Ok, to be fare, I've only flown CX888 twice, but both times we were late getting to JFK. It seems to me that the layover time at YVR is not long enough to allow passengers to disembark, have the aircraft serviced and catered, and reboard. The first time I flew this route, we left YVR about an hour late, after having arrived at YVR on time, without ever getting an explanation for the delay. Tonight's flight was better, but we still were not ready to push back until about 20-25 minutes after the scheduled departure time (and then we were delayed for another two hours because YVR could not handle the dusting the snow they experienced, which of course meant that CX889 was going to be two hours late, since the aircraft is just turned around at JFK).

So have I just had bad luck or is CX888 habitually late arriving at JFK?

Absolutely Not. 20-25 minute delays are not uncommon and every airline experiences it. It can be due to various factors such as weather, late passengers, mechanical isssues. etc. It happens to a lot of flights, not Just CX888. The snow storm pretty much explains the 2 hr delay. It does not snow very often in YVR (Usually 2-3x/yr). If you've seen white out conditions that are common with east coast airports (i.e ORD, YYZ, JFK, etc) you can expect hours of delays. And with an airport like YVR that are not usually accustomed to dealing with this type of weather condition, the situation might even be worse. Consider yourself lucky that your flight was only 2 hrs delayed.

I've been on 888 many times. I don't recall it ever being materially late (more than 10-15 minutes) into JFK.

Thanks. By the way, I thought I'd be bummed that they replaced the 744 with a 343 on this route, but I think I like the layout of F in the 343 better: I like all the extra "counter" space you get by virtue of the storage bins between the seat and the window.

(Also, I just noticed the "fare" vs. "fair" typo in my original post. I'd like to pretend that it was intended to be some funny play on words, but unfortunately it's just a typo.)

For those who are picking nits, 888 is a 343 some days, a 346 on others.

I'm definitely not a fan of the 34x in F. The cabin isn't nearly as secluded or roomy, and, for solo travelers who don't want a seatmate, only 50% of the 34x seats fit that bill compared to 67% of the 744's.

On the other hand, it's no particular hardship to sit in CX F on any a/c.

(So, Blumie, was the AE connection to BOS its usual late self in the foul weather, enough so for you to still make it?)

after another pointless rant on A343 F travel, back to the OT: have you checked the arrivals of any long-haul flights at JFK lately? there is a half hour window for ALL of them, simply because NY airspace is so crowded. variable wind conditions also influence flight time. In summer 888 and 830 were both 30 to 40 minutes early every day. I last arrived on 830 at close to 1 pm, over an hour early.

I planned an overnight in NYC this trip, so I didn't bother checking to see if I would have made the AE connection. Last time I arrived on CX888, I had checked my bag thinking I would have plenty of time for the connection. So when we ended up arriving 90 minutes late, I was completely stressed while waiting for my bag. I still made the AE flight, however, with about half an hour to spare, and then the flight ended up being delayed about an hour. (Even with the delay, AE managed not to get my bag on the flight!)

Do you remember when that flight used to be a mainline flight on a 738? It was such a luxury (particularly since it was an easy upgrade to score) compared to the AE flight.

Yep, it was about 2 years ago when they switched to AE. I was actually surprised -- the mainline flight was usually fairly full, mostly from connecting passengers coming from the Caribbean.

I now much prefer the non-stop from HKG. The schedule has a 1:20 connection to the AE mid-afternoon flight to BOS, but in winter the HKG-JFK flight is typically 30-60 mins early, so there's plenty of time to make the connection, even with luggage and Skytrain. They do gripe about insufficient cnx time, but there are plenty of ways around that.

You're not the only one. I too have found the few times that I take CX888 with an on-time arrival at YVR that they can't seem to get the aircraft turned around and off to JFK promptly.

It always is a dissapointment after the normally fine CX service.

Likewise when I take CX889 back to HKG it usually leaves JFK late since YVR couldn't turn it around ontime and JFK can't seem to cut down their turn time and instead taking the whole alloted time.

I recall a few times sitting in the BA lounge at JFK barely able to keep my eyes open as the YVR-JFK-YVR sector was delayed. Of course this was when the flight still left around 1130pm.

The problem is that the aircraft has to be inspected and checked again and again by US CUSTOMS Officers to make sure that the aircraft is 'clean'. If CX could do it themselves, the flight would always leave on time. But there's not much they can do as it's under US INS control.

Yep. Add this to the fact that US INS has its own team at YVR albeit 888 pax do not clear customs until arrival at JFK.

Yep, my recent flight was 45 minutes leaving HKG and more than 60 minutes leaving YVR. It was not delayed because of snow or weather, it was delayed out of HKG. Having to circle around Long Island for a while didn't help. At least the flight gets in late enough to avoid rush hour traffic.