Cathay Pacific and Emirates First Class SFO-HKG-BKK including EK A380 First Suites
Jan 31, 2011, 6:30 pm
#1
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Denver • DEN-APA
Programs: AF Platinum, EK Gold, AA EXP, UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 21,737
Cathay Pacific and Emirates First Class SFO-HKG-BKK including EK A380 First Suites
After our fabulous Singapore Airlines RTW last September, Mrs. SFO and I are off to Thailand for 9 days. 270K AAdvantage miles and we're excited about trying Cathay Pacific First Class TPAC service, SFO-HKG and connecting to BKK. The Emirates A380 BKK-HKG leg was an add on purchase after CX dumped First from this regional route.
1. SFO Check in and the BA Terraces Lounge
2. CX 879 First Class SFO-HKG... our private 15 hour charter to HKG
3. The Wing First Class Lounge at HKG
4. CX 709 Business Class HKG-BKK
5. The Peninsula Bangkok
6. Bangkok
7. TG Royal Silk Domestic Lounge and TG 134 BKK-CEI
8. Four Seasons Tented Camp Golden Triangle
9. TG Royal Silk Domestic Lounge and TG 129 CMX-HKT
10. Trisara - Phuket
11. TG Royal Silk Domestic Lounge and TG 202 HKT-BKK
12. EK First Class Lounge at BKK
13. EK 384 First Class Suites BKK-HKG
14. Overnight in Hong Kong and the Intercontinental
15. CX870 First Class HKG-SFO and Lynch Bages all over the cabin
1. SFO Check in and the BA Terraces Lounge
2. CX 879 First Class SFO-HKG... our private 15 hour charter to HKG
3. The Wing First Class Lounge at HKG
4. CX 709 Business Class HKG-BKK
5. The Peninsula Bangkok
6. Bangkok
7. TG Royal Silk Domestic Lounge and TG 134 BKK-CEI
8. Four Seasons Tented Camp Golden Triangle
9. TG Royal Silk Domestic Lounge and TG 129 CMX-HKT
10. Trisara - Phuket
11. TG Royal Silk Domestic Lounge and TG 202 HKT-BKK
12. EK First Class Lounge at BKK
13. EK 384 First Class Suites BKK-HKG
14. Overnight in Hong Kong and the Intercontinental
15. CX870 First Class HKG-SFO and Lynch Bages all over the cabin
Last edited by SFO777; Mar 27, 2011 at 5:01 pm
Jan 31, 2011, 6:34 pm
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Denver • DEN-APA
Programs: AF Platinum, EK Gold, AA EXP, UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 21,737
1. CX SFO Check in and the BA Terraces Lounge
A rainy Sunday morning in the City turned sunny on our 25 minute ride to SFO. Easy check-in at around T-90 at fully staffed counters where there were only a handful of pax. As Mrs. SFO and I walked down the empty First Class lane, a pleasant F agent came from behind the First Class counter to meet us in the line and escorted us back to his counter. Efficient check in with pleasant chit-chat about Bangkok and the agent's recent trip there.
Security was reasonably quick as we were the only ones in the Priority security line, jumping the queue of about 25 others. Unfortunately, priority line funneled into the Nude-o-scope line where we were stuck behind non priority pax including a mother and child who apparently hadn't been to an airport in a while.
CX uses the BA Terraces Lounges at SFO, with a full size cardboard CX FA "greeting" us at the door.
Since the next BA flight was not for some 5 hours, it was all CX during our stay. I've said it before when we flew BA... what a lame excuse for a First Class Lounge. Not that I'd want to fly UA TPAC, but their SFO IFL is so much nicer than his place. The First Class "lounge" is a small ante room on the way to the much larger main Business Class portion of the lounge. Today, the doors to the First lounge were wide open with no agent monitoring or controlling who wandered in. And a half dozen did join us within 15 minutes.
Not that it really mattered as there was really no attraction... slightly "better" wine and champagne options than the Business Class portion of the lounge, but a pretty weak selection of "snacks".
At T-30, the lounge dragon came into the First lounge and announce the boarding, at gate A-6 thru the library portion of the Business Class lounge. Direct boarding to the jetway from the lounge is one of the few positive features about this place.
A rainy Sunday morning in the City turned sunny on our 25 minute ride to SFO. Easy check-in at around T-90 at fully staffed counters where there were only a handful of pax. As Mrs. SFO and I walked down the empty First Class lane, a pleasant F agent came from behind the First Class counter to meet us in the line and escorted us back to his counter. Efficient check in with pleasant chit-chat about Bangkok and the agent's recent trip there.
Security was reasonably quick as we were the only ones in the Priority security line, jumping the queue of about 25 others. Unfortunately, priority line funneled into the Nude-o-scope line where we were stuck behind non priority pax including a mother and child who apparently hadn't been to an airport in a while.
CX uses the BA Terraces Lounges at SFO, with a full size cardboard CX FA "greeting" us at the door.
Since the next BA flight was not for some 5 hours, it was all CX during our stay. I've said it before when we flew BA... what a lame excuse for a First Class Lounge. Not that I'd want to fly UA TPAC, but their SFO IFL is so much nicer than his place. The First Class "lounge" is a small ante room on the way to the much larger main Business Class portion of the lounge. Today, the doors to the First lounge were wide open with no agent monitoring or controlling who wandered in. And a half dozen did join us within 15 minutes.
Not that it really mattered as there was really no attraction... slightly "better" wine and champagne options than the Business Class portion of the lounge, but a pretty weak selection of "snacks".
At T-30, the lounge dragon came into the First lounge and announce the boarding, at gate A-6 thru the library portion of the Business Class lounge. Direct boarding to the jetway from the lounge is one of the few positive features about this place.
Last edited by SFO777; Feb 4, 2011 at 12:06 am
Feb 1, 2011, 3:03 am
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Denver • DEN-APA
Programs: AF Platinum, EK Gold, AA EXP, UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 21,737
2. CK879 SFO-HKG Our private 15 hour charter to HKG.
CX 879
SFO-HKG
777-300
January 31, 2011
11:50A-7:00P +1
Suites 1K and 2K
We were warmly welcomed on board by our two FAs for today's 15 hour flight, Grace and Sylvia, as well as our purser Bleble, who invited us to choose any seats we wanted as the cabin was only 3/6 today with the other person in 1A on the other side of the cabin and cabin wall. While I had originally chosen a middle and window, 2D for me and 2K for Mrs. SFO, I opted for 1K window seat as the middle seemed a little dark and confining. Since D really can't see or communicate with K, I think the double K or double A option is the best for a couple. We were still able to communicate without raising our voices too much. Plus, we each have our own "space".
After we settled into our seats, our FA Grace brought us our first glass of Krug.
And what a great First Class cabin with only 6 suites designed and decorated with very soothing colors. I personally prefer the lighter colors of the CX cabin to the brown and gold of the SQ cabin.
Video clip of the cabin...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZvEp0xRQq8E
And our inflight amenities kit, such as it is, and PJs.
Two more glasses of Krug later, we pushed back at 12:00P for the long taxi to 28R for take-off and today's nearly 15 hour journey into 100 MPH headwinds.
And for the other FT freaks out there, some HD video of taxi and take-off...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1_IAeKqtXY
CX 879
SFO-HKG
777-300
January 31, 2011
11:50A-7:00P +1
Suites 1K and 2K
We were warmly welcomed on board by our two FAs for today's 15 hour flight, Grace and Sylvia, as well as our purser Bleble, who invited us to choose any seats we wanted as the cabin was only 3/6 today with the other person in 1A on the other side of the cabin and cabin wall. While I had originally chosen a middle and window, 2D for me and 2K for Mrs. SFO, I opted for 1K window seat as the middle seemed a little dark and confining. Since D really can't see or communicate with K, I think the double K or double A option is the best for a couple. We were still able to communicate without raising our voices too much. Plus, we each have our own "space".
After we settled into our seats, our FA Grace brought us our first glass of Krug.
And what a great First Class cabin with only 6 suites designed and decorated with very soothing colors. I personally prefer the lighter colors of the CX cabin to the brown and gold of the SQ cabin.
Video clip of the cabin...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZvEp0xRQq8E
And our inflight amenities kit, such as it is, and PJs.
Two more glasses of Krug later, we pushed back at 12:00P for the long taxi to 28R for take-off and today's nearly 15 hour journey into 100 MPH headwinds.
And for the other FT freaks out there, some HD video of taxi and take-off...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1_IAeKqtXY
Last edited by SFO777; Mar 13, 2011 at 7:08 am
Feb 1, 2011, 4:26 am
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Denver • DEN-APA
Programs: AF Platinum, EK Gold, AA EXP, UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 21,737
After departure, more Krug and warm almonds, a beautiful view of the Pacific coast and time to check out Studio CX.
And the presentation of today's menu.
The wine list which, other than the Krug, was pretty disappointing.
Showtime. This was actually the 2nd setting as FA Grace insisted on replacing the table cloth after mid-pour turbulence caused a few drops of Krug to spill onto the 1st tablecloth.
Caviar and smoked salmon, and more Krug. Excellent!
I decided to go with the Chinese Favourites today, starting with the Double boiled ginseng with chicken soup and the cold plate of soya beans with vegetables and tofu. Neither were memorable, although the Krug was excellent.
On the other hand, the Steamed Lobster with ginger scallion and imperial soy sauce was very good, served with steamed rice, kailan with mushrooms and carrots. I tried a glass of the Bouchard Meursault which was passable but not a Premier Cru. So it was back to the Krug for the rest of the meal.
And the presentation of today's menu.
The wine list which, other than the Krug, was pretty disappointing.
Showtime. This was actually the 2nd setting as FA Grace insisted on replacing the table cloth after mid-pour turbulence caused a few drops of Krug to spill onto the 1st tablecloth.
Caviar and smoked salmon, and more Krug. Excellent!
I decided to go with the Chinese Favourites today, starting with the Double boiled ginseng with chicken soup and the cold plate of soya beans with vegetables and tofu. Neither were memorable, although the Krug was excellent.
On the other hand, the Steamed Lobster with ginger scallion and imperial soy sauce was very good, served with steamed rice, kailan with mushrooms and carrots. I tried a glass of the Bouchard Meursault which was passable but not a Premier Cru. So it was back to the Krug for the rest of the meal.
Last edited by SFO777; Feb 1, 2011 at 4:43 am
Feb 1, 2011, 8:19 am
#13
Community Director Emerita
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Anywhere warm
Posts: 33,926
I'm very much looking forward to your report on Four Seasons Tented Camp Golden Triangle. We've just stayed at Le Meridien Chiang Rai. While an order of magnitude different in price, it is a lovely property and gave us an introduction to northern Thailand.