Inaugural Washington Dulles Flight
Jun 28, 2018, 7:13 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: IAD/DCA, USA (MD Suburbs)
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT, HH Diamond, Fairmont RIP, Hertz Plat, BA Gold
Posts: 1,622
Inaugural Washington Dulles Flight
I just booked the inaugural IAD-HKG flight on 16-Sept. Anyone else on this flight? Any idea what they may do for the flight? If the timing was better, I would think there would be a lot of local dignitaries and a party. For a 1:30am flight, I don't know how much partying will be going on. I hope there is at least something special for it. I read some old posts about the Boston flight and it looks like not much was done for the HKG-BOS flight except a little travel wallet. No mention was made of the return BOS-HKG flight.
Any word on the lounge being used? If not, I can ask the BA lounge attendants in early August (my next BA flight) if they have heard anything.
Any word on the lounge being used? If not, I can ask the BA lounge attendants in early August (my next BA flight) if they have heard anything.
Jun 28, 2018, 3:23 pm
#2
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: CX, UA, Shangri-La, Hyatt, Starwood
Posts: 7,708
For the lounge, there is another thread. I believe it is confirmed BA.
For the "inagural" status, that will really be HKG-IAD, not the return. And even then they don't do much IIRC. The biggest recipients of the inagural festivities are the crew, generally on arrival at the port (IAD in this case). Depending on the airport authority, government involvement and whatnot, there are photo ops and gifts upon arrival for pilots and crew. Here considering the nighttime arrival, I'm doubtful of much. Morning Europe inagural arrivals are much better.
The return segment to HKG is unfortunately is not much. At best a table with some cheap food and photos during the boarding process. At worst, nada.
Bear in mind, contrary to totally inaccurate info posted on the blogs (Points Guy comes to mind), this will not be CX's inagural A350-1000 commercial flight. The plane type launches shortly for regional Asian ops and will be flying these commercial regional flights for a few months prior to the IAD launch. IAD is CXs A350-1000 first revenue longhaul mission, but IAD unfortunately won't mark the launch of the plane type itself for CX. The first routes instead will be MNL and TPE.
For the "inagural" status, that will really be HKG-IAD, not the return. And even then they don't do much IIRC. The biggest recipients of the inagural festivities are the crew, generally on arrival at the port (IAD in this case). Depending on the airport authority, government involvement and whatnot, there are photo ops and gifts upon arrival for pilots and crew. Here considering the nighttime arrival, I'm doubtful of much. Morning Europe inagural arrivals are much better.
The return segment to HKG is unfortunately is not much. At best a table with some cheap food and photos during the boarding process. At worst, nada.
Bear in mind, contrary to totally inaccurate info posted on the blogs (Points Guy comes to mind), this will not be CX's inagural A350-1000 commercial flight. The plane type launches shortly for regional Asian ops and will be flying these commercial regional flights for a few months prior to the IAD launch. IAD is CXs A350-1000 first revenue longhaul mission, but IAD unfortunately won't mark the launch of the plane type itself for CX. The first routes instead will be MNL and TPE.
Last edited by QRC3288; Jun 28, 2018 at 3:29 pm
Jun 28, 2018, 9:12 pm
#3
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: TPE
Programs: CX Silver
Posts: 146
As with everything related to CX, it is best to keep expectations low and not be disappointed.
Remember the 747 farewell flight 2 years ago? One expects champagne for everyone and even the captain said there would be a celebration on arrival. Instead all we got was...
One cupcake
One notebook
One keychain
Remember the 747 farewell flight 2 years ago? One expects champagne for everyone and even the captain said there would be a celebration on arrival. Instead all we got was...
One cupcake
One notebook
One keychain
Jun 28, 2018, 9:24 pm
#4
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: HKG/YVR/CGO
Programs: CX DM
Posts: 55
For the lounge, there is another thread. I believe it is confirmed BA.
For the "inagural" status, that will really be HKG-IAD, not the return. And even then they don't do much IIRC. The biggest recipients of the inagural festivities are the crew, generally on arrival at the port (IAD in this case). Depending on the airport authority, government involvement and whatnot, there are photo ops and gifts upon arrival for pilots and crew. Here considering the nighttime arrival, I'm doubtful of much. Morning Europe inagural arrivals are much better.
The return segment to HKG is unfortunately is not much. At best a table with some cheap food and photos during the boarding process. At worst, nada.
Bear in mind, contrary to totally inaccurate info posted on the blogs (Points Guy comes to mind), this will not be CX's inagural A350-1000 commercial flight. The plane type launches shortly for regional Asian ops and will be flying these commercial regional flights for a few months prior to the IAD launch. IAD is CXs A350-1000 first revenue longhaul mission, but IAD unfortunately won't mark the launch of the plane type itself for CX. The first routes instead will be MNL and TPE.
For the "inagural" status, that will really be HKG-IAD, not the return. And even then they don't do much IIRC. The biggest recipients of the inagural festivities are the crew, generally on arrival at the port (IAD in this case). Depending on the airport authority, government involvement and whatnot, there are photo ops and gifts upon arrival for pilots and crew. Here considering the nighttime arrival, I'm doubtful of much. Morning Europe inagural arrivals are much better.
The return segment to HKG is unfortunately is not much. At best a table with some cheap food and photos during the boarding process. At worst, nada.
Bear in mind, contrary to totally inaccurate info posted on the blogs (Points Guy comes to mind), this will not be CX's inagural A350-1000 commercial flight. The plane type launches shortly for regional Asian ops and will be flying these commercial regional flights for a few months prior to the IAD launch. IAD is CXs A350-1000 first revenue longhaul mission, but IAD unfortunately won't mark the launch of the plane type itself for CX. The first routes instead will be MNL and TPE.
Jun 29, 2018, 3:04 pm
#5
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: DCA/IAD
Posts: 834
Volaris Costa Rica inaugurated service to IAD last month and Virginia's governor and DC's mayor attended along with airport officials:
https://airlinegeeks.com/2018/05/17/...er-for-dulles/
Timing for the Volaris flight is even later than the CX flight, with a 11:35 p.m. arrival into IAD and a 1:52 a.m. departure.
Based on that I think chances are pretty good something similar will take place for CX especially since CX serving IAD is of much higher significance.
https://airlinegeeks.com/2018/05/17/...er-for-dulles/
Timing for the Volaris flight is even later than the CX flight, with a 11:35 p.m. arrival into IAD and a 1:52 a.m. departure.
Based on that I think chances are pretty good something similar will take place for CX especially since CX serving IAD is of much higher significance.
Jun 30, 2018, 10:55 am
#6
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: HKG
Programs: AA 3MM EXP, SQ Solitaire, LH SEN, CX DM, Hyatt CC, Marriott LT Titanium
Posts: 3,179
Been on a few CX inaugural flights, and there really is nothing special about the flights themselves... Some gifts are handed out (useless and not nice ones) and the pilot might make an announcement... But that's pretty much it... On arrival in the US, they really don't do anything since you enter a secure area before immigration... the US side usually has more fanfare from city and airport officials for the inaugural flight back from the US...
To be honest, if you are booking the flight for no other reason except to experience an inaugural flight, I would really skip it.. but if you actually have a reason to go to IAD or something around that time, then sure, maybe a slight detour or change to a day later, etc might be kind of worthwhile...
To be honest, if you are booking the flight for no other reason except to experience an inaugural flight, I would really skip it.. but if you actually have a reason to go to IAD or something around that time, then sure, maybe a slight detour or change to a day later, etc might be kind of worthwhile...
Jun 30, 2018, 4:23 pm
#8
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: CX, UA, Shangri-La, Hyatt, Starwood
Posts: 7,708
You can also go search for the J Class Menus 2018 / 2017 / 2016 etc threads (we have a separate thread for each year both for J and F, carfield is the OP). They will give you an idea. The upcoming A350-1000 reviews (first commercial flight is today), reviews of the flight #s I mention above, and scanning the menu threads will tell you everything you need to know.
Jun 30, 2018, 5:47 pm
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: IAD/DCA, USA (MD Suburbs)
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT, HH Diamond, Fairmont RIP, Hertz Plat, BA Gold
Posts: 1,622
Volaris Costa Rica inaugurated service to IAD last month and Virginia's governor and DC's mayor attended along with airport officials:
https://airlinegeeks.com/2018/05/17/...er-for-dulles/
Timing for the Volaris flight is even later than the CX flight, with a 11:35 p.m. arrival into IAD and a 1:52 a.m. departure.
Based on that I think chances are pretty good something similar will take place for CX especially since CX serving IAD is of much higher significance.
https://airlinegeeks.com/2018/05/17/...er-for-dulles/
Timing for the Volaris flight is even later than the CX flight, with a 11:35 p.m. arrival into IAD and a 1:52 a.m. departure.
Based on that I think chances are pretty good something similar will take place for CX especially since CX serving IAD is of much higher significance.
I found a couple youtube videos of inaugural flights on CX (returning to HKG) and it looks like they try to make it a little special. The Washington area airport authority is making a big deal out of this route so I imagine there will be some effort to hype it up.
Jul 2, 2018, 12:36 am
#10
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: New York
Posts: 7,347
I personally don't even bother with CX's inaugural flights anymore because out from Hong Kong, you will be lucky to get anything. Someone in FB reported that there was zero celebration on the inaugural HKG to Dublin flight. Not even a gift.
But given the track records, the return inaugural IAD to HKG will possibly be more interesting. Dulles airport will possibly do a major press con and there will be some forms of celebration. Dulles possibly considers this flight more important than CX. But night time flights will mean no water canon salute.
But my advice is to expect little and be surprised! Unfortunately, CX is really bad with inaugural flight, but since those on the inaugural 35K flight this afternoon to TPE got a CX/A350-1000 key chain, there will be hopes for some small gift bag.
Carfield
But given the track records, the return inaugural IAD to HKG will possibly be more interesting. Dulles airport will possibly do a major press con and there will be some forms of celebration. Dulles possibly considers this flight more important than CX. But night time flights will mean no water canon salute.
But my advice is to expect little and be surprised! Unfortunately, CX is really bad with inaugural flight, but since those on the inaugural 35K flight this afternoon to TPE got a CX/A350-1000 key chain, there will be hopes for some small gift bag.
Carfield
Jul 20, 2018, 10:08 pm
#14
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: CX, UA, Shangri-La, Hyatt, Starwood
Posts: 7,708
I wonder if there is some type of collaboration to be had for F&B. CX F had a promotional Mandarin Oriental menu a few years back so I wouldn't say it's out of the question. But the IAD flight won't have F. And Mandarin is based in Asia anyway...
