First time flying F, tips to maximize experience?
Jul 3, 2010 | 7:53 am
#16
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: ...
Programs: CX DM / SQ PPS / VN Platinum
Posts: 1,123
Welcome to Flyertalk, benjaminm3 !
The best thing is not to expect anything nor read anything in advance but to just enjoy the experience. Otherwise you'll be wondering why you didn't get this or do that... cos sometimes a certain dish or item isn't loaded and you're expecting it.
I'll tell you one of my best expectations... I was expecting a great meal when I boarded for my HKG-MEL flight in F. When the flight took off, I dozed off... and then I heard clinking of dishes etc. Next thing I knew I was being woken up.. as the plane was coming to land! The cabin crew will not wake you unless advised.
Oh well...
The best thing is not to expect anything nor read anything in advance but to just enjoy the experience. Otherwise you'll be wondering why you didn't get this or do that... cos sometimes a certain dish or item isn't loaded and you're expecting it.
I'll tell you one of my best expectations... I was expecting a great meal when I boarded for my HKG-MEL flight in F. When the flight took off, I dozed off... and then I heard clinking of dishes etc. Next thing I knew I was being woken up.. as the plane was coming to land! The cabin crew will not wake you unless advised.
Oh well...
sometimes 9+ hours of straight sleep is the best thing about F.
Jul 3, 2010 | 7:59 am
#17
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: new york, ny
Posts: 1,375
If you like Champagne, then CX F is a great place to be. I did a trip over NY 2009/2010 to SFO and back and was the only person in F on the outbound. I can't say I matched the 8 bottles of Dom man (my HERO!) but I worked my way through three of them and enjoyed the best service in the air ever. The crew gave me two bottles of Krug to take with me at the end because they said they'd kept some handy for the descent because I seemed to be rather fond of it. This was just after the underpant bomber incident so I was confined to my seat 1 hour before landing but this was no hardship with a constantly refilled glass of Krug.
Since then I've had two op ups to F from J albeit not alone and enjoyed it just as much. There really is a world of difference from J to F, especially where the food is concerned. Personally I think the food in CX J is absolute slop which surprised me.
I'm quite fond though of the Billecart-Salmon they serve up in J so I usually just have a liquid dinner, pop a sleeping pill and snore my way across the Pacific. I love CX F so much I've upgraded my next trip to SFO using miles. Bring on the Krug!
Since then I've had two op ups to F from J albeit not alone and enjoyed it just as much. There really is a world of difference from J to F, especially where the food is concerned. Personally I think the food in CX J is absolute slop which surprised me.
I'm quite fond though of the Billecart-Salmon they serve up in J so I usually just have a liquid dinner, pop a sleeping pill and snore my way across the Pacific. I love CX F so much I've upgraded my next trip to SFO using miles. Bring on the Krug!
Jul 4, 2010 | 12:22 am
#19
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 4
Thanks for the advice everyone and the welcome! Sounds like the champagne/alcohol is a must! Is all of the alcohol on board available free, basically open-bar style? I've never tried JW blue but I do love whisky, perhaps I'll give it a shot along with the Krug(hopefully).
Last edited by benjaminm3; Jul 4, 2010 at 12:27 am
Jul 4, 2010 | 1:52 am
#20
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: ...
Programs: CX DM / SQ PPS / VN Platinum
Posts: 1,123
Thanks for the advice everyone and the welcome! Sounds like the champagne/alcohol is a must! Is all of the alcohol on board available free, basically open-bar style? I've never tried JW blue but I do love whisky, perhaps I'll give it a shot along with the Krug(hopefully).
Yes.
Jul 4, 2010 | 8:30 am
#21
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 6,978
Thanks for the advice everyone and the welcome! Sounds like the champagne/alcohol is a must! Is all of the alcohol on board available free, basically open-bar style? I've never tried JW blue but I do love whisky, perhaps I'll give it a shot along with the Krug(hopefully).
Jul 4, 2010 | 9:45 am
#22
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: HKG/YVR/NYC
Programs: AC 75K, A3*G, AS MVPG, AA LT Gold 1MM, JL/JGC (OWS) , Marriott Titanium, Hertz 5*, Avis PC
Posts: 3,703
It's not so bad if your an elite on an USA airline but if your not 
benjaminm3, have as many free drinks
as you want, just don't puke your brains out
Jul 5, 2010 | 8:49 am
#23
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: None any more
Posts: 11,017
Jul 5, 2010 | 8:58 am
#24
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 4
Highest class I've flown prior to this was premium economy on BA.
Jul 5, 2010 | 9:16 am
#25
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: HKG/YVR/NYC
Programs: AC 75K, A3*G, AS MVPG, AA LT Gold 1MM, JL/JGC (OWS) , Marriott Titanium, Hertz 5*, Avis PC
Posts: 3,703
Jul 5, 2010 | 5:21 pm
#26
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 6,978
Jul 5, 2010 | 6:40 pm
#27
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 4
Jul 5, 2010 | 6:48 pm
#28
Join Date: Jul 2009
Programs: DL PM, BA Gold, AA Plat, Marriott LT P, IHG Diamond Amb
Posts: 178
The best thing for you to do is take your time and enjoy everything: priority checkin, the lounge, the seats, the food, and the service. Just remember that it's not something you'll get to do every week so take some pictures!