Clarifying Dragonair/Cathay Pacific relationship, additional KA thoughts
 

We frequently receive questions from other OW fliers who are connecting to/from KA/CX. It seems that many people are not clear on the relationship between KA/CX. After going back through the FAQ, we actually do a good job of getting all the data in there (for instance, in section 8.4 we make it clear that KA and CX can use all the CX-operated lounges, and we discuss at length KA seating options), but for someone who doesn't know CX as intimately as all of us it might get confusing.

What about a main section called "Dragonair" in the FAQ? We could start by clarifying the relationship between KA and CX, specifically:

1.) KA is wholly owned by CX, hence anyone on KA or CX can use any of the CX lounges, with full OW benefits.
2.) KA's loyalty program is MPC, just like CX
3.) However, KA still has their own staff, uniforms, airplanes, etc.
4.) KA check-in counters are separate from CX

We could then direct people to check information under Part 8 for lounges, or Part 9 for MPC, etc. since they then are aware that all the benefits/ancillaries ascribed to CX are the same as KA. I think this could help reduce confusion since it seems many people don't go to the FAQ and search for "Dragonair" (if they did, and had a little persistence, the above is actually already answered...but alas most people I suspect go to the contents, don't see "Dragonair" as a topic, and get confused). An actual section in the contents dedicated to it might clarify things.

Then if interested, we could move a lot of the information we already have in the FAQ about Dragonair seating to the above mentioned section, instead of lumping it in with CX, including the below:
1.) KA plane configurations
2.) KA J and F seats
3.) Comparisons between CX and KA J/F, which seems to be a question we get with high frequency.

If we wanted to get really fancy, two more potential (more far-strung) ideas:

1.) Add a separate FAQ for Dragonair, instead of putting it within the CX FAQ. This would help people as soon as they got to this forum, as they might be unclear to click on the CX FAQ to get KA advice.

2.) Lobby FT to change the entire name of this forum from "Cathay Pacific Asia Miles" to "Cathay Pacific/Dragonair Asia Miles". I don't even think "Cathay Pacific Asia Miles" is the correct name, am I right? So if they're going to insist on using the improper name (presumably for clarify, since people might not know that "Asia Miles" was affiliated with CX, why not add "Dragonair" to the name as well?

Good day all,

First off, thank you VERY much for compiling this information, it certainly did help me figure out what to expect on my upcoming flights with CX (CX 879 SFO-HKG in F [Z class], and CX 103 HKG-CNS in J [U class]).

I do have one question about transiting at HKG:

From what I'm reading, and please correct me if I'm wrong, there is no transit lounge at HKG that is usable in lieu of going through customs and immigration, correct (e.g. customs and immigration must be cleared by all?)?

If this is the case, could someone just generally explain the process of connecting at HKG, including arrivals, customs and immigration, baggage claim, check-in, security, and most importantly, lounges.

It is my understanding that, as an arriving F passenger, I will be entitled to use either the Wing's or the Pier's First Class Lounge? My SFO flight arrives at 19:05, and my CNS flight departs at 23:50, about how much time can I expect to have in the airside lounges (is The Arrival worth visiting at the expense of time spent in one of the F lounges? I guess no)?

Any other advice is more than welcome!

Cheers,
Cameron

No, wrong. The departure lounges are all airside. In transit you simply need to go through a security checkpoint to get from the arrivals level to the departure level. You don't need to go through Immigration; the Arrival is landside, but not in the same league as the Wing or Pier. It rarely takes more than a few minutes to get through security, particularly if you you are at one of the more remote security points. The best one if you have your onward boarding pass (which I believe you will) is the one somewhere around gate 30, which never ever has a queue.

I'd like to extend my thanks to those of you who put the FAQ together. I'd never flown on Cathay Pacific before (first time last week) and found the FAQ absolutely invaluable when booking and travelling. If only I'd printed a copy for directions to the lounges in HKG, very confusing, very badly signed on the airports part.

Many thanks again. :)

Thanks very much christep! I will admit now, I'm curious, at what point does one go through immigration at HKG?

Thanks again!
Cameron

Er, at the point you decide you want to enter Hong Kong!
http://www.hkairport.com gives you more details on all the arriving, departing and transit passenger flows.

Cameron, thanks for your enthusiasm, but kindly post questions of this sort in the main forum, not here. This thread is for "Qs relating to the FAQ thread," aka things we probably should add that may have been overlooked in the FAQ, can be improved upon, etc. It is not for general posts like this, which can easily be answered by searching (or posting) a regular thread. Thank you

QRC3288 - your suggestion about Dragonair is a good one. I have been wanting to introduce a general section about Dragonair aircraft for a while but unfortunately time has been against me, and I have only had time to do minor rolling updates on the Olympus retrofit etc. Hopefully I will get it into a shape in which it can be soft launched soon!

74A 77A 34B May 1-October 30, 2010
 

Here is how the long haul aircrafts 74A, 77A, and 34B will be deployed for long haul routes (flight duration of 10hrs or greater on nonstop) May 1st through Oct 30th, 2010 as of today:

74A
CX251/250: LHR Daily
CX253/254: LHR Daily
CX255/252: LHR Daily
CX261/260: CDG Daily
CX271/270: AMS Daily
CX289/288: FRA Daily
CX838/839: YVR 3x weekly
CX870/879: SFO Daily
CX872/873: SFO Daily

77A
CX235/234: MXP 4x weekly
CX749/748: JNB 3x weekly
CX820/827: YYZ 3x weekly
CX826/829: YYZ Daily
CX830/831: JFK Daily
CX840/841: JFK Daily
CX880/881: LAX Daily
CX882/883: LAX Daily
CX884/885: LAX 3x weekly
CX888/889: YVR/JFK Daily

34B
CX107/108: AKL Daily
CX117/118: AKL 3x weekly
CX257/256: LHR Daily
CX263/262: CDG 3x weekly
CX293/292: FCO Daily
CX749/748: JNB 4x weekly
CX838/839: YVR 4x weekly

There are rumors on the Hong Kong Aviation Board that LHR may get the 77A for CX257/256, but till now that rumor still hasn't become a reality. So as of now those flights are still 34B. I apologize if I might have missed some flights that belong on the list and feel free to add. Hope this helps fill in some needed information for the destination section of the FAQ.

Thanks much to b-hxb and rejuvinated

Under section 11.7, the destinations suspended by KA after CX took over should be BKK and NRT, not TPE. KA still flies to TPE several times a day.

Comment on CX Experience sticky thread
 

From my experience on A343 and B777, it seems like the inseat power supply on the Olympus seats is working now, so the technical problem preventing this referred to in the sticky threat seems to have been resolved.

I flew on 77A yesterday and inseat power was working on "most" seats in Y. Not 100%, I saw some seats during meal service (not a lot) where the green LED was off. However I was in row 35 so perhaps only the first few rows are working properly (I don't know, I didn't check behind).

I see so many things addressed here but in flight power does not seem to addressed in any depth. The CX site addresses it thus:
Which planes have what type of power?

Naturally the reason I ask is because I am travelling on CX soon, CX134 MEL-HKG and then CX364 HKG-PVG both trips in Y on the A330.

I also see references to EmPower.

My last CX flight HKG-PEK (in J) had EmPower and the FA produed a kit which I was able to use to get power.

This FAQ thread is extremely useful but I can't seem to find any definitive information about in seat power.

As I understand it, if they are long haul planes (74A, 77A, 34B, 33B) then they have 110V power. If they are regional planes (777, 773, 330) then they have Empower and need an adaptor.

But I could be wrong about that since I fly Cx very little these days.