Cathay First is overrated
Nov 30, 2015, 8:06 pm
#46
Join Date: Dec 2011
Programs: United, Delta
Posts: 55
I flew Cathay Pacific first this past Aug from LA to HK. I was directed to the Quantas lounge in LA, good personal service and food cooked to order.
On the flight from LA- HK, there were only four passengers in first (including myself) and we received plenty of individual attention, the FAs took care of us with out being intrusive.
Worked for me
On the flight from LA- HK, there were only four passengers in first (including myself) and we received plenty of individual attention, the FAs took care of us with out being intrusive.
Worked for me
Nov 30, 2015, 9:16 pm
#47
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: EWR
Programs: CX Green | UA Silver | Marriott Lifetime Platinum | Hyatt Globalist | Hilton Gold | AA EXP
Posts: 813
Nov 30, 2015, 11:48 pm
#48
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 101
I flew Cathay Pacific first this past Aug from LA to HK. I was directed to the Quantas lounge in LA, good personal service and food cooked to order.
On the flight from LA- HK, there were only four passengers in first (including myself) and we received plenty of individual attention, the FAs took care of us with out being intrusive.
Worked for me
On the flight from LA- HK, there were only four passengers in first (including myself) and we received plenty of individual attention, the FAs took care of us with out being intrusive.
Worked for me
Nov 30, 2015, 11:50 pm
#49
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 74
Good idea, will probably do the same next time. In my experience there is not a big miss when skipping the main dish on board.
Dec 1, 2015, 12:07 am
#50
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: CX, UA, Shangri-La, Hyatt, Starwood
Posts: 7,708
The Qantas F lounge is a great lounge at LAX, probably the best I've seen in the US. But I'd still take good restaurant in LA any day over eating there....it's still an airport lounge at the end of the day. I definitely wouldn't recommend a.) starving yourself in advance, b.) so you can eat at QF F LAX, and then c.) be full on the airplane. I'm presuming here you're looking for a "maximizing" effort.
Personally, I think the novelty of getting decent food (and a rather spectacular presentation, especially compared to economy or business class) in F at altitude is far more interesting and "WoW!" than having a free, fresh a la carte meal in an airport. Because that's really all the a la carte option is at a lounge....free, good food....but not "that's the best restaurant in LA" type of food.
On board, the absolute quality of the food is undoubtedly worse. It's food at 30k feet so on an absolute level, it really isn't going to compare with freshly grilled food or whatnot you can score at the QF F lounge. But really, I can get remarkably fancy dining anywhere and just pay a few hundred dollars for it. Literally anywhere in the world. Meanwhile, you most certainly cannot get a blinged out food presentation at 30k feet unless you're flying F or private, which is a far more rare occurrence for most folks. Just my 2 cents.
Dec 1, 2015, 2:52 am
#51
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: NYC
Programs: OW Emerald
Posts: 247
Dec 1, 2015, 3:01 am
#52
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 74
What I still don't understand is: for what reason you need two PJs? You wearing two, because its cold? (probably not). I don't see any reason why an airline should give me more than one PJ.
Dec 1, 2015, 6:16 am
#53
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Asia Pac
Programs: AA UA DL AS CXDM JL NH Hilton Hyatt Marriott SPG IHG
Posts: 545
On the subject of PJ, I remember on my NRT-LAX-NRT flight on JL J, the FA came asking if I need something that looks like a shirt to put on. It's not a PJ, and I am sure it's not a blanket, it's something to wear. Anyone know what that is and what that is for? Thanks!
Dec 1, 2015, 7:32 am
#54
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: CX DM
Posts: 1,140
A nightshirt? That's what hotels like the Four Seasons and Palace provide in Tokyo in addition to the bathrobes.
Dec 1, 2015, 7:35 am
#55
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: CX DM
Posts: 1,140
This is exactly what I do. Catering in the QF F lounge is not particularly exciting, so I tend to nibble something light then just have soup, caviar (I always ask for a seconds) and a couple of glasses of Krug on board, then sleep.
Dec 1, 2015, 8:49 am
#58
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: LUX
Programs: LH SEN, BA Silver, HH SILVER, Bonvoy PLAT, A/club PLAT, Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 838
Dec 1, 2015, 10:06 am
#59
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: YYZ
Posts: 1,666
After a couple more experiences flying F with different carriers after my last longhaul CX F segment in April 2014, a couple of comments:
Overall, I think CX is not the "best" at anything but I'd say it's a very well rounded F product. Seems like with any product there's a bunch of trade offs.
Food & Beverage is the low point of CX F for sure. However, I'm not convinced that F food in the air is all that great compared to what you get for shelling out $50-$100 for a real meal on the ground. If we're really going to base our decision on which F to fly based on food, it's would be only JL F or NH F that is worth flying. I personally place a much lower priority on the food than I used to, since I prefer to eat before flying these days.
The CX F bed is not the "best", but not among the worst. Aside from the LH F 744 separate bed setup, I think QF and SQ have better beds than CX.
The ground services are seriously lacking. Haven't been to the Pier, but the lack of an exclusive F lounge or an escort service leaves them behind the likes of LH, EK or SQ for instance. But, IMO carriers like JL, OZ and NH have worse lounge products.
The crews seem to be what can tip the experience into a great or bad one. I was lucky to have consistently great and attentive crews on all my CX F flights, without them being overly intrusive (*cough*SQ*cough*). Each crew did their own little thing to make the flight memorable, and offered proactive service (e.g. I've had 2 crews give me spare boxes of pralines when seeing how much I enjoyed them.)
Overall, I think CX is not the "best" at anything but I'd say it's a very well rounded F product. Seems like with any product there's a bunch of trade offs.
Food & Beverage is the low point of CX F for sure. However, I'm not convinced that F food in the air is all that great compared to what you get for shelling out $50-$100 for a real meal on the ground. If we're really going to base our decision on which F to fly based on food, it's would be only JL F or NH F that is worth flying. I personally place a much lower priority on the food than I used to, since I prefer to eat before flying these days.
The CX F bed is not the "best", but not among the worst. Aside from the LH F 744 separate bed setup, I think QF and SQ have better beds than CX.
The ground services are seriously lacking. Haven't been to the Pier, but the lack of an exclusive F lounge or an escort service leaves them behind the likes of LH, EK or SQ for instance. But, IMO carriers like JL, OZ and NH have worse lounge products.
The crews seem to be what can tip the experience into a great or bad one. I was lucky to have consistently great and attentive crews on all my CX F flights, without them being overly intrusive (*cough*SQ*cough*). Each crew did their own little thing to make the flight memorable, and offered proactive service (e.g. I've had 2 crews give me spare boxes of pralines when seeing how much I enjoyed them.)
Dec 1, 2015, 12:44 pm
#60
Ambassador: Japan Airlines
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: LAX
Programs: JAL Mileage Bank, JMB Diamond, oneworld Emerald, Bonvoy Platinum
Posts: 16,394
cardigan and it is for use during the flight only. you are expected to return it at the end of the flight