles). I have no idea why they would load snacks on this short segments rather than more main dishes, apparently no one want snack at all !

I take this flight about 3-4X a year. I usually cannot upgrade ( first filled with people going onto HK), but do get bulkhead exit row with nothing in front of me. The head FA always comes by and introduces herself and asks if I need anything ( they must get a list with the Plat and EXPl names). The flight is always full even during the week and many babies and kids.
Clearing customs and immigration is very fast. There are not too many people getting off and it is the last flight in. Luggage comes down fast. It is a long walk with carry on.
Beware- car rental counters close at midnight and they will no longer wait for the flight. ( Thrifty used to extend me the courtesy). There are always cabs.

Actually it doesn't matter, by the time you are done with immigration, all the bags are out, as the immigration at that time is extremely slow. Besides, there are not really that many people get off at YVR, probably between 10-20, sometimes may even less.

That is why immigration doesn't usually take much time. I don't recall there ever being a queue from other flights landing around the same time, and with so few people getting off at YVR, immigration is quick.

Sorry no menu, but I can say that a full supper will be served on this flight.

A typical supper with start with nuts and beverage, and then appetizer, followed by entree, and then the cheese/fruit/dessert trolley. It is a simplified dinner (with no salad and one dessert cart -- but you can have all three dessert items -- fruits, cake, and cheese plate).

Then ice cream will be available prior to arrival.. usually Haagen Daz ice cream bars.

Due to late night, you will get an amenity kit in J.

Carfield

That is why immigration doesn't usually take much time. I don't recall there ever being a queue from other flights landing around the same time, and with so few people getting off at YVR, immigration is quick.
Except the last time I took this flight, at the end of March, there was a charter or something that arrived with a bunch of spring breakers coming back from the Caribbean. They must have gotten in 5 minutes before us, because they beat us all to immigration! :mad:

From the tone of your posting you will be disappointed. CX F service is exceptional, Doing the trip in F makes sense ... sufficiently offsets the drawbacks ... but in J it isn't really that nice.

I agree. J is J is J.

high expectations are a sure fire precurser to disappointment.

Way OT, i flew BA transcon first on four class 777. I found the SEAT inferior to AA Suite F Seat.

In relation to the CX flight from JFK-YVR, Ill be taking that in a few months in C and am looking for info on the following:

1) I understand access to the BA Terraces, am I able to use the showers, I understand of course no MB Spa?

2) Do they have any fasttrack arrivals, others have noted immigration at the awful arrival hour is quite slow?

3) In regards to the arrival hour, its the first time in all my travel Ill be arriving at such an hour. Do people usually purchase a hotel room for an 'extra' day so to speak, as in the night before arrival in order to have a room?

4) The YVR website indicates a special 'check-in' area, does this include security/immigration or should I just seek out the CX desks?

I apologise for having to delete the past few posts due to them getting OT.

Comparing different airlines' service or seats with CX is one thing, but just discussing about BA's services, tier points, and what have you's relating to BAEC (and not even BAEC-Asia/Pacific) only should belong to the BA forum and not here especially when it doesn't even concern Asiamiles.

Now, if you can, please get back on topic.

Thank you

Guy Betsy
Cathay Pacific Asiamiles forum moderator

In relation to the CX flight from JFK-YVR, Ill be taking that in a few months in C and am looking for info on the following:

1) I understand access to the BA Terraces, am I able to use the showers, I understand of course no MB Spa?

2) Do they have any fasttrack arrivals, others have noted immigration at the awful arrival hour is quite slow?

3) In regards to the arrival hour, its the first time in all my travel Ill be arriving at such an hour. Do people usually purchase a hotel room for an 'extra' day so to speak, as in the night before arrival in order to have a room?

4) The YVR website indicates a special 'check-in' area, does this include security/immigration or should I just seek out the CX desks?1)Flying CX J/F gives full access to the BA J/F lounges at JFK, including use of the showers. CX F even includes dining room privileges, however this food is worse than CX F inflight catering; I don't know what CX does for J, but I would guess it doesn't include the on-ground dining room access. I usually eat a small salad in the dining room, but nothing more (saving my appetite for in-air dining).

2) no fast-track. First off the plane gets through immigration/customs in 5 minutes; last off can take 2 hours. Walk fast.

3) I have always booked a hotel for the previous night, and arrived at 4 am. But usually I am driving up to Whistler the next day. There is an excellent hotel at YVR terminal (much better than most airport hotels).

4) CX desk check-in is mandatory. Note that this is separate from the US Flights check-in area -- YVR-JFK on CX operates as a non-US flight out of YVR. The US flights clear US immigration/customs at YVR prior to boarding, and are in a sealed part of the terminal; while CX is not. Don't be confused by this!

The only fast-track arrivals at YVR that I am aware of is the Nexus and CanPass programs. This only makes sense if you are a regular Canadian airport visitor. If you are, it definitely makes sense to get it to avoid the lines. Details at: Nexus website (http://cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/travel/nexus/about-sujet-e.html).

The special check-in area that they advertise on the YVR website no longer appears to be in operation for Cathay Pacific flights. The last flight I took (about a month ago) the special check-in area was not available to Cathay passengers at all. I asked and they said it had been an experimental program. Honestly that area didn't provide much of a difference from the Cathay premium counters except that it had nice chairs instead of waiting in line. Not much to be missed though. But when you check-in for premium cabins they do give you a green sticker for your boarding pass which lets you use fast-track departure lines for security. As a side note, if you get Nexus you can always use those fast-track departure lines regardless of class of service or airline being flown.

The airport lounge for Cathay in YVR is similar in style to their lounges in Hong Kong (they renovated it within the past year), and offers a sampling of various western and chinese food items.

Enjoy your trip!

Cheers!

P.S. The Fairmont YVR (the hotel referred to by the previous poster) is also quite nice. You sometimes can get a half-night rate if they are not terribly crowded by calling the front desk directly instead of the central reservations.

The airport lounge for Cathay in YVR is similar in style to their lounges in Hong Kong (they renovated it within the past year), and offers a sampling of various western and chinese food items.


Isn't CX use the JL Sakura lounge in YVR ?

No, they aren't using that currently as far as I know. They may have used it for some flights while they were doing the renovations last year. But as I recall they used the generic business class lounge during their renovations. The Sakura lounge is pretty bad actually. Not much in there.

The current lounge is listed on their website at http://www.cathaypacific.com/cpa/en_INTL/atairport/lounge?cityCode=YVR
and that matches my experience on my most recent flight.

Cheers!

Isn't CX use the JL Sakura lounge in YVR ?

CX has their own lounge in YVR.

Isn't CX use the JL Sakura lounge in YVR ?

CX uses their own lounge at YVR:

https://www.cathaypacific.com/cpa/en_INTL/atairport/lounge?cityCode=YVR

http://www.oneworld.com/ow/ffp/lounge-access/search

Great minds think alike, and apparently concurrently! :)

Cheers!