It's our honeymoon to Thailand and New Zealand (NH/TG/5M/SQ/CX/PG/NZ)
Mar 29, 2018, 1:18 am
#61
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I mean, I'm not sure what to say. It wasn't disgusting at all, and it was even a pretty nice palate cleanser. And I'm no expert on hibiscus and I see no reason why it should taste like ketchup, that's just the immediate reaction I got.
Mar 29, 2018, 1:35 am
#62
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Portland
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Posts: 391
Singapore Airlines 860, Singapore Changi (SIN) to Hong Kong (HKG)
February 23rd, 2018
8:25 am–12:25 pm
Airbus A380 9V-SKU
Seats 1A/F (HOLY CRAP IT’S THE NEW SUITES CLASS)
Down to the gate and through security the flight was already more than half boarded by the boarding time listed on our boarding passes. But that’s okay.
Here’s the thing. When we booked this, the new Suites product hadn’t even been announced yet, let alone been assigned to any routes. So it was a serious stroke of luck that our flight from Singapore to Hong Kong ended up being the fourth flight ever on the route with the new product.
Our original 3C and 3D became 2A and 2F, meaning nobody would get the double suite on this flight. We inquired with the gate agent about the possibility of changing seats, and he asked us to refrain from boarding until he could speak with the people in 1A and 1F, hoping that they would take the A double suite and we could have the F double suite or vice versa. Sure enough, the gentleman in 1A was just a few people behind us in line, and after a long back-and-forth that he didn’t really seem to comprehend, he said okay and the gate agent crossed out 2A on my wife’s boarding pass and wrote in 1F.
On to the plane!
Somehow, as soon as he boarded, Mr. 1A decided that he and his wife absolutely had to be in the same row and that facing backwards for any part of the flight was totally unacceptable, so we were left with no option but to apologize profusely for causing so much confusion and to take their original seats, meaning my wife and I ended up in 1A and 1F and none of the four people involved had their original seat. Whatever.
Turns out it’s still the greatest thing ever.
My first view of the seat was with it facing forward in the takeoff position.
You might think on seeing this that that’s an awfully small screen for a first class airline seat, and you’d be right. Thankfully, it’s just the backup screen for when the main screen can’t be used. The main screen is, dare I say, substantially larger.
Below the backup screen, there’s a bassinet fitting and a big cocktail table on either side.
The table towards the aisle includes the tray table and a set of power outlets.
The seat swivels around to face the aisle for maximum space.
Just inside the suite door, there’s a closet that is also, dare I say, substantial in size.
Along the window side, there’s power, there’s storage, and there’s the remote control tablet.
Five minutes later—exactly enough time to get settled, but not enough time to notice one had been waiting at all—a flight attendant appeared with some vintage Krug for our troubles.
The flight pushed back about ten minutes late, and the safety video screened just about everywhere.
Once it was time for takeoff, the cabin crew forced everybody to face forward and deactivated my big screen.
About the remote control: there’s also the traditional IFE remote you find on most planes, but this was a battery-powered Android tablet that detached from its holder and everything that you could use to peruse the entertainment selection. Impressive.
A short flight, so time to start right in on a movie. I don’t remember the IFE system on other planes showing how much time is left in the flight in comparison to the length of the movie.
Half an hour later, time for brunch. Here’s the full menu.
Showtime.
We had eaten in The Private Room about two and a half hours earlier, so we weren’t super hungry. I started with a nice fruit plate.
I made it all the way to four beverages at the same time. Not bad, though one of these four is significantly more expensive than the others.
Bread basket.
For the main course, I opted for the dim sum: “seafood dumpling in superior soup, pork siew may, seafood pickle cabbage dumpling, steamed pork pot sticker and vegetarian dumpling”. Fantastic!
After I was all set up with my main, the flight attendant closed the door to the suite and I was left alone with my brunch, my movie, and my ludicrously spacious airline seat.
Dessert was a forgettable raspberry and rose cream eclair with lychee gel.
A bit later on, I stopped by the lavatory. Different airlines do different things with the massive areas at the front of the upper deck of the A380; many have a lavatory on one side and storage or a lounge on the other. Singapore has a large one on the starboard side along with a smaller one and some storage on the port side.
The starboard lavatory is huge. The extra space in this case is used for a makeup vanity.
The port lavatory is a bit smaller, to the point that I’d describe it as merely “oversized”.
A few more seat photos: the ceiling has a nice pattern to it.
The tablet docks on the window side table, but there’s also a holder for it on the aisle side table since you’ll be facing that way for watching entertainment.
One movie and one meal left me with about half an hour left to go before landing in Hong Kong, so all I could do was watch the only TV show that exists on planes. On the smaller backup screen, the horror!
Nice approach on a nice day in Hong Kong.
Finally, a window seat pointing in the right direction! The plane spotting involved lots of similar planes, though.
Cathay Pacific A330, Air New Zealand and Cathay Pacific 777s.
Lots of Hong Kong Airlines planes.
Peach A320 in front of a few HK Express planes.
More Cathay Pacific planes; American 777.
Cathay Dragon and XiamenAir planes.
China Eastern 737.
Farewell to this plane and onwards!
The review
No doubt, the new number one flight I’ve ever taken. Not even a contest. Old suites was great, but this is on just an entirely different level. I can only imagine just how nice this would be for a proper long haul.
February 23rd, 2018
8:25 am–12:25 pm
Airbus A380 9V-SKU
Seats 1A/F (HOLY CRAP IT’S THE NEW SUITES CLASS)
Down to the gate and through security the flight was already more than half boarded by the boarding time listed on our boarding passes. But that’s okay.
Here’s the thing. When we booked this, the new Suites product hadn’t even been announced yet, let alone been assigned to any routes. So it was a serious stroke of luck that our flight from Singapore to Hong Kong ended up being the fourth flight ever on the route with the new product.
Our original 3C and 3D became 2A and 2F, meaning nobody would get the double suite on this flight. We inquired with the gate agent about the possibility of changing seats, and he asked us to refrain from boarding until he could speak with the people in 1A and 1F, hoping that they would take the A double suite and we could have the F double suite or vice versa. Sure enough, the gentleman in 1A was just a few people behind us in line, and after a long back-and-forth that he didn’t really seem to comprehend, he said okay and the gate agent crossed out 2A on my wife’s boarding pass and wrote in 1F.
On to the plane!
Somehow, as soon as he boarded, Mr. 1A decided that he and his wife absolutely had to be in the same row and that facing backwards for any part of the flight was totally unacceptable, so we were left with no option but to apologize profusely for causing so much confusion and to take their original seats, meaning my wife and I ended up in 1A and 1F and none of the four people involved had their original seat. Whatever.
Turns out it’s still the greatest thing ever.
My first view of the seat was with it facing forward in the takeoff position.
You might think on seeing this that that’s an awfully small screen for a first class airline seat, and you’d be right. Thankfully, it’s just the backup screen for when the main screen can’t be used. The main screen is, dare I say, substantially larger.
Below the backup screen, there’s a bassinet fitting and a big cocktail table on either side.
The table towards the aisle includes the tray table and a set of power outlets.
The seat swivels around to face the aisle for maximum space.
Just inside the suite door, there’s a closet that is also, dare I say, substantial in size.
Along the window side, there’s power, there’s storage, and there’s the remote control tablet.
Five minutes later—exactly enough time to get settled, but not enough time to notice one had been waiting at all—a flight attendant appeared with some vintage Krug for our troubles.
The flight pushed back about ten minutes late, and the safety video screened just about everywhere.
Once it was time for takeoff, the cabin crew forced everybody to face forward and deactivated my big screen.
About the remote control: there’s also the traditional IFE remote you find on most planes, but this was a battery-powered Android tablet that detached from its holder and everything that you could use to peruse the entertainment selection. Impressive.
A short flight, so time to start right in on a movie. I don’t remember the IFE system on other planes showing how much time is left in the flight in comparison to the length of the movie.
Half an hour later, time for brunch. Here’s the full menu.
Showtime.
We had eaten in The Private Room about two and a half hours earlier, so we weren’t super hungry. I started with a nice fruit plate.
I made it all the way to four beverages at the same time. Not bad, though one of these four is significantly more expensive than the others.
Bread basket.
For the main course, I opted for the dim sum: “seafood dumpling in superior soup, pork siew may, seafood pickle cabbage dumpling, steamed pork pot sticker and vegetarian dumpling”. Fantastic!
After I was all set up with my main, the flight attendant closed the door to the suite and I was left alone with my brunch, my movie, and my ludicrously spacious airline seat.
Dessert was a forgettable raspberry and rose cream eclair with lychee gel.
A bit later on, I stopped by the lavatory. Different airlines do different things with the massive areas at the front of the upper deck of the A380; many have a lavatory on one side and storage or a lounge on the other. Singapore has a large one on the starboard side along with a smaller one and some storage on the port side.
The starboard lavatory is huge. The extra space in this case is used for a makeup vanity.
The port lavatory is a bit smaller, to the point that I’d describe it as merely “oversized”.
A few more seat photos: the ceiling has a nice pattern to it.
The tablet docks on the window side table, but there’s also a holder for it on the aisle side table since you’ll be facing that way for watching entertainment.
One movie and one meal left me with about half an hour left to go before landing in Hong Kong, so all I could do was watch the only TV show that exists on planes. On the smaller backup screen, the horror!
Nice approach on a nice day in Hong Kong.
Finally, a window seat pointing in the right direction! The plane spotting involved lots of similar planes, though.
Cathay Pacific A330, Air New Zealand and Cathay Pacific 777s.
Lots of Hong Kong Airlines planes.
Peach A320 in front of a few HK Express planes.
More Cathay Pacific planes; American 777.
Cathay Dragon and XiamenAir planes.
China Eastern 737.
Farewell to this plane and onwards!
The review
No doubt, the new number one flight I’ve ever taken. Not even a contest. Old suites was great, but this is on just an entirely different level. I can only imagine just how nice this would be for a proper long haul.
Mar 29, 2018, 1:56 am
#63
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Portland
Programs: AS MVP Gold, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold, IHG Platinum, Starbucks Gold
Posts: 391
Half a day in Hong Kong
After passing through passport control and customs to enter the country, we promptly went upstairs to check our bags back in. While it’s no private check-in lounge like we saw in Bangkok or Singapore, it’s still a pretty nice concept with lots of staff at the ready to help out.
Of course, since we were on a flight to the USA, we couldn’t use any of these special facilities, but rather we had to walk to a separate line where a very serious and stern security guard asked us if the bags we were checking we our own and then put a sticker on the back of our passports. It’s always something.
Boarding passes once again in hand, it was off to the Airport Express for the 24-minute trip to Central. Conveniently, same-day round trips are the same price as one-ways.
Surprisingly, now that we were back in the Northern Hemisphere at a slightly greater latitude, we learned that was indeed still February. A brisk 14 degrees celsius.
Off to the maritime museum, which is super conveniently located and a really fun and intriguing way to pass a decently long layover.
Back to Hong Kong Station and back to the airport. I took a look at the in-town check-in facilities, which would be great had we not already checked in at, you know, the airport itself a few hours earlier.
After passing through passport control and customs to enter the country, we promptly went upstairs to check our bags back in. While it’s no private check-in lounge like we saw in Bangkok or Singapore, it’s still a pretty nice concept with lots of staff at the ready to help out.
Of course, since we were on a flight to the USA, we couldn’t use any of these special facilities, but rather we had to walk to a separate line where a very serious and stern security guard asked us if the bags we were checking we our own and then put a sticker on the back of our passports. It’s always something.
Boarding passes once again in hand, it was off to the Airport Express for the 24-minute trip to Central. Conveniently, same-day round trips are the same price as one-ways.
Surprisingly, now that we were back in the Northern Hemisphere at a slightly greater latitude, we learned that was indeed still February. A brisk 14 degrees celsius.
Off to the maritime museum, which is super conveniently located and a really fun and intriguing way to pass a decently long layover.
Back to Hong Kong Station and back to the airport. I took a look at the in-town check-in facilities, which would be great had we not already checked in at, you know, the airport itself a few hours earlier.
Mar 29, 2018, 12:45 pm
#64
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2015
Location: BOS, YVR, ZRH
Programs: *G
Posts: 17,384
Intriguing. I was genuinely just curious how it tastes as I just couldn't imagine it tasting well. But intriguing! Thanks for the report, it's a great read. Fantastic pictures.
Mar 31, 2018, 1:17 pm
#65
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Portland
Programs: AS MVP Gold, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold, IHG Platinum, Starbucks Gold
Posts: 391
The Pier, Hong Kong
Back to the airport and to the departures area.
Once again, passport control and security were quick and friendly, though my bag did have enough USB cables and travel adaptors to warrant a secondary hand inspection. Down about a dozen escalators to the train that would take us halfway down the concourse.
One downside to visiting The Pier is that it’s all the way at the end of the terminal, impossibly far away from anything and everything. Hardly impacts the upside, though. It took us about 15 minutes to get from security to this lounge.
Down the escalator, we were warmly welcomed by four or five staff members.
We had four and a half hours until boarding, so we reserved a time for massages two hours later and started off with a shower.
I took a look around the lounge.
“Bureau” has quiet work areas and computers to use.
“Library” is the main seating area and has lots of different places to sit as well as the bar.
“Pantry” is the self-service buffet with light snacks. Definitely more in line with the kind of self-service food options I’d hope for from a first class lounge.
The dining room is at the opposite end of the lounge and was relatively busy throughout our stay in the lounge. We stopped in for a light meal.
Sesame chicken with cucumber, mung bean sheet, and spicy cucumber dressing. Really amazing.
Braised beef cheek. Pretty small portion, which is great when you have a big meal coming up on your flight or when you might want to try other options on the menu.
Fruit and cheese plate.
Just like that, it was time for our massages. We opted for the neck, shoulder, and scalp massage, really the exclamation point on what is a truly fantastic lounge experience.
We still had almost two hours before boarding, but having sampled almost all of the lounge’s amenities and since our flight was due to depart from a gate next to The Wing, we decided to depart and investigate Cathay Pacific’s other first class lounge at their home airport.
The review
Starting off the day at The Private Room in Singapore and finishing it at The Pier in Hong Kong might be one of the life’s greatest ways to spoil yourself. Other than the wine selection, I’d say this lounge for me handily beats out The Private Room and rockets to the top of my own personal rankings.
I realize others may disagree; This piece from last summer by John Walton suggests it’s awfully anachronistic and led to an interesting discussion in its comments. But I think the mid-century aesthetic is executed pretty perfectly. I’d agree with the commenter who said “it is single handedly the most beautifully considered lounge I’ve ever [had] the pleasure of visiting.”
I’d almost go so far as to say it was worth extending our trip by eight hours and spending the extra miles. Bravo, Cathay Pacific.
Back to the airport and to the departures area.
Once again, passport control and security were quick and friendly, though my bag did have enough USB cables and travel adaptors to warrant a secondary hand inspection. Down about a dozen escalators to the train that would take us halfway down the concourse.
One downside to visiting The Pier is that it’s all the way at the end of the terminal, impossibly far away from anything and everything. Hardly impacts the upside, though. It took us about 15 minutes to get from security to this lounge.
Down the escalator, we were warmly welcomed by four or five staff members.
We had four and a half hours until boarding, so we reserved a time for massages two hours later and started off with a shower.
I took a look around the lounge.
“Bureau” has quiet work areas and computers to use.
“Library” is the main seating area and has lots of different places to sit as well as the bar.
“Pantry” is the self-service buffet with light snacks. Definitely more in line with the kind of self-service food options I’d hope for from a first class lounge.
The dining room is at the opposite end of the lounge and was relatively busy throughout our stay in the lounge. We stopped in for a light meal.
Sesame chicken with cucumber, mung bean sheet, and spicy cucumber dressing. Really amazing.
Braised beef cheek. Pretty small portion, which is great when you have a big meal coming up on your flight or when you might want to try other options on the menu.
Fruit and cheese plate.
Just like that, it was time for our massages. We opted for the neck, shoulder, and scalp massage, really the exclamation point on what is a truly fantastic lounge experience.
We still had almost two hours before boarding, but having sampled almost all of the lounge’s amenities and since our flight was due to depart from a gate next to The Wing, we decided to depart and investigate Cathay Pacific’s other first class lounge at their home airport.
The review
Starting off the day at The Private Room in Singapore and finishing it at The Pier in Hong Kong might be one of the life’s greatest ways to spoil yourself. Other than the wine selection, I’d say this lounge for me handily beats out The Private Room and rockets to the top of my own personal rankings.
I realize others may disagree; This piece from last summer by John Walton suggests it’s awfully anachronistic and led to an interesting discussion in its comments. But I think the mid-century aesthetic is executed pretty perfectly. I’d agree with the commenter who said “it is single handedly the most beautifully considered lounge I’ve ever [had] the pleasure of visiting.”
I’d almost go so far as to say it was worth extending our trip by eight hours and spending the extra miles. Bravo, Cathay Pacific.
Apr 13, 2018, 8:11 am
#66
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: SYD
Programs: OZ*G, VA Plat, NZ*G (Elite), QF Gold and PC+, Hyatt Explorist, HH Gold, Bonvoyed ("Gold")
Posts: 5,350
Great report! I recently passed through HKG and as I was flying CX J for the first time ever, I did a bit of lounge hopping - in my 2hr transit I managed The Wing (J), QF Lounge, Amex Centurion and The Bridge. All very nice lounges, but The Wing was clearly the weakest link for me.
Having said that, I was in J, and based on the quality of CX's J lounges I can only imagine how nice their flagship F lounges are. Whereas I found The Private Room pretty disappointing when I visited last year (I far preferred LH's FCT, for example).
Looking forward to the next instalment!
Having said that, I was in J, and based on the quality of CX's J lounges I can only imagine how nice their flagship F lounges are. Whereas I found The Private Room pretty disappointing when I visited last year (I far preferred LH's FCT, for example).
Looking forward to the next instalment!
Apr 14, 2018, 5:37 pm
#67
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Portland
Programs: AS MVP Gold, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold, IHG Platinum, Starbucks Gold
Posts: 391
The Wing, Hong Kong
We departed from The Pier and set off on our long walk to the opposite end of the airport. No sooner did we arrive at our gate than did we discover that our flight had had a gate change and would require us to walk back to the middle of the terminal. But since we were here, we figured we’d check it out anyway.
There’s one entrance to the left of where everybody exits security and passport control.
The lounge is mostly on an open balcony overlooking gates 1 through 4.
Seating is much more standard airport furniture and much less midcentury modern.
This lounge features a good variety of workspaces, including both a business center and Cathay’s signature workstation chairs.
The lounge goes on forever and ever.
There’s a champagne bar. There’s also a regular bar.
There’s a buffet with food as well.
The review
This isn’t nearly as nice as The Pier. I mean, it’s still really nice and all.
I can see coming here if I were running short on time and had a flight out of these gates, but otherwise, The Pier is better in every way.
We departed from The Pier and set off on our long walk to the opposite end of the airport. No sooner did we arrive at our gate than did we discover that our flight had had a gate change and would require us to walk back to the middle of the terminal. But since we were here, we figured we’d check it out anyway.
There’s one entrance to the left of where everybody exits security and passport control.
The lounge is mostly on an open balcony overlooking gates 1 through 4.
Seating is much more standard airport furniture and much less midcentury modern.
This lounge features a good variety of workspaces, including both a business center and Cathay’s signature workstation chairs.
The lounge goes on forever and ever.
There’s a champagne bar. There’s also a regular bar.
There’s a buffet with food as well.
The review
This isn’t nearly as nice as The Pier. I mean, it’s still really nice and all.
I can see coming here if I were running short on time and had a flight out of these gates, but otherwise, The Pier is better in every way.
Apr 14, 2018, 6:21 pm
#68
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Portland
Programs: AS MVP Gold, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold, IHG Platinum, Starbucks Gold
Posts: 391
Cathay Pacific 872, Hong Kong (HKG) to San Francisco (SFO)
February 24th, 2018
1:00 am–8:55 pm (-1)
Boeing 777-300ER B-KPB
Seats 2D/K (aisle/window, first class)
We had called up Alaska Airlines 72 hours before this flight to switch to it, right when two first class award seats opened up. We very nearly had the whole cabin to ourselves, except for one passenger upgrading from business class at check-in. For all of the lounges, it was totally worth it.
We showed up at the gate some 30 minutes before departure, just when our boarding passes said the flight would board.
Boarding got underway promptly and we walked down the jet bridge towards one last amazing flight to cap off this trip.
We were met at the door to the plane by the expected group of flight attendants who escorted us to our choice of seats.
The champagne didn’t take long, either.
Headphones and amenity kits.
More seat photos.
Hot towels.
This seat is getting a bit old at this point. This plane is Cathay Pacific’s second-oldest 777-300ER, delivered ten and a half years ago.
Menu.
The flight pushed back about 15 minutes behind schedule, at which point the safety video screened.
The plane rocketed into the sky shortly afterwards. At this point, it was 1 am Hong Kong time, 6 am New Zealand time. I asked the crew to save me some dinner and make up the bed.
I went to change in the lavatory, which was surprisingly small!
Six hours later, I woke up feeling wonderfully refreshed. Dinner came promptly, starting with the caviar service.
Pork, papaya, almond, and peanut soup.
Steamed chicken, Chinese ham, black mushroom, lotus leaf, kailan, carrot, and steamed jasmine rice.
Pumpkin and coconut sweet soup.
Pralines.
A delicious meal, in which I was trying very hard to limit my intake having spent an entire 24-hour-plus day eating nonstop. And given the timing of the flight, the second meal service—breakfast—was only an hour and a half later.
This time, we went for the buddy dining option. So they brought out the table extension and set it up for us with tea and coffee and smoothie and two glasses of juice.
Fruit plate.
Dim sum.
At this point, we were only 90 minutes out from San Francisco, where it was pitch dark outside. There wasn’t much more to see out the window, so we enjoyed some television until landing.
After our arrival, as is always the case at SFO, Global Entry was super quick with no line and then baggage claim took way too long. But we were home!
The review
Cathay Pacific was delightful on our first flight with them and delightful on this flight as well. We were probably a combination of too tired after a long day and too ready to be home after a very long, very delightful trip to properly enjoy this flight. And so many aspects of this flight, which were amazing in so many ways, just paled in comparison to the flight immediately before in Singapore’s New Suites.
Overall, I’d give Cathay the solid edge on lounges and airport experience and on design and visuals and probably on the food as well. I’d give Singapore the edge on the seat and the wine list.
But really, I’d take either again in a heartbeat.
February 24th, 2018
1:00 am–8:55 pm (-1)
Boeing 777-300ER B-KPB
Seats 2D/K (aisle/window, first class)
We had called up Alaska Airlines 72 hours before this flight to switch to it, right when two first class award seats opened up. We very nearly had the whole cabin to ourselves, except for one passenger upgrading from business class at check-in. For all of the lounges, it was totally worth it.
We showed up at the gate some 30 minutes before departure, just when our boarding passes said the flight would board.
Boarding got underway promptly and we walked down the jet bridge towards one last amazing flight to cap off this trip.
We were met at the door to the plane by the expected group of flight attendants who escorted us to our choice of seats.
The champagne didn’t take long, either.
Headphones and amenity kits.
More seat photos.
Hot towels.
This seat is getting a bit old at this point. This plane is Cathay Pacific’s second-oldest 777-300ER, delivered ten and a half years ago.
Menu.
The flight pushed back about 15 minutes behind schedule, at which point the safety video screened.
The plane rocketed into the sky shortly afterwards. At this point, it was 1 am Hong Kong time, 6 am New Zealand time. I asked the crew to save me some dinner and make up the bed.
I went to change in the lavatory, which was surprisingly small!
Six hours later, I woke up feeling wonderfully refreshed. Dinner came promptly, starting with the caviar service.
Pork, papaya, almond, and peanut soup.
Steamed chicken, Chinese ham, black mushroom, lotus leaf, kailan, carrot, and steamed jasmine rice.
Pumpkin and coconut sweet soup.
Pralines.
A delicious meal, in which I was trying very hard to limit my intake having spent an entire 24-hour-plus day eating nonstop. And given the timing of the flight, the second meal service—breakfast—was only an hour and a half later.
This time, we went for the buddy dining option. So they brought out the table extension and set it up for us with tea and coffee and smoothie and two glasses of juice.
Fruit plate.
Dim sum.
At this point, we were only 90 minutes out from San Francisco, where it was pitch dark outside. There wasn’t much more to see out the window, so we enjoyed some television until landing.
After our arrival, as is always the case at SFO, Global Entry was super quick with no line and then baggage claim took way too long. But we were home!
The review
Cathay Pacific was delightful on our first flight with them and delightful on this flight as well. We were probably a combination of too tired after a long day and too ready to be home after a very long, very delightful trip to properly enjoy this flight. And so many aspects of this flight, which were amazing in so many ways, just paled in comparison to the flight immediately before in Singapore’s New Suites.
Overall, I’d give Cathay the solid edge on lounges and airport experience and on design and visuals and probably on the food as well. I’d give Singapore the edge on the seat and the wine list.
But really, I’d take either again in a heartbeat.
Apr 14, 2018, 6:31 pm
#69
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Portland
Programs: AS MVP Gold, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold, IHG Platinum, Starbucks Gold
Posts: 391
Great report! I recently passed through HKG and as I was flying CX J for the first time ever, I did a bit of lounge hopping - in my 2hr transit I managed The Wing (J), QF Lounge, Amex Centurion and The Bridge. All very nice lounges, but The Wing was clearly the weakest link for me.
Having said that, I was in J, and based on the quality of CX's J lounges I can only imagine how nice their flagship F lounges are. Whereas I found The Private Room pretty disappointing when I visited last year (I far preferred LH's FCT, for example).
Looking forward to the next instalment!
Having said that, I was in J, and based on the quality of CX's J lounges I can only imagine how nice their flagship F lounges are. Whereas I found The Private Room pretty disappointing when I visited last year (I far preferred LH's FCT, for example).
Looking forward to the next instalment!