Just got back from a flight in CX F and I am now spoiled. Flying will just not be the same again! The F seats/suites are even bigger than I imagined after seeing all the photos. Lounging in my pyjamas, having breakfast in bed under a cozy duvet was decadence. The dinner and wine (and cognac), face to face on a nicely set table at 35,000 ft was utter debauchery. The only things missing were candles. What on earth can we do to top this??
As wonderful as it was to fly at this level of luxury, I was extremely surprised and disappointed to find that the F experience on the ground was little better than what a discounted economy fare passenger would experience.
Having been less than impressed with The Pier on the outbound, we wanted to check out The Wing on the return. I understand that the F section is being renovated but why even bother with a roped-off section of the J lounge? It served absolutely no purpose other than to segregate F PAX from J. In any case, there was not one single seat available. The rest of The Wing was no better with the odd seat open but not two together. So off to The Cabin we went and managed to find two seats together.
With 30 minutes left to departure time, we head towards the gate only to see that the flight had now been delayed 30 minutes. Not really worth it to schlep it back to the lounge. Why couldn't they have announced this delay 15 minutes earlier? The aircraft was delayed due to its late arrival so they knew it already.
Now here's what I find to be the kicker: a 777 with 53 J seats and 6 F has 150 PAX boarding through the F/J line onto a plane with fewer than 300 seats total!!! I counted them (roughly) and the F/J line was as long or longer than the economy line. Boarding certainly was not a First Class experience nor were the lounges. The whole on-the-ground experience was sorely lacking.
However, once in the air and after a glass or two of Krug Grande Cuvee Millésime 2007, then some Pontet-Canet (also 2007), followed by a splash of XO (can't remember the brand), the problems on the ground faded into history.
Last edited by BenSenise; Nov 15, 12 at 9:31 am..
Reason: correct TATL to flight
Hard to disagree with anything you say. The on-board product is generally fantastic. On the ground, it is nothing special. This is exacerbated by The Wing F being renovated, so the lounge situation for F pax is nothing special whatsoever (and comedic in the Wing J, as you point out, because that little side section serves no purpose but to label elites from commoners (said with heavy doses of sarcasm).
CX has made the bet - admittedly correct, IMO - that ultimately pax are going to pay up for F, and most frequent F pax don't spend heaps of time at the airport anyway. And even if we are at the airport early, HKIA is so pleasant that frankly it's hardly a problem if the lounges are packed. So even though we may not be happy about the ground situation, and the long lines for boarding, it's not the end of the world because a 12 hour F flight to SFO more than makes up for 30 minutes of minor annoyances at the world's best airport. So in that respect, CX can thank the HK Govt for effectively subsidizing a great airport and not needing EK or LH-esque facilities. I have on more than one occasion sat out in the main terminal among heaps of empty seats, drinking a coffee, watching the planes and working on my laptop (connected via free wifi) while waiting for an F flight at HKIA. This doesn't count the heaps of other times I've eaten Popeyes or (back when it was there) Burger King airside instead of the lounge.
Not to mention, the F lounge situation hopefully will significantly improve in Feb of next year.
Now here's what I find to be the kicker: a 777 with 53 J seats and 6 F has 150 PAX boarding through the F/J line onto a plane with fewer than 300 seats total!!! I counted them (roughly) and the F/J line was as long or longer than the economy line. Boarding certainly was not a First Class experience nor were the lounges. The whole on-the-ground experience was sorely lacking.
As an F pax you have the option of walking straight up to the gate agent and skip the line. Sometimes when they check your passport while queuing up they do this automatically, but if they don't it's generally acceptable for you to do so yourself.
Programs: A3, SK *G; CX null; SPG,Hilton Gold, Accessible to IHG PC AMB
Posts: 3,714
The worst I've had in F, was that my luggage was wrongly tagged to LHR instead of FCO with a next-flight-out overnight transit.
The agent simply didnt know and iw as told so by BA that i could do it
As an F pax you have the option of walking straight up to the gate agent and skip the line. Sometimes when they check your passport while queuing up they do this automatically, but if they don't it's generally acceptable for you to do so yourself.
Indeed they often pull you out of line and escort you to the front, but I'd sure be embarrassed to head straight to the front on my own!
Indeed, the F treatment at HKIA or other airports is very poor. No buggy, no special attention, boarding with MPC green members (I know that one can get some special treatment if looking for it, but most pax are not aware of it and wait in long lines), poor F lounges. Even onboard food/wines are quite poor for F.
But CX has made investing in great seats a priority: wonderful F suite, excellent J seats, excellent new PE seats, introducing new Y seats to replace the horrible non-reclining seats. To me the hard product and overall CX service makes up for the other aspects.
Indeed they often pull you out of line and escort you to the front, but I'd sure be embarrassed to head straight to the front on my own!
Want to talk about embarassing? Try being in F when both lavs are in use. I've been escorted to J and moved to the front of the queue for the lav, much to the dismay of the J passengers there. Similarly, on EK, if you go from F to the shared F/J bar in the rear, they'll designate a bottle of Dom Perignon for you, while the J passengers drink swill.
Location: Plantsville, CT USA; via West Hartford, CT; Stamford, CT; South Bend, IN; London, U.K. and Westchester County, NY
Programs: AA EXP 2 MM; Starwood PLT
Posts: 16,771
IME, the most significant change to the HKG ground experience would be a dedicated immigration/security channel for F pax.
The past 5 years have seen significant investment in the F ground experience amongst many of CX's competitors, most notably SQ and TG, but also LH. The new F lounge is clearly an effort to respond to this trend, but it alone is not enough.
__________________ Pioneering flight solutions that bring people home everywhere… every time
Programs: 5 years EXP, LT AA PLAT, SPG P, CX G, NEXUS/GE, A3 G, DL KM
Posts: 9,339
1) Route?
2) MPC staff at many airports have always been helpful as a OW Emerald (including both YVR/HKG)
3) YVR has no special security for anyone except NEXUS members.
4) HKG lounge is crowded thanks to AMEX Cent getting free Diamond status on CX. Also HKG being one of the busiest airports in the world doesn't help.
__________________
Supporters of the CCP are ruining world affairs.
Oops! I'm so used to doing north America to Europe that it just came out automatically!
I didn't realize that even MPC green get to board in the F/J line. That's really not a good idea. It defeats the whole purpose. Hey look, everyone can be elite!
I was tempted to just go to the front of the line but didn't want to be a DYKWIA.
Quote:
Originally Posted by AA_EXP09
1) Route?
2) MPC staff at many airports have always been helpful as a OW Emerald (including both YVR/HKG)
3) YVR has no special security for anyone except NEXUS members.
4) HKG lounge is crowded thanks to AMEX Cent getting free Diamond status on CX. Also HKG being one of the busiest airports in the world doesn't help.
Route was BKK-HKG-YVR. I didn't even moan about the fact that CX changed the aircraft four times and we finally ended up on a 777 with regional business instead of F from BKK to HKG.
I don't think that MPC staff could have done much to help me with most of my disappointments like no space in the lounge and 150 in line to board.
I know YVR has no fast track. That's a contributing factor to me flying Y to LAX instead of J. Fast track and the 30+ minutes it can save you are, for me, a huge benefit that I'm willing to pay for. I might go for nexus next year when I become eligible (3 years min residence)
I think Amex gives diamond to centurion card holders and gold to platinums. That would explain J lounge being crowded but F?
Want to talk about embarassing? Try being in F when both lavs are in use. I've been escorted to J and moved to the front of the queue for the lav, much to the dismay of the J passengers there. Similarly, on EK, if you go from F to the shared F/J bar in the rear, they'll designate a bottle of Dom Perignon for you, while the J passengers drink swill.
Hahaha! No way, thats awesome! (about the DP part)
Also, as one poster mentioned before, how do you "know how to ask" for special treatment - ie. what can one except.
__________________
- www.BespokeWorldwide.com: Bespoke travel packages, award travel bookings, and helping clients get the most out of their money, frequent-flyer miles, and loyalty program points.
I didn't realize that even MPC green get to board in the F/J line. That's really not a good idea. It defeats the whole purpose. Hey look, everyone can be elite!
I suppose it depends on where you are.. I was in CDG and there was a massive line for Y forming.. I assume many tried to jump into the F/J line but were told that they had to join the back of that huge queue. Thankfully for me, I had Silver then; which kept me in the F/J line..
