Thanks for clicking on Part 4 of my Autumn Asia series. Picking up where I left off in Nanning…
China’s largest Medicinal Herb Garden
A common sight around China
At the Provincial Museum
Nanningers love to shop!
After 2 nights in Nanning, I headed over to Yangshuo to meet up with some old colleagues.
Kebabed and spiced broccoli – delicious.
Some sights from the surrounding countryside
After 4 days in Yangshuo, I caught the sleeper bus over to Shenzhen before hopping over the border.
I found a great deal at the Ramada Hong Kong Island for a (semi) harbour view suite for just GBP 40 night…not bad!
As nearly always, I took bus #15 up to the Peak…bit smoggy today
But a nice sunset later on
And after nightfall
As I’d been to HK so many times before, I thought I should do something I’d never really done…visit the New Territories. First stop was a cultural trail out in Tin Shui Wai
The next day would be quite a lot more strenuous. My aim, HK’s best beach, Ham Tin beach. Why is it the best? Because it’s empty (and the scenery is gorgeous). Why is empty? Because, save for a long boat ride, the only way to get there is by a rather long and winding path, the MacLehose Trail. I decided to do Parts 1 and 2 (of 10), a nice 24km walk.
And here’s the beach. Doesn’t look like HK does it? By the time I got there, some 2 hours in, I was ready for a dip…wonderful.
After lunch and my swim, it was time for the next 20km….boy, it was hot and hard. Luckily the scenery was still fantastic.
It took me 6 hours in total (although, thank God, I hitched the final 2-3 kms)…exhausting stuff, but very nice. Don’t even think about trying this in the summer or without loads of water.
My final tourist activity was a visit to the free viewing gallery in the Bank Of China buidling
With all the touristy stuff out of my system, I checked out, and hopped on the bus to the airport.
Passing the Ngong Ping cable car (great day out)
Today’s flight would be in the comfort of Cathay Pacific’s First Class cabin. CX (and KA) operate up to 20 flights a day on the route. Together with China Airlines, EVA Air, HK Express and a few others, this route is possibly the world’s busiest in terms of daily seat numbers (most, if not all, flight are widebodies). Only a handful of CX flights offer F, and of those, roughly (it changes daily) 2 are operated by the Queen of the Skies. Thankfully, I found a flight to suit my schedule.
Checking in online, the cabin doesn’t look too busy
Whilst the rest of the airport sports large queues, the F check in area, whilst nowhere near as comfortable as the TG one in BKK, presents no wait time. My bag is whisked away, and my boarding card is printed, but only after the agent has noted down ALL the details on my onward flight. You’ll notice the long skirt worn by F staff – looks very chic and professional.
With check in completed, and plenty of time before my flight, I head over to Terminal 2 to check out the Observation deck
I love the T2 roof. Under the check in area are buses to the mainland
Entrance to the “Entertainment Zone”. There’s a proper IMAX here, but I don’t indulge today. The viewing deck has attracted a HK$15 charge since I was last here. I’m not in the mood particularly today, so just have a quick look at the plane info area.
Thankfully, today’s version of the F seat is a bit better than the one of show
I decide to try out security and immigration in T2 rather than going back to T1…it doesn’t take long. You have to catch a shuttle to the main terminal. From there, I caught another shuttle to the end of the pier.
I’m lucky enough to catch the CZ A380 on it’s daily PEK run just days before it’s swapped for an A330 (the A380 is now plying the LAX route, no doubt with a nice low l/f)
And I also catch the brand new TG 380
With my spotting over, I head downstairs to the First lounge
I’m quite disappointed to find that the pre-flight dining is just a buffet with a waiter service for drinks…no restaurant? To be fair to CX, the food is very nice, but this is not what I expect of a carrier like CX. CX are currently rejuvenating their F lounge in the main Wing complex. Hopefully when it reopens, it will be more First Classesque, as today’s offering are not really up to scratch.
As you can see, I’m a fan of salmon, dim sum and sushi
The main lounge area. Nice, but nothing special. And no views.
I ask a waiter for a drinks list. He’s obviously stumped by the question as he looks very confused. I ask what champagnes he has on offer. “Um, only one”. Er, righty, I’ll go with whatever that is then! I hope the crew on the plane are more on the ball!
So, what else is there in this F lounge? How about the Day Rooms? Very nice, although the TV only has 2 channels.
Better than the TV!
As long as the flight is better than the lounge!
Time for another champers
Last stop in this lounge in a shower…nice room
Well, other than a nice lunch, I’m left very underwhelmed by this lounge. I take a walk down the length of the Pier to try out the Wing. On the way out, I pick up a paper timetable from the lounge desk…how many airlines still publish them? This is a nice old-style thick thing, full of maps, diagrams and times…wonderful!
Today we get the exalted Gate 1…nothing happening for another few hours yet though
Nearby is the Wing lounge area. Ironically, when I was in HKG last year flying to Tokyo in Business, the C area was being redone. Now I’m flying F, the F is being redone! As such, there is a small cordoned off area in the new C lounge for F eligible pax.
Nice view
Just a champagne and some fruit
At a quarter to four, I head out. The QF F lounge opens at 4, and I want to check it out. I pass the very nice looking noodle bar on the way out.
Time for a look at the FIDS? How about that…a delay to “sometime tomorrow”. Good old RA!
gabrielchew From United Kingdom, joined Aug 2005, 2512 posts, RR: 13 Reply 1, posted (7 months 3 weeks 3 days 17 hours ago) and read 8703 times:
I’m the 3rd person admitted when the lounge opened….I take advantage of the emptiness and snap some shots
The buffet is limited, but of a good quality
The Parma ham and melon was tasty
Some reading materials
Again, just one type of champagne. A lady is patrolling the lounge offering top ups.
And a cappuccino to keep me awake
BA arriving
With 45 minutes before departure, I pack up my stuff, and walk down to the gate. My plane B-HOS is awaiting her passengers.
Mmmm. Those first 3 windows shall shortly be mine
And Swiss to the side
By the time I wander back to the gate, boarding is underway.
Despite quite a few people waiting in the premium line, I am the only one to take the premium airbridge.
October 2012
Hong Kong (HKG) – Taipei Taoyuan (TPE)
Cathay Pacific CX 470
Scheduled: 1745-1925 (1h40m)
Actual: 1819-1934 (1h15m)
Boeing 747-400 B-HOS
First Class
I greeted at the door by one of the two F crew, and escorted to my seat. I’m the first pax in the cabin, so go camera crazy for a minute or two.
How wonderful to be riding in the nose again! Shame the flight is so short…I could quite happily bed down for the JFK via YVR service!
My seat…not bad! I beats LX and TG First for sure (although I still like the TG sliding doors)
My big PTV…it’s hanging a bit low to one side
Seat 1K…A and K have never been so close
I’m asked what I’d like to drink…champagne (Armour De Deutz Brut 2003, not bad tasting) and a sparkling water
My wardrobe…far superior to the options on TG/9W First
And the end of the carpet
Hot towels are handed out when the rest of the cabin has boarded. Despite the loads showing 6 seat available for purchase a few house before take off (and the cabin map being similarly empty), we leave with 7 of the 9 seats taken. A particularly loud Canadian (travelling with his brother) is initially sat in 1K, but thankfully moves before take off. A and K are quite close for strangers.
Time for a top up before push back
The pack of menus are handed out
And stowed for take off
Map info
And the safety demo
Due to “late loading of cargo” we push back a little late, causing us to miss our slot….no problem for me. The longer the delay the better
Arrivals forms are handed out. I ask for a pen…I nearly pocket it before I realise it’s the pursers personal pen (it’s got her name inscribed in it)…I thank her and hand it back with my Change for Good wallet.
The mood lights flicker into life as we taxi off to the runway. I don’t think much of that wave thing. Maybe a photo of the HK skyline would be nicer?
We hold here for around 20 minutes before finally moving into position.
Checking out the controls
Nearly dark now as we sidle onto the runway
Here we go. It’s a nice feeling to know you are at the very front of the plane, with even the guys in hats upstairs sitting further back (albeit it with a better view!).
Climbing out over Hong Kong…sadly I’m sat on the wrong side for views of the harbour…here’s Mongkok instead
Soon the seatbelt signs come off, and so I take a few more photos. Nice and wide!
Let’s have a look on what’s on offer on this 500 mile flight
A little brochure about F wines
Food…
Not bad for a short flight. “Will you be joining us for dinner sir?”. Does a bear s#!t in the woods? “Yes please!”. Turns out that I’m the only one dining tonight…everyone else feels the desperate need to sleep on this short late-afternoon flight. (I guess if you’ve paid for a big bed, you might as well sleep in it).
The table is set
Everything is beautifully laid out. I decline a further champagne, and go for a Belvedere vodka and tonic.
Complete with a card from the 2 F crew and purser
Starter is fruit…maybe a little odd. I’d expect that more as a dessert. It’s tasty though
Bread basket
Wow, time’s flying by
I opt for the Chinese option of abalone. I’ve seen this on menus thousands of times before in China, but never ordered it (it’s normally quite pricey)…I have no idea what it is, but decide to try it anyway.
Yum, very tasty it is too.
I like the stained wooden chopsticks…very nice
Peep Show is my poison tonight
The abalone is very tasty…a perfect meal! It’s only as I write this TR I actually Google what abalone is….sea snail. Pictures of it are pretty revolting, but I have to admit, it tasted great! Useless fact of the day (if you believe Wikipedia): the world’s first underwater arrest was in the Channel Islands of a man illegally harvesting abalone.
gabrielchew From United Kingdom, joined Aug 2005, 2512 posts, RR: 13 Reply 2, posted (7 months 3 weeks 3 days 17 hours ago) and read 8672 times:
Dessert is a chocolately cake thing. It’s rich and tasty, but I can’t finish it. I’m asked if it’s ok, so just have to explain my food rampage in the lounge.
A post dinner drink? I’m well into my Cointreau as a flying drink now, so that’s what I go for tonight
And a cappuccino
And a hot towel to complete the wonderful (if slightly accelerated) dinner
CX magazine. It was nearly packed in Clingfilm and so in pristine condition
I pay a quick visit to the toilet facilities. No shower on CX, but you do get a window and some nice toiletries. Sadly no amenity kits were loaded on this short hop.
Not my seat/suite, but you get the picture.
Safety card
As the only passenger awake, I’m asked to complete survey…of course, as I get a free pen!
With way too little time before our arrival, I experiment with the seat a little….very comfy!
Oh dear. Just 20 minutes after my table is cleared of dinner and folded away and the seat belt signs come on.
I ask for a bottle of water to take away…an Evian for the trip to the hotel
Mood lights on as we approach Taipei. The magic of the cabin is shattered only by the two loud Canadians sharing their thoughts with the cabin at large on how to fill out the arrivals cards (“Do Canadians need a visa?”) (and other useless topics that happened to flicker into their brans as their mouths were moving). I guess the seclusion of the seats induced a feeling of being on your own such that you forget other people have to endure your brain farts.
And we’re down. The taxi is short, and we end up next to a company A330. CX have quite an operation out of TPE, with some 4-5 regional destinations served (mostly Japan, possibly ICN too).
Sadly, it’s time to leave the plane. I bid adieu to the wonderful staff and make my way to arrivals. The crew were exemplary (I guess it helped only have one (demanding) customer awake). All requests were handled with a smile and efficiency, clearly the result of many years of on the job experience. My photo taking too was not a problem either. The purser came and had a quick chat with me before we landed to check that I was enjoying the flight.
There wasn’t much happening in TPE on arrival, so there was no queue at all for immigration. Sadly the bags took quite a while to appear. When the bags did start coming out, mine was #30 out….not what an F passenger expects! There were plenty of C tagged bags (and, gasp, non-priority bags) that came out first.
With my bag off the belt, I headed through customs, and down to the bus station, where I was soon on a bus headed into Taipei. My report covering my time in Taipei, and my Scootin’ flight down to Singapore will be out soon!
Future reports include:
TZ TPE-SIN B772 Y
MI SIN-LGK A320 Y
FY LGK-SZB ATR Y
MH KUL-DAC A330 Y
4H DAC-ZYL ??? Y
AI CCU-DEL B788 Y
AI IXM-MAA-BLR A32S Y
SV BLR-DMM-JED-LHR A330/B773 Y
Quoting gabrielchew (Reply 1): How wonderful to be riding in the nose again!
Its definitely a good feeling. Had the privilege on a VS 744 many years back. Although unless I come into some serious money sometime soon, I doubt I'll get the privilege again, with the 744 seemingly dying out.
Quoting gabrielchew (Reply 1): Complete with a card from the 2 F crew and purser
lax888 From Switzerland, joined Oct 2010, 257 posts, RR: 0 Reply 4, posted (7 months 3 weeks 3 days 15 hours ago) and read 8330 times:
Lovely trip report as usual! I must say that your reports are probably some of my favourite ones to read. I like your writing style and attention to detail! Well done!
Looking forward reading the upcoming reports.
CX F to me still looks like one of the nicest F out there. Just the right mix of luxury mixed with functionality and elegance. Really a great design.
roberts87 From Netherlands, joined Dec 2011, 675 posts, RR: 0 Reply 5, posted (7 months 3 weeks 3 days 15 hours ago) and read 8321 times:
Excellent report again! A great way to experience CX wonderfull F class without having to take a long flight. And to be seated in seat 1 on the 747 sure is a great thing! And also thanks for the grand tour of HKG, a great looking airport!
767747 From United States of America, joined Jan 2005, 1760 posts, RR: 25 Reply 6, posted (7 months 3 weeks 3 days 9 hours ago) and read 7625 times:
Another great report, gabrielchew! It looks like you had a great time with Cathay.
I think its so classy how they have a little card that is presented to each passenger with all the crew members' names. Those are the little things that go a along way, and I imagine helps them keep their high F rankings.
Quoting jwhite9185 (Reply 3): Its definitely a good feeling. Had the privilege on a VS 744 many years back. Although unless I come into some serious money sometime soon, I doubt I'll get the privilege again, with the 744 seemingly dying out.
Quoting lax888 (Reply 4): Lovely trip report as usual! I must say that your reports are probably some of my favourite ones to read. I like your writing style and attention to detail! Well done!
Thank you
Quoting lax888 (Reply 4): CX F to me still looks like one of the nicest F out there. Just the right mix of luxury mixed with functionality and elegance. Really a great design.
Quoting roberts87 (Reply 5): A great way to experience CX wonderfull F class without having to take a long flight.
You make it sound like it would be a bad thing to go longhual!
Quoting roberts87 (Reply 5): And also thanks for the grand tour of HKG, a great looking airport!
HKG is lovely, great for photos too
Quoting roberts87 (Reply 5): And to be seated in seat 1 on the 747 sure is a great thing!
Yes, best seat in the house!
Quoting 767747 (Reply 6): Another great report, gabrielchew! It looks like you had a great time with Cathay.
Thanks Matthew, I did
Quoting 767747 (Reply 6): I think its so classy how they have a little card that is presented to each passenger with all the crew members' names. Those are the little things that go a along way, and I imagine helps them keep their high F rankings.
PlaneHunter From Germany, joined Mar 2006, 6217 posts, RR: 79 Reply 8, posted (7 months 3 weeks 3 days 4 hours ago) and read 7279 times:
Hi Gabriel,
interesting report, CX's F Class looks excellent IMO.
Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter):
As nearly always, I took bus #15 up to the Peak…bit smoggy today
That doesn't look bad at all.
Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): I’m quite disappointed to find that the pre-flight dining is just a buffet with a waiter service for drinks…no restaurant? To be fair to CX, the food is very nice, but this is not what I expect of a carrier like CX. CX are currently rejuvenating their F lounge in the main Wing complex. Hopefully when it reopens, it will be more First Classesque, as today’s offering are not really up to scratch.
Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): I ask a waiter for a drinks list. He’s obviously stumped by the question as he looks very confused. I ask what champagnes he has on offer. “Um, only one”. Er, righty, I’ll go with whatever that is then! I hope the crew on the plane are more on the ball!
Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): Sadly the bags took quite a while to appear. When the bags did start coming out, mine was #30 out….not what an F passenger expects! There were plenty of C tagged bags (and, gasp, non-priority bags) that came out first.
It seems you are very hard to please. Maybe you should try a private jet operator?
CARST From Germany, joined Jul 2006, 711 posts, RR: 1 Reply 9, posted (7 months 3 weeks 3 days 3 hours ago) and read 7143 times:
Great report Gabriel. I am not sure if I would eat the abalone, but I am not the person tasting new things anyway. And you got into a good eating frenzy in the lounges at HKG, I liked that. ^^
F class on CX looks excellent. The CX F lounge on the other hand seemed to be disappointing to say it with caution...
Quoting PlaneHunter (Reply 8): It seems you are very hard to please. Maybe you should try a private jet operator? Wink
I'm just a First Class passenger expecting First Class service - this is supposed to be one of the world's best F services. You need to manage expectations. When I fly FR and get a glass for free water, I'm delighted (not that this has ever happened). When I fly CX F I expect a choice of quality champagnes.
sultanils From Belgium, joined Mar 2010, 1215 posts, RR: 29 Reply 11, posted (7 months 3 weeks 2 days 21 hours ago) and read 6720 times:
Hi Gabs,
Nice one again my friend. The only time I have ever set foot on board of a CX plane was in 2007, in Y class of course. But I was impressed as well, mostly by the friendliness and professional attitude of the crew. The A340 back then however was an old school lady.
eastafspot From France, joined Jan 2008, 479 posts, RR: 4 Reply 12, posted (7 months 3 weeks 2 days 21 hours ago) and read 6652 times:
hey Gabriel,
Nice TR with countless of good pictures
Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): On the way out, I pick up a paper timetable from the lounge desk…how many airlines still publish them? This is a nice old-style thick thing, full of maps, diagrams and times…wonderful!
agree, even some airports still do this like CDG i think
Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): Starter is fruit…maybe a little odd. I’d expect that more as a dessert.
The reason is that fruit contains simple sugars that require no digestion. Thus, they will not stay for a long time in the stomach. When i was kid, my mom always used to tell me " eat your fruits before your meal" LOL .
Thanks for sharing
Looking forward to reading next chapter
Fly with Air Burundi, Air Tanzania, Air Uganda, Kenya Airways and Rwandair...Jumuiya ya Afrika mashariki
MSS658 From Belgium, joined Oct 2010, 2256 posts, RR: 14 Reply 13, posted (7 months 3 weeks 2 days 20 hours ago) and read 6552 times:
Hello Gabriel
Another great report, thanks for sharing! I really should head out east one day.
While the CX lounge does look rather average the cabin looks rather great.
The seat looks huge and the detail looks nice.
Fun to see the little card on the dinner service as well/
Quoting eastafspot (Reply 12): The reason is that fruit contains simple sugars that require no digestion. Thus, they will not stay for a long time in the stomach. When i was kid, my mom always used to tell me " eat your fruits before your meal" LOL .
Interesting to know. I always fruit as a dessert rather than a starter
Quoting MSS658 (Reply 13):
Another great report, thanks for sharing!
Thanks Marc
Quoting MSS658 (Reply 13): I really should head out east one day.
You should...plenty of nice places to visit
Quoting MSS658 (Reply 13): The seat looks huge and the detail looks nice.
Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): Starter is fruit…maybe a little odd. I’d expect that more as a dessert
ah salad for a starter and fruit plate for dessert cutting measures are so brutal in up-scale cabins ehhehe especially in Asian companies ...
thanks stipica
Quoting stipica (Reply 15): ah salad for a starter and fruit plate for dessert cutting measures are so brutal in up-scale cabins ehhehe especially in Asian companies ...
I guess it was more to do with the flight timing than anything else. I guess there's caviar on the longer flights?
adamspotter From Netherlands, joined Feb 2011, 818 posts, RR: 2 Reply 18, posted (7 months 2 weeks 6 days 14 hours ago) and read 5073 times:
Hi Gabriel,
Another great addition to your Asia trip series with many nice pictures!
Nice pictures of China, especially that beach looks so nice and peacefull, could sit there all day
Although CXs F lounge doesn't sound/look all to great in the air they look fantastic! Shame it was such a short flight though
Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): I decide to try out security and immigration in T2 rather than going back to T1…it doesn’t take long. You have to catch a shuttle to the main terminal. From there, I caught another shuttle to the end of the pier.
- I still prefer T1 immigration, I've found it quicker than going through T2.
Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): Starter is fruit…maybe a little odd. I’d expect that more as a dessert
- Agreed, never had fruit as a starter.
Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): I opt for the Chinese option of abalone. I’ve seen this on menus thousands of times before in China, but never ordered it (it’s normally quite pricey)…I have no idea what it is, but decide to try it anyway.
themit9 From Australia, joined Apr 2012, 84 posts, RR: 0 Reply 20, posted (7 months 2 weeks 6 days 3 hours ago) and read 4714 times:
Hi gabrielchew,
Thanks for an excellent report- as I started reading I realised it's part of a series so I'll be definitely going back over the others for a look. I am traveling to Hong Kong at the end of the month, and will be doing a similar short-haul first class widebody flight on Emirates (first time in First). It was a tough call between the EK A380 and the Thai 744 (with A380 on the return sector) and your report has again shown why- I have never sat in the nose of a 744. Still hope to do it before they are wiped out.
Is it just me or is broccoli coming back? It seems to be the main part of an increasing number of dishes now where I only know it as a necessary side to be swallowed quickly.
Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): With check in completed, and plenty of time before my flight, I head over to Terminal 2 to check out the Observation deck
A great preview into what I can expect in Hong Kong Airport- looks great.
Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): Hopefully when it reopens, it will be more First Classesque, as today’s offering are not really up to scratch.
Couldn't agree more- obviously what you got was a huge step up from Y, but the step up to a first fare from business is a big leap and there needs to be a clear differentiation. I haven't really been able to justify first in the past for this reason- it's usually a big leap in fare for an extra course, and slightly wider seat that also converts into a bed. You can't rely on the business standard- you paid for F and should have a clear difference. Looking forward to seeing the difference when I fly F for the first time.
Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): On the way out, I pick up a paper timetable from the lounge desk…how many airlines still publish them? This is a nice old-style thick thing, full of maps, diagrams and times…wonderful!
Have a whole box of these at home from around 1999-2001, but it seems that most airlines cut them out after 9/11 as a cost saver (from memory this is when they disappeared). It's great to see them in circulation, but they are a little useless unless you're an aviation fan with it being much easier to look online at the most direct route. Meanwhile we tend to avoid the most direct options...
Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): Turns out that I’m the only one dining tonight…everyone else feels the desperate need to sleep on this short late-afternoon flight. (I guess if you’ve paid for a big bed, you might as well sleep in it).
In my books if you've paid for fine dining and wine you might as well eat it- what a waste to sleep! I don't think I've ever turned down a meal while flying to sleep, even when departing at 1am.
Thought for a moment that they had stuck a label over your name (misspelling maybe?) then realised that was your doing in the post-enhancement stage. Nice personal touch from Cathay- not something you would see on other airlines even in F.
gabrielchew From United Kingdom, joined Aug 2005, 2512 posts, RR: 13 Reply 21, posted (7 months 2 weeks 3 days 18 hours ago) and read 3895 times:
Thanks for all the comments!
Quoting The777Man (Reply 17): Thanks for another great report with wonderful pictures !
Thanks!
Quoting The777Man (Reply 17): Very nice beach in Hong Kong but to hike 24 km seems a bit too much, at least for me. Scenery there is fantastic!
It was rather long, but I needed to justify all the wating and drinking I've been doing!
Quoting The777Man (Reply 17): The seat in First on Cathay Pacific looks great and the meal looks fantastic, especially for such a short flight.
Yes, was a very nice flight
Quoting The777Man (Reply 17): Very much looking forward to your next report in this series!
Well it's out soon
Quoting adamspotter (Reply 18): Another great addition to your Asia trip series with many nice pictures!
Thanks Brendan
Quoting adamspotter (Reply 18): Nice pictures of China, especially that beach looks so nice and peacefull, could sit there all day
Shame I had to crry on walking!
Quoting adamspotter (Reply 18): Although CXs F lounge doesn't sound/look all to great in the air they look fantastic! Shame it was such a short flight though
Yes, a great but very short flight
Quoting ba319-131 (Reply 19): Another great read and pictures, thanks for sharing.
Thanks for reading!
Quoting ba319-131 (Reply 19): CX F looks very nice on the 747, can't say I'll be trying it myself anytime in the near future unfortunately
Ooh, you should try it Mark...you might just like it!
Quoting themit9 (Reply 20):
Thanks for an excellent report- as I started reading I realised it's part of a series so I'll be definitely going back over the others for a look
Please do!
Quoting themit9 (Reply 20): I have never sat in the nose of a 744. Still hope to do it before they are wiped out.
Do it! Such a great place to be
Quoting themit9 (Reply 20): Couldn't agree more- obviously what you got was a huge step up from Y, but the step up to a first fare from business is a big leap and there needs to be a clear differentiation. I haven't really been able to justify first in the past for this reason- it's usually a big leap in fare for an extra course, and slightly wider seat that also converts into a bed. You can't rely on the business standard- you paid for F and should have a clear difference. Looking forward to seeing the difference when I fly F for the first time.
I couldn't agree more. You need to see a clear difference to justify the price
Quoting themit9 (Reply 20): In my books if you've paid for fine dining and wine you might as well eat it- what a waste to sleep! I don't think I've ever turned down a meal while flying to sleep, even when departing at 1am.
I know, you have to eat, not sleep!
Quoting themit9 (Reply 20): Thanks again for a great report,
deltamartin From Sweden, joined Dec 2010, 1059 posts, RR: 9 Reply 22, posted (7 months 4 days 22 hours ago) and read 3660 times:
Hello Gab!
Great report, and I'm glad I finally got around reading it!
Good to see that CX had a nice F product on even such a short flight, and that they impressed you more in the air than on the ground.
Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): CX have quite an operation out of TPE, with some 4-5 regional destinations served (mostly Japan, possibly ICN too).
So that's why I saw all those CX birds at TPE! I was thinking "they can't all be going to HKG!".
Quoting gabrielchew (Thread starter): My report covering my time in Taipei, and my Scootin’ flight down to Singapore will be out soon!
gabrielchew From United Kingdom, joined Aug 2005, 2512 posts, RR: 13 Reply 23, posted (7 months 3 days 22 hours ago) and read 3660 times:
Quoting deltamartin (Reply 22): Great report, and I'm glad I finally got around reading it!
Thanks Martin, glad you liked it
Quoting deltamartin (Reply 22): Good to see that CX had a nice F product on even such a short flight, and that they impressed you more in the air than on the ground.
Yes, once they've sorted out the lounge, they'll be very 5*
Quoting deltamartin (Reply 22): On my way back from TPE, on my layover in HKG, I visited the terrace, luckily i still had a valid Student Card from Sweden so I only had to pay 7.50.
Better value!
Quoting deltamartin (Reply 22): So that's why I saw all those CX birds at TPE! I was thinking "they can't all be going to HKG!".
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Sultanils
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From Croatia, joined Feb 2011, 408 posts, 
From Australia, joined Apr 2012, 84 posts, 
From Sweden, joined Dec 2010, 1059 posts, 
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