flyer121

The FA's hide in the gallay equally in J and F.

nologic

Oh. I just left the BA F lounge for slightly delayed CX 831. Didn't see anything interesting in terms of food, but didn't want to fill up anyway due to food on the flight.

That's probably for the late night flight too YVR for the people who want to eat first and then sleep...esp because there's no caviar.

Btw, when I arrived around 11am, NH was using the lounge for its 12:30 flight to NRT. They stocked the spread w sushi and some other japanese specialties (noodles, etc.). Frankly, it all looked very underwhelming for NH F.

Then, around 11:30-11:45, a bunch of well clad NH staff people came to escort the NH F pax to their seats, helping them w their hand luggage, etc.

Then, the lounge was very quiet. Even at peak time (say 90 mins before the flight) I doubt there were more than 10-12 or so people in the lounge. CX did nothing to stock the counters w any Chinese food.

Oh well, plenty of room for Caviar. CX did have one agent at the lounge check in desk.

For what it's worth, the offerings were unispiring...although the champagne was Laurent Perrier, which is better than BA serves in the F Lounge in BOS. Wonder why there's a difference.

Also, for the record, no CX access to the CCR or spa treatment (I did once get a QF spa treatment from BA

Dr. HFH

I don't think that they're hiding in the galley. AFAICT, CX sort of expects you to use the call button when you want something, unlike domestic American carriers. And the F cabin, it's small enough that they don't really have to walk through it; they can just look out and see that everyone's OK.

G-CIVC

CX crew detest PAX that use the call button...just walk up to the galley. (Of course they are smart enough not to appear so) It makes their lives a lot easier.

casbroker

On what basis do you make that comment? I find that walking into the galley in J shocks the crew more than pressing the button. Often they are eating or having a conversation and pressing the button is a discreet way for them to provide service versus waiting for "intrusion" (I can't think of another word) in the galley from passengers.

G-CIVC

You may catch a glimpse of what crew feel about their jobs on popular sites like 'CX Secrets' and '男子空中的日常'...

The latter is humorous!

QRC3288

At least anecdotally, I have a different experience - I've had numerous crew tell me (both on the plane and off) that they have no problem with it. Some actually tell me they prefer it, as they don't like patrolling the cabin. Particularly in J and F class.

I have indeed heard occasionally FAs complain about call light use in Y class, but I generally sympathize with the stories I've heard - it's usually in extreme situations. Like when a recent passenger to India kept banging it for more whiskey and eventually got cut off for drinking too much. It was probably to some degree hyperbole, but the FA described it to me as "ringing the call light every 5 minutes", with the passenger soon becoming belligerent and receiving a verbal warning from the ISM.

Anyhow, CX FAs indeed stay in the galley in J and F, and the expectation particularly in F is you gotta ring it! They seem to get embarrassed if you go up there and ask them.

G-CIVC

Oh yeah. In retrospect most of the hate is about EY class - it's just impossible to serve like 100+ cup noodles all at once I guess...

It's kind of funny how given that CX has managed to cut almost everything, they still keep serving cup noodles. I know the FAs really hope they will axe cup noodles soon, as well as the 'pre-pour' service.

KACommuter

Cup noodles are a very HK thing.

nologic

CX 831 JFK to HKG departing at 2:50pm is really an ideal way to enjoy CX F. Service was impressively attentive. Wines excellent. Food pretty good, plating elegant. Nice to find an airline that can serve a rare to medium rare steak. Also nice to just be asked how I would like my steak. I could nitpick on a few things, like the garlic bread was not hot, but more like a hard garlic butter cracker, or they should serve lemon and onions with the caviar, and the duck noodle soup was a little bland, as well as the prawn entree served w the second meal, but these were minor issues in what was a really nice flight. Also, the Krug was flat by mid-flight, which the FA should have noticed, but a moment later came a fresh bottle. (Cabin was a little hot, IMO, but that's a guy thing.)

If you're traveling alone, the A seats on the left side are the place to be, because you face a wall. If you're with someone, take the middle and right side (K) seats which are open to each other, cross-isle.

Arrival at 7pm allows you to be in HK at a reasonable hour and get a catch some more zzz's to help nip the jetlag.

nightkhan

IMO even if you are travelling with someone, the A side is still the best since both of you will have the entire left side to yourselves with full privacy. Even though access isn't across the aisle, it's not that big of a deal since you're just in front of or behind your travelling partner, and no other pax will be accessing your aisle.

Dr. HFH

Same here.

hl176

Personally, I prefer 889 whether getting off in YVR or continuing on to HKG.

When getting off at YVR, I don't nap and the 1am YVR time arrival is perfect for snoozing once I get home.

If continuing to HKG, I nap for the latter portion of the JFK-YVR leg, eat the first meal (sometimes I even skip the first meal), then a long sleep all the way to HKG with breakfast before arrival. I find this the best way to adapt to the time and I'm never jetlagged when travelling on 889.

Even travelling from YVR-HKG on 889, it's great for adapting to HK time. 837 not so much..

I personally don't really like the non-stop flights - 845 arrives too early, 831 is okay, 841 is slightly better, 899 time is good but I don't like EWR nor do I like the 77G.