Just completed my 3rd segment of RTW in First class. Flew on CX 748 JNB-HKG in First Class on my way to Bali (again) for a quick R&R and then onwards home to Toronto for Xmas. I was delighted to see that CX is bringing back First on this route (only for Nov,Dec, Jan months according to the FA).

Anyways, just a few observations on CX flight 748 from JNB:
(1) I cannot believe how many people are on this Boeing 747! According to the FA, the flight is completely full in Business and Economy, and I was leaving mid week!
(2) First Class, fortunately, was half full with 6 of the 12 seats occupied.
(3) I was seated in 2A – now my favourite seat!
(4) Krug Champagne is back! Had 2 glasses…
(5) Caviar and Salmon was served from the cart– had two portions this time! The Caviar wasn’t as good.
(6) Sheena, one of the 3 FA’s looking after first Class was absolutely amazing! It just showed how much one person can make the experience so much better. She anticipated all of my needs. She was from Malaysia.. and did I mentioned she was quite a hottie!
(7) There must have been some cutback in meals – There were only four main courses, 2 selections of snacks, and 2 Breakfast selections. See full menu below. There was no dim Sum option..
(8) I was quite disappointed in the quality of the meal – I had the Stir Fried Beef with Steamed rice and Pok Choy – The Beef was really chewy (like those cheap Chinese take away meals), and the portion was tiny (could have had 2 more servings).
(9) Orange Juice was from Concentrate and not Fresh
(10) No Croissants for Breakfast!
(11) I think the pillow is now bigger than the ones from last year – I could be wrong.

Overall, a great flight on CX other than for the catering… Looking forward to my next trip HKG-SFO trip in F on Sunday!

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Menu:
LUNCH (Nov, Dec, Jan)

Caviar and Balik Salmon Delight:
Caviar and Balik Salmon “Tsar Nicolaj” served with Warm New Potatoes and Crčme Fraiche

Soup:
Crem of Carrot and Coriander Soup

Salad:
Seasonal Salad with Crispy Bacon, Grilled Zucchini, Leek and Shaved Parmesan served with Olive Oil and Balsamic Vinaigrette

Main Course:
1) Pan Fried Pork Fillet with Citrus Demi-glace, Potatoes and Roasted Vegetables
2) Stir-fried Beef with pineapple and Onion, Steamed Rice and Pak Choy
3) Grilled Kinglip with Tomato, Herbs, and Olives, Boiled Potatoes and Vegetables
4) Mushroom Risotto with Cherry Tomato and Parmesan Cheese

Cheese Board

Dessert Selection:
1) Raspberry Ice Cream served with Pistachio and Chocolate Wafer
2) White Chocolate Amaretto Pudding served with Vanilla Ice Cream
3) Pineapple Upside Down Cake with mixed Berry Compote and Mascarpone

Bread Basket: Assorted Bread and Rolls

Tea and Coffee

Pralines and Cookies
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Refreshment
1) Noodles in Soup with Prawn Wontons and Pak Choy
2) Croque Monsieur with Ham and Cheese
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BREAKFAST

Juice Selection

Fresh Seasonal Fruit

Yoghurt Selection

Cereals: Corn Flakes, Muesli or Rice Crispies

Main Courses:
1) Eggs – Freshly scrambled, fried or boiled
2) Congee with Salted Pork and Century Egg

Accompaniments:
Grilled Pork Sausage and Back Bacon, Cheese and Potato Cake, Grilled Tomato and Boiled Whole Mushrooms

Bread Basket: Assorted Bread, Rolls, and Fresh Toast

No, there doesn't seem to be any cutback from my point of view. Catering is not the best out of JNB, especially the Asian selections. From most foreign stations, CX actually hires the services of a local Chinese restaurant to prepare its Chinese meals. I don't think JNB has that option. Last time I flew this route, the J and F class had the EXACT same menu.

OJ is only fresh out of HKG, and sometimes from BKK or SIN. It has never been fresh out of JNB, or even JFK!

Hope the offerings are better out of HKG next time.

Dosen't look like ACfly's going to get caviar on HKG-SFo though, due to recent cutbacks.

Well if he got it out of JNB, he might be getting it out of HKG....

caviar is back on this route, although the quality is very poor. i was told by the purser that the caviar is from france. the menu used to say the caviar is oscietre from iran, now it just says 'caviar'

From the huge number of "Maison du Caviar" and caviar stores around Paris recently, I'd say this might be a good thing?

BTW, I forgot to mention that CX uses the British Airways lounge at JNB for both First and Business - in my opinion, not a great lounge at all.

I had hoped to use South African Airways Cynad First Class Lounge, since CX code shared with SAA, but that wasn't the case...

I'll report back on whether or not Caviar is served on the HKG-SFO route later today

You may have fresh OJ ex out ports as long as they haven't used up all ex HKG

For the oscietre Cavier , seems it really run out of stock, remember a couple of months ago they even offer goose liver pate iso Cavier

Just count yourself lucky, ACfly, to fly CX JNB-HKG while they offer F. I flew it roundtrip last July weeks after the change to a 2 class A340. While CX J new flat seat and service is loads nicer than my usual (AA J on 767-300), I missed the flat and LEVEL F seat, extra space, and much more individualized F service. I noticed a lower quality to the catering exJNB vs exHKG. I agree about the BA Terraces Lounge in JNB- guess it's a OW arrangement when you'd think CX would contract with SA for lounge use since they codeshare.

Just got off the HKG-SFO flight, and indeed they served Caviar and Salmon. Krug Champagne is also back. The food was amazing on this flight with 6 different Entrees! (Menu Below). First class was quite full with 11 of 12 seats occupied. Still had my favorite 2A seat on this 747-400 service. I had my dinner 4 hours into the flight with all of the toppings.

I would conclude that CX does not cut back on its food offering, just that the catering out of JNB is really poor.

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Just curious, but does the Jockey Club promotion come hand-in-glove with a special menu design (like they did for Yung Kee and Spring Moon)? <Fingers crossed the answer is NO but have sneaking suspicion that will turn out to be wishful thinking...>

Dude, even monkeys know that food out of JNB sucks.

Yes it does.

Yes, the menu design was definitely different that of the menu of my earlier flight from JNB-HKG, which did not offer Jockey Club promotion....

The menu was shorter (not like the longer regular ones - I almost thought it was Business class menu until I read the front page), and it had in the front of it a small Chinese painting of a temple (I think)... (I didn't keep the menu). The cover design of the menu was exactly the same as the Business ones.

I had the Veal (Chinese style) which was the Jockey Club promotion, and it was absolutely delicious.. That being said, my flight on my earlier flight from HKG to Bali on Business class, I had the beef spareribs (also from the Jockey Cllub), and it was the most fatty, unpleasant piece of meat I ever had. I didnt touch the meal.. Very dissapointing.

I just flew CX 839 YVR-HKG a few days ago and was old by the purser that the caviar is actually "farmed caviar" from Italy.