Cathay Pacific Asia Miles - Some questions about CX827 (YYZ-HKG)

Hey Folks,

First of all, I apologize if this has been discussed before, as I'm sure it has. Search is useless at the moment, so I couldn't pull up any relevant threads. I'll be flying Cathay for the first time in a couple of weeks (I'm usually a Star guy) in first class on CX827, which leaves YYZ at 12:15AM and gets into HKG shortly before 5AM the following day.

I'm hoping some of the CX experts can chime in on a few questions:
1) While I'm sure the cabin will be dark for most of the flight, will it also be dark outside for the whole flight? I've done plenty of flights that leave North America in the daytime, but this is my first departure to Asia that's so late at night (or early in the morning, as the case may be).

2) Any clue whether the lounge is worth a visit in YYZ? I'll be having dinner with friends in Toronto, so would only spend time in the lounge if it's worthwhile.

3) Should I expect a full dinner service after takeoff, even though the flight leaves after midnight? Will they be serving breakfast before arrival?

4) I always try to plan my sleep on planes, but I'm a bit torn on this flight. It goes without saying that I'll be exhausted after the dinner service on the flight, given that it'll probably be 2AM and I'll have had a long day. However, if I go to sleep I'll probably wake up about seven hours later, and be awake for the last five or six hours of the flight. That means I'd be getting up at around 11PM Hong Kong time, which would suck for adjusting to local time. Do most people try to stay up for the first several hours of the flight and then sleep until landing, or is there another strategy?

Thanks in advance for any thoughts.:)

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First of all, I apologize if this has been discussed before, as I'm sure it has. Search is useless at the moment, so I couldn't pull up any relevant threads. I'll be flying Cathay for the first time in a couple of weeks (I'm usually a Star guy) in first class on CX827, which leaves YYZ at 12:15AM and gets into HKG shortly before 5AM the following day.

I'm hoping some of the CX experts can chime in on a few questions:
1) While I'm sure the cabin will be dark for most of the flight, will it also be dark outside for the whole flight? I've done plenty of flights that leave North America in the daytime, but this is my first departure to Asia that's so late at night (or early in the morning, as the case may be).

Welcome to our little forum, lucky9876coins! For question 1, yes it will be almost totally dark as its still 'winter' in the Northern Hemisphere and the flight path goes across the N Pole towards HKG. When its summer, you'll get to see the sun almost immediately after take off!

2) Any clue whether the lounge is worth a visit in YYZ? I'll be having dinner with friends in Toronto, so would only spend time in the lounge if it's worthwhile.

I haven't been to the YYZ lounge in a long time and from what I remember, it is nothing much. Better to stay out with your friends!

3) Should I expect a full dinner service after takeoff, even though the flight leaves after midnight? Will they be serving breakfast before arrival?

Yes it should be a supper flight, but still the whole array of choices including caviar if that tickles your fancy. There would be a chinese menu option with freshly cooked steamed rice always, and a snack option with the usual noodles soup. Then of course breakfast before your arrival.

4) I always try to plan my sleep on planes, but I'm a bit torn on this flight. It goes without saying that I'll be exhausted after the dinner service on the flight, given that it'll probably be 2AM and I'll have had a long day. However, if I go to sleep I'll probably wake up about seven hours later, and be awake for the last five or six hours of the flight. That means I'd be getting up at around 11PM Hong Kong time, which would suck for adjusting to local time. Do most people try to stay up for the first several hours of the flight and then sleep until landing, or is there another strategy?

Thanks in advance for any thoughts.:)

Personally I would try to stay awake as long as possible. Have the meal, a snooze, then maybe watch a movie or two. Irrespective of when you arrive, your body clock will be out of whack for the first day anyway. I prefer that my arrival is in the evening so that I can go to bed right away and be climatised by next day.

I'll try 1 and 4.

1. YYZ->HKG uses the Polar Route directly (within 100 miles) of the North Pole. In the summer time, there will be daylight. Winter time, all dark. But you can expect the window shades to be down for most of the flight.

4. Personally, I think there's little point of "fighting" to stay awake or forcing yourself to sleep. On such long flights to Asia, whether it's afternoon or late-night departure, I sleep when I'm tired. And read or watch movie when I'm not. You will be tired in the afternoon on the first day in Hong Kong, so don't plan major events. By next day, you'll be fine.

3) It's First - so what you eat and when is entirely up to you. The menu they give you serves simply to list the food they have on board. You can request whatever you want, whenever you want.

Thanks for the warm welcome, Guy Betsy, and thanks to all three of you for your help, I really appreciate it. I'm excited to finally try out Cathay after flying Singapore dozens of times, so I'll report back.:p

Thanks for the warm welcome, Guy Betsy, and thanks to all three of you for your help, I really appreciate it. I'm excited to finally try out Cathay after flying Singapore dozens of times, so I'll report back.:p

looking forward to know what you think about the new F product! i assume you haven't been on it yet?

looking forward to know what you think about the new F product! i assume you haven't been on it yet?
Correct, this is my first time on CX, let alone the new F product. I love the fact that there are only six seats, not to mention the product looks excellent overall.

I'll also be flying HKG-MNL on the 777-300ER, as well as MNL-HKG-NRT on the 747, which shows as the new first class as of now for all segments. Here's to hoping that sticks and there's no last minute equip. swap.

Hi Lucky9876coins:

Welcome to FT, you'll find this is a friendly and helpful group,although the odd flaming war does break out (but that is fun too:D)

I just took 827 on Friday night (Saturday morning to be exact). I was in J but Mrs. Hamilton Guy was in F, as it should be on Valentines Day.

Regarding the lounge at YYZ, nothing special, CX uses the KLM lounge, which is combined J & F lounge. Light snakcs and free beer, wine, booze and soft drinks. Nice view of the tarmac.

One word of warning on arrival if you are stopping in HKG. The flight effectively arrives before the airport really opens for business. You will have no trouble at immigration because 827 is the only flight coming in, so no line ups and F is disembarked first so you will be first in line. The plane also was at a pier very near immigration, so short walk. Baggage came through very quickly, f baggae first (CX's priority handling tags do mean something) and you are on your way.

However this where things get a little problematic. You are through immigration before the express train starts running. In our case theflight was 20 minutes early so we were through customs at 5AM and the first train is 5:54AM.

Taxis are available about 300HK$. Watch out for touts in the arrivals hall offering you a taxi.

As a previous poster mentioned you can have your meals at any time during the flight in any order. I found I slept a lot on the flight but still had a nap once I got to my hotel.

However this where things get a little problematic. You are through immigration before the express train starts running. In our case theflight was 20 minutes early so we were through customs at 5AM and the first train is 5:54AM.



I'm quite sure that The Arrival will be open if you arrive at around 5am, so you can go and check that out, have a shower, breakfast, etc. =)

Thanks again for the thoughts, they're greatly appreciated.:)

I was a bit concerned about the arrival time since the flight was originally scheduled in at 4AM, but for some reason it changed to 4:55AM a few weeks ago, which is great. I believe Arrivals opens at 5AM, so my plan is to clear immigration and then shower, browse the internet, and have breakfast in the lounge. I'll probably hang out there for a couple of hours until around 7AM, and then head into the city and hope for early check-in.

Good decision letting the Mrs. ride in F, Hamilton guy.:D

The arrivals lounge should be open. I was asked at check-in in YYZ if we were planning to use the arrivals lounge.

Hamilton guy, do you remember how full J and F were when you took the flight recently?

Just curious, as the loads look extremely light up front....:p

I took 826 (HKG to YYZ) at the beginning of Feb in J. The J cabin was about 30% full. I asked a FA the situation in F. She said that it was empty. It is bad to CX, isn't it?

Chatted with the ISM a bit during the flight. He said that the situation in F and J was getting worse after the Chinese New Year holiday.

The arrival lounge is open when 827 arrives. In fact, 827 isn't the first flight arriving HKG in the early morning. A PAX beat me when I took 827 in Dec. He was from SYD and he was the first one to get in the lounge.

The KLM lounge in YYZ is pretty basic. Save your time if you have a better alternative.

It is bad to CX, isn't it?
And great for me!:D;)

Thanks for the info, snowmilky!

Hamilton guy, do you remember how full J and F were when you took the flight recently?

Just curious, as the loads look extremely light up front....:p

I was a bit surprised myself because I had read here that loads were light, but F was full and J seemed pretty well full. I was window seat starboard side near the front so I couldn't really see the back half of j but all around me was full and so was the smaller cabin.

The departure time for CX826 will change to 2:30AM from HKG to arrive YYZ at 5:30AM. I wonder if market actually demands such departure and arrival time.

HKG Hong Kong Int'l HK [VHHH]
YYZ Toronto Pearson Int'l ON CA [CYYZ]
WED 01 Apr 2009

Carrier Flight From Depart To Arrive A/C St Availability
--------- ------ ---- --------- ---- --------- ---- ---- -----------------------------------------
CX 826 HKG 02:30 YYZ 05:45 773 0 F3 A2 J9 C9 D9 I9 Y9 B9 H9 K0 M0 L0 V0 S0

The departure time for CX826 will change to 2:30AM from HKG to arrive YYZ at 5:30AM. I wonder if market actually demands such departure and arrival time.
darn.. they really want this to be a 'red-eyed' flight not only for the staff but for the passengers also? this means we need to arrive at the airport to check-in at 3:30 if not 4:30 after OLCI and then roam around the dead airport and the lounge.. wait.. is the lounge going to be serviced 24Hrs? this is crazy..

darn.. they really want this to be a 'red-eyed' flight not only for the staff but for the passengers also? this means we need to arrive at the airport to check-in at 3:30 if not 4:30 after OLCI and then roam around the dead airport and the lounge.. wait.. is the lounge going to be serviced 24Hrs? this is crazy..

The flight departs HKG at 2:30AM. I suppose that you can check in at the Airport Express Station and catch one of the last trains to the airport. The check in counter closes at 12:30AM and the last train is at 12:48AM (from HK Station).

It's almost time for the flight (I'll be on it tomorrow night), so I had one last question: Does anyone know whether the lounge in YYZ has shower facilities?

According to the CX website (http://www.cathaypacific.com/cpa/en_HK/atairport/lounge?cityCode=YYZ) (who'd have thought of looking there eh?), no.

Thanks christep. You're right, I should have checked the site. For some reason I figured it wouldn't have the info since it's a contracted lounge, but I guess CX is on top of things.

Lucky, if you do plan to use The Arrival (I'm typing from there right now), be sure and orientate yourself wtih the location before leaving. The invitation has NO map/directions and it also doesn't show up anywhere on signage when you land. I found it only because I remembered someone saying that the pay lounge ran it. Figured I'd go there and ask (since no CX employees around at 4 am when we landed from YYZ) and then saw the entrance further down the corridor.

Since others might use search in the future for this flight number although it doesn't look like it will affect you Lucky....

The permissible transit times loaded for OneWorld for this connection can be TIGHT. I almost didn't connect last night. I was the VERY last passenger to clear security at Pearson last night since you have to clear immigration and reclaim your checked bags. The CX external counter was closing and had marked me as a misconnect so they had to reload me. Kind of a stressful way to start the trip.

On the BRIGHT side, I was the only passenger in F. :D And when I looked at the seatmap for the next couple of days, it looks like you might be as well!

They still loaded the full allotment of caviar (2 tins) and Krug though. ;)

The stirfried lobster is worth a try as is the seafood chowder. The dim sum was also some of the best I can remember ever having on CX.

On the BRIGHT side, I was the only passenger in F. :D And when I looked at the seatmap for the next couple of days, it looks like you might be as well!

They still loaded the full allotment of caviar (2 tins) and Krug though. ;)

That may be too much for one person if you consume them all.:p

They still loaded the full allotment of caviar (2 tins) and Krug though.

Anyone know how much Krug is loaded for, say, a full 77A (i.e., 6 F pax)?

That may be too much for one person if you consume them all.:pI'd be very happy to put this theory to the test. Unfortunately my next flight in F is showing F0A0 currently so I guess I'll have to share :(

I was on 827 on the 6th arriving 7th. It's strange to read these posts now! I was the only person in F as well. Looks like Techgirl and I shared the exact same meal choices :D only missed you by a day.

Wow, and I was on it the 9th. FT'ers for three days in a row? Wow!:D