Have not been on CX for a while since moving away from HK. Later this month I have an itinerary involving transits at HKG. A few questions for the flyertalk CX page (such nostalgia)

1. Check-in luggage would be done at point of departure. If I do drop by CX landside counter at either HKG or in-town checkin, would they offer me the security fast track voucher that is required these days on top of an F or J ticket to use the lane?

2. My connection at HKG spans overnight, and I plan to stay at a hotel instead. The sequence is to first disembark and walk to transit point E, then airside, and lounge. Thereon exiting airside is cumbersome, and usually involving being escorted out, and a double entry warning on the next airside entry for the subsequent sector.
I would try stay airside if CX has lounge that opens overnight, but that was not the case the last time I was at HKG.

3. I will have only one checked bag at outbound. In the event I bought stuff at Hong Kong and want to utilise the one additional checked baggage allowance, would CX allow me to add luggage midway? The 2 sectors are on one PNR.

4. My return will see me using CX to get to HKG on one ticket, then depart HKG onto 2 BA legs (The BA sectors on one PNR). The CX leg is not however on the same PNR as the BA ones. Their (CX) site still says through-check for interline partners are possible if the journey starts with CX. (Ref: https://www.cathaypacific.com/cx/en_...in-policy.html) But I am not sure if BA being OW is considered interline partner, or if CX non-HKG checkin staff understands about how to through-check OW. The sectors are a few hours apart from one another.

5. I seem to have heard that the pandemic and a myriad of events have lead to quite some changes at CX, i.e. newer cabin crew. From a non-Omini/PR angle, what should my expectations be onboard in J. What would happen if I mention carpet.

Thank you flyertalk CX =P