being a DM everything should be good whether u get caviar or not, no? and their tea is good too!

Some people would say FCL is overrated ;)

Anyways I like my fish eggs.

Their tea is indeed really good!!! Didn't feel any special treatment as DM...:eek: Seat beat sign was on for at least 7 hours of the flight, so I was hungry and thirsty for hot drinks through.

I like the caviar because it's predictable... and not particularly easy for them to screw up.

The Krug... well, I like champagne. And their wine list is often not so good, so the Krug is at least a great way to start.

Exactly this. Cold dishes (or ones from a tin/glass/can) have less room for error than a dish cooked, chilled, waiting for 24 hours, then transported and re-heated.

Salads, desserts, cheeses... all usually ok. But your steak could vary from 'great' to 'almost inedible' (as was my experience on CX F last year on a flight to SFO).

Caviar (or other cold hors d'oeuvres) add another 'good' course.

Speaking of F, I asked about the flowers and I'm told they collect them and put them into a sealed plastic bag for US arrivals. And then before the next flight, they're taken out. They're not loaded on the US side.

And occasionally cleaning crews toss the bag of flowers, so hence you end up with no flowers on the return trip.

Flew JFK-HKG in F early August and champagne wasn't poured at the seat. Tasted different and I asked the FA if it was Krug...she looked at me funny and went, "you wanted Krug? You should have mentioned!" Service was otherwise pretty good though.

I always thought Krug was the "default" champagne served in F...not on a only-if-you-ask basis, but I guess they used Deutz (the J class champagne?) as the default on this flight.

Actually they usually ask me what I want. But usually Krug is suggested.

Curious, which tea did you try?

The equipment is usually scheduled to return in a few hours (as short as 2-3 hours). Why do they even bother to seal them and take them out in another two hours?

They usually suggest the best champagne on board, and that is usually Krug. If you want the champagne from J, they will get for you too.:D (Just don't order food from J, they may run out of stock :D:D)

Is F on HKG-TPE and an extra 2 hours in the Pier F lounge worth sacrificing 2 hours in Taipei? I'm flying BKK - HKG - TPE - SFO. TPE-SFO will be the next day (deliberate 23 or 21 hour layover).

I can choose HKG-TPE in CX J, or F. The F flight is 2 hours later than my shortest connection in HKG from BKK. The J flight arrives in Taipei at 3.50pm. And the F flight at 5.40pm. I figure with the earlier flight I can get downtown, check in, and perhaps see the CKS memorial before dinner. With the F flight, it's to the hotel then onto dinner. I'm flying LAX-HKG in F on the outbound.

Thoughts?

Interesting. I guess we have to pay attention. I thought they only offer you the best champagne available on board...

bmchris,

You may be hard-pressed to see the CKS memorial before dinner even with the earlier flight. I'm usually one of the first off the plane, have e-gate entry, little luggage and a car service waiting, and I figure 1 hour and 20 minutes from touching down to getting home in downtown TPE. Given that many flights these days are delayed into TPE due to only one runway in operation, potential lines at immigration, and rush hour during the time of your arrival, it'd probably be safer to scale back your timeframe a bit.

I like F as much as the next guy and I love the Pier, but if your aim is to try to squeeze in as much as you can in TPE, then I'd go for the earlier flight. OTOH, if you have time to catch a few sites the following morning, then I'd probably pick the F flight and enjoy the Pier, not so much for the F flight, but to enjoy the food and ambiance (plus perhaps a massage) of the Pier.

Admittedly I'm a bit of a lounge junkie, so others may disagree.

It is too tight visiting the CKS Memorial with flight arriving at 3:50pm. I also feel that it is too much carrying luggage while sightseeing. Regardless of the flight taken, I would drop luggage off (possibly at the hotel) before heading somewhere else. If there is no additional cost, I would go for F and relax for two more hours in HK.