Cathay F vs. Qatar QSuites
May 29, 2018, 2:09 pm
#31
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: ORD [formerly] + HKG
Programs: CX Diamond, AA exExPlat, BAEC exGold, HH Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, Starriott Titanium, GE
Posts: 2,966
Wine list (as part of catering budget) is separated into 3 bands at CX for long haul F. Only the top band ports (JFK and LHR) get Lynch Bages.
May 29, 2018, 9:29 pm
#32
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: SFO/HKG
Programs: ex-UA 1K, AA EXP, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 535
How does taste of the fine wines compare in air vs on the ground? I'm a light drinker to begin with and the higher altitude seemingly magnifies the effects so I generally stay away from alcohol.
May 29, 2018, 9:50 pm
#33
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: CX, UA, Shangri-La, Hyatt, Starwood
Posts: 7,708
some folks have gone a bit further and said certain fruit forward, high alcohol types of wine taste better than they would otherwise be on the ground.
bottom line is lots of impairments on board. High altitude, not-great stemware, stemware often isn't cleaned properly so there's residue or soapy leftovers which impact the taste, no time for any of the wines to breathe. And some of the Lynch Bages CX's serves are very very very young, and if I was drinking on the ground I'd be decanting for a long while before drinking. They're really not ready to drink as CX serves them but it's basically for bling factor.
My main point to some posts above is there just isn't any curation to the CX F wine lists (and J list is beyond bad.....). Even though CX F has a few decent wines on there, like the Krug NV or Bages or whatnot. My feeling is that CX just plops things on there which sound bling-y and cut everywhere else without much thought into making a proper wine list.
May 29, 2018, 10:58 pm
#34
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Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Hong Kong, France
Programs: FB , BA Gold
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There is no doubt that CX F is F and priced at F. So comparison with a J product, priced at J, is a bit misleading.
Everyone is different and these are just my personal views.
I prefer marginally QR J food to CX F. Their budget might be lower, but food is more original and plenty of choices. CX F food is truly disappointing if you are a frequent flyer.
I don't drink bubbly, so not sensitive to the blingy Krug. But wines are very important to me. I was looking at my menus from August to December 2017 (8 flights on QR, 3 flights on CX F.
On CX F I had a Branaire Ducru 2008 and a Chablis Grand Cu 2013, all other wines were mediocre. On QR I had either Smith Haut Lafitte 2011 or Brane Cantenac 2012, and a Chablis 1er cru. But also a lovely Chianti Riserva 2012 (also one on CX F). Not saying that QR J one are better, they might be a notch below CX F, but not much, and that is J.
And if you compare to CX J, or AF J, or BA J, the difference is WOW.
Everyone is different and these are just my personal views.
I prefer marginally QR J food to CX F. Their budget might be lower, but food is more original and plenty of choices. CX F food is truly disappointing if you are a frequent flyer.
I don't drink bubbly, so not sensitive to the blingy Krug. But wines are very important to me. I was looking at my menus from August to December 2017 (8 flights on QR, 3 flights on CX F.
On CX F I had a Branaire Ducru 2008 and a Chablis Grand Cu 2013, all other wines were mediocre. On QR I had either Smith Haut Lafitte 2011 or Brane Cantenac 2012, and a Chablis 1er cru. But also a lovely Chianti Riserva 2012 (also one on CX F). Not saying that QR J one are better, they might be a notch below CX F, but not much, and that is J.
And if you compare to CX J, or AF J, or BA J, the difference is WOW.
May 31, 2018, 6:53 am
#35
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Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Hong Kong, France
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Just to add to my previous post. I flew QR J last night from HKG to CDG.
It definitely feels as F in terms of service, food, wine, cutlery, presentation. Some wonderful dishes beautifully presented. I had a lovely main of lobster medallion with scallops and prawn. Very original on the spicy side; better than typical CX F.
And service is fast, efficient (unlike CX F which is very slow) and stylish.
Champagne was Pommery (two notches below Krug, but I don't like bubbles when flying). Chateau Lynch Moussas 2012, a nice Grand Cru Classe, below Lynch Bages but we don;t get Lynch Bages anymore on that CX route. Also a delightful Primitivo 2012. white wines were poor but a stunning Alvear dessert wine 1927 vintage (yes 1927)
It definitely feels as F in terms of service, food, wine, cutlery, presentation. Some wonderful dishes beautifully presented. I had a lovely main of lobster medallion with scallops and prawn. Very original on the spicy side; better than typical CX F.
And service is fast, efficient (unlike CX F which is very slow) and stylish.
Champagne was Pommery (two notches below Krug, but I don't like bubbles when flying). Chateau Lynch Moussas 2012, a nice Grand Cru Classe, below Lynch Bages but we don;t get Lynch Bages anymore on that CX route. Also a delightful Primitivo 2012. white wines were poor but a stunning Alvear dessert wine 1927 vintage (yes 1927)
Jun 2, 2018, 3:43 pm
#38
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 3,166
Jun 3, 2018, 6:32 am
#39
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Jun 3, 2018, 7:15 am
#40
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: None any more
Posts: 11,017
I guess that the top bands are defined by revenue not distance. JFK and LHR are where they get the bankers spending absurd amounts of money (because they can just fleece their customers and they don't care) on full fare F.
Jun 3, 2018, 11:56 am
#41
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Very few banks, asset managers or insurance companies now allow F travel. At least not big banks (HK family banks might be another story).
Jun 3, 2018, 3:57 pm
#42
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 3,166
So far the only group of people I know who purchase revenue international first class tickets are people from Hollywood: the entertainment industry.
I'm a bit surprised LAX is not a top-tier band for CX. (only JFK and LHR are the top-tier bands, according to a poster above.)
I'm a bit surprised LAX is not a top-tier band for CX. (only JFK and LHR are the top-tier bands, according to a poster above.)
Jun 3, 2018, 4:25 pm
#43
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: ORD [formerly] + HKG
Programs: CX Diamond, AA exExPlat, BAEC exGold, HH Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, Starriott Titanium, GE
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1 - JFK(/YVR) LHR
2 - CDG FRA ORD BOS
3 - LAX SFO MXPZRH
I would predict that (progressively along the next decade), this is also the 'order' of ports where CX will phase out F class/reduce capacity gradually.
In the future, there will be additional F capacity reduction for LAX. There may be a market for it, but not as big of a market per se.
2 - CDG FRA ORD BOS
3 - LAX SFO MXP
I would predict that (progressively along the next decade), this is also the 'order' of ports where CX will phase out F class/reduce capacity gradually.
So far the only group of people I know who purchase revenue international first class tickets are people from Hollywood: the entertainment industry.
I'm a bit surprised LAX is not a top-tier band for CX. (only JFK and LHR are the top-tier bands, according to a poster above.)
I'm a bit surprised LAX is not a top-tier band for CX. (only JFK and LHR are the top-tier bands, according to a poster above.)
Jun 3, 2018, 4:51 pm
#44
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 3,166
1 - JFK(/YVR) LHR
2 - CDG FRA ORD BOS
3 - LAX SFO MXPZRH
I would predict that (progressively along the next decade), this is also the 'order' of ports where CX will phase out F class/reduce capacity gradually.
In the future, there will be additional F capacity reduction for LAX. There may be a market for it, but not as big of a market per se.
2 - CDG FRA ORD BOS
3 - LAX SFO MXP
I would predict that (progressively along the next decade), this is also the 'order' of ports where CX will phase out F class/reduce capacity gradually.
In the future, there will be additional F capacity reduction for LAX. There may be a market for it, but not as big of a market per se.
I'm really surprised ORD and BOS beat LAX and SFO.
Jun 3, 2018, 8:57 pm
#45
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: NYC/SIN
Programs: CX DM, SQ KF
Posts: 2,171
1 - JFK(/YVR) LHR
2 - CDG FRA ORD BOS
3 - LAX SFO MXPZRH
I would predict that (progressively along the next decade), this is also the 'order' of ports where CX will phase out F class/reduce capacity gradually.
In the future, there will be additional F capacity reduction for LAX. There may be a market for it, but not as big of a market per se.
2 - CDG FRA ORD BOS
3 - LAX SFO MXP
I would predict that (progressively along the next decade), this is also the 'order' of ports where CX will phase out F class/reduce capacity gradually.
In the future, there will be additional F capacity reduction for LAX. There may be a market for it, but not as big of a market per se.
Bless your soul!