Cathay First is overrated

I mixed up the ICAO move with the Camp Mirage fiasco, my bad. The original point is however still valid - the two countries spat disproportionally over EK's request for expanded landing rights in Canada. UAE booted Canada out of Camp Mirage, both countries engaged in retaliatory actions against each other due to AC voicing fears over EK intruding on its turf.

Or maybe you should read this Toronto Star article from a "relevant time" instead of relying on some greatly sanitized "official press release" more than three years after the fact?

U.A.E. minister ‘insulted’ by Ottawa’s actions

The bold and underlined part was largely interpreted back then as the Canadian Government suggesting UAE was a supporter of international terrorism, thereby, not an ally of the West. So yes, I think I got my facts straight right here but thanks for checking.

There are no cabanas in the newly re-opened the Pier. If you had actually been there since its re-opening, you wouldn't be confused.

This is not purely a distance issue. HKIA is a single terminal building with no complications. The gates are further apart than in American airports, but there's space to walk quickly without dodging other passengers as it is rarely as congested as say LHR, LGA or ORD, and there are lots of travelators. Immigration is fast, and so is baggage collection. And the airport express will get you to Central in 24 mins, with a maximum wait time of 8 mins. Or a taxi will get you into Central in 35 mins with a wait time of ~5 mins. The total package may not be the best (as some claim) but it is pretty good.

CX regularly does stuff like rush passengers arriving late to their next flight connection at HKIA regardless of status and class. Not something I have ever seen in egalitarian Germany, or the rest of Europe or the USA.

Day Suites and Cabanas are cousins, as this July article summarizes well:

http://www.ausbt.com.au/inside-catha...nge-day-suites

You can be anywhere within the HKIA 10-15 minutes after entering security. It's the same in most of the new Asian/Middle Eastern airports. Try that in the average US airport.

Reading your posts I am left wondering how often you actually go to HKG???

Isn't that before we have ME3 and perhaps more liberal competition even between O&D carriers? Ten years ago CX and QF only ran one daily flight to Sydney each, now it's 4:1

You have not properly appreciated how impatient "Hongkie" people are in this market. Flying indirect for more luxury doesn't sell.

(C.f. anywhere TPAC/TATL may be considered far for Canadians)

So is CX meant to build a LH/QR-standard product to make it competitive in the transit market but is overkill for ex-HKG traffic? Not likely it'll do that.

I didn't see those Day Suites in the Pier last month and the lounge attendant didn't mention them. All he said was that there are no cabanas in the Pier because they are moving away from such concept. Someone else will have to confirm those Day Suites did in fact make it into the opening from your July press release because their presence eluded me. In any event from the pictures you linked, calling them "cousins" to cabanas would be a pretty big stretch.

I think judging from this thread, the HK market may exhibit significant home bias and also the fact that CX has not gone down to a level that would drive its captured audience away, yet. The key word is "yet". But if it were continue to deteriorate and cut, I am afraid only mileage redeemers will be left just like the AA and UA.

Don't know if you remember this, just a few years ago, Thai government officials loath at flying Thai Airways because the TG products were so outdated. Complacency is dangerous, if the captured audience doesn't wake up, 10 years from now we may yet see "TG #2" based out of HKG.

Just a personal anecdote - a lot of my relatives in HK have been moving away from CX as of late. Universally, the complaints have been about bad food and awful service onboard/ground in both J and F.

Some of them have moved to EK/QR when travelling to Europe and they couldn't be happier as they think the product is nicer, the fares cheaper and the 1 connection in DXB/DOH isn't a huge bother as they're not terrible airports to connect through. If you're flying to places like BCN, MUC, CPH, ARN etc, having to not connect in a hellhole like FRA, CDG or LHR is a plus.

The Day Suites did make it when CX opened The Pier First Class lounge in June 2015.

I was there last week and I tried the Day Suites as well in the last few months. Have you tried them?

Traveling again in the next few days to HKG and I'll be happy to post a few photos from The Pier.

For your perusal:

Maybe other O&D like Lufthansa can make a dent into CX's traffic

But how much O&D competition does CX face?

- Aus, NZ, Mainland China: no one offers direct F

- Japan: NH and JL doesn't have F

- UK: You said CX has a way to go before getting to BA levels.

- Canada: AC doesn't have F

- US: used to offer decent F didn't u say? That means they don't now?

- India: no one offers direct F

TG, SQ, KE and OZ may offer F but who really need SF to go there?

So it's the continental destinations where CX faces any meaningful competition. HKers will switch, but only if times are good.

Indeed.

There is a function on FT that you can see all the posts/ threads by a user. With the limited posts OP has had, it is very easy to dig up his past post history. Virtually all threads started by him were either asking for award redemption or card bonuses.

The OP is not even an elite but loaded with miles from churning credit cards, a phenomena unique to US. Alas good time is coming to end now AA finally joins the devaluation party. Comes March 22, the CX F would cost 110K one way versus the current bargain of 67.5K. But there will still be one PJ!

this thread makes me want to bang my head...

The Wing is being renovated and the Cabanas are being removed?!

HKIA is less efficient than American airports?!!!

QR's flash product on 3 A380's is superior to CX's product on 33 777's?

1-2-1 is wider than 1-1-1 on the same aircraft?

First passengers need high end branded products because they cannot afford their own?

what about perspective
LH's first class may be amazing
but their J and Y...

it is also hilarious to hear people claim that CX thinking of going 10 across is a sign of a deteriorating product, why can't CX be like ME3?! ( another CX bashing thread)

OH WAIT
who is the champion of 10 across on the 777...


I just can't handle...

Soon to be AC

I thought the 777 champion was JAL domestic 773 with 500 pax. Of course the plane is short haul.