There is no easier way to go to Asia from North America than on Cathay Pacific in First Class. It is simply a no-brainer. You enjoy and relax every minute and then walk off the plane and you are in beautiful Hong Kong. I chose the afternoon flight, CX827, leaving at 3:30 pm, which was a perfect time to leave, as it allows one to deal with various work and family related matters on the day of departure, allows a leisurely pre-departure day, and I have found works out really well in terms of arrival time and adjusting to jetlag. The arrival time is around 7 pm Hong Kong time, and after four hours or so of sleep onboard, I find that I am still able to fall asleep sometime around 11:30 pm, and wake up on schedule and on local Hong Kong time.
When traveling First Class on CX, one need not arrive at the airport terribly early. First class check-in is a breeze with no line up, and there is no immigration control. There is just usual airport security and that moved fairly quickly. First Class CX passengers are entitled to visit the Pearson lounge which is near the departing gate. The lounge is nothing special at all, and therefore I would not arrive even a minute early just for the sake of trying out this lounge. The lounge offers various drinks and a small selection of dim sum. I guess the only, and not minuscule benefit of this lounge, is that you do not have to sit with the masses awaiting this and other flights within the terminal.
Boarding was not exactly smooth, as there is no distinct first and business class line-up. I had been checking Expert Flyer for weeks on end, and was pleased that the cabin remained empty except for me and one other passenger...up until the day of travel, and then the whole bloody cabin filled up! Anyhow, the huge wide suite with huge TV screen and great privacy onboard the CX 77W in F is hard to beat. And the full cabin was not even slightly noticeable. I felt like I had it all to myself, and service was impeccable. I was given Shanghai Tang PJ's and a toiletry kit. The toiletry kit was admittedly quite lackluster for first class I though, although the pajamas are the very best I think.
I enjoyed the caviar appetizer and Krug champagne, followed by conch maw soup, black bean chicken and rice, and cucumber and seaweed cold salad. I then had a cheese plate, and pralines for desert.
After enjoying several new movies (which I was able to determine even before flying via the CX website), I decided that it was time for a little snack, and had Butter Chicken skewars with raita, which was good.
I had a very nice four hour sleep in the bed with a duvet and good pillow. When I awoke, I decided to have just fruit for "breakfast" since I would shortly be attending the W Hong Kong Hotel Kitchen Buffet which I had reserved.
I had arranged for a buggy to pick me up at the gate for a small charge through World Flight Services, but since the flight arrived at a gate too close to immigration, the buggy was not sent. I proceeded through immigration after a 15 minute wait. I did not pick up my luggage since I had it checked all the way through to Singapore with CX.
I purchased an Airport Express ticket at the counter at the airport, and then took the very pleasant 23 minute ride to Kowloon station, which is only about a 2 minute walk right to the lobby of the W Hotel. What a nice and easy transfer! For all intents and purposes, this might as well be an airport hotel since it is so convenient. I think however that if I was lugging luggage, then it would have been slightly more difficult. As it was however, it was a real pleasure.
