SFO Lounge
 

I still don't understand why CX uses the dreadful JAL Sakura lounge at SFO. Wouldn't the BA lounge be a better option? I find it ironic that the BA lounge closes earlier than the JL lounge considering the fact that the time gap between the last JL flight of the day to leave SFO and the departure time of the CX flight is much greater than the time gap between the last BA flight to leave SFO and the time the CX flight leaves. Why would CX opt for a non-OW lounge over a OW lounge?

Cheaper? I don't know, but the Sakura lounge is a disgrace. One would think, with CX moving its US operations to SFO, that perhaps we'd get a reasonable lounge. Maybe a letter writing campaign is in order?

I agree that the BA lounge would make much more sense for CX to use. I recall the last time I flew CX out of SFO (Oct. 2003, so dated info), that the BA lounge was being used by another carrier.

IMO, the Sakura Lounge itself is not that bad (but the F section is pretty comical), but the amenities on offer, particularly the snacks (and maybe the booze -- I don't drink, so I don't know), are dismal. CX cannot control the phyisical plant of the lounge, but surely it could upgrade the snack offerings to something more than chips, etc.

Has anyone ever written in to CX noting the substandard facilities at SFO and if yes, gotten anything more than a stock reply?

It is worth writing in - I complained on more than a few occasions about the AA lounges on offer at LHR, and look what there is now...

CX Customer Relations do listen. It might take them a while, but they do. :)

I wrote a year ago when I was using SFO quite a lot for HKG flight, but after receiving two "canned" replies, I have no interest in dealing with the Customer Relations Coordinator, a Ms. Strickland......anyway, I moved my flights to JFK or LAX, at least I can use the AA FL or the BA F lounges.....

The biggest gripe is the staff at SFO (and also LAX, but at least they are not as rude as a Ms. Yuan in SFO).....a Ms. Yuan never looked at me during the check-in process, and can be classified as unresponsive at best. My request for an escort to the security was met with a blank stare...... :rolleyes:

Anyway, some may have better luck with SFO on CX, but I've pretty much given up flying on CX from SFO.....

You're situation is kind of the opposite of mines. :D I have given up flying CX from LAX. IMO, the ground staff at LAX (As a whole team, not just one individual) are the surliest and most disorganized among all the CX ground staff I have encountered out of all the CX ports that I have flown out of. I've never encounterd Ms. Yuan at the desk and I've always been treated with respect by the SFO check-in staff.

SFO? LAX? JFK? I hear nothing but gripes about CX service from these airports.. and I haven't much problems when flying from either of these airports. CX service has always been good.. and that goes about the ground services too.

Maybe when one asks for a someone to escort you to security isn't meant for you to ask ... I've never asked for one.. but I've been always personally escorted past security... so why me? I can walk there myself.. except when the queues are long, then it's a welcome treat.

Perhaps you guys may try flying out of YVR next time? But then again, I'm sure someone here doesn't like flying out of YVR either for one reason or another.

At JFK, there is no CX dedicated ground staff, only BA staff. My one JFK experience was fine w/r/t the BA ground staff, but the lounge catering left much to be desired. Of course, my feelings on the 8 PM breakfast on CX 831 are well documented here.

I've had nothing but positive experiences with the CX SFO ground staff. When I have taken this flight, it is after connecting from AA, and the lounge staff (who are CX exmployees, BTW) have always put forth the effort to confirm that my bag has been received from AA, which I appreciate.

YVR ground staff are among the best and I have never encountered any problems with them. ^ Also love the YVR based cabin crews as well. ^

I actually like the staff at SFO. Always been very pleasant to me. You must have had a bad apple with Mrs. Yuan.

SFO offered me an escort when security was busy (all traveling in F). Do they offer it based on class of service or status?

Also, the only good thing about JAL lounge is that they have high speed internet connections for personal laptops!!!

last time at LHR a young CX chap told me that management had communicated plans to establish Wing-style lounges at all CX destinations. All destinations. All of them. No really, ALL. (as he ever so succinctly emphasized after I might have looked rather unconvinced)

I found the staff at SFO are little below average. NO smile, no greeting like 'good evening', no 'have a pleasant flight', however, they do try their best to fillfull my request during check-in.

I usually check-in 2 hours prior departure, found that quening at economy line may be faster, 8 Y booth compare to 2 J booth. This also happened to me at PEK and SIN during my December trip.

The lounge in SFO is unpleasant. Luckily I have my laptop with me, otherwise, there are no desktop with internet access there. Snacks are very limited, no hot food served, was crowded the last two times i went there. Wondering will CX build a Wing-like lounge after they (maybe) start their double daily to SFO.

What, even in twice-weekly Adelaide? :D

Agreed - About 1 out 3 three they even tell me I can't use the lounge as PLT or EXP. OK - I fly coach, company policy.

From what I've experienced SFO CX is the only one world airport where I need to carry a copy of the terms and conditions to ensure lounge access.

I have to say CX overall is a good carrier and good to OW elites - its just the SFO airport staff.

i said ALL of them didn't I? :D

Don't agree with that one. I had mixed feelings on the YVR crew and staff. Back in 2003 I travelled on the YVR-JFK in J and I find the Check in agent = rude (as I asked whether or not is it possible to block the seat next to me in the upper deck) It was on the 25 Dec. Her respond was. No, CX policy is not to block seats and her attitude is not good at all.

However once on board the FA was excellent (and there were only 2 people - incl myself ont he upper deck). She served my meals F Class style (using the F Class Nrotake Plates) and gave ma a small cookie present at the end.

On my recent trip in F class from YVR-JFK I did not deal with the check in agent as I just came from HKG. However the cabin crew on this flight (especially the ISM and the F Class purser/FA) are really average. Actually The standard were NOT too far off AA's standard.

Following points noted:
1) All the F class FA, purser and ISM chatted really loud (almost screamed their head of laughing) in the galley. I don't mind the odd noise or there, but they pretty much started their chatter from the " Cabin Crew please take your seats for take off" till "Cabin crew please take your seats for landing"

2) Making offensive remarks on PAX in Chinese (on a certain oversized westener). well they must've thought I was an ABC

3) ISM = doing nothing for the whole flight. I noticed that the ISM pretty much just greeted the pax in F class and went back in the galley for the whole flight. When I went to the toilet I noticed she was sitting their stuffing herself with food and just reading magazines and chatting her head of with other FAs

4) Impersonal service. I have to ask more than 3 times for water and then they said they ran out of bottle water so they have to REFILL my bottle ( I cannot believe it when I heard it!) Then I jsut went back to the J Class bar and noticed they were a few small UNOPENED bottles there. How come they are so LASY? also I asked for a comb (as they have offloaded my amenity pack from HKG-YVR. The ISM said, sorry no amenity pack for this flight. All I asked was a COMB!. I gave up and later on I went to ask a FA in the J Cabin and she gave me a whole Demological Wash bag.

5) Duvet service. As i was Pretty tired on this segment (due to the time difference) I decided to sleep first and then order to have my meal 2 hours after take off. Not only did the FA + Purser forgot to cook the food (resulting in another 30 minutes wait) and I have to go and ask her for the meal. I also have to open the side compartments to get my duvet out (as they were chatting away in the galley). As the segment only had 4 people in F Class I decided to use 2 duvets ( 1 for mattress and 1 for Blanket). When I woke up and folded everything back into the side compartment (and putting it back into the special duvet bag, the FA told me. Sir, it is against our company policy for you to open that compartment. Next time please let us do it. (Well if only they stop *****ing at the galley, maybe they could actually do some work.

Overall this segment was disappointing (given the whole crew from HKG-YVR was EXCELLENT)

I will do a more detailed TR on everything after my whole trip (will go back to HKG this week)

Any comments or questions please let me know.