CX251 HKG-LHR in F
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: East Anglia
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 165
CX251 HKG-LHR in F
Booked this flight using BA executive miles and soooo excited - BA F is good but Cathay F looks amazing! Just reached the 180 days to go mark - cabin empty at the moment except me so have chosen 3K as lone traveller - is this sensible or would 2K be better? If anyone has flown on the CX251 in F I would love to know about the flight - meal etc. also which lounge in HKG should I choose I believe there is a Wing and a Pier???
Thank You
Thank You
#2
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: YVR, HKG
Programs: CX DM
Posts: 49
To be honest, all the seats in F class are pretty much the same assuming you are the only one in the cabin. However, I really like the notion of sitting in 1A, but thats just me (; Pick the Wing over the Pier. Better lounge overall.
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 13,145
From all the times I have taken 251 in F, the menu has always been Supper (which is an abbreviated Dinner service and does not offer as much choices as a regular Dinner service, but you still get Caviar service) as the after takeoff and Breakfast prior to landing. But F is F and you eat whenever you like and you don't have to eat at the same time as others.
How do you know there are no one else in the cabin at this moment? Just because the seat map isn't showing seats being occupied does not necessarily mean no one else is booked in. People do not necessarily pre-select their seats in advance at time of booking.
There are many many threads relating to Pier vs. Wing, which one to choose, etc. A quick search and/or a look into the sticky FAQ, will yield your answers. Same goes for seat preferences.
How do you know there are no one else in the cabin at this moment? Just because the seat map isn't showing seats being occupied does not necessarily mean no one else is booked in. People do not necessarily pre-select their seats in advance at time of booking.
There are many many threads relating to Pier vs. Wing, which one to choose, etc. A quick search and/or a look into the sticky FAQ, will yield your answers. Same goes for seat preferences.
Last edited by Rejuvenated; Feb 28, 2010 at 2:25 pm
#4
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: ORD
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#5
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: CX Diamond (OW Emerald), former SQ Krisflyer Gold
Posts: 2,526
As a lone traveller, I would prefer any of the following:
1A/1K: Both equally good, gives you that unique feeling of looking out in front of the aircraft. However, very close proximity to the next-door seat.
2A/2K: Probably the most private seats in the house, nobody else anywhere near you
Not sure why you'd pick 3K. I think there are no circumstances where 3K is preferable to 2K.
1A/1K: Both equally good, gives you that unique feeling of looking out in front of the aircraft. However, very close proximity to the next-door seat.
2A/2K: Probably the most private seats in the house, nobody else anywhere near you
Not sure why you'd pick 3K. I think there are no circumstances where 3K is preferable to 2K.
#6
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: No longer Diamond and missing the good old days of CX
Posts: 1,521
Sorry to disappoint, but speaking as a regular on this route I can tell you that CX251 is the worst flight out of the four dailies if you want to maximize your F experience. See here why that is the case.
I urge you to move to the other three flights instead. CX253 would be your choice if this is your first time in CX F. HKG based crew, nose of a 744, daytime flight and two "full" meals (the second meal is a "refreshment", but it is more of a dinner, on the other flights you get b'fast instead). This flight usually has the lowest load in F as well.
I prefer row 1 in F as opposed to row 2 which is favoured by many here.
I urge you to move to the other three flights instead. CX253 would be your choice if this is your first time in CX F. HKG based crew, nose of a 744, daytime flight and two "full" meals (the second meal is a "refreshment", but it is more of a dinner, on the other flights you get b'fast instead). This flight usually has the lowest load in F as well.
I prefer row 1 in F as opposed to row 2 which is favoured by many here.
#8
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: SEATTLE, WA USA
Programs: UAL, AA, AS, CX
Posts: 1,972
How many think row 2 is better because of overhead space? or is that moot now due to the new F seats and their storage capabilities?
Yea I prefer nose of the 747 so I'd got for row 1 something about having 1 on your boarding pass too that is stellar!
Yea I prefer nose of the 747 so I'd got for row 1 something about having 1 on your boarding pass too that is stellar!
#9
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Join Date: May 2006
Location: HKG
Programs: A3, TK *G; JL JGC; SPG,Hilton Gold
Posts: 9,952
I urge you to move to the other three flights instead. CX253 would be your choice if this is your first time in CX F. HKG based crew, nose of a 744, daytime flight and two "full" meals (the second meal is a "refreshment", but it is more of a dinner, on the other flights you get b'fast instead). This flight usually has the lowest load in F as well.
since they are all different in timings and cost i've got the different concerns
CX 255:
Pro- O'N flight, maximize total time in Europe (IF i get confirmed on the waitlist, or else confirmed on the next day) , shortest immigration time (assuming with fast track), CX F experience.
Con- Flight not confirmed yet (for redemption ticket) , CX Res Agent keep saying i must ticket A fare 3 days within booking regardless of waitlists, mixed crew base(?), Not sure if i'll have enough miles by the time i ticket.
CX 253:
Pro- Max CX F experience as discussed by kchika (double blade sword??), hopefully less busy cabin, redemption ticket confirmed. HK crew base.
Con- getting into the center pretty late. possibility of aircraft swap??? Ticketing time l limit as above
NZ:
Pro- Lower total cost (2NZ Js = 1 CX F), more connection options than CX253, total new experience, currently confirmed earliest arrival
Con- J: herringbone, also why CX J wasnt considered. same service with NZ PE.
PE: possible cramped flight with 3-3-3 config in 772. Otherwise satisfactory experience. (pretty much deal made IF it was a NZ 744)
PS. Time in Europe in general is not a BIG problem unless i need to connect to a flight that I must leave earlier the same day.
Also, I'd be 20K miles short of now and most of my existing miles are in Citi Premier points form. I will/can get some spendings before then, but i suppose i must do before ticketing!
Deal breakers: 1 hr queue at LHR immigration (eg. no more fast track in T3 for 255) , total cost goes up by 5K HKD, NZ seat upgrade in the next 3 mths (which is not happening...), CX F service deterioration...
OR, would anyone say QF PE actually is worth considering?
Anyone has operational voice to be heard? thoughts? i know, it's not exactly apples to apples comparision.
Last edited by kaka; Feb 28, 2010 at 10:58 pm
#10
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#13
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Haven't flown the new CX F yet, but IME generally row 2 in a 747 F on any airline is my first choice if traveling alone.
All things being equal, I'd recommend the Wing over the Pier because the Wing has the nice views out the windows and a much more open feel to it, whereas the Pier is a level down and thus has no windows. But you might find that your gate is much closer to the Pier, so then it's your call on whether you want to walk the extra 15-20 (?) minutes form the Wing to your plane.
I'm sure the flight will be great, but one aspect that you might want to temper your expectations about is the food. Others who fly CX F regularly might well correct me on this, but the couple of times I've flown it (admittedly, the most recent a few years ago) and the many times I've flown CX J the food has been a bit disappointing. Not really bad, but not up to the standards of the FA service, seats, IFE, etc.
Regardless, have a great flight.
All things being equal, I'd recommend the Wing over the Pier because the Wing has the nice views out the windows and a much more open feel to it, whereas the Pier is a level down and thus has no windows. But you might find that your gate is much closer to the Pier, so then it's your call on whether you want to walk the extra 15-20 (?) minutes form the Wing to your plane.
I'm sure the flight will be great, but one aspect that you might want to temper your expectations about is the food. Others who fly CX F regularly might well correct me on this, but the couple of times I've flown it (admittedly, the most recent a few years ago) and the many times I've flown CX J the food has been a bit disappointing. Not really bad, but not up to the standards of the FA service, seats, IFE, etc.
Regardless, have a great flight.
Last edited by Thunderroad; Mar 1, 2010 at 12:46 pm
#14
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I, too, prefer the Wing over the Pier for the openness. On the 744, the problem with row 1 IMO is that the screen is not visible when stowed. This only applies in row 1 on the 744.
#15
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: No longer Diamond and missing the good old days of CX
Posts: 1,521
You have a decent shot of getting that WL cleared. May is not a very busy month for LHR.
Sadly, since QF/BA moved their flights from SYD/MEL to T3 from T4, the immigration queues have been very long in the morning. I use IRIS which gets me through in about the same time as the e-channels do in HKG. I'm not sure why you're so stressed about this point though...
CX255 may have a mixed HKG and LHR based crew, but only in Y and never in premium cabins. CX253 is 100% HKG based crew. And no, it is highly unlikely that there will be a last minute aircraft substitution for this flight.
If you could fly CX F then by all means go for it. I'm sure the C product on NZ is very good, but remember, at the end of the day, F is F!
Sadly, since QF/BA moved their flights from SYD/MEL to T3 from T4, the immigration queues have been very long in the morning. I use IRIS which gets me through in about the same time as the e-channels do in HKG. I'm not sure why you're so stressed about this point though...
CX255 may have a mixed HKG and LHR based crew, but only in Y and never in premium cabins. CX253 is 100% HKG based crew. And no, it is highly unlikely that there will be a last minute aircraft substitution for this flight.
If you could fly CX F then by all means go for it. I'm sure the C product on NZ is very good, but remember, at the end of the day, F is F!
Last edited by kchika; Mar 1, 2010 at 11:11 pm