Itinerary:
LAX-HKG on CX881 Y
HKG - 8 hour layover
HKG-SGN on CX765 Y
SGN - 8 days.
SGN-NRT on JL751 Y
NRT - 7 hour layover
NRT-LAX on AA170 C

CHAPTER 1

Before Departure:

Got some bad info from the reservations center in LA - was told that checkin for CX opened at 4 hours before departure. Got to the counter, and they said that the counter opens for both night flights at 6:30pm (I was on the 12:20am CX881), so I could have checked in my luggage way earlier and had time to grab a real dinner.

I need to fly CX more... check in was a BREEZE. Dropped my luggage off at the sniffer for inspection (just told them I was checking in using the F line to get ahead), and walked right up to the counter (no wait). I received my BPs and invite to the temporary F lounge (see here for report), which surprised me a bit as I thought it was for fare-paying F pax only. Checking in took less than 5 minutes.

This was quite excellent as I could spend more time at the Flagship Lounge in T4 (first time). If the AC is an escape from the terminal, the FL is an escape from the AC... much more quiet. I grabbed a quick shower... the shower rooms aren't any different than the ones in the AC, except for slightly better quality products and more accoutrements.

I liked the self service bar, which had some decent spirits (free-flow Grey Goose is a beautiful thing). The snacks weren’t anything special, but at least there was a variety. The chairs at the tables were pretty uncomfortable though. All in all, not a mind-blowing experience but well worth the price of admission.

After about 90 minutes, I proceed to go check out the temp F lounge in TBIT, which was nicer than I thought it would be (see report). After another 40 minutes, I had to face the inevitable and descend into the pit that is TBIT.

TSA security was short (<5 minutes) but should have been shorter had the “once-a-years” and their families not gotten in line. Seriously, why is there no elite line? Then the walk to Gate 103, which was completely full. In fact, at the Southern end of TBIT were gates 101-103 and all seem to have to share the same space. After a short wait, they called for F/J boarding, so I joined as an EXP. I had a small glimmer of hope for an op-up, but it was not to be, and boy am I very sad about it…

On-board.
I take my exit row aisle seat, 44H, and thought I would be merrily on my way to HKG in Y style. Unfortunately, I had a chronic seatback kicker behind me In fact, with a 15hr flight looming ahead, I spoke to him within the first hour of the flight, and he wasn’t being very receptive. I’ll give him this… he sure had great timing, because he would always jolt my seat right when I get to sleep. At about the 6 hour mark I had an FA talk to him. Then at the 8 hour mark I spoke with the Purser. Unfortunately they can’t do anything since I’m not willing to give up my exit row seat, and he refuses to move.

Y is completely full anyway, so the only options were to switch with another Y pax, or move one of us into J. I even suggested they move Mr. Kicker to J, as I only wanted a seat that didn’t wake me up. In any case, my position was that our existence was mutually exclusive, so one of us had to move… and I’m sorry, but if anyone were to be forced to move, it should me his non-status butt and not my shiny Emerald one. Am I off base?

Well, no movement happens, so now I’m forced to stay up the remainder of the flight. Mr. Kicker is now asleep, but still twitches. Grr. At least I have the Wing to look forward to…6 hours from now…

Anyway, moving on... the Y food was terrible. Stewed (nuked) beef, mashed (gummy) potatoes, veggies, salad with shrimp on it (way prepackaged, as the lettuce was infused with shrimp goodness :blech: ). In an attempted to make the meal Christmas-y they replaced the normal cheesecake with a slice of bouche de noel, also known as dried hunk o’ dough. I expected more out of CX (even in Y)! Perhaps they should contract with the vendor who caters Asiana flights. At least service was outstanding.

For the morbidly curious - The Y Menu:

I generally don’t have a problem with “reduced seat width” because of bulkhead/exit row, but man these seats on CX are tight. This is due to the IFE controller being permanently mounted to the armrest, which a) takes away at least 1 ½ in, and b) makes it VERY hard to control.

IFE was interestingly varied, but the most interesting channel to me (the flight map) didn’t work at my seat, even after 2 reboots. And why is my seat being held together with Scotch tape? The new seats can’t come soon enough. Plus: broken sink on starboard lav, broken toilet on port side, and someone’s IFE screen actually fell off like a decapitated head. I must be in one of the oldest 744s they have.

And finally, there was a Y amenity pack providing
-Pack itself
-Socks
-Keychain Lanyard
-Toothpaste/brush
-Card saying eyemasks are available.

(more to come… next up… a jaunt in HKG... and Hong Kong)