FC experience on CX: YYZ-HKG-BKK (with pictures) - LONG
Oct 22, 2003, 8:57 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2000
Programs: AA Platinum 1MM, AC SE*100k, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold, SPG Gold
Posts: 2,353
FC experience on CX: YYZ-HKG-BKK (with pictures) - LONG
This is a series of trip reports on CX from YYZ-HKG-BKK. I will post all of the segments in this one post, including a review of CX's First Class Lounge - The PIER.
After having an excellent first time experience on CX in Business Class on a trip recently from HKG-DPS, I wanted to up the ante and try CX's long haul First Class product. I also heard from the CX forum that after April 2004, CX will no longer offer First Class from YYZ and will be converting all of their A340 into 2-class plane. Because I had been to HKG before, I didn’t want to stay in HKG for the week, so instead, I booked a trip to BKK via HKG (with 3 night stay in HKG). I have never been to BKK, but have always wanted to go.
This trip was really a last minute splurge - to get away after a rather intense time at work. I called my travel agent and she was able to book my flight with no issues to HKG.. However, for BKK, CX only offered limited flights to BKK with first class service.. With a little bit of investigating, she was able to book me on the flights to BKK from HKG. I received the tickets 2 days after my booking.
Review of First Segment:
Flight: Cathay Pacific (CX) flight 829
Route: YYZ-HKG with a refueling stop in YVR
Aircraft Type: Airbus 340-300
Class: First Class
Departure: October 10, 2003 (Friday) 23:55h
Arrival: October 12, 2003 (Sunday) 08:00h
Pictures of YYZ lounge can be found here:
http://public.fotki.com/ACfly/air_tr..._yyz-hkg_in_f/
CX departs from Terminal 3 at Pearson International Airport (YYZ). I checked in two hours prior to the flight, even though CX recommends 3 hours prior to flight (I guess that would be right for Y class but way too long for J or F). The lines were jammed packed at check-in for Y (see pictures). Business Class line was also full. Luckily, First Class line was wide open, but I saw no agent at the check-in counter. As I approached the line, a very friendly agent who was manning the business class line escorted me to the first class check-in counter and efficiently processed my paperwork. I had no luggage to check in. She handed me the boarding pass and an invitation pass to use the First class Lounge (must have been a typo - because there was no First Class lounge). I made my way to the lounge. There were no lines at all through security.
CX uses BA's Executive Lounge (see pictures). What I found surprising was that Korean Air (a non Oneworld member) also uses this lounge. The lounge has no First class section. When I arrived it was rather empty. However, it became very crowded quickly with CX Business, First and Marco Polo members. I was a bit disappointed with the lounge..The dining area was closed (so no meals prior to the flight). There were no computers, no access to Internet other than several pay phones, and no snacks other than crackers and those cholesterol ridden Walkers Butter biscuits. There were some newspapers and magazines (but not a lot). There was only one television, and a rather limited drink selection (probably because all of the good drinks were located in the dining area which was closed at this hour). BA has a separate smoking room, and unfortunately, given how crowded the place was, some passengers had to sit in the smoking section. There was no call for boarding in the lounge.. Overall, not a great lounge (definitely not Pier or Wing or even the Air Canada Maple leaf Lounge)- no food, limited drinks and reading selection, no computers. I, fortunately, brought 20 previous editions of the Economist which I intended to read on this trip and this helped to kill the time. Next time, if I do this trip in F or Business I would arrive an hour before flight and skip the lounge altogether.
Lounge Rating: 2/5
- -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
CX 829 HKG-YYZ:
I was the last person to leave the lounge, and when I got to the gate, there were only a few people in economy still boarding. CX uses Airbus 340-300 on this route. First class section is configured 1-2-1 with 2 rows for a total of 8 seats (see pictures. Note: these pictures are for the BKK segment, which employs the same 340-300).
I was the last person to board the F section - It was a full flight - all 8 seats in First were occupied, which was surprising, given that CX is planning to discontinue F class on this segment. Immediately upon entering the F section, I was asked by the FA in First if I mind moving my seat from the coveted 2A to 1A because the passenger in 1A was traveling with another person who was seated in 2C. I, however, declined. If anyone is traveling alone, I highly recommend seat 2A (on the A340), which is located further away from the F class galley - so less noise, and no light from the galley to disturb your sleep). As a bonus, passenger in 2A gets served. Passenger in 2K gets served last. As I sat down, the FA offered champagne or water. I took the water.. which came with some shrimp appetizer (but I didn't really feel like eat). There was a big pillow on top of the seat. There were 2 FA’s serving the FC section.
Unlike in Business class where the Purser only greets Emerald members, in First Class, the Purser came around to each and every one of the First Class passengers and greeted them. Of course, sitting in 2A, I was the first passenger that she approached. She greeted me by name and wished me a pleasant flight.
Once we took off, the FA handed out menus, Delecor amenity kit (see pictures) and the wonderful Shanghai Tang sleeper set with matching eyeshades and slippers (see pictures). The color on the sleeper set was a mustard color with red trims. I did not particularly like the color but they were oh so comfortable to wear. Also, I had never heard of the brand Shanghai Tang until now. Apparently Shanghai Tang is a premium Asian inspired brand. It's the Banana Republic equivalence in Asia and has a huge following. I immediately changed into the sleeper set prior to Supper. I could swear that CX’s First Class Amenity kit used to be supplied by LaPrarie (??). Anyway, I never heard of Delecor. The kit was simple. They had two versions: one for men and the other for women. The men’s version had toothbrush, toothpaste, lip balm, aftershave, mouthwash, and an oil balm recommended for the legs (to improve circulation). Interestingly, the First Class Washrooms (2 washrooms for the 8 first class passengers) had LaPrarie hand crèmes and face sprays. There were also Evian water sprays, razors and shaving lotions. In addition, rather than paper towels, the washrooms had cloth towels, which you throw away.
The following was the Supper menu (for the YYZ-YVR segment of the flight):
What was interesting about the meal service (unlike the business class) was there was no cart service - so you could not see what you were ordering. I guess that the "a la carte" element to it. Also what was interesting was that you could order anything on the menu at anytime... Therefore there was not a separate menu (unlike J class - where you were limited to noodles, pizzas, etc..). I was not particularly hungry (as I had a big dinner prior to arriving at the airport). I instead turned on the CX studio and saw the Matrix Reloaded... 30 minutes into the movie I fell asleep. Somehow, during my sleep the FA had wrapped me in the duvet and had moved my seats to 180 position. I have to say, the CX First Class seat is AMAZING.. so comfortable, and the privacy screen and drop down armrest are ingenious. I didn't wake up until we landed in YVR for a refueling stop. I, unfortunately, did not take pictures of the Supper service (as I slept through most of it).
The only thing I did not like about this flight was the stop in YVR. I didn’t particularly enjoy the fact that the plane had to make a refueling stop in the middle of the night (04:00h EST) when most of the passengers were in REM sleep. I guess the A340-300 cannot travel non-stop to HKG. However, that said, the stop was quick. Passengers were asked to stay in their seats during the ordeal and we did not have to leave the aircraft. A new set of crew boarded to take us to HKG. Within 45 minutes we took off for HKG.
The new FA's went around the cabin introducing themselves and offered us drinks and a meal. I was exhausted and went back to bed. Six hours into the flight, I woke up and was hungry. The FA's saw I was up, came over and asked if I would like to have anything to eat. I chose the Rice Hotpot, which came with soup. It was truly amazing especially the flavorful soup. (See pictures) I saw another movie (Illegally Blonde 2), listened to more of the CX Audio on Demand CD's...and fell asleep for another 2 hours. I must say, I do not really like the headset (Bose look-alike). It says Noise canceling, but I did not think it was. The headset was uncomfortable to wear and became sweaty after a while.
I decided to take a quick stroll around the J/Y cabin. And to my surprise, this flight was completely jam-packed. Every single seat was taken. I guess a lot of people would prefer to travel CX than Air Canada. Even with a refueling stop in YVR, the CX flight is still shorter than the AC flight which now stop in YVR to pick up more passengers before heading off to HKG.
I managed to fall asleep for another 2 hours and woke up hungry again (It was Lunch time in Toronto). This time I ordered the sandwich and the wonton soup along with coffee (see pictures) . Again the food was delicious and well portioned. I turned on Studio CX and saw some more films..... At all times, the FA’s came around constantly to check on the needs of passengers. Most of the passengers were asleep.
Two hours before landing, breakfast was served. Prior to the takeoff from YVR, the FA's had asked each of the passengers in advance when they would like to have breakfast. I had mine 2 hours prior to arrival.
I had, what the Brit's called an "English Breakfast" - Scrambled Eggs with Ham and Sausage and Grilled Tomatoes. The breakfast was delicious and very filling. The bread was freshly toasted on board, eggs were cooked to order, and the croissants were hot, flaky and perfect.
Within an hour of finishing breakfast, we landed in HKG.
Overall, the flight was fantastic (other than the YVR refueling stop).
Service was impeccable... CX really does train these FA's well. Why can't all airlines have FA's like CX. The service was attentive, but not intrusive.
Oh, one interesting observation. Unlike Asiana, CX relief pilot does not sit in First class, but in Business. I saw the pilot get changed to civilian clothing and headed to the J section. The co-pilot - and relief sleep in the crew compartment right behind the cockpit. Also, the cockpit crew got Business class meals only, not first class. I saw the FA's bringing the crew Business meals.
Check-in: 5/5 Outstanding. Fast, efficient and friendly
Seat: 5/5 Outstanding. Flat bed. I never slept better
Service: 6/5 Beyond Outstanding. Enough Said
Food: 5/5 Simply delicious
[This message has been edited by ACfly (edited 10-22-2003).]
[This message has been edited by ACfly (edited 10-22-2003).]
After having an excellent first time experience on CX in Business Class on a trip recently from HKG-DPS, I wanted to up the ante and try CX's long haul First Class product. I also heard from the CX forum that after April 2004, CX will no longer offer First Class from YYZ and will be converting all of their A340 into 2-class plane. Because I had been to HKG before, I didn’t want to stay in HKG for the week, so instead, I booked a trip to BKK via HKG (with 3 night stay in HKG). I have never been to BKK, but have always wanted to go.
This trip was really a last minute splurge - to get away after a rather intense time at work. I called my travel agent and she was able to book my flight with no issues to HKG.. However, for BKK, CX only offered limited flights to BKK with first class service.. With a little bit of investigating, she was able to book me on the flights to BKK from HKG. I received the tickets 2 days after my booking.
Review of First Segment:
Flight: Cathay Pacific (CX) flight 829
Route: YYZ-HKG with a refueling stop in YVR
Aircraft Type: Airbus 340-300
Class: First Class
Departure: October 10, 2003 (Friday) 23:55h
Arrival: October 12, 2003 (Sunday) 08:00h
Pictures of YYZ lounge can be found here:
http://public.fotki.com/ACfly/air_tr..._yyz-hkg_in_f/
CX departs from Terminal 3 at Pearson International Airport (YYZ). I checked in two hours prior to the flight, even though CX recommends 3 hours prior to flight (I guess that would be right for Y class but way too long for J or F). The lines were jammed packed at check-in for Y (see pictures). Business Class line was also full. Luckily, First Class line was wide open, but I saw no agent at the check-in counter. As I approached the line, a very friendly agent who was manning the business class line escorted me to the first class check-in counter and efficiently processed my paperwork. I had no luggage to check in. She handed me the boarding pass and an invitation pass to use the First class Lounge (must have been a typo - because there was no First Class lounge). I made my way to the lounge. There were no lines at all through security.
CX uses BA's Executive Lounge (see pictures). What I found surprising was that Korean Air (a non Oneworld member) also uses this lounge. The lounge has no First class section. When I arrived it was rather empty. However, it became very crowded quickly with CX Business, First and Marco Polo members. I was a bit disappointed with the lounge..The dining area was closed (so no meals prior to the flight). There were no computers, no access to Internet other than several pay phones, and no snacks other than crackers and those cholesterol ridden Walkers Butter biscuits. There were some newspapers and magazines (but not a lot). There was only one television, and a rather limited drink selection (probably because all of the good drinks were located in the dining area which was closed at this hour). BA has a separate smoking room, and unfortunately, given how crowded the place was, some passengers had to sit in the smoking section. There was no call for boarding in the lounge.. Overall, not a great lounge (definitely not Pier or Wing or even the Air Canada Maple leaf Lounge)- no food, limited drinks and reading selection, no computers. I, fortunately, brought 20 previous editions of the Economist which I intended to read on this trip and this helped to kill the time. Next time, if I do this trip in F or Business I would arrive an hour before flight and skip the lounge altogether.
Lounge Rating: 2/5
- -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
CX 829 HKG-YYZ:
I was the last person to leave the lounge, and when I got to the gate, there were only a few people in economy still boarding. CX uses Airbus 340-300 on this route. First class section is configured 1-2-1 with 2 rows for a total of 8 seats (see pictures. Note: these pictures are for the BKK segment, which employs the same 340-300).
I was the last person to board the F section - It was a full flight - all 8 seats in First were occupied, which was surprising, given that CX is planning to discontinue F class on this segment. Immediately upon entering the F section, I was asked by the FA in First if I mind moving my seat from the coveted 2A to 1A because the passenger in 1A was traveling with another person who was seated in 2C. I, however, declined. If anyone is traveling alone, I highly recommend seat 2A (on the A340), which is located further away from the F class galley - so less noise, and no light from the galley to disturb your sleep). As a bonus, passenger in 2A gets served. Passenger in 2K gets served last. As I sat down, the FA offered champagne or water. I took the water.. which came with some shrimp appetizer (but I didn't really feel like eat). There was a big pillow on top of the seat. There were 2 FA’s serving the FC section.
Unlike in Business class where the Purser only greets Emerald members, in First Class, the Purser came around to each and every one of the First Class passengers and greeted them. Of course, sitting in 2A, I was the first passenger that she approached. She greeted me by name and wished me a pleasant flight.
Once we took off, the FA handed out menus, Delecor amenity kit (see pictures) and the wonderful Shanghai Tang sleeper set with matching eyeshades and slippers (see pictures). The color on the sleeper set was a mustard color with red trims. I did not particularly like the color but they were oh so comfortable to wear. Also, I had never heard of the brand Shanghai Tang until now. Apparently Shanghai Tang is a premium Asian inspired brand. It's the Banana Republic equivalence in Asia and has a huge following. I immediately changed into the sleeper set prior to Supper. I could swear that CX’s First Class Amenity kit used to be supplied by LaPrarie (??). Anyway, I never heard of Delecor. The kit was simple. They had two versions: one for men and the other for women. The men’s version had toothbrush, toothpaste, lip balm, aftershave, mouthwash, and an oil balm recommended for the legs (to improve circulation). Interestingly, the First Class Washrooms (2 washrooms for the 8 first class passengers) had LaPrarie hand crèmes and face sprays. There were also Evian water sprays, razors and shaving lotions. In addition, rather than paper towels, the washrooms had cloth towels, which you throw away.
The following was the Supper menu (for the YYZ-YVR segment of the flight):
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">
SUPPER
Caviar and Fine Fish Carving:
Oscietra Caviar and Fine Smoked Salmon served with Warm New Potatoes and Crème Fraiche
A la Carte Menu:
Create your own menu from our "a la carte Menu", which gives you the choice to eat what, and when you like. Our cabin crew will be happy to assist you in taking your order at any time during this flight.
Mushroom and Asparagus Soup
Teriyaki Chicken with Caesar Salad served with Caesar dressing
Main Courses:
Snack:
Cheese Board
Ice Cream
Anytime Meals:
Chinese Favorites:
Bread Basket: Assorted Bread and Rolls
Tea and Coffee
Pralines and Cookies
Condiments of Guilin chili Sauce, Soya sauce and Chinese Red Vinegar are available to accompany your choice.
- - - - - - - - -
Drink List:
Fruit: Orange, Apple, Tomato
Soft Drinks: Coke, Coke Light, Lemon Coke Light, Sprite, Fanta Orange, Tonic Water, Soda Water, Ginger Ale, Perrier Water
Selection of Coffee: Freshly brewed Coffee, Regular or Deca Expresso, Cappuccino and Cafe Latte
Teas: Fuding Jasmine Needle, Nanyan Supreme Ti Guan Yin, Ceylon, Chamomile, Earl Grey, Japanese, Peppermint
Hot Chocolate</font>
SUPPER
Caviar and Fine Fish Carving:
Oscietra Caviar and Fine Smoked Salmon served with Warm New Potatoes and Crème Fraiche
A la Carte Menu:
Create your own menu from our "a la carte Menu", which gives you the choice to eat what, and when you like. Our cabin crew will be happy to assist you in taking your order at any time during this flight.
Mushroom and Asparagus Soup
Teriyaki Chicken with Caesar Salad served with Caesar dressing
Main Courses:
- Veal Medallions with Sautéed Portobello Mushrooms in Cream Sauce served with Mashed Red Potatoes and Seasonal Vegetable Parcels
- Rigatoni with Spicy Grilled Tomato Sauce
Snack:
- Smoked Salmon with Green Zucchini Parmigiana
- Prosciutto with Melon on Green Zucchini Parmigiana
Cheese Board
Ice Cream
Anytime Meals:
Chinese Favorites:
- Steamed Sea bass with Preserved Vegetables and Sweet Soya Sauce served with Egg Fried Rice and Stir-Fried Pak Choy
- Noodle in Soup with Wonton and Shui Gaw
- Cantonese Style Chicken and Abalone Congee
- Hot Pot Rice with Daily Soup
- Lo-hon Vegetables with Bean Curd served with Steamed Rice
Bread Basket: Assorted Bread and Rolls
Tea and Coffee
Pralines and Cookies
Condiments of Guilin chili Sauce, Soya sauce and Chinese Red Vinegar are available to accompany your choice.
- - - - - - - - -
Drink List:
Fruit: Orange, Apple, Tomato
Soft Drinks: Coke, Coke Light, Lemon Coke Light, Sprite, Fanta Orange, Tonic Water, Soda Water, Ginger Ale, Perrier Water
Selection of Coffee: Freshly brewed Coffee, Regular or Deca Expresso, Cappuccino and Cafe Latte
Teas: Fuding Jasmine Needle, Nanyan Supreme Ti Guan Yin, Ceylon, Chamomile, Earl Grey, Japanese, Peppermint
Hot Chocolate</font>
The only thing I did not like about this flight was the stop in YVR. I didn’t particularly enjoy the fact that the plane had to make a refueling stop in the middle of the night (04:00h EST) when most of the passengers were in REM sleep. I guess the A340-300 cannot travel non-stop to HKG. However, that said, the stop was quick. Passengers were asked to stay in their seats during the ordeal and we did not have to leave the aircraft. A new set of crew boarded to take us to HKG. Within 45 minutes we took off for HKG.
The new FA's went around the cabin introducing themselves and offered us drinks and a meal. I was exhausted and went back to bed. Six hours into the flight, I woke up and was hungry. The FA's saw I was up, came over and asked if I would like to have anything to eat. I chose the Rice Hotpot, which came with soup. It was truly amazing especially the flavorful soup. (See pictures) I saw another movie (Illegally Blonde 2), listened to more of the CX Audio on Demand CD's...and fell asleep for another 2 hours. I must say, I do not really like the headset (Bose look-alike). It says Noise canceling, but I did not think it was. The headset was uncomfortable to wear and became sweaty after a while.
I decided to take a quick stroll around the J/Y cabin. And to my surprise, this flight was completely jam-packed. Every single seat was taken. I guess a lot of people would prefer to travel CX than Air Canada. Even with a refueling stop in YVR, the CX flight is still shorter than the AC flight which now stop in YVR to pick up more passengers before heading off to HKG.
I managed to fall asleep for another 2 hours and woke up hungry again (It was Lunch time in Toronto). This time I ordered the sandwich and the wonton soup along with coffee (see pictures) . Again the food was delicious and well portioned. I turned on Studio CX and saw some more films..... At all times, the FA’s came around constantly to check on the needs of passengers. Most of the passengers were asleep.
Two hours before landing, breakfast was served. Prior to the takeoff from YVR, the FA's had asked each of the passengers in advance when they would like to have breakfast. I had mine 2 hours prior to arrival.
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">
Breakfast Selection
Juice Selection
Appetizers: Fresh Seasonal Fruits
Yoghourt: Natural Fruit or low Fat Fruit Yoghurt
Cereals:
Raisin Bran, Corn Flakes or Rice Crispies
Breakfast Dishes:
Accompaniments:
Grilled Canadian Ham, Turkey Sausage Patty, Hash Brown Potatoes, Grilled Tomato and Boiled Whole Mushroom
From the Bakery:
Croissants, Danish Pastries, Muffins, Bagel, Bread Roll and Fresh Toast served with Preserves, Honey and Butter
Tea and Coffee
Light Cream Cheese for Bagel is available
In order to serve you better, all meal orders have to be finalized at least 45 minutes prior to landing.</font>
Breakfast Selection
Juice Selection
Appetizers: Fresh Seasonal Fruits
Yoghourt: Natural Fruit or low Fat Fruit Yoghurt
Cereals:
Raisin Bran, Corn Flakes or Rice Crispies
Breakfast Dishes:
- Egg-Freshly scrambled, Fried or Boiled
- Assorted Dim Sum and Pan-Fried Turnip Cake served with Soya Sauce
Accompaniments:
Grilled Canadian Ham, Turkey Sausage Patty, Hash Brown Potatoes, Grilled Tomato and Boiled Whole Mushroom
From the Bakery:
Croissants, Danish Pastries, Muffins, Bagel, Bread Roll and Fresh Toast served with Preserves, Honey and Butter
Tea and Coffee
Light Cream Cheese for Bagel is available
In order to serve you better, all meal orders have to be finalized at least 45 minutes prior to landing.</font>
Within an hour of finishing breakfast, we landed in HKG.
Overall, the flight was fantastic (other than the YVR refueling stop).
Service was impeccable... CX really does train these FA's well. Why can't all airlines have FA's like CX. The service was attentive, but not intrusive.
Oh, one interesting observation. Unlike Asiana, CX relief pilot does not sit in First class, but in Business. I saw the pilot get changed to civilian clothing and headed to the J section. The co-pilot - and relief sleep in the crew compartment right behind the cockpit. Also, the cockpit crew got Business class meals only, not first class. I saw the FA's bringing the crew Business meals.
Check-in: 5/5 Outstanding. Fast, efficient and friendly
Seat: 5/5 Outstanding. Flat bed. I never slept better
Service: 6/5 Beyond Outstanding. Enough Said
Food: 5/5 Simply delicious
[This message has been edited by ACfly (edited 10-22-2003).]
[This message has been edited by ACfly (edited 10-22-2003).]
Last edited by ACfly; Jun 4, 2006 at 3:11 am Reason: Updated links
Oct 22, 2003, 9:01 pm
#2
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2000
Programs: AA Platinum 1MM, AC SE*100k, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold, SPG Gold
Posts: 2,353
CX751 HKG-BKK
Review of the Second Segment:
Flight: Cathay Pacific (CX) flight 751
Route: HKG-BKK
Aircraft Type: Airbus 340-300
Class: First Class
Departure: October 14, 2003 (Tuesday) 14:15h
Arrival: October 14, 2003 (Tuesday) 16:00h
Pictures of this segment can be found here:
http://public.fotki.com/ACfly/air_tr..._hkg-bkk_in_f/
After a two wonderful days in HKG at the Peninsula Hotel, it was time to head for BKK. Check in at HKG airport was fast and efficient. I was given the invitation to the First Class Lounge. Since the flight was leaving from gate 67, I decided to use the Pier. See below for my review of the CX First Class Pier Lounge.
CX uses Airbus 340-300 for this flight, identical aircraft to the one that I flew from YYZ. I was seated in 2K, this time, since 2A was already taken. I didn't mind since it was only a short two hour flight. The flight was quite empty in First class with only 3 out of the 8 seats occupied.
Service was excellent as usual. The crew was particularly chatty and international. One was from the Philippines and the other was Thai. The purser came around and greeted each of the First Class Passengers.
Within minutes after takeoff, Menus were passed out. On this flight, refreshment was served.
I wasn't hungy after the "pig out" at the Pier. However, I did manage (poor me) to sample some of the food offered. I ordered the Rice Noodles in Soup with Roast Goose. The Satay appetizers and the Noodles came out about the same time. The satay was very tasty. I didn't care much for the goose - way too fatty!! As a result, I didn't eat much.
We landed in BKK on time...
Review of the Second Segment:
Flight: Cathay Pacific (CX) flight 751
Route: HKG-BKK
Aircraft Type: Airbus 340-300
Class: First Class
Departure: October 14, 2003 (Tuesday) 14:15h
Arrival: October 14, 2003 (Tuesday) 16:00h
Pictures of this segment can be found here:
http://public.fotki.com/ACfly/air_tr..._hkg-bkk_in_f/
After a two wonderful days in HKG at the Peninsula Hotel, it was time to head for BKK. Check in at HKG airport was fast and efficient. I was given the invitation to the First Class Lounge. Since the flight was leaving from gate 67, I decided to use the Pier. See below for my review of the CX First Class Pier Lounge.
CX uses Airbus 340-300 for this flight, identical aircraft to the one that I flew from YYZ. I was seated in 2K, this time, since 2A was already taken. I didn't mind since it was only a short two hour flight. The flight was quite empty in First class with only 3 out of the 8 seats occupied.
Service was excellent as usual. The crew was particularly chatty and international. One was from the Philippines and the other was Thai. The purser came around and greeted each of the First Class Passengers.
Within minutes after takeoff, Menus were passed out. On this flight, refreshment was served.
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Refreshment
Appetizer: Chicken Satay with Traditional Garnish
Noodle and Sandwiches
Noodle in Soup with Shrimp Wontons
Rice Noodles in Soup with Roast Goose
Various Sandwiches (Parma Ham with Lettuce, Shrimp Mayonnaise, Baked Vegetables)
Dessert:
Tea & Coffee
Pralines </font>
Appetizer: Chicken Satay with Traditional Garnish
Noodle and Sandwiches
Noodle in Soup with Shrimp Wontons
Rice Noodles in Soup with Roast Goose
Various Sandwiches (Parma Ham with Lettuce, Shrimp Mayonnaise, Baked Vegetables)
Dessert:
- Selection of Pastries
- Tropical Fruit Salad
- Vanilla Ice Cream with your choice of Toppings
Tea & Coffee
Pralines </font>
We landed in BKK on time...
Last edited by ACfly; Jun 4, 2006 at 3:19 am Reason: updated links
Oct 22, 2003, 9:05 pm
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2000
Programs: AA Platinum 1MM, AC SE*100k, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold, SPG Gold
Posts: 2,353
Review of CX First Class Lounge - The Pier
After searching endlessly for pictures of the First Class Lounge review with pictures and not finding anything, I decided to write my own review and to include as many pictures as I can possibly take.
The Pier:
Pictures can be found here:
http://public.fotki.com/ACfly/air_tr..._f_lounge_the/
I believe this is CX's second lounge after the Wing... The Pier is located between gates 62-65 and I think is used primarily for Inter-Asian flights. International flights on CX leave between gates 1-20 (the closest waking distance from security and immigration. The Wing is located right at gate 2. This time I was heading for BKK which departed from gate 67.
It was quite a walk from security to the Pier. I decided to walk rather than take the Train to the gate. I was glad I did - as I was pleasantly surprised to find my national home carrier, Air Canada, with its 340-300 aircraft sticking out amongst the plethora of Asian Jumbo aircrafts (see picture). In addition, I saw a 747 plane whose tail almost looked like it was British Airways from afar. Upon closer examination, it was Thai Orient Airways (see pictures). Could have fooled me.
Back to the Pier: The First Class lounge (the Pier) is located at gate 62 with clearly marked entrance (see pictures). You need to take the elevator or escalator down one floor to enter the Pier. The Business class entrance is located a few gates further down the terminal (at gate 65).
There was one agent manning the entrance. I presented my lounge pass and asked the agent to put my carry-on in storage. The agent was neither helpful nor friendly. She did not smile throughout my transaction - so much for the "forced smile" that CX FAs are know for. She asked me to bring my luggage to the back to the storage room, where I placed my luggage on the rack and was handed a tag.
I then entered the Pier. First impression: Dark and empty (unlike the Business section of the Pier (more on this later) or the Wing. There were no windows to the outside. In addition, there was not a single passenger in the lounge. On my right hand side was "The Haven" - the acclaimed restaurant (more on this later), to my left were two large sitting areas and the long hallway leading to the shower, computer room, and the Day Break rooms (the Wing's Cabana's equivalent). The two sitting areas are very nice - Leather sofas and comfortable seats. Each of the two sitting areas has a 52 inch Sharp Plasma screen. The computer room contains lots of computers with Internet access. The computers are top of the line - black sleek IBM's with LCD monitors. There are about 20-25 computers.
I asked one of the attendants in the lounge for the use of one of the 6 private Day-Break rooms which First Class passengers can use on a first come first served basis. She escorted me to room 4. First impression of the room – Small, private and cozy (see pictures). There is a very comfortable leather seat with a matching ottoman. The room is equipped with a 25 inch plasma Sharp TV in front of the seat. Above the TV are two Bose speakers. On the right hand side of the seat is a touch screen - which controls everything in the room. This screen is an amazing piece of electronic. It is a 15 inch plasma screen - similar to the Studio CX concept, except that you touch the screen as oppose to push buttons. There are lots more options to chose from the menu. There is on-demand music (same selection as Studio CX) as well as a television menu. In addition, there are several other options: The service option is used to summon the attendant to fetch food/drink orders. The Air Conditioning option is used to adjust the room temperature. The Blind option is used to close the blind (in this case, light coming from the lounge). The light option is used to control the room lighting, and the alarm option is used to program the alarm so that you don't miss your flight. As you can see, all the extra features are necessary to make for the room stay so much more tolerable.
I found the room to be very comforting and very private. My only criticism was that the volume could be turned up only to a certain level (which wasn't all that loud).
After spending half hour playing with the gadget and listening to several songs, I was hungry and headed to the Haven. Note: the Haven opens at 11:45 for Lunch and dinner. If you arrive earlier than that, your only options are sandwiches located at the bar. I was there at 11:30 and there was no food yet at the Haven. The pre-made sandwiches, however, looked amazing (see pictures). There were smoked salmon and cucumber, chicken curry and something else. With only 15 minutes left before the Haven open, I decided to wait (and it was well worth the wait) and had a coffee (which was individually made and was excellent) at the bar.
Shortly after 11:45 I was escorted by the Haven's Maitre d' to one of the tables, where I was offered drinks. I ordered a glass of orange juice - it was freshly squeezed (yummy!). The Haven offers gourmet buffet, catered by no other than the Peninsula Hotel Hong Kong. In addition, you could also request that something else be prepared for you if you like.
Now, my favorite part (other than the gadget in the daybreak room) was the BUFFET at the Haven!!! Food was absolutely AMAZING! They served Eel Fried rice, Braised Lamb Satay with Mango Curry, Jumbo shrimp Satay, Dim sum - Pork dumplings, Shrimp and Crab Dumplings, Efu Noodle with Beef, Japanese Soba (served cold with all the side condiments), Shrimp Caesar Salad with homemade Caesar dressing, a plethora of dessert pastries, and a wide variety of cheeses and crackers. As I said, the food was out of this world!! I usually don't eat buffet for the very reason that the foods tend to sit around for a while and not fresh. This was the opposite... The cooks (three that I saw), constantly refilled and replaced the food (about every 5 minutes). It also helps that they only cook small portions at a time. I think the menu changes daily, because I did not see Sushi on the menu (or maybe it's only served at dinner time). There were three restaurant attendants servicing the restaurant, so I was constantly being waited on...
After my third helping of food, I realized that I could not eat any more. My stomach gave up!! I needed to take a walk to burn off the calories.... So I ventured into the Business class section of the Pier through a frosted glass door...
The business class section of the Pier is so much more spacious, airy and bright compared to the First Class section. Like the Wing and unlike the F section of the Pier, the Business section overlooks the tarmac of the airport. There were more people in this section. In addition, the attendants were much friendlier than the First class section. I even went outside the gate of the Business class section and came back in. The agent at the front desk greeted me with a big smile.. What a difference from the First class section... I went passed the long bar to the noodle bar, and saw a lot of people eating noodles. I only took a few pictures from the Business class section as my battery in my camera was dying... But hopefully, these few pictures will give you some perspective as to the Business class section....
After my foray into the Business class section of the Pier, I went back to the First class section and into my Day Break room... It was almost time to board. The attendant knocked at my door informing me that boarding had commenced. I packed up my stuff, made my way to the washroom where I took more pictures and then headed to the gate.
OVERALL:
I think the Business class section of the Pier is very nice and the attendants less uptight, friendlier, younger and prettier than the First Class section!! Now I haven't been to the First Class section of the Wing (I've only been to the Business class section), so I can't compare the two... I will though on my return to YYZ this week (where I intend to visit the Wing F section). That said, the food at the Pier is amazing, and I suspect that it will be the same at the Wing... The Pier F section could use a little more light.. It was a little dark for my taste...
After searching endlessly for pictures of the First Class Lounge review with pictures and not finding anything, I decided to write my own review and to include as many pictures as I can possibly take.
The Pier:
Pictures can be found here:
http://public.fotki.com/ACfly/air_tr..._f_lounge_the/
I believe this is CX's second lounge after the Wing... The Pier is located between gates 62-65 and I think is used primarily for Inter-Asian flights. International flights on CX leave between gates 1-20 (the closest waking distance from security and immigration. The Wing is located right at gate 2. This time I was heading for BKK which departed from gate 67.
It was quite a walk from security to the Pier. I decided to walk rather than take the Train to the gate. I was glad I did - as I was pleasantly surprised to find my national home carrier, Air Canada, with its 340-300 aircraft sticking out amongst the plethora of Asian Jumbo aircrafts (see picture). In addition, I saw a 747 plane whose tail almost looked like it was British Airways from afar. Upon closer examination, it was Thai Orient Airways (see pictures). Could have fooled me.
Back to the Pier: The First Class lounge (the Pier) is located at gate 62 with clearly marked entrance (see pictures). You need to take the elevator or escalator down one floor to enter the Pier. The Business class entrance is located a few gates further down the terminal (at gate 65).
There was one agent manning the entrance. I presented my lounge pass and asked the agent to put my carry-on in storage. The agent was neither helpful nor friendly. She did not smile throughout my transaction - so much for the "forced smile" that CX FAs are know for. She asked me to bring my luggage to the back to the storage room, where I placed my luggage on the rack and was handed a tag.
I then entered the Pier. First impression: Dark and empty (unlike the Business section of the Pier (more on this later) or the Wing. There were no windows to the outside. In addition, there was not a single passenger in the lounge. On my right hand side was "The Haven" - the acclaimed restaurant (more on this later), to my left were two large sitting areas and the long hallway leading to the shower, computer room, and the Day Break rooms (the Wing's Cabana's equivalent). The two sitting areas are very nice - Leather sofas and comfortable seats. Each of the two sitting areas has a 52 inch Sharp Plasma screen. The computer room contains lots of computers with Internet access. The computers are top of the line - black sleek IBM's with LCD monitors. There are about 20-25 computers.
I asked one of the attendants in the lounge for the use of one of the 6 private Day-Break rooms which First Class passengers can use on a first come first served basis. She escorted me to room 4. First impression of the room – Small, private and cozy (see pictures). There is a very comfortable leather seat with a matching ottoman. The room is equipped with a 25 inch plasma Sharp TV in front of the seat. Above the TV are two Bose speakers. On the right hand side of the seat is a touch screen - which controls everything in the room. This screen is an amazing piece of electronic. It is a 15 inch plasma screen - similar to the Studio CX concept, except that you touch the screen as oppose to push buttons. There are lots more options to chose from the menu. There is on-demand music (same selection as Studio CX) as well as a television menu. In addition, there are several other options: The service option is used to summon the attendant to fetch food/drink orders. The Air Conditioning option is used to adjust the room temperature. The Blind option is used to close the blind (in this case, light coming from the lounge). The light option is used to control the room lighting, and the alarm option is used to program the alarm so that you don't miss your flight. As you can see, all the extra features are necessary to make for the room stay so much more tolerable.
I found the room to be very comforting and very private. My only criticism was that the volume could be turned up only to a certain level (which wasn't all that loud). After spending half hour playing with the gadget and listening to several songs, I was hungry and headed to the Haven. Note: the Haven opens at 11:45 for Lunch and dinner. If you arrive earlier than that, your only options are sandwiches located at the bar. I was there at 11:30 and there was no food yet at the Haven. The pre-made sandwiches, however, looked amazing (see pictures). There were smoked salmon and cucumber, chicken curry and something else. With only 15 minutes left before the Haven open, I decided to wait (and it was well worth the wait) and had a coffee (which was individually made and was excellent) at the bar.
Shortly after 11:45 I was escorted by the Haven's Maitre d' to one of the tables, where I was offered drinks. I ordered a glass of orange juice - it was freshly squeezed (yummy!). The Haven offers gourmet buffet, catered by no other than the Peninsula Hotel Hong Kong. In addition, you could also request that something else be prepared for you if you like.
Now, my favorite part (other than the gadget in the daybreak room) was the BUFFET at the Haven!!! Food was absolutely AMAZING! They served Eel Fried rice, Braised Lamb Satay with Mango Curry, Jumbo shrimp Satay, Dim sum - Pork dumplings, Shrimp and Crab Dumplings, Efu Noodle with Beef, Japanese Soba (served cold with all the side condiments), Shrimp Caesar Salad with homemade Caesar dressing, a plethora of dessert pastries, and a wide variety of cheeses and crackers. As I said, the food was out of this world!! I usually don't eat buffet for the very reason that the foods tend to sit around for a while and not fresh. This was the opposite... The cooks (three that I saw), constantly refilled and replaced the food (about every 5 minutes). It also helps that they only cook small portions at a time. I think the menu changes daily, because I did not see Sushi on the menu (or maybe it's only served at dinner time). There were three restaurant attendants servicing the restaurant, so I was constantly being waited on...
After my third helping of food, I realized that I could not eat any more. My stomach gave up!! I needed to take a walk to burn off the calories.... So I ventured into the Business class section of the Pier through a frosted glass door...
The business class section of the Pier is so much more spacious, airy and bright compared to the First Class section. Like the Wing and unlike the F section of the Pier, the Business section overlooks the tarmac of the airport. There were more people in this section. In addition, the attendants were much friendlier than the First class section. I even went outside the gate of the Business class section and came back in. The agent at the front desk greeted me with a big smile.. What a difference from the First class section... I went passed the long bar to the noodle bar, and saw a lot of people eating noodles. I only took a few pictures from the Business class section as my battery in my camera was dying... But hopefully, these few pictures will give you some perspective as to the Business class section....
After my foray into the Business class section of the Pier, I went back to the First class section and into my Day Break room... It was almost time to board. The attendant knocked at my door informing me that boarding had commenced. I packed up my stuff, made my way to the washroom where I took more pictures and then headed to the gate.
OVERALL:
I think the Business class section of the Pier is very nice and the attendants less uptight, friendlier, younger and prettier than the First Class section!! Now I haven't been to the First Class section of the Wing (I've only been to the Business class section), so I can't compare the two... I will though on my return to YYZ this week (where I intend to visit the Wing F section). That said, the food at the Pier is amazing, and I suspect that it will be the same at the Wing... The Pier F section could use a little more light.. It was a little dark for my taste...
Last edited by ACfly; Jun 4, 2006 at 3:34 am Reason: updated links
Oct 22, 2003, 9:06 pm
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2000
Programs: AA Platinum 1MM, AC SE*100k, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold, SPG Gold
Posts: 2,353
Review of Third Segment:
Flight: Cathay Pacific (CX) flight 708
Route: BKK-HKG
Aircraft Type: Airbus 340-300
Class: First Class
Departure: October 18, 2003 (Saturday) 0950h
Arrival: October 18, 2003 (Saturday) 1345h
After a wonderful four night stay in BKK, it was time to head back home. First to HKG for one night and then back to YYZ.
Pictures can be found here
http://public.fotki.com/ACfly/air_tr..._hkg-bkk_in_f/
I arrived at BKK airport about 2 hours before departure and checked in at the CX counter. CX uses Thai Orient Airlines agents to check in. The agents wore bright purple and pink uniforms. There was a separate First Class check-in counter. Check-in was quick and efficient. I was handed an invitation to use the CX First Class Lounge. I was surprised to find that CX does have a First Class Lounge in BKK (even though there are only about 2-4 flights a week that CX offers 3 class service). I guess there must be lots of top tier Marco Polo flyers.
CX First Class Lounge in BKK Airport is located before security (a bit annoying) and quite a way from the gate (see pictures). The Lounge was adequate. There was one Plasma screen, some magazines, some pastries, fruit plates, and a self-serve fridge, which contained drinks - alcoholic and non-alcoholic ones. There were two Internet stations with very fast connection.
The A340-300 was used for this flight. I sat in 2A. The cabin was again quite empty with only 3 out of 8 seats occupied. Again, the purser came around and greeted each of the FC passengers by name.
Brunch was served on this flight. The menu on this flight was as follows:
I had the Pad Thai and it was very tasty. We landed 30 minutes early into HKG. The weather was sunny and a nice 27 degrees Celsius.
Flight: Cathay Pacific (CX) flight 708
Route: BKK-HKG
Aircraft Type: Airbus 340-300
Class: First Class
Departure: October 18, 2003 (Saturday) 0950h
Arrival: October 18, 2003 (Saturday) 1345h
After a wonderful four night stay in BKK, it was time to head back home. First to HKG for one night and then back to YYZ.
Pictures can be found here
http://public.fotki.com/ACfly/air_tr..._hkg-bkk_in_f/
I arrived at BKK airport about 2 hours before departure and checked in at the CX counter. CX uses Thai Orient Airlines agents to check in. The agents wore bright purple and pink uniforms. There was a separate First Class check-in counter. Check-in was quick and efficient. I was handed an invitation to use the CX First Class Lounge. I was surprised to find that CX does have a First Class Lounge in BKK (even though there are only about 2-4 flights a week that CX offers 3 class service). I guess there must be lots of top tier Marco Polo flyers.
CX First Class Lounge in BKK Airport is located before security (a bit annoying) and quite a way from the gate (see pictures). The Lounge was adequate. There was one Plasma screen, some magazines, some pastries, fruit plates, and a self-serve fridge, which contained drinks - alcoholic and non-alcoholic ones. There were two Internet stations with very fast connection.
The A340-300 was used for this flight. I sat in 2A. The cabin was again quite empty with only 3 out of 8 seats occupied. Again, the purser came around and greeted each of the FC passengers by name.
Brunch was served on this flight. The menu on this flight was as follows:
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">[b][i]Brunch:[b][i]
Juice Selection
Appetizer: Fresh Seasonal Fruits
Main Courses:
Accompaniments:
Grilled Back Bacon, Fried Rice, Rosti Potatoes, Grilled Tomato, Fresh Oyster Mushroom with Herbs
Dessert:
Chocolate Nelusko Cake served with Orange Grand Marnier Sauce
Bread Basket:
Croissants, Danish Pastries, Muffins, Bread Rolls and Fresh Toast served with Preserves, Honey and Butter
Tea and Coffee</font>
Juice Selection
Appetizer: Fresh Seasonal Fruits
Main Courses:
- Spanish Omelet
- Chicken with Abalone and Mushroom in Oyster Sauce
- Fried Noodles with Prawns Thai Style
Accompaniments:
Grilled Back Bacon, Fried Rice, Rosti Potatoes, Grilled Tomato, Fresh Oyster Mushroom with Herbs
Dessert:
Chocolate Nelusko Cake served with Orange Grand Marnier Sauce
Bread Basket:
Croissants, Danish Pastries, Muffins, Bread Rolls and Fresh Toast served with Preserves, Honey and Butter
Tea and Coffee</font>
Last edited by ACfly; Jun 4, 2006 at 3:21 am Reason: updated links
Oct 22, 2003, 9:08 pm
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2000
Programs: AA Platinum 1MM, AC SE*100k, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold, SPG Gold
Posts: 2,353
CX828 HKG-YYZ
Review of Fourth and Final Segment:
Flight: Cathay Pacific (CX) flight 828
Route: HKG-YYZ with a refueling stop in YVR
Aircraft Type: Airbus 340-300
Class: First Class
Departure: October 19, 2003 (Sunday) 16:20h
Arrival: October 19, 2003 (Sunday) 22:40h
Well, after a quick stay in HKG, I was ready to head back home to YYZ. After some last minute shopping in Stanley Market, I was off to the airport, with less than 2 hours before the flight.
Pictures can be found here:
http://public.fotki.com/ACfly/air_tr..._hkg-yyz_in_f/
I must admit, I really don't like the Concierge style First Class check-in in HKG airport. It's a neat concept, but not particularly practical. Anyhow, check-in took a bit longer than I anticipated. I was presented with the First Class pass to the Lounge.. and made my way through the long lines through security.
I proceeded to the First class section of the Wing, which is located immediately after security on the right hand side. There was only about an hour left before my flight, so I didn't get to enjoy the Cabana's. Well, maybe next time. the Wing was particularly crowded at 1500h. I did manage to take some pictures. Because I was starving, I immediately made my way to the Haven (the first class restaurant). The whole place was packed. I did manage to get a seat right next to the buffet. The food was, like the Pier, amazing. Food was similar to the Pier with one addition: Sushi. What I found interesting was that there was no bar in the First class section. Drinks had to be ordered from the attendants.
At 1600h, I headed down to gate 1 for my flight to YYZ, which was conveniently located directly below the Wing.
The aircraft was again the Airbus 340-300 (the same one that I had for the entire trip). I entered the cabin through the First/Business Class door. In HKG, CX uses both doors of the aircraft to board passengers. First and Business passengers use the first door. Economy passengers use the back door to enter. I was seated again in the coveted 2A seat. The first class section, again, was completely full. As I sat down, I saw Bill Graham, the Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs entered. I guess he was coming back from the APEC meeting. And to my surprise, he was not seated in First.. but Business. Glad to see the government has some fiscal responsibility. His wife kept entering the First class cabin throughout the flight…
Anyway, we departed on time. Once at a safe altitude, the FA's handed out the same Amenity Kit and Sleeper sets, and we began our meal service (see pictures).
I had the five-course meal. Started with the Caviar service, which was amazing. Since most of the passengers didn't eat caviar, the FA's gave me a huge serving. Then I had the Mushroom Soup, followed by the salad. For the main course, I had the lamb chops. It was very tasty - seared outside, red inside (PERFECT!). I had no room for Cheese plate so the meal was topped off with Fruit bowl (served with Guava sauce) and accompanied by Chinese Tea.
Right after dinner, I went back to sleep for a good 5 hours. When I woke up, I was starving. I decided to order the
WILD Mushrooms Ragout (see picture). It was delicious, but a tad small so I ordered a second dish, the Hot Pot Rice, which was much more substantial (see picture).
After the meal, I turned on the CX studio and watched some various comedies before we landed in YVR for refueling. Like the previous trip, the stop lasted less than an hour and a fresh crew boarded. I believe we got the Canadian based crew as one of the FA's was Indian, and clearly did not speak Chinese. The captain came onboard to announce that this flight would only take 3 hours 25 minutes and that we would be arriving early into Toronto.
Right after our take-off from YVR, the FA's took our meal orders. The Brunch menu was as follows:
I had the Crepe accompanied by Breakfast steak, Tomato and Mushroom. All again was delicious. Right after lunch, I turned on my computer and began to write the rest of the trip report.
We landed in Toronto an hour ahead of schedule. Clearing customs was quick and efficient….My luggage and the rest of the First Class luggage came off first.
Overall, another great trip on CX… CX is clearly one of my favorite airlines in the world!
Review of Fourth and Final Segment:
Flight: Cathay Pacific (CX) flight 828
Route: HKG-YYZ with a refueling stop in YVR
Aircraft Type: Airbus 340-300
Class: First Class
Departure: October 19, 2003 (Sunday) 16:20h
Arrival: October 19, 2003 (Sunday) 22:40h
Well, after a quick stay in HKG, I was ready to head back home to YYZ. After some last minute shopping in Stanley Market, I was off to the airport, with less than 2 hours before the flight.
Pictures can be found here:
http://public.fotki.com/ACfly/air_tr..._hkg-yyz_in_f/
I must admit, I really don't like the Concierge style First Class check-in in HKG airport. It's a neat concept, but not particularly practical. Anyhow, check-in took a bit longer than I anticipated. I was presented with the First Class pass to the Lounge.. and made my way through the long lines through security.
I proceeded to the First class section of the Wing, which is located immediately after security on the right hand side. There was only about an hour left before my flight, so I didn't get to enjoy the Cabana's. Well, maybe next time. the Wing was particularly crowded at 1500h. I did manage to take some pictures. Because I was starving, I immediately made my way to the Haven (the first class restaurant). The whole place was packed. I did manage to get a seat right next to the buffet. The food was, like the Pier, amazing. Food was similar to the Pier with one addition: Sushi. What I found interesting was that there was no bar in the First class section. Drinks had to be ordered from the attendants.
At 1600h, I headed down to gate 1 for my flight to YYZ, which was conveniently located directly below the Wing.
The aircraft was again the Airbus 340-300 (the same one that I had for the entire trip). I entered the cabin through the First/Business Class door. In HKG, CX uses both doors of the aircraft to board passengers. First and Business passengers use the first door. Economy passengers use the back door to enter. I was seated again in the coveted 2A seat. The first class section, again, was completely full. As I sat down, I saw Bill Graham, the Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs entered. I guess he was coming back from the APEC meeting. And to my surprise, he was not seated in First.. but Business. Glad to see the government has some fiscal responsibility. His wife kept entering the First class cabin throughout the flight…
Anyway, we departed on time. Once at a safe altitude, the FA's handed out the same Amenity Kit and Sleeper sets, and we began our meal service (see pictures).
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2"> Dinner
Caviar and Balik Salmon Delight:
Oscietra Caviar and Balik Salmon "Tsar Nicolaj" served with Warm New Potatoes and Crème Fraiche
Soup: Fresh Mushroom Soup served with mini Garlic Baguette.
Salad: Tossed Salad with Feta Cheese served with Cider Vinegar and honey Dressing
Main Courses:
Cheese Board
Dessert Selection:
Bread Basket: Assorted Bread and Rolls
Tea and Coffee
Pralines and Cookies
- - - - -
To meet the individual taste and preferences of all our passengers, we have a selection of refreshments as a complement or as an alternative to our regular meals.
Refreshments: The following selection are available at any time on request
Caviar and Balik Salmon Delight:
Oscietra Caviar and Balik Salmon "Tsar Nicolaj" served with Warm New Potatoes and Crème Fraiche
Soup: Fresh Mushroom Soup served with mini Garlic Baguette.
Salad: Tossed Salad with Feta Cheese served with Cider Vinegar and honey Dressing
Main Courses:
- Braised Sea bass and Preserved Olive and Vegetable served with Steamed Rice and Choy Sum
- Roast Chicken with Morel Cream Sauce served with Dauphinoise Potatoes and Roast Mixed Vegetables
- Grilled Marinated Lamb Chops with Natural Gravy and Roasted Garlic Cloves served with Leek and Potato Boulangere, Vegetable Casserole
- Spaghetti with Eggplant and Tomato Pesto Sauce
Cheese Board
Dessert Selection:
- Selected French Pastries
- Tropical Fruit Salad
- Ice Cream with you choice of toppings
Bread Basket: Assorted Bread and Rolls
Tea and Coffee
Pralines and Cookies
- - - - -
To meet the individual taste and preferences of all our passengers, we have a selection of refreshments as a complement or as an alternative to our regular meals.
Refreshments: The following selection are available at any time on request
- Noodles in Soup with Shrimp Wonton
- Wild Mushrooms Ragout with Asparagus on Toasted Ciabatta
- Plain Congee with Dried Scallop and Ginkgo Nuts
- Glutinous Rice Dumpling with Five Spiced Pork in Bamboo Leaves
- Hot Pot Rice and Soup: Minced Beef and Water Chestnut patty on Rice and Green Radish, Carrots and Beef Calf Soup
- Ice Cream
- Tea and Coffee
Right after dinner, I went back to sleep for a good 5 hours. When I woke up, I was starving. I decided to order the
WILD Mushrooms Ragout (see picture). It was delicious, but a tad small so I ordered a second dish, the Hot Pot Rice, which was much more substantial (see picture).
After the meal, I turned on the CX studio and watched some various comedies before we landed in YVR for refueling. Like the previous trip, the stop lasted less than an hour and a fresh crew boarded. I believe we got the Canadian based crew as one of the FA's was Indian, and clearly did not speak Chinese. The captain came onboard to announce that this flight would only take 3 hours 25 minutes and that we would be arriving early into Toronto.
Right after our take-off from YVR, the FA's took our meal orders. The Brunch menu was as follows:
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">
BRUNCH
Juice Selection
Appetizer: Fresh Seasonal Fruit
Main Course:
Accompaniments:
Grilled Back Bacon and Breakfast Steak, Fried Potatoes, Broiled Tomato with Parsley and Sautéed Mushroom
From the Bakery:
Croissants, Danish Pastries, Muffins, Bread Rolls and Fresh Toast served with Preserves, Honey and Butter
Tea and Coffee
</font>
BRUNCH
Juice Selection
Appetizer: Fresh Seasonal Fruit
Main Course:
- Spanish Omelet
- Chinese Dim Sum
- Crepe a la Ruse (pancake filled with smoked salmon, Egg, Cabbage and Sour Cream Sauce)
Accompaniments:
Grilled Back Bacon and Breakfast Steak, Fried Potatoes, Broiled Tomato with Parsley and Sautéed Mushroom
From the Bakery:
Croissants, Danish Pastries, Muffins, Bread Rolls and Fresh Toast served with Preserves, Honey and Butter
Tea and Coffee
</font>
We landed in Toronto an hour ahead of schedule. Clearing customs was quick and efficient….My luggage and the rest of the First Class luggage came off first.
Overall, another great trip on CX… CX is clearly one of my favorite airlines in the world!
Last edited by ACfly; Jun 4, 2006 at 3:27 am Reason: updated links
Oct 22, 2003, 10:15 pm
#7
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: SEATTLE, WA USA
Programs: UAL, AA, AS, CX
Posts: 1,973
Excellent report. Your trip on CX sounds just like my experience last year yet I began my journey in YVR stopped in HKG for a while and headed to SYD.
You are correct La Prarie was being used last year I have a number of those kits still left over. And I had cart service on my outbound YVR to HKG for the appetizers course.
For sure the FA's watch you like a hawk and if you wake up they are there in an instance to see if you need anything...
I love this airline.
You are correct La Prarie was being used last year I have a number of those kits still left over. And I had cart service on my outbound YVR to HKG for the appetizers course.
For sure the FA's watch you like a hawk and if you wake up they are there in an instance to see if you need anything...
I love this airline.
Oct 22, 2003, 11:51 pm
#8
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: New York
Posts: 7,347
Thanks for an excellent report!
First class sounds much better than my previous experience on Business Class. The food is much more abundant in first class. In Business class, the mid-flight snack is limited to instant noodles, sandwiches or pre-packaged snacks... so you can easily get hungry in mid-flight, especially they don't serve another meal prior to arrival into Vancouver (on the flight to Toronto) and after takeoff from Vancouver on the way back to Hong Kong. I think CX needs to serve another real meal on the longer segments.
Get a bit side-tracked, but I really like the pictures and CX lounges are really great, especially the buffet. I guess having the attendant serving you a drink makes the experiences more first class. But if you want a bar environment in the Wing, you can easily walk over to the J class section and there is the long bar. (You may need to show your F class boarding pass getting back into the F section)...
Thanks for a great trip report!
Carfield
First class sounds much better than my previous experience on Business Class. The food is much more abundant in first class. In Business class, the mid-flight snack is limited to instant noodles, sandwiches or pre-packaged snacks... so you can easily get hungry in mid-flight, especially they don't serve another meal prior to arrival into Vancouver (on the flight to Toronto) and after takeoff from Vancouver on the way back to Hong Kong. I think CX needs to serve another real meal on the longer segments.
Get a bit side-tracked, but I really like the pictures and CX lounges are really great, especially the buffet. I guess having the attendant serving you a drink makes the experiences more first class. But if you want a bar environment in the Wing, you can easily walk over to the J class section and there is the long bar. (You may need to show your F class boarding pass getting back into the F section)...
Thanks for a great trip report!
Carfield
Oct 23, 2003, 7:10 am
#9
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 834
First, are you allowed to keep those pajamas?
Second, I just don't get that fake burlwood, in cars, airplanes, anywhere. How is it supposed to make you feel cozy when you know it's synthetic plastic made to look like something it isn't? Kind of like the champagne argument on the UA board, there's a line between refinement and just cheesy.
Second, I just don't get that fake burlwood, in cars, airplanes, anywhere. How is it supposed to make you feel cozy when you know it's synthetic plastic made to look like something it isn't? Kind of like the champagne argument on the UA board, there's a line between refinement and just cheesy.
Oct 23, 2003, 8:00 pm
#10
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,011
Great report. And I see from the pics that the 'Bon appetit' cards are still alive and well, which is great I know that this touch is highly dependent on whether the crew want to give them out or not but on my last few flights I hadn't seen them and thought they might have been a victim of Sars cost cutting!
Naturally.
[This message has been edited by B-HXB (edited 10-24-2003).]
I know that this touch is highly dependent on whether the crew want to give them out or not but on my last few flights I hadn't seen them and thought they might have been a victim of Sars cost cutting!
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Jim Phillips:
First, are you allowed to keep those pajamas?</font>
First, are you allowed to keep those pajamas?</font>
[This message has been edited by B-HXB (edited 10-24-2003).]
Oct 23, 2003, 8:51 pm
#11
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Agoura Hills, CA USA
Posts: 2,662
This is one of the best reports I have read. You are right on about CX first service. I just finished a run from JNB-HKG-NRT-HKG-NRT-HKG-SYD in CX first. The food was wonderful and the service was impeccable. I am still dreaming about the caviar and balik salmon !!
Oct 24, 2003, 4:35 pm
#14
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2000
Programs: AA Platinum 1MM, AC SE*100k, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold, SPG Gold
Posts: 2,353
Thanks LH738,
I havent quite got around to the review of the Hotels that I stayed.. but will do so soon..and will post them in the Luxury hotel forum
As for the hotels, I stayed at:
(1) Manadarin Oriental HKG
(2) Peninsula HKG
(3) Mandarin Oriental BKK
(4) Peninsula BKK..
My personal preference:
(1) In HKG, definitely the Peninsula HKG.. The Mandarin Oriental HKG's room is a bit on the small side. Also it's a bit out dated - felt like the '70's kind of room. It was also a bit noisy if you face the harbour room
(2) In BKK, Mandarin Oriental - all the rooms have just been renovated. It's excellent - you can't go wrong. The Peninsula was great as well, although service was a bit spotty, and it's located on the other side of the river.
I'll post a review with pictures in the next few day.
[This message has been edited by ACfly (edited 10-24-2003).]
I havent quite got around to the review of the Hotels that I stayed.. but will do so soon..and will post them in the Luxury hotel forum
As for the hotels, I stayed at:
(1) Manadarin Oriental HKG
(2) Peninsula HKG
(3) Mandarin Oriental BKK
(4) Peninsula BKK..
My personal preference:
(1) In HKG, definitely the Peninsula HKG.. The Mandarin Oriental HKG's room is a bit on the small side. Also it's a bit out dated - felt like the '70's kind of room. It was also a bit noisy if you face the harbour room
(2) In BKK, Mandarin Oriental - all the rooms have just been renovated. It's excellent - you can't go wrong. The Peninsula was great as well, although service was a bit spotty, and it's located on the other side of the river.
I'll post a review with pictures in the next few day.
[This message has been edited by ACfly (edited 10-24-2003).]