Pascoe

So I have an interesting situation coming up next month.

LHR >> HKG >> LHR

Out in J, back in F (usual thing - our corp travel agent dipped into his box of tricks and found some magic pixie dust - I don't ask and he rarely tells).

It'll be the first J trip I've done which should have the full 'new CW' service (I did JFK last year just as they trialled it so only the food and some other peripheral stuff was updated at that point, and since then I've been flat out on shorthaul stuff).

So I will now be very interested in just how different the feel is between J and F. I am flying BA31/32 so it's the big bus both ways. So a genuine like for like comparison (and plenty of time on the flight in which to do this comparison).

Additionally I've never flown F back from HKG - only outwards. So I assume if I can be bothered to stray a bit from gate 15 there is possibly even a better lounge to explore.

I'll report back on this thread what my impression is - I didn't want to add it to the main 'new CW' thread, as I am specifically interested in whether it's nibbling at the heels of F, and where next for that product if so. However mods if you feel strongly that this needs to be rolled up into the other thread then fair enough.

teledude

Head down to the Pier F lounge near gate 61 but be prepared for a decent walk each way from the likely BA gate

Cymro

You're BA gold so you can also do that in any class of travel (there's no CCR or Doha-style arrangement in Hong Kong; the CX F lounges are open to all Emeralds).

It is worth the walk, though.

KARFA

you can get the transit out towards the pier which saves some walking. coming back to the BA gate is walking only tho.

Pascoe

I am normally very very lazy when it comes to those lounges, partly because I often end up having a team dinner in Kowloon before flying, so I tend not to rock up there as early as I might at 'home base' (where I may try and get a bit of work done before wheels up). And partly because, location wise in what is quite a big terminal, they're just sooooo handily placed for those LHR departure gates.

But on this occasion if I get a chance I'll try and take one for the team

Wapps68

I presume that an upgrade to the F soft product is in the works. I also presume that an upgrade to the F hard product will come (especially if the new J hard product is a big improvement - and even more so if the new J hard product features doors on seats). I think they should roll out the soft product upgrade sooner rather than later, with the hard product upgrade to follow, as they have done for J.

I am sure I recall a mention somewhere that BA is contemplating a lounge to plane service, a la AF and LH. Does anyone else recall that?

Keep it Riel

I'm helping a company which has been invited to supply premium products for F which was a few years ahead of when we expected the next tender, so something is certainly happening...

Pascoe

I'm actually not a hugely demanding user, so I am probably undeserving of the opportunity to test this stuff out from time to time.......

Nevertheless...........

pennineuk

Globaliser

As flying in F makes no difference to which lounges you can use, logically there's an argument for doing the lounge exploration on an occasion when you're not then flying in F. If you're planning to avail yourself of the onboard service in F, it'll be a bit spoiled if you've already been lounge hopping and trying all of the various refreshments available. In contrast, if you do that before flying in J, you can then go straight to sleep or otherwise ignore the onboard service.

However, if your normal timing means that you don't often get the chance but you do on this occasion, then clearly that is an argument for doing the lounge hopping this time. I "suffer" from a similar problem: after a visit to Hong Kong, even a short one, eating is about the last thing I feel like doing when I get to the airport to fly back to London.

where next

Grande Annee

Howard Long

allturnleft

Grande Annee