thaia345 From Indonesia, joined Oct 2006, 814 posts, RR: 17 Posted (3 years 1 month 3 weeks 4 days ago) and read 32767 times:
Reason For Trip
Its time for me to embark on a conference/ product launch all the way in Newport Beach in LA. For this trip, I am going to try a first for me, CX ultra long haul from KUL-LAX in J/F. As many of you that knows me, this is something really out of the blue as usually I fly with TG. My wife will be coming along with me on this trip. Hope you guys enjoy the TR.
03 March 2010
Jakarta (CGK) - Kuala Lumpur (KUL)
Malaysia Airlines MH722
Aircraft: A330-300
Registration: 9M-MKD
1st Flight:8 March 1995
ETD: 1830 (Delayed 1915)
ETA: 2130 (Delayed 2225)
Seat: 2A (Golden Club / Business Class)
Flight Time: 1hr 40min
03 March 2010
Kuala Lumpur (KUL) – Hong Kong (HKG)
Cathay Pacific CX720
Aircraft: B777-300
Registration: B-HNO
1st Flight: 13 March 2004
ETD: 0930
ETA: 1340
Seat: 15K (Business Class)
Flight Time: 3hr 14min
Pre Flight
After a short overnight stay at the Pan Pacific KLIA, we checked in for the flight approximately 1.30mins before ETD. After all the formalities I grabbed a fresh carton of cigarettes from duty free before heading to the CX Lounge. The lounge has recently been renovated by the looks of it and it looks very nice, simple yet clean and modern as the following picture shows.
CX Lounge in KLIA
Tarmac View from CX Lounge
This is my first time using the CX lounge as its also my first time flying CX out from KUL. After the lounge it was a quick visit to the smoking lounge before boarding.
B-HNO just before we boarded
Inflight
Older B773A operating this hop to HKG. 85% full business class with mostly business travellers. Config on this bird in J is 2-3-2. I think CX also has one of the more restrictive legrooms amongst Asian carriers in J.
Cabin view in this CX regional J Class on the B773A
Scenes after take off
Imppressions of crew so far, polite and non intrusive, but a bit hurried, guess its due to the pretty heavy loads on this bird. Meal service started around an hour after take off. Food was good, and I do like the way CX lays out their tray.
The only downside was the choice I wanted was finished by the time they served me.
IFE is provided buy individual PTV's, albeit played in a loop and not on demand.
Its not complete till you pay a visit to the lavatories
Overall it was a pleasant hop to HKG and will fly them again in the future.
Final pics before landing in HKIA and also the usual nice and varied tarmac view in Hong Kong
Service: 8/10
Food: 7/10
Aircraft: 7.5/10
04 March 2010
Hong Kong (HKG) – Los Angeles (LAX)
Cathay Pacific CX882
Aircraft: B777-300ER
Registration: B-KPH
1st Flight: 5 May 2008
ETD: 1620
ETA: 1255
Seat: 1K (First Class Suites)
Flight Time: 11hr 40min
Pre Flight
After landing, it was a really long walk to get to the first class lounge. Since we had such a long transit time, I decided to use The Wing Lounge which is located just after immigration. We went to the Haven to have lunch. Food was just average although its catered by the famous Peninsula Hotel in Kowloon.
After which I decided to take a shower and also give me a chance to try out The Cabanas Shower/Relaxation room. It was pretty disappointing as you can see from the photos.
Part of CX Lounge
After my shower I decided to take a walk around and look at the shops.
Below are just some random shots as I walked around the terminal
Sq’s Whalejet amoungst a sea of CX tails
Not long before boarding was commenced, we walked back to the lounge to pick our bags up and also to take a few more pics of the lounge
My overall CX First class lounge experience was pretty disappointing. I guess I am so usually spoilt by TG First class service in BKK with a personal assistant to meet and greet, full spa facilities and the tranquil yet classy Royal First Lounge.
Our home for the next 12+ hours to Los Angeles
Inflight
When we boarded catering staff were still busy doing last minute loading. 4 out of 6 seats taken in F. My disappointment with the lounge was immedietely put to rest when I sat down and explored the privacy and comforts of my seat.
The Cathay Pacific Suites
Amenity kit
Pyjamas by Shanghai Tang
Before pushback I decided to pay a quick visit and take some pics of the lavatory
Inflight Magazines
The very vast and complete inflight meal menu and choices it contains
Pushback; tarmac and views from the cabin
Take-off
After fasten seatbelt signs were turned off, I took the chance to take even more pictures of the really nice F cabin
I requested for dinner soon after we reached crusing altitude, and the meals did not disappoint me.
Time to sleep
Actually throughout the night betweens my sleeps I also requested a snack, which turned out to be a full meal instead. Service was also great and efficient.
After that great and really filling supper, I went back to sleep, and when I woke up, guess what, breakfast time!
After breakfast was over, I took the opportunity to wash up and freshen up before our arrival into LA.
Cabin getting ready for arrival
Final views upon descent
QF has 2 whalejets on the ground in Los Angeles
Waiting to be towed to our gate
That’s for Part 1, Stay tuned for Part 2.
Overall a truly satisfying inflight experience with CX in F.
Service: 9.5/10
Food: 10/10
Aircraft: 10/10
nethkt From Thailand, joined Apr 2001, 985 posts, RR: 3 Reply 2, posted (3 years 1 month 3 weeks 3 days 20 hours ago) and read 32609 times:
Wonderful trip report from top-notch F product on Cathay! Thanks a lot
May I ask your personal opinion if the Cathay F cabin on 77W is far better than 744?
Not sure if the (nose) curve of the 744 would reduce aisle walkway space and make the F cabin looks really cramped.
So now you are with Cathay? No more THAI? Are you just tired out of TG?
Thanks again,
NET
Don't be annoyed knowing the passengers around you are non-revs and op-upgraders, be grateful for them. Life is beautifu
767747 From United States of America, joined Jan 2005, 1750 posts, RR: 26 Reply 3, posted (3 years 1 month 3 weeks 3 days 9 hours ago) and read 29912 times:
Great report! Cathay Pacific always seems to provide amazing service; their F class cabin and food service looks amazing! Hope you had a good trip!
thaia345 From Indonesia, joined Oct 2006, 814 posts, RR: 17 Reply 6, posted (3 years 1 month 3 weeks 3 days 2 hours ago) and read 28389 times:
Quoting nethkt (Reply 2): May I ask your personal opinion if the Cathay F cabin on 77W is far better than 744?
I Have never been on Cx's B744 before, so i cant really comment on that.
Quoting nethkt (Reply 2): So now you are with Cathay? No more THAI? Are you just tired out of TG?
Hahahha TG is still my first choice, but the problem is that i hate their angle lie flats on the A345 they use to LAX. they really should have an F service to LAX.
Quoting 767747 (Reply 3): their F class cabin and food service looks amazing! Hope you had a good trip!
It was an excellent and enjoyable trip!
Quoting Ryanair!!! (Reply 4): No wonder I missed you in JKT... Nice TR on CX's F!
Hehehe i think when u were here 2 weeks back, it was not this trip, but the Lisbon trip which i just got back from.
Quoting SASDC8 (Reply 5): It looks like you might be right. It seems that it almost rivlas TG A300's for least legroom in regional J
Come to think about it, alhtough my TG A300 experience was a long time ago, i think u r right on this aspect!
Quoting SASDC8 (Reply 5): TG First class lounge and service in BKK does this to you, nothing really compares after sampling it
True!..nothing beats TG on lounge and transfer service in BKK
Really nice report and HKG seems like a really airport to trasfer threw, but distance vise is it up there with BKK?
HKG is a much easier airport to transfer and although its also pretty far form one end to the other, its no way was bad as BKK, at least in HKG theres a much warmer feeling. And for distance gates, there are also people movers underground which you can use
AI151 From United Kingdom, joined Dec 2009, 303 posts, RR: 17 Reply 7, posted (3 years 1 month 3 weeks 2 days 23 hours ago) and read 27892 times:
Hi thaiai345 great TR. Loved the pics and CX F looks stunning. The lounge in Hong Kong doesn't look that bad either. You must have been full up with the amount of food they fed you on board not at least the midnight snack.
Quoting thaia345 (Thread starter): As many of you that knows me, this is something really out of the blue as usually I fly with TG
Just out of curiosity what made you choose CX this time instead of TG as usual?
Quoting thaia345 (Thread starter): The only downside was the choice I wanted was finished by the time they served me.
thaia345 From Indonesia, joined Oct 2006, 814 posts, RR: 17 Reply 10, posted (3 years 1 month 2 weeks 2 days 22 hours ago) and read 22346 times:
Quoting ba319-131 (Reply 9): It came as quite a shock to see you on CX metal!
Hi Mark, I guess its time for a change now and start putting mileage on my QF OneWorld....actually didn't realise before i flew this CX flight that i still have 110K miles on QF ehehehheheheh
Quoting ba319-131 (Reply 9): The old regional cabin is quite a let down now, visually it's pretty awful.
What you see visually is also the real deal in real life. Seats were not comfortable, IFE is played in a loop and leg room is terrible.
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From Indonesia, joined Oct 2006, 814 posts, 
From Thailand, joined Apr 2001, 985 posts, 
Are you just tired out of TG?
From United States of America, joined Jan 2005, 1750 posts, 
From Singapore, joined Mar 2002, 4652 posts, 
From Norway, joined Mar 2006, 662 posts, 
Their catering looks top notch as well 
From United Kingdom, joined Dec 2009, 303 posts, 
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