Cathay Pacific Asia Miles - Jan 8 CX 885 rerouted to ICN?

Any idea why? I've been trying to figure out how I'll know for sure what type 747 I'm on Jan 19 -- it still shows EQV for CX881. (I saw that CX885 shows EQV also for Jan 9 so I tried to see what Flight Status shows and saw that 885 was rerouted yesterday.)

So first question is why the reroute to ICN (fuel requirement)? Second question is how/when will I be able to tell what type of 747 I'll be on Jan 19 for flight 881.

I think it was fuel because SIA was also late yesterday.

1150 SQ001 SFOHKGSIN. DIVERTED.
1150 SQ001 SFOTPEHKGSIN. Delayed 1 hour 43 minutes. Reason: AIR TRAFFIC SERVICES CLEARANCE in SFO / Suspected FUEL DIVERSION in TPE / LATE ARRIVAL OF AIRCRAFT in HKG. Left SFO gate 9 minutes late at 0014. Arrived TPE gate 18 minutes late at 0610 +1. Left TPE gate 17 minutes late at 0727. Arrived HKG gate 2 hours 8 minutes late at 0858. Left HKG gate 2 hours 3 minutes late at 1003. Arrived SIN gate 1 hour 53 minutes late. Aircraft: Boeing 747-400.

Judging by the seat map in the nose of the aircraft, it seems to be a non-refurbished B747-400.

[KVS Availability Tool 3.0.0/Platinum - Amadeus Seat Map: 19 Jan 2008/CX 881/LAX-HKG/744/F] (http://KVS.UnrealNetwork.com/Tool/?R)
A | D G | K
1 - -
2 - -
3 - - - -
4 - + + -

[+] Available [-] Unavailable [W] Wing [E] Exit Row

Any idea why? I've been trying to figure out how I'll know for sure what type 747 I'm on Jan 19 -- it still shows EQV for CX881. (I saw that CX885 shows EQV also for Jan 9 so I tried to see what Flight Status shows and saw that 885 was rerouted yesterday.)

So first question is why the reroute to ICN (fuel requirement)? Second question is how/when will I be able to tell what type of 747 I'll be on Jan 19 for flight 881.

During winter time, lots of LAX-HKG flights require an unscheduled fuel stop. Headwinds...

During winter time, lots of LAX-HKG flights require an unscheduled fuel stop. Headwinds...

Is headwinds really that great? LAX-HKG should be well within the range of what a 744 can do.

Is headwinds really that great? LAX-HKG should be well within the range of what a 744 can do.

Yes. Happens all the time from LAX or SFO, headwinds are headwinds. Range is not a blanket number...flying into headwinds of 100kph+ is a different scenario than flying in calm air or with a tailwind.

Judging by the seat map in the nose of the aircraft, it seems to be a non-refurbished B747-400.


Thanks for that - I had seen the seat map and made the same assumption, but I also know that they can swap aircraft at any point. I assume since they are still listing EQV that there is a reasonable likelihood they will swap out the plane for a different config, but hopefully not (from everything I read).

Anyway - is there a way to tell once the aircraft is airborne to LAX what type config it is? I know that would be waiting until Jan 18 sometime to find out my Jan 19 flight...I didn't see how to tell what type it is on the flight status page.

If you want non-stop LAX-HKG in the winter, stick with 881. 883 and 885 carry more cargo and are much more prone to ICN/TPE diversion. Both those have been stopping for the last 3-4 days.

If you want non-stop LAX-HKG in the winter, stick with 881. 883 and 885 carry more cargo and are much more prone to ICN/TPE diversion. Both those have been stopping for the last 3-4 days.


You are everywhere on FlyerTalk rkkwan! Wish I had met you at the DO so I put a face with these posts. Thanks for the info. A stopover in ICN would have made me miss my connection so glad to hear I got lucky and booked 881.

CX885 has been diverted to ICN for both Jan 7th & 8th departures. But the 744s operating the CX879 ex-SFO (which has the exact same arrival timetable schedule as CX885) didn't require a fueling diversion and made it to HKG only 32 minutes late for those two same departure dates. Geez, 330 extra miles really makes that huge of a difference?

Geez, 330 extra miles really makes that huge of a difference?

When you're close to the range limit of an aircraft, then yes, 330 miles make a very big difference.

CX885 has been diverted to ICN for both Jan 7th & 8th departures. But the 744s operating the CX879 ex-SFO (which has the exact same arrival timetable schedule as CX885) didn't require a fueling diversion and made it to HKG only 32 minutes late for those two same departure dates. Geez, 330 extra miles really makes that huge of a difference?

Probably more have to do with the actual cargo on each flight.

I believe that the intentiion is to eventually replace the 747 with the 777s once there are enough of them so that they can go non-stop year round LAX-HKG.

I believe that the intentiion is to eventually replace the 747 with the 777s once there are enough of them so that they can go non-stop year round LAX-HKG.

Are they 100% sure the 77W can make it without fuel stops in winter?

FYI. I took CX 841 JFK-HKG on 17 Dec. Quite a bit of headwind and flying time is 15h20m.
Fuel load / burned: 132.2T / 119.1T
Distance travelled: 7329nm

So I think if 77W can make it well within the range between JFK-HKG, SFO and LAX should not be a problem.

Looks like the Jan 11th HKG arrival for the two CX flights ex-SFO were also diverted. CX873 was diverted to ICN while CX879 was diverted to TPE. Is it also common for the 744s ex-SFO to make fueling stops during this time of year? I guess I was fortunate mines didn't last month.

Looks like the Jan 11th HKG arrival for the two CX flights ex-SFO were also diverted. CX873 was diverted to ICN while CX879 was diverted to TPE. Is it also common for the 744s ex-SFO to make fueling stops during this time of year? I guess I was fortunate mines didn't last month.

YES...see previous posts in this thread this is getting very redundant.

Tonights 883 is stopping in ICN.

Currently in the LAX lounge right now. Plane coming in is delayed so boarding is delayed. And we're stopping at Taipei. I think I will be overnighting in HKG before I get to Manila.

I was on CX 883 on the 14th and made a tech stop in ICN. I was originally on CX 881, but thought it would be better if I could get in earlier as I had to make a connecting flight to TPE (which I didn't do later as I was just too tired). WRONG I didn't get into HKG until 8:55, and CX 881 didn't make the tech stop and got in before us!!! I even asked them if 881 was going to make a tech stop and they said yes (but found strange because there was a notice upon check-in that only made mention of 883). I guess they really pack it in on 883.

Was on the 19JAN flight. Y class.

F and J full with paid customer.

FA mentioned that Y still has 100 free seats (CX won't open seats) as plane had 100% full cargo.

Plane arrived at Taipei around 6pm local (had a 40mins technical stop).

Plane arrived in HKG 8pm local.

OT -- it kindda sucks (if your last leg is Taipei) for you to realize that i'm already in Taipei way ahead of the schedule (again 6pm local) but i can not get off the plane since i have to go to HKG and then take the HKG to Taipei flight which arrives around midnight. So you ended up doing that "extra" 5 hours... No one is at fault in this scenario, just that it sucks... :(

I was on CX 883 on the 14th and made a tech stop in ICN. I was originally on CX 881, but thought it would be better if I could get in earlier as I had to make a connecting flight to TPE (which I didn't do later as I was just too tired). WRONG I didn't get into HKG until 8:55, and CX 881 didn't make the tech stop and got in before us!!! I even asked them if 881 was going to make a tech stop and they said yes (but found strange because there was a notice upon check-in that only made mention of 883). I guess they really pack it in on 883.

chat with some CX insiders n some f/a... they all say tht CX often tries not to tech-stop 881. so next time better stick with 881 to minimise the chance of tech-stop (although sometimes headwind is too strong tht there is no choice but to tech-stop 881 as well)

OT -- it kindda sucks (if your last leg is Taipei) for you to realize that i'm already in Taipei way ahead of the schedule (again 6pm local) but i can not get off the plane since i have to go to HKG and then take the HKG to Taipei flight which arrives around midnight. So you ended up doing that "extra" 5 hours... No one is at fault in this scenario, just that it sucks... :(

But just think of all those extra FF miles you earned. :D