Background

Hello world! Today's trip report details a trip that happened last December when I went on a family holiday to the United States of America. I was, unsurprisingly, delegated the important duty of deciding how to get there from sunny Singapore. Our route would include flying to New York, and back from LA. Had SQ still been running its A345 flights, I might have been on that  

However, a compulsory one-stop opened up a wealth of choices for me. SQ, ANA, CX, Eva Air etc etc - all great and wonderful carriers. However, as Dad and mum had agreed to let the kids fly Premium Economy, this cut out quite a few carriers, leaving just CX and Eva Air in the running. Price, as always, was a big factor, and CX won out marginally. Furthermore, its Y+ product was newer. However, I would most certainly be seated with my fiancée in a pair seat, leaving my sister to sit with strangers and largely ignored by me. As such, I suggested that my sister be allowed to sit up in J with my parents while my fiancée and I would sit in Y+. CX had a promotion that would book the short sectors between SIN and HKG in J, so that really made a lot of sense monetarily. Besides, my fiancée and I could cuddle with each other....   

Alas, my dad is a fair and just man. He ruled that since I had been such a nice younger brother who thought about his sister's (dis)comfort and was so nice to suggest that she sit J while I 'slog' it out in the back, that we should all just sit in J together, as this was a family holiday as well.

  

Uhhhh.

Well. Okay!!!!         


At Changi Airport

Just two days after I was back from Europe, it was time to be back at Changi Airport again!   


The drawing of that thing with a ball on top looks familiar.. Have I seen it somewhere?

The CX counters were sort of crowded, but we were attended to pretty quickly at the Business Class counters.


Big bags for a 3-week holiday!!

Being unadventurous and boring, the 3 of them left to use a lounge that they normally use in terminal 2, while my fiancée and I were left to wander on our own. We would later meet on the plane. My fiancée had to use the internet, so we headed air side straight to the lounge for some light breakfast and for her to do work.


Terminal 1 air side


Siew Mai


Breakfast, consisting of noodles, sausage, pork pastries, and a siew mai


Some seating facing the planes out there

As we normally don't arrive very early ahead of departure time when at Changi, the time for boarding quickly came.


Mood lighting in Changi

Security at the gate was cleared quickly, and we were admitted through into the holding pan. Boarding had already begun so after a quick snap of the plane, it was time to board the aircraft to Hong Kong!!

Flight 1

Cathay Pacific
CX 736
SIN-HKG
Airbus A340-300
B-HXG
Seat 19A



While booking this itinerary, I was delighted to see that the A340 would be operating this short flight to HKG. While personally I was happy to be on the A340 and sample the now-outdated herringbone seats, I knew my parents wouldn't be too delighted. True enough, mummy was annoyed she couldn't see daddy from her seat    I had to assure her that this wouldn't be the seats to JFK.

We were welcomed on board, and I found my seat 19A, the 3rd last of the cabin.



My first impression - tight squeeze.


Cabin shot

An FA came by quickly and offered some pre-takeoff drinks from a tray. I grabbed myself a champagne   


Legroom shot + champagne


Panel with all the essentials

The seat really did feel a little claustrophobic. It wasn't wide at all, and there wasn't space to really put anything securely. Moreover it was a constant distraction whenever anybody walked by because, facing the aisle, you would invariably see all the action happening.


Headphones positioned next to my bum, with another ledge on top for personal items.

An FA soon came around again to offer us some towels.



I must say though, that this seat really prevented you from seeing anybody else's face. The only thing you saw a lot of were people's feet.


Fat. The airbag seatbelt, not me (I hope??)

Soon, the cabin was ready for push back as all passengers had boarded. The safety video began playing, and the cabin crew came around to ensure everyone had their screens out.




Pushing back

I thought looking out of the window would be extremely difficult. But thankfully my window was placed exactly where the gap between my seat and the side panel was. Also, there was this:


Pillow velcro-ed to the seat

As you can imagine, all I had to do was turn to my side, lean my head/face against this pillow, and I had a rather decent view out of the window   Using my right hand to take pictures was easy too, as I just had to stretch across slightly, place my elbow on a ledge that was on top of the headphones that you saw in the picture above, and click away.


Taxiing to the runway

It was the peak morning rush hour and along the way, I saw many planes zoom by on their takeoff roll.


SQ 777




Sort of miss MH's awesome J class service


All was still well for them at that time... 

Before our turn to fly, it was this big bird's turn first.


748. Surprisingly, an aircraft that I don't have a very big urge to fly on


Our turn next!

This being my favourite A340, I decided to take a video of our takeoff. Unlike my IB flight, we actually had a rather powerful takeoff roll and steep ascent into the sky!

Watch it here! (And listen to those cute CFMs...)


Bye Singapore!


Banking slightly to correct our heading


Onwards towards Hong Kong!


Reasonably quick flight just over 3 hours


Climbing steadily


Getting myself comfy   

As soon as the seatbelt signs were switched off, one of the more senior cabin crew members came about distributing menus. I still find the CX uniform a bit incoherent. You have the main cabin crew who wear white, then a slightly senior one who wears gold, and I assume the purser is the one completely in black. However, the styles and design of each uniform are all different, so it doesn't seem like there's a common theme about them. As we know, SQ differentiates their crew by the colour of the sarong kebaya, but at least the design is still uniform throughout.

I was addressed by name, but this was achieved thanks to the manifest sitting atop the pile of menus. Cheeky!   



Menu for today


Drinks list page 1


Page 2

With the rather short flight time, I decided to put on a movie immediately.


Something I hadn't watched before

However, a quick visit to the toilet was a must before commencing my inflight entertainment.



Frankly, I thought this was the most hideous looking toilet ever. That shade of green was just..    But then again, I generally hate green. The only green clothes I have are my military uniform. And what's up with that mosaic tile thingie under the mirror?! Perhaps this was all the fashion in the 90s..?


Some amenities available


The fancy mosaic

Back at my seat, the on board service began first with a drinks run and some nuts.


OJ, water, and nuts

It was already apparent that it would soon be difficult for the crew to serve lunch, with the huge screen blocking their way.


Cloudy skies out there

One thing I did like about this seat though was the vast amount of sunlight streaming through. I generally like sunlight a lot so it was nice to have sunshine.   

However, it did soon prove to be a bit too glaring for my IFE screen so I had to lower the shades. The lunch service soon began, and I had an über polite male FA serving my aisle along with a female FA in golden clothes. He was the super professional, "certainly sir", first-time-serving-J type. Very charming. The female FA, on the other hand was. Hmm. Voluptuous.

Anyway.

My table cloth was laid:



The meal tray followed, and drinks and bread from a basket were offered immediately.


Meal tray with starters

The salmon fillet starter was good. Honestly I think you can't really go wrong with what is essentially salmon sashimi, can you?

When this was done, a trolley topped with a variety of main courses came rolling down the aisle. My initial concern with the food getting cold was stemmed when I discovered that the crew typically only put one or two of each choice on the trolley. Fresh, hot dishes are topped up from the galley when those on the trolley have been taken. On the down side, this style of service doesn't feel as 'premium' as a hand-delivered-from-galley style of service, such as on SQ or QR. On the plus side, I got to see the food before I decided, and on more than one occasion, I actually changed my choice and was happy about my change!


Braised chicken with black fungus

The food portion looks small initially but it filled me up rather well. Eyes big, stomach small, as Singaporeans would say...    And it all tasted really good as well.

Next came the dessert trolley. I took everrrrrything...


Gluttony!!


Gluttony part 2!

Having stuffed myself with lots of food, I decided to pay a visit to the toilet. To my horror, I discovered a snoozing pig in the form of my sister who had skipped the entire meal service. Uh, this was a 10am - 2pm flight and she slept the whole way.   


Gives you a good idea about that 'coffin' concept. Looks really comfortable, though, doesn't it?

Later on, she did review that this seat felt more private than the new J. She felt cocooned in and her head was far from the noisy aisle. Of course, she had no inkling that someone had stood her over and had taken lots of pictures of her sleeping.   


Shot down the cabin. Some Christmas decorations on the bulkhead


I got a Latte for my after-meal drink


Bright sunshine outside by now

My movie soon ended and I spent the rest of my time browsing through some short TV shows. Eventually though, we neared Hong Kong and the captain announced the beginning of our descent.




Slats extended


Attempt at a hideous green mood lighting


Wow!! Building of a super long bridge! To where?

The rest of the descent was caught on video. A very nice clear day with our aircraft meeting up with its shadow. Also, my beloved tip-toe touchdown   

Watch it here!


Exiting the runway


Cathay Land


Arriving at our gate

The doors were soon opened, and we began to disembark the aircraft. Interestingly, the purser (who hadn't interacted with me at all on this flight), said goodbye to me by name but it was sir/mdm for everyone else.   


At Hong Kong




Lots of HSBC advertisement met us immediately. We trooped down to the arrivals level and made a fairly short walk to transit security. This was done quickly, and once up the escalators, we were back onto departures level.



From here it was a long walk back to the main area with all the food. Our next flight would be departing from gate 4 anyway, so this walk was mandatory.


Crowded eatery area

My mum craved her Hong Kong milk tea, while my sister, who was ravenous, craved her curry pork chop rice, both from Tsui Wah Eatery. So my fiancée and I left and we agreed to meet up in the lounge later on.


The rather nondescript sign and secret passage to the The Wing First Class lounge

The was my second visit here since turning oneworld emerald. I like this lounge for its open concept. It was also very clean and everything was held up to immaculate standards. The staff were also always very professional.

But first, a glass of Rosé champagne!


Which I didn't like...   


Inner section is always more quiet

My fiancée was a little peckish, so she grabbed some dessert.


Here's what's left of it

Then after some time I got just a liiiiiitle bit greedy....    ... and headed to The Haven to order some food


Some clay pot chicken rice thing

It was brought to me at the long bar as I preferred to sit out here watching aircraft roam around. Unfortunately, it wasn't quite as tasty as I imagine it to be. In the meantime, we held a mini champagne tasting session: Champagne Deutz The Peninsula, Moët & Chandon Impérial, and Moët & Chandon Rosé Impérial   

In my drunken state, I didn't take any pictures, but The Peninsular won.

Soon, my sister contacted me that they were in the J side of the lounge, so we headed over.


Noodle bar

However, I wasn't interested in noodles, and so popped over to the café area to grab myself some coffee and ice cream   


Muahaha!


Lots of pastries were available to go with your coffee

With about half an hour more to go to departure, I popped my head over the ledge at the end of the noodle bar to take a look at gate 4.


Full flight to JFK!

Boarding for our flight had just begun, so we decided to wrap things up at the lounge and slowly head downstairs.

There was a secondary security check here, and sadly all of us were made to throw away our brand new bottles of water. What a waste.


Time to head on board!

Flight 2

Cathay Pacific
CX 840
HKG-JFK
Boeing 777-300ER
B-KQG
Seat 18A

We were welcomed on board, and despite boarding through door 1, we had to go past door 2 to get to our seats in the main J cabin. Here, I saw a cabin crew literally roll her eyes as a passenger took his time storing his luggage in the overhead bins, blocking her way. Wow. Not a good start at all  


Here's my seat!

Because I couldn't part with my window seat and because it seemed difficult to talk across the middle seats anyway, my fiancée was seated across the aisle at 18D. My sister was at 18F, and whenever they spoke to each other, both had to lean quite far forward.   


Thank you!

Being in this seat felt like being in the reverse of the other seat! However, it felt much a little less cramped and there was also more storage room for everything. This was my second time on board this cabin, having sampled it once on a short-haul flight from SGN-HKG.


Lots and lots of legroom


Side panel with the essentials

Again, I didn't quite like how the side panel was right next to my head. I much prefer the slightly more open feel of, say, QR's 787 J seat. But then again these are just small niggles in the greater scheme of things   

I was soon offered some drinks. I decided to give their CX signature drink a go.



I don't know what it was, but it was green. And as with all green things, it was vile   


Look at that big thing hanging there!


A cray cray long flight ahead of me!

Soon, boarding was completed, and we began our pushback.


Pushing back..

The GEs flamed to life.

I covered my ears.    Just some food for thought: On all my 77W flights, the sound of the safety video is drowned out when the engines are turned on. Yes even with my hands off my ears, I cannot hear the text. Isn't that a safety concern in itself?



Taxiing out to the runway


There goes an A340 trying to take off   

We soon reached the end of the runway where we queued up for our turn.


Behind us, a regular 773 and a 77W


Our turn!!

This has got to be one of the longest routes for the 77W, and it came through as we spooled up to full power! For the first time, I heard the GE90s give their all - screaming, and vibrating, and willing our aircraft to move down the runway.


Here we go!!


Those raked wingtips straining upwards..


Check out that mighty wing flex!!  

For what I assume was a fully-loaded 77W, our takeoff was powerful and steep. As much as I don't fancy the 77W, I really have to take my hat off to it!


Climbing strongly into the sky


Bye bye Hong Kong!



As we climbed steadily into the sky, the Hong Kong scenery soon faded away. Throttles were pulled back, and we adhered to a gentler rate of ascent.



I got myself comfy and took off my shoes. There's a nice shoe storage space under the seat.




Picture of the seat across the aisle: Nice foothold + magazine rack


Non-green mood lighting came into effect   

First up, the cabin crew came about delivering amenity kits. A bottle of water is featured in my photograph, but I can't remember if that was offered, or if I had asked for it.




Female version on the right. Similar contents though


Contents

The amenity kit had quite a nice assortment of stuff. I found the thing that helps you wear your shoes particularly unique. Does it have a name?



Outside, the sun had begun to set pretty quickly.

At this point in time, the purser came about introducing herself to each one of us. As such, there was no ‘extra’ personal welcome from her per se as an emerald.

A short while later, a male FA in a gold vest who would later serve my aisle came about distributing menus. To me he did say a few extra words to thank me for choosing oneworld again and Cathay Pacific in particular and to find him if I had anything blah blah, while to the rest he just said "Mr/MSs xx, menu for today?" so I suppose that would constitute my personal welcome for this flight!   


Menu Page 1


Menu Page 2


Drinks Menu Page 1


Drinks Menu Page 2

It was nice to see a mix of different wines available on the short vs long-haul flights. In addition, there was a special-edition Chilean wine loaded on this flight as well.


Bye bye, sunshine!

The drinks and nuts service soon commenced. I went with a glass of white wine.



A while later, my table was soon laid and the tray placed on my table. I decided to enjoy my meal this evening with just the sunset as my IFE.


Salmon, again. It was cooked this time though

Oops greedy me ate a bite of my garlic bread before remembering to take a photo. I didn't quite like this salmon. Cooked salmon tends to go dry on planes...

My aisle was served by Ms Roll-eyes and Mr Gold-vest. My attempt to get Ms Roll-eyes out of her annoyed state with lots of smiles and thank yous eventually worked when she soon broke into her own smile and started addressing me by name instead of 'Sir' later on in the flight    I also found it sort-of-not-really-classy that a passenger manifest was stuck to the front of the trolley so they could see who was who. Here, I spied a big circled 'EM' next to my name, while there were one or two more 'DM's and 'GO's as well. I think SQ's FAs memorise name by heart, but okay I'm just being anal!!   

Next up, the trolley with the main courses rolled around.


Pork with yuzu miso sauce, Japanese rice, and vegetables

Wow this dish turned out to be excellent!!   

Also, I was onto my second glass of wine... The Chilean red this time   

During the meal service, the trolley typically rolls by a second time to top up any drinks if required    Mr Gold-vest really was very good and professional, though he started to mispronounce my name halfway through to flight lol!


Next up: Cheese!

Followed by..


Lemon meringue pie

Dinner was good overall. I think the pie felt a bit like those you can find in Marks and Spencer, but the main course was special and very well done. Again, the food portion looked a little like what you'd find in Economy albeit in a glorified porcelain bowl. However, taking into account the starter, bread, salad, cheese, and dessert, I was stuffed to the brim.

By now, the sun was completely gone and we were cruising alongside Japan.


Japan in the distance

With dinner over, and still a gazillion hours away from New York, I decided to put on a movie to while the time away.


  What was I watching??

Unfortunately, that's the only picture I took, so I've no idea what I had watched   


Post movie, that's us zooming to NYC with 8 hours left

It was getting late in Singapore time and most of the cabin had gone to sleep. I decided to change out into more comfortable pyjamas that I had brought along, and turn my chair into a bed.


Mmm.   

For the next couple of hours, I had some difficulty sleeping. The biggest problem was the cabin temperature. It was way too high! I kept tossing and turning in heat and found it difficult to go off to sleep. The same was reported by my family members later on, so it wasn't just me. Occasionally, I got up, visited the toilet, got some tea, etc etc...

Meanwhile, the sun had risen again outside.


Already overflying North America

Eventually I gave up sleeping and got up. I must have whiled the time away watching some shows or other. My fiancée apparently didn't even sleep at all  

About 2 hours prior to arrival, the second meal service began. As mentioned in the menu, there were snacks available upon request during the flight but I didn't partake any.


Beginning with some freshly squeeze OJ, croissant, and fruits

And bizarrely for the second time today, the sun began to set again.   


Sunset part 2

I think it's situations like that that really make me marvel at the wonders of flight. We depart, we see the sun set, then it rises, then it sets again. Only possible with us zooming through the air at 900km/h in a metal tube!!


Next up, yogurt

For the main course, again I had the chance to look at my food before selecting it from the trolley. In the end I went for congee. I wanted something hot and slurpy. Mr Gold-vest was serving the food while Ms No-more-roll-eyes did the drinks. Both were bright and cheery and looked like the past 12 hours hadn't done anything to them at all.



It wasn't that good. I suspect it's those sort of instant porridge that get from a packet and produce by adding hot water. It was also very starchy.   


Aw man! Pitch dark outside. No Niagara falls.

As we approached New York, we soon began our descent after a long 15 hours.


Overshooting a bit

We executed a U-turn, before heading back towards JFK again.


Land in the distance



The lights outside were beautiful! It was a myriad of many different colours whooshing by.



My camera began having trouble capturing images in the low light, so I switched to video mode.

Watch it here!

We touched down gently, and made a long taxi to the terminal.



And then, we suddenly stopped on a taxiway and held there.

For 25 minutes!!   


At this spot

The pilot explained that some other birdy was taking up our gate.


Finally we moved off


And finally came to rest next to IB  


Conclusion

Phew that was one long journey to get to New York! Almost an entire day later, we finally arrived at the other side of the world. Cathay Pacific Business Class didn't really disappoint, but in my opinion, neither did they shine as brightly as what some people make them out to be. Inevitably, I compare them with SQ and they still fall short in providing the premium feel that SQ exudes. I mean, everything was executed perfectly. But there was just something that was lacking that made the flights just a standard affair. Hard product wise, I couldn't really complain. The reverse herringbone J is certainly a good seat and had the cabin temperature been lower, I probably would have slept much better.

I think some of you might have felt bored reading this TR, right? And that probably sums up this pair of flights: comfortable, but uninteresting.

In any case, Part II will feature the Qantas First Class lounge at LAX, and perhaps some snippets of my flights on Southwest and Jet Blue. Well, that's hoping I even find the energy to complete Part II...   


pokfur

Another great and detailed report, well done.

Quoting pokfur (Thread starter): Does it have a name?

Shoe horn.

Quoting pokfur (Thread starter): The Chilean red this time

There was no Chilean red wine on the menu.

Quoting pokfur (Thread starter): Well, that's hoping I even find the energy to complete Part II...

Don't keep us waiting long.

Hello SOBHI51,

Quoting SOBHI51 (Reply 2): Another great and detailed report, well done.

Thanks!  

Quoting SOBHI51 (Reply 2): Shoe horn.

Oooo!! I tried to google it, but couldn't find anything haha! Thanks for that!

Quoting SOBHI51 (Reply 2): There was no Chilean red wine on the menu.

Yeah. It was on a separate pamphlet. Let me dig it out and I'll post a picture of it when I have the time.

Quoting SOBHI51 (Reply 2): Don't keep us waiting long.

Lol... Might take a while!  

pokfur

Hello, Pokfur

You flew A LOT hor .....

But at least this one is a break from the London - Singapore shuttle. Hahaha.

Anyway, I always enjoy your trip reports including this one but yup I do agree like in your own words that it's pretty much "a standard affair". But I think SQ J is also similar to this. It's a series of elaborate procedures and a fantastic hardware and that's about it. 80% of the J crew is bo-chap. They are too busy and occupied.

I dislike hot cabins too, SQ included.
When flying F, I usually ask them to turn down the temperature.
When flying J, I just s*ck it up. Haha

I just tried EY F and boy, their cabin was really really cold. Must be something to do with their origin in the desert climate and therefore they prefer cold. I slept like a baby there. EK F was cold too but EY's much colder. How about QR.... ? You flew with them a lot. I want to compile a list of cold cabins!

I am also always fascinated by the sunsets and sunrises. Too bad you didn't return on this route. The polar route is usually very interesting in this aspect. I flew BKK-JFK non stop when it was still running going over Mongolia, Russia, and the North Pole. It was an overnight flight with a sunrise, a very long midsummer day, then a sunrise again instead of a sunset. Really twisted the order of the day.

Amazing TR again Pokfur

Hope you enjoyed your time in NYC(my home   ). What time was your arrival into JFK?

Anyways great TR  

Hello SQueeze!

Quoting SQueeze (Reply 4): You flew A LOT hor .....

Lol you also please...   

Quoting SQueeze (Reply 4): But at least this one is a break from the London - Singapore shuttle. Hahaha.

True. Though the next 3 will be back to the old route. Doubt I'll be writing TRs on those though. Haha. No more juice to squeeze out already.

Quoting SQueeze (Reply 4): Anyway, I always enjoy your trip reports including this one but yup I do agree like in your own words that it's pretty much "a standard affair". But I think SQ J is also similar to this. It's a series of elaborate procedures and a fantastic hardware and that's about it. 80% of the J crew is bo-chap. They are too busy and occupied.

Hmm then I suppose SQ's minimum level of bo-chapness is still higher than CX's level of bo-chapness, if you know what I mean? Aiya but then it's been a while since I've been on a proper long haul SQ J so maybe my memory is fuzzy.

Quoting SQueeze (Reply 4): I dislike hot cabins too, SQ included.

Yeah I don't think SQ makes it very cold do they? Which is so weird I mean aircon is practically free up there...   

Quoting SQueeze (Reply 4): I just tried EY F and boy, their cabin was really really cold. Must be something to do with their origin in the desert climate and therefore they prefer cold. I slept like a baby there. EK F was cold too but EY's much colder. How about QR.... ? You flew with them a lot. I want to compile a list of cold cabins!

I think QR is quite cold! I used blankets on all my flights. BA is very cold as well! And this is their Economy. I would expect their premium cabins to be colder since there're less passengers there. Unless, of course, they climate control each cabin differently..?

Did you try EY F on the A380/787 or their older ones? TR soon..?   

Quoting SQueeze (Reply 4): It was an overnight flight with a sunrise, a very long midsummer day, then a sunrise again instead of a sunset. Really twisted the order of the day.

That must have been beautiful! But how did the sun rise again if it didn't set in the first place?   

Anyway thanks for dropping by! Haha. Nice to see you again  

---

Hello lesfalls!

Quoting lesfalls (Reply 5): Amazing TR again Pokfur

Thanks!   

Quoting lesfalls (Reply 5): Hope you enjoyed your time in NYC(my home   ). What time was your arrival into JFK?

I did! Went up the empire state, rockefeller, watched Mariah Carey in concert, etc etc... Haha. Had a great time, though it was freezing!!

If I'm not wrong, we landed at about 8pm.

Quoting lesfalls (Reply 5): Anyways great TR

And thanks again!! Glad you enjoyed it  


pokfur

Hello Pokfur!

Nice to see your CX experience all the way to JFK. It seems that CX treated you really well on both flights, although I did share your view that somehow it lacked the touch that made both of these flights to be 'memorable' (that being said I enjoyed your TR and it is in no way boring).

Quoting pokfur (Thread starter): Besides, my fiancée and I could cuddle with each other...

Haha got hidden motive there one ah.. But not bad in the end you got a J seat all the way. Guess still a win-win for you either way lols.  .

Quoting pokfur (Thread starter): Next came the dessert trolley. I took everrrrrything...

That is the way it should be my friend!   

Quoting pokfur (Thread starter): Looks really comfortable, though, doesn't it?

Now that you put it in this picture, herringbone seats does look comfortable though!

Quoting pokfur (Thread starter): I don't know what it was, but it was green

Oh my, it never crossed my mind that an airline like CX would have a green-coloured signature drink. Well one might argue their livery is based on green, but still...

Quoting pokfur (Thread starter): Female version on the right. Similar contents though

Like both amenity kit bags!!  .

Quoting pokfur (Thread starter): And that probably sums up this pair of flights: comfortable, but uninteresting.

Well it's still better than leaving the pair of flights with a disappointing experience haha.

Thanks for sharing an enjoyable TR as always man.

Best Regards,
Dirktraveller

Really enjoyed that.
Great pictures and detailed menus, like that.
Really long flight, did you recover quickly?

Quoting pokfur (Thread starter): For the next couple of hours, I had some difficulty sleeping. The biggest problem was the cabin temperature. It was way too high! I kept tossing and turning in heat and found it difficult to go off to sleep. The same was reported by my family members later on, so it wasn't just me

This is my BIGGEST complaint in recent years, the cabin in J has become way to hot to need a blanket to sleep. Often have to go to the CSM and insist they turn down the temp.
Really good report, thanks  

Hi Dirktraveller!!

Haven't seen you around for a while  

Quoting dirktraveller (Reply 7): Haha got hidden motive there one ah.. But not bad in the end you got a J seat all the way. Guess still a win-win for you either way lols.  .

Ha. It's ok. We had 3 weeks to cuddle during the holiday.   

Quoting dirktraveller (Reply 7): That is the way it should be my friend!

Lol. Why is it that once we board the plane, we easily become gluttons?

Quoting dirktraveller (Reply 7): Now that you put it in this picture, herringbone seats does look comfortable though!

I think it could be more private when in the sleeping position. But probably that's about the only benefit that it has. Everything else is inferior, in my opinion.

Quoting dirktraveller (Reply 7): Oh my, it never crossed my mind that an airline like CX would have a green-coloured signature drink. Well one might argue their livery is based on green, but still...

I know right    Taking it too far...

Quoting dirktraveller (Reply 7): Well it's still better than leaving the pair of flights with a disappointing experience haha.

That's very true! Thankful that everything went well and didn't disappoint, at least!

Quoting dirktraveller (Reply 7): Thanks for sharing an enjoyable TR as always man.

No problem! Thanks for stopping by  

---

Hello readytotaxi!

Quoting readytotaxi (Reply 8): Really enjoyed that. Great pictures and detailed menus, like that.

Thanks and I'm glad you enjoyed it!

Quoting readytotaxi (Reply 8): Really long flight, did you recover quickly?

It didn't take very long. I didn't get to sleep much on my flight, so once I arrived at New York we went straight to the hotel and knocked out. Woke up at a proper normal time the next morning and stuck to New York time from then on!

Quoting readytotaxi (Reply 8): This is my BIGGEST complaint in recent years, the cabin in J has become way to hot to need a blanket to sleep. Often have to go to the CSM and insist they turn down the temp.

Are you talking about CX in particular or J cabins in general?

Quoting readytotaxi (Reply 8): Really good report, thanks

Thanks again!


pokfur

Quoting pokfur (Thread starter): Are you talking about CX in particular or J cabins in general?

Seems to me most J cabins, Far East and the USA airlines seem to do it, for me anyway.

Nice report! Agree with you, does seem like "standard" CX J - which is still quite splendid, but agreed, maybe on your flights the extra touch wasn't there. I wonder if part of it is that the J cabin is huge - 50 seats IIRC?

Totally agree on the cabin temps - my wife and I flew HKG-ORD in CX F last fall and the cabin temp was sauna-like. I think the purser noticed both of us trying to sleep without any sheets - and I couldn't even stand to wear the CX pajama top. Luckily we were in F so the crew was more than happy to turn the temperature down for us   I wonder if part of that is just the temperatures people are used to - in my opinion it's also way too damn hot inside Changi. I get that cooling a building to 80 degrees is perfectly reasonable in Singapore (where usually it's much hotter than that outside), but for someone like me who grew up in the northern US - 80 is still way too hot  

Hello again readytotaxi,

Quoting readytotaxi (Reply 10): Seems to me most J cabins, Far East and the USA airlines seem to do it, for me anyway.

That's annoying. I think they should make it a bit colder so that those who're cold can pile on blankets. It's not like passengers are allowed to sleep without clothes on   

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Hi 9w748capt!

Quoting 9w748capt (Reply 11): Nice report! Agree with you, does seem like "standard" CX J - which is still quite splendid, but agreed, maybe on your flights the extra touch wasn't there. I wonder if part of it is that the J cabin is huge - 50 seats IIRC?

Yeah 53 seats. No idea. I don't have that much experience on CX, but it would seem like this is the norm since I experienced the same on all 4 flights. I suppose most travellers would have found the service decent, and valued the hard product and comfort a lot higher. Maybe it's only us a.nutters that demand higher standards?   

Quoting 9w748capt (Reply 11): Totally agree on the cabin temps - my wife and I flew HKG-ORD in CX F last fall and the cabin temp was sauna-like. I think the purser noticed both of us trying to sleep without any sheets - and I couldn't even stand to wear the CX pajama top. Luckily we were in F so the crew was more than happy to turn the temperature down for us

That's nice of them! Though I wonder what'll happen if they face passengers who find it too cold afterwards. How to placate all of them? Haha!

Quoting 9w748capt (Reply 11): I wonder if part of that is just the temperatures people are used to - in my opinion it's also way too damn hot inside Changi.

Really?? I've never felt that!  

Quoting 9w748capt (Reply 11): I get that cooling a building to 80 degrees is perfectly reasonable in Singapore (where usually it's much hotter than that outside), but for someone like me who grew up in the northern US - 80 is still way too hot

Haha. Having lived here all my life, Singapore's still too hot for me   

I would have thought that air conditioning is practically free up there in the sky, so piling on blankets for those who're afraid of cold would be a better alternative. Somehow there's always something nice about being nice and cosy when trying to sleep, in my opinion!

pokfur

Great report on CX!

Food looks really good, and your photos made me feel like I was along on the flights as well too.

Too bad about the plane getting too hot; I feel like without the air control above on many long-haul wide-bodies, the cabin usually gets pretty stuffy, etc. I think the cabin crew would rather have the plane too warm, than too cold, and I prefer the opposite!

What a long trip from HKG-JFK ... I've seen the 777-300 leave JFK during the day, but didn't realize one the arrivals came in the evening.

Thanks for sharing!

Matthew (767747)

Hey Matthew!

Quoting 767747 (Reply 13): Great report on CX!

Thanks mate!

Quoting 767747 (Reply 13): Too bad about the plane getting too hot; I feel like without the air control above on many long-haul wide-bodies, the cabin usually gets pretty stuffy, etc. I think the cabin crew would rather have the plane too warm, than too cold, and I prefer the opposite!

Seems like the general consensus I've had so far from all the replies is that cold is better than warm! And I concur! Why do you think the crew would prefer the plane to be warmer??

Quoting 767747 (Reply 13): What a long trip from HKG-JFK ... I've seen the 777-300 leave JFK during the day, but didn't realize one the arrivals came in the evening.

This isn't even the latest one to arrive in the evening! There's one that lands past 10pm!

Quoting 767747 (Reply 13): Thanks for sharing!

No problem. And thanks for stopping by!

pokfur

Hi pokfur!


Another great report, nice to see both the old as well as the new business class product of CX.
The old seats offer much privacy I think, but isn't it annoying not to have a "real" window ? All in all, the new seat in the 777 looks much better.
But in my opinion, the food does not look good at all. Especially the cheese course looks horrible, at least for me as a European it looks like cheap and not delicious at all. The same goes for the breakfast.
But great that you got addressed by name! So it seems to be good that OW has a third status level.


greetings
Elias

Awesome TR. Thanks for taking the time to put it together. The food looked really good.

Hello Elias!

Quoting emek96 (Reply 15): The old seats offer much privacy I think, but isn't it annoying not to have a "real" window ? All in all, the new seat in the 777 looks much better.

Hmmm... On the 777, the windows are pretty far away and it requires quite a bit of leaning forward in order to look out of them properly (or take pictures). However on the A343, if you just turn around, the window is right there next to you. But yes I think it's more annoying to twist your body than to lean forward. Haha. In short, both are not ideal for me in terms of looking out of the window!

Y seats are the best for that   

Quoting emek96 (Reply 15): But in my opinion, the food does not look good at all. Especially the cheese course looks horrible, at least for me as a European it looks like cheap and not delicious at all. The same goes for the breakfast.

The breakfast wasn't great, you're right. I'm not really a cheese eater so unfortunately I can't tell what's good and what's bad, so I have to take your word for it! However, the dinner main course was good, perhaps just not as nicely presented as some airlines would in J.

Quoting emek96 (Reply 15): But great that you got addressed by name! So it seems to be good that OW has a third status level.

On CX in J, everyone is supposed to be address by name when the FAs serve them. Whether there's an extra special greeting would be dependent on status. I would say that the third status level of OW really makes a huge difference when traveling in Y. I noticed that when traveling on CX and QR in Y where FAs came to say hi and gave some preferential treatment.   

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Hello DDR!

Quoting DDR (Reply 16): Awesome TR. Thanks for taking the time to put it together. The food looked really good.

Thanks. Glad you enjoyed it!

pokfur

Hey,

Great post lunch read. :-P

Quoting pokfur (Thread starter): Alas, my dad is a fair and just man. He ruled that since I had been such a nice younger brother who thought about his sister's (dis)comfort and was so nice to suggest that she sit J while I 'slog' it out in the back, that we should all just sit in J together, as this was a family holiday as well.

Very nice of him. Maybe he wants to adopt me? Just for traveling ... I don't need much else. *hehe*  

Quoting pokfur (Thread starter): And what's up with that mosaic tile thingie under the mirror?! Perhaps this was all the fashion in the 90s..?

Faux marble look. Classy or not?

Hi beowulf!

Quoting beowulf (Reply 18): Great post lunch read. :-P

I just had mine too!    Now for the food coma to set in....   

Quoting beowulf (Reply 18): Very nice of him. Maybe he wants to adopt me? Just for traveling ... I don't need much else. *hehe*

LOL. I don't think he needs anymore than the 4 kids he has, unfortunately    He just did a 'very nice' deed for me again, but I'll keep the suspense till July!    Teeheehee....   

Quoting beowulf (Reply 18): Faux marble look. Classy or not?

Not in 2015, I'm afraid. In any case, these planes are going soon. I'm glad I had the chance to catch one!


pokfur

I always enjoy your reports pokfur, this one included.

In spite of my username, I'm not really that big a fan of either CX or the 777 these days, though I once was.

You sum it up perfectly with this comment:

Quoting pokfur (Thread starter): I mean, everything was executed perfectly. But there was just something that was lacking that made the flights just a standard affair.

In the last 12 months I've had two flights with CX in Y, two in J (one was an Op Up from PY, so I shouldn't complain) and two flights in F. My first class ones (HKG-JFK-HKG) were exceptional flights, not quite mind-blowing, but exceptional nonetheless.

Economy is economy is economy and it sucks. But possibly sucks slightly less on CX than some other airlines. Their service in Y on my flights (SYD-HKG-SYD) was always a bit chaotic and disorganised and amateurish but well-meaning enough.

J is the class (SYD-HKG-SYD) where CX has simply never managed to impress me. Catering, like you mentioned, is not that much of a step up from Y, just served on proper crockery. The hard product is great, albeit in cabins too hot and too busy to sleep. But service in J is what really lets them down in my experience. Rushed. Impersonal. Requests forgotten between seat and galley. etc. I also think I met several Ms eye-rollers like on your flight, and apart from an older gentleman in F on my HKG-JFK flight, all the pursers have been totally aloof and almost invisible for the duration of the flights.

All that to say from my recent sample of CX flights, I think yours were pretty typical rather than hitting CX on an off day.

I'm looking forward to reading your return trip report!!

Hello cx777fan!

Quoting cx777fan (Reply 20): I always enjoy your reports pokfur, this one included.

Thanks! I'm very glad you do   

Quoting cx777fan (Reply 20): In spite of my username, I'm not really that big a fan of either CX or the 777 these days, though I once was.

   uh oh...

Quoting cx777fan (Reply 20): In the last 12 months I've had two flights with CX in Y, two in J (one was an Op Up from PY, so I shouldn't complain) and two flights in F. My first class ones (HKG-JFK-HKG) were exceptional flights, not quite mind-blowing, but exceptional nonetheless.

   That's nice! I would love to fly their F one day....   

Are you able to compare their F to any other F that you might have flown?

Quoting cx777fan (Reply 20): Economy is economy is economy and it sucks. But possibly sucks slightly less on CX than some other airlines.

Lol! I chuckled at that!

Quoting cx777fan (Reply 20): Their service in Y on my flights (SYD-HKG-SYD) was always a bit chaotic and disorganised and amateurish but well-meaning enough.

Yeah I agree it's hard to make Y special on any airline. From my limited experience on a SIN-HKG-SIN pair of flights, the outbound was lame, while the inbound was much better with a personal greeting as an emerald. Having said that, they forgot to serve dessert to a few of our rows, so yes, disorganised is right.

Quoting cx777fan (Reply 20): Catering, like you mentioned, is not that much of a step up from Y, just served on proper crockery.

Yes!! My first thought was "That's it? Really??"    And people rave about CX...   

Quoting cx777fan (Reply 20): The hard product is great, albeit in cabins too hot and too busy to sleep.

Another one who agrees that it's too hot on CX!   

Quoting cx777fan (Reply 20): Requests forgotten between seat and galley. etc.

I know I had a few forgotten requests too, but the flight was too long ago for me to remember exactly what they forgot, so I didn't put it in my TR. I ordered quite a lot more drinks than I mentioned in the TR and a few were indeed left out.

Quoting cx777fan (Reply 20): I also think I met several Ms eye-rollers like on your flight, and apart from an older gentleman in F on my HKG-JFK flight, all the pursers have been totally aloof and almost invisible for the duration of the flights.

Hmm.. Yes. I only remember the purser from my second and fourth flight. And even then, it was more or less a one-off greeting and that was it   

Quoting cx777fan (Reply 20): All that to say from my recent sample of CX flights, I think yours were pretty typical rather than hitting CX on an off day.

Well that's not encouraging at all!!    I had high expectations, especially from what I read online prior to the flights. However, I rationalised that they were indeed the cheapest option for the itinerary I wanted; SQ's price was about 35% higher! So I suppose, taking that into account, I shouldn't insist on something better.

I don't know... Am I just making up an excuse for CX?

Quoting cx777fan (Reply 20): I'm looking forward to reading your return trip report!!

  Sorry dude that might take a while. Not a single word of it has been penned yet! Hahhaa!

Anyway, thanks for stopping by. Your comments have given me a greater insight on what is the general standard of CX's J.


pokfur

Hey very nice trip report, hope to visit Singapore someday, your pics of the CX product is great, that flight is yes LONG, that's unfortunate you had to get rid of the water, I remember going on CX840, twice back home to New York they do that second round of checks, but not on KE which I take now to Asia instead of CX. That flight and any flight from Asia ending in NYC early evening is interesting, you can have breakfast in one place, lunch in another and dinner in another all on the same day while watching the sunset twice, anyway keep up the great reports!

Hello B7474!

Quoting B7474 (Reply 22): Hey very nice trip report, hope to visit Singapore someday

Do come! Although today is a very sad day, as we mourn the loss of our founding father who just passed away  

Quoting B7474 (Reply 22): that flight is yes LONG

Really makes you marvel at the capabilities of this twin-jet, doesn't it?

Quoting B7474 (Reply 22): I remember going on CX840, twice back home to New York they do that second round of checks, but not on KE which I take now to Asia instead of CX.

I see. I've never flown KE before. Why the change to KE instead of CX?

Quoting B7474 (Reply 22): That flight and any flight from Asia ending in NYC early evening is interesting, you can have breakfast in one place, lunch in another and dinner in another all on the same day while watching the sunset twice,

Yea you're absolutely right! Haha. Breakfast in Singapore, Lunch in Hong Kong, Dinner somewhere near Japan, then breakfast again in the US!   

Quoting B7474 (Reply 22): anyway keep up the great reports!

Will do my best!


pokfur

Quoting pokfur (Reply 19): LOL. I don't think he needs anymore than the 4 kids he has, unfortunately He just did a 'very nice' deed for me again, but I'll keep the suspense till July! Teeheehee....

Considering you have a fiancee, you got a condo or a car (to satisfy two of the three C's) or maybe a honeymoon.

Hello again beowulf!

Quoting beowulf (Reply 24): Considering you have a fiancee, you got a condo or a car (to satisfy two of the three C's) or maybe a honeymoon.

Lol no no neither of those.. It's flight related, of course  

pokfur

Quoting pokfur (Reply 25): Lol no no neither of those.. It's flight related, of course.

The F/Class ticket for the honeymoon.

Or a PPL.  

An entire aircraft might be too much.

beowulf,

Quoting beowulf (Reply 26): The F/Class ticket for the honeymoon.

You're getting close!   

pokfur

Hey Pokfur, another fantastic report! I flew the same SIN-HKG routing with CX back in 2010 (I believe, could have been a year either side). I'm obviously not that familiar with operations around Asia, but I do remember that we were in a regional J product on one of the 77Ws, and they also had a funny little lounge which can't have been bigger than most city cafes... (I have no idea how many rows of Y they must have been able to pack in behind the curtain - talk about stuffing an airframe to the gills!). Do they still offer regional J on the SIN-HKG route, or have they now moved to a full-fat model (albeit with the slightly dated herringbone J on the A340)?

Still, a fantastic report! HKG-JFK with CX is, I think, one of the iconic routes of the current aviation system, and would definitely be on the shortlist if I ever bite the bullet and buy a OW around-the-world ticket!

X

Quoting pokfur (Thread starter): While personally I was happy to be on the A340 and sample the now-outdated herringbone seats, I knew my parents wouldn't be too delighted. True enough, mummy was annoyed she couldn't see daddy from her seat    I had to assure her that this wouldn't be the seats to JFK.

I know some people who wouldn't mind this at all  

Quoting pokfur (Thread starter): And what's up with that mosaic tile thingie under the mirror?! Perhaps this was all the fashion in the 90s..?

At least its something different from the usual lav!

Quoting pokfur (Thread starter): Wow!! Building of a super long bridge! To where?

Maybe it goes to the U.S.   

Quoting pokfur (Thread starter): There goes an A340 trying to take off

Ouch! haha
 

Quoting pokfur (Thread starter): Lemon meringue pie

Looks fantastic. I'll take one.

Quoting pokfur (Thread starter): And then, we suddenly stopped on a taxiway and held there. For 25 minutes!!

Welcome to JFK haha.


Very nice report! I've read some of your other reports and have enjoyed them all immensely. Great photos and details!

Hello MonsieurX!

Quoting MonsieurX (Reply 28): Hey Pokfur, another fantastic report!

Thanks!   

Quoting MonsieurX (Reply 28): I flew the same SIN-HKG routing with CX back in 2010 (I believe, could have been a year either side). I'm obviously not that familiar with operations around Asia, but I do remember that we were in a regional J product on one of the 77Ws

If it was regional J, then probably it was a 773/772 and not a 77W. (small nitpick i know, but they're different aircraft!    )

Quoting MonsieurX (Reply 28): and they also had a funny little lounge which can't have been bigger than most city cafes...

On the plane??

Quoting MonsieurX (Reply 28): (I have no idea how many rows of Y they must have been able to pack in behind the curtain - talk about stuffing an airframe to the gills!).

Yes CX indeed stuffs a lot of seats into their regionally-configured 777s. 398 seats on the 773!  

Quoting MonsieurX (Reply 28): Do they still offer regional J on the SIN-HKG route, or have they now moved to a full-fat model (albeit with the slightly dated herringbone J on the A340)?

SIN is one of the destinations that is famous for aircraft roulette. All sorts of aircraft are placed on this route to fill the gap in their schedule, so there's no one-fixed type of seat that you will get. You may be booked on the herringbone A340 and it turns out to be a regional 772 at the gate. Or booked on a long-haul A330 and a regional A330 turns up at the gate.

I suppose this route is short enough that they don't bother trying to ensure any sort of consistency for J passengers  

Quoting MonsieurX (Reply 28): Still, a fantastic report! HKG-JFK with CX is, I think, one of the iconic routes of the current aviation system, and would definitely be on the shortlist if I ever bite the bullet and buy a OW around-the-world ticket!

It's a nice long flight to enjoy all aspects of whatever the service may provide. However don't hold your breath    As you can see I wasn't overly impressed with J. Unless, you're booking F of course...   

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Hello ams747757!

Quoting ams747757 (Reply 29): I know some people who wouldn't mind this at all

LOL. Notice how I didn't mention that I minded being separated from my fiancée for both flights..?   

Quoting ams747757 (Reply 29): At least its something different from the usual lav!

True true.

Quoting ams747757 (Reply 29): Looks fantastic. I'll take one.

Looks may be deceiving!

Quoting ams747757 (Reply 29): Welcome to JFK haha.

Urgh   

Quoting ams747757 (Reply 29): Very nice report! I've read some of your other reports and have enjoyed them all immensely. Great photos and details!

Thanks!! Drop a comment more often, they're greatly appreciated  


pokfur

Quoting pokfur (Thread starter): To my horror, I discovered a snoozing pig in the form of my sister who had skipped the entire meal service. Uh, this was a 10am - 2pm flight and she slept the whole way.

Don't you just hate people who people who spend the entire flight asleep? Oops, I shouldn't say that about my boss, my real boss and my son.

Even worse is when they hog the window in economy as their "headrest".

Quoting pokfur (Reply 30): Notice how I didn't mention that I minded being separated from my fiancée for both flights..?

Aaah, but did your fiancée mind being separated from you?

Quoting pokfur (Reply 1): I decided to give their CX signature drink a go. I don't know what it was, but it was green. And as with all green things, it was vile

Was the green spirulina? Cyanobacteria, also known as blue-green algae. Make you feel any better?  

Quoting pokfur (Reply 1): A short while later, a male FA in a gold vest who would later serve my aisle came about distributing menus. To me he did say a few extra words to thank me for choosing oneworld again and Cathay Pacific in particular and to find him if I had anything blah blah, while to the rest he just said "Mr/MSs xx, menu for today?" so I suppose that would constitute my personal welcome for this flight!

I received similar kind of attention on some intra-Asia flights on CX last year. I put it down to being oneworld emerald.

Hello allrite!

Quoting allrite (Reply 31): Don't you just hate people who people who spend the entire flight asleep? Oops, I shouldn't say that about my boss, my real boss and my son.

Lol! To some extent, yes. But then arguably that's the purpose of flat-beds in J and F, isn't it?

Quoting allrite (Reply 31): Even worse is when they hog the window in economy as their "headrest".

And keep the window shades down the entire flight!!? Ok yes I hate those.   

Quoting allrite (Reply 31): Aaah, but did your fiancée mind being separated from you?

   Good question. I think she did, a bit. Haha.

Quoting allrite (Reply 31): Was the green spirulina? Cyanobacteria, also known as blue-green algae. Make you feel any better?

Urgh what're you talking about?! No....   

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Hello bill142!

Quoting bill142 (Reply 32): I received similar kind of attention on some intra-Asia flights on CX last year. I put it down to being oneworld emerald.

Yep. CX does generally recognise emeralds on their flights, though I suppose in J the 'extra mile' that they can go for you is less since you're already paying for a better product. In Y I was given a bottle of water, and addressed by name by the senior crew member, which as you can imagine isn't the norm for Y.


pokfur

Quoting pokfur (Reply 30): If it was regional J, then probably it was a 773/772 and not a 77W.

Ah, it most likely was. My apologies, it's obviously what I get for being online when I should really be asleep... :P

Quoting pokfur (Reply 30): On the plane??

No, surprisingly enough in the terminal. It appeared to be an odd little 'dumbbell' shaped lounge, with a central entry desk (approached by escalators), and then two comparatively small 'wings' with not that many seats between them. I will confess to being unsure as to whether that was the entirety of the lounge facilities, or whether there was another lounge located elsewhere, but it still sticks with me as one of the seemingly funniest lounges I've experienced. Again, if memory serves, it would have been in Terminal 1, which in itself was a bit of a comedown having only experienced the glory of Singapore Airlines in T3 a few days before!

Quoting pokfur (Reply 30): However don't hold your breath    As you can see I wasn't overly impressed with J. Unless, you're booking F of course...

Aha! Well of course that would depend upon any number of possible factors... :P Truth be told, I've generally heard very good things about CX in both F and J, so your report was very interesting. I do need to get out and try a long-haul carrier with a CX-esque (or even CX themselves) herringbone J layout. Location mostly ties me to BA, and to compare the J layouts between CX and BA is obviously a non-starter. I would be interested to do a back-to-back comparison between BA F and CX J... The new BA F is certainly very spacious and comfortable, but I've heard mixed things as to whether it's more spacious/less spacious, more private/less private etc. than CX J... Food for thought!

X

Hello Mr X!

Quoting MonsieurX (Reply 34): Ah, it most likely was. My apologies, it's obviously what I get for being online when I should really be asleep... :P

  

Quoting MonsieurX (Reply 34): No, surprisingly enough in the terminal. It appeared to be an odd little 'dumbbell' shaped lounge, with a central entry desk (approached by escalators), and then two comparatively small 'wings' with not that many seats between them.

Yep that's still the same lounge that CX uses at SIN! Run by Dnata I think? Here's a picture taken from a previous TR:

Quoting MonsieurX (Reply 34): I will confess to being unsure as to whether that was the entirety of the lounge facilities, or whether there was another lounge located elsewhere, but it still sticks with me as one of the seemingly funniest lounges I've experienced.

Certainly not the best or most spacious lounge out there. Apparently there's a set of stairs by the side to go upstairs where there's additional seating. However this area is indoors and has no views out of the terminal whatsoever. I didn't check this part out though.

Quoting MonsieurX (Reply 34): Again, if memory serves, it would have been in Terminal 1, which in itself was a bit of a comedown having only experienced the glory of Singapore Airlines in T3 a few days before!

Haha I can imagine!! Though I would say Terminal 2 is now the oldest-looking terminal. You'll be glad to know that CX is the first airline to sign up for the brand new Terminal 4 currently being built!   

Quoting MonsieurX (Reply 34): Truth be told, I've generally heard very good things about CX in both F and J, so your report was very interesting.

Me too. Which made me feel a bit meh after my flights  

Quoting MonsieurX (Reply 34): I do need to get out and try a long-haul carrier with a CX-esque (or even CX themselves) herringbone J layout.

Quite a few out there with this seat now. I guess if you fly to the US often then AA would be a natural choice! Otherwise QR to far east would surely earn you lots of BA tier points as well   

Quoting MonsieurX (Reply 34): Location mostly ties me to BA, and to compare the J layouts between CX and BA is obviously a non-starter.

Ha! Yet ironically I find myself booked on a Club World flight at the end of May! There've been many negative comments about BA lately, what with its cost cutting and introduction of new 'enhancements' to the Executive Club... Many people say to just expect a flat bed to sleep on and not much more in Club World. However I think I still want to try it out for myself, especially the flying backward part!

Quoting MonsieurX (Reply 34): The new BA F is certainly very spacious and comfortable, but I've heard mixed things as to whether it's more spacious/less spacious, more private/less private etc. than CX J... Food for thought!

Indeed! I suppose one perk would be that you're in a 14-large cabin rather than 50-large one. Not sure if I'll ever have the chance to try BA F though so can't comment. Do write a TR if you do!   


pokfur

Quoting pokfur (Reply 35): Ha! Yet ironically I find myself booked on a Club World flight at the end of May!

You'll have fun! It's fundamentally not a bad seat at all when you're in it. People often give it stick for being a) 8 a-breast on most decks, and b) for looking directly 'at' your seat mate. However, in my own experience, (a) is never an issue because of the layout, and the amount of personal space is completely fine. In some ways, I feel that people like to look at it from a base level perspective - the seat must be terrible *because* it's 8 across, with no reference to the actual space and seat footprint. It forms a very comfortable bed, and you still have an awful lot of window space for one seat, which is of course the real beauty of flying! (b) is also really a non-starter in my books; as soon as you get the little divider up it's really nothing at all, although I grant that meal services ca occasionally be a bit of a bother... I'll be very interested to hear your thoughts on it! Flying backwards is certainly a novel perk, although is often only really appreciable on take off and landing.

I'm also a little taken with the comments many people seem to be laying out over the Exec Club changes. Whilst it's never nice to have things taken away from you, surely it's the way of the times, and is simply industry-wide standardisation towards a revenue based approach to loyalty rewards. If you attain Gold for 'only' a couple of thousand pounds on a variety of clever promotional bookings/routings or opt-up fares, are you honestly as valuable a customer as the person paying tens of thousands to attain status over a series of many more, much shorter euro-hops, or conventional long-haul? That is not to say that any one customer is 'value-less' to the airline, but surely a rational approach needs to be taken here.

Quoting pokfur (Reply 35): Not sure if I'll ever have the chance to try BA F though so can't comment.

Alas Pokfur! You hold significant airline status if I'm not incorrect! Surely there is the chance at least of an upgrade should you be so lucky 

Many thanks as well for your info on the lounge situation. It certainly is interesting to see that it's still around after so many years. Once more, Terminal 4 will have to be one to add to the ever-growing list of desired destinations, terminals, and airlines which we all seem to be accruing!

But I fear that I have waffled enough! Please feel free to tell me to be quiet if I am monopolising your thread  

X

Hello again Mr X!

Quoting MonsieurX (Reply 36): I feel that people like to look at it from a base level perspective - the seat must be terrible *because* it's 8 across

That's what I used to think as well. But I understand that the forward-backward concept has allowed them to squeeze out more space for each seat width-wise. In any case, it's actually sort of similar to what Emirates offers on their A380 1-2-1 staggered concept.

Quoting MonsieurX (Reply 36): It forms a very comfortable bed,

That's what I've heard!

Quoting MonsieurX (Reply 36): I'll be very interested to hear your thoughts on it!

I'll definitely be writing a TR!! It's quite a "special" flight in its own way. But I'll keep the suspense till after May   

Quoting MonsieurX (Reply 36): I'm also a little taken with the comments many people seem to be laying out over the Exec Club changes.

Ah well. As with most of such things, I think it'll just take time for everything to blow over and for everyone to adjust to it. It's not good for us customers, but you can't fault BA as a business for doing so. I suppose the best advice is: vote with your feet if you're so unhappy!

Quoting MonsieurX (Reply 36): Alas Pokfur! You hold significant airline status if I'm not incorrect! Surely there is the chance at least of an upgrade should you be so lucky

Lol!! I'm not holding my breath for that. In BA's eyes I'm one of those worthless Golds that earned TPs through flying other oneworld carriers   . Doubt they'd reward me much, if at all.

Quoting MonsieurX (Reply 36): Many thanks as well for your info on the lounge situation. It certainly is interesting to see that it's still around after so many years. Once more, Terminal 4 will have to be one to add to the ever-growing list of desired destinations, terminals, and airlines which we all seem to be accruing!

The biggest change in T4 vs the current terminals is the centralised security screening as opposed to security at the individual gates. Of course, T3 is already sort of a hybrid with up to 8 gates sharing one security facility. Have you heard of Jewel? It's this giant mall-thingie that is going to link Terminals 1-3 together!  

Quoting MonsieurX (Reply 36): But I fear that I have waffled enough! Please feel free to tell me to be quiet if I am monopolising your thread

No worries about that! We can always take the conversation offline!


pokfur

Nice one Pokfur...would love to do this trip in J!

Great report as always.

Hi phunc!

Quoting phunc (Reply 38): Nice one Pokfur...would love to do this trip in J! Great report as always.

Thanks! The 2nd part of it is coming up soon!   


pokfur

Hey pokfur,

Wow, a report with photos  And a good one too! I might switch back to normal reporting modus then    No seriously, I enjoyed your writeup   Nice to see these 2 different C cabins, but don’t ask me the differences, I wouldn’t be able to tell! And reverse herringbone seating, what a name if you come to think of it, tbh it appeared to be not so bad as expected?

Quoting pokfur (Thread starter): Watch it here! (And listen to those cute CFMs...)

Are you deliberately steering me towards watching a video in your report 

Quoting pokfur (Thread starter): The fancy mosaic

I like these kind of subtle touches to the most boring place on an airplane, the loo.

Quoting pokfur (Thread starter): I generally like sunlight

   Stop it, you’re killing me!

Quoting pokfur (Thread starter): Uh, this was a 10am - 2pm flight and she slept the whole way

She made good use of the lie flat facilities then  

Quoting pokfur (Thread starter): it felt much a little less cramped

Err, explain yourself young man   

Quoting pokfur (Thread starter): I decided to give their CX signature drink a go.

Which is/was? Something with kiwi I assume?

Quoting pokfur (Thread starter): Behind us, a regular 773 and a 77W

How can you tell the difference from this angle? Or did you look it up?

Quoting pokfur (Thread starter): though he started to mispronounce my name halfway through to flight lol!

Like fokpur or purfok or... 

Sultanils

Hello Nils!

Quoting sultanils (Reply 40): Wow, a report with photos

Hey this report came out way before yours did!   

Quoting sultanils (Reply 40): And a good one too!

Thank you!!

Quoting sultanils (Reply 40): And reverse herringbone seating, what a name if you come to think of it, tbh it appeared to be not so bad as expected?

I guess they had to somehow differentiate it from the traditional herringbone ones.. Well it can't be that bad if it's generally touted as the best business class layout out there, right?   

Quoting sultanils (Reply 40): Are you deliberately steering me towards watching a video in your report

Teeheehee. Maybe    But it now begs the question: Did you watch it??

Quoting sultanils (Reply 40): I like these kind of subtle touches to the most boring place on an airplane, the loo.

Lol would you rather a boring loo or a hideous loo?

Quoting sultanils (Reply 40):    Stop it, you’re killing me!

How so? Are you a Vampire?   

Quoting sultanils (Reply 40): She made good use of the lie flat facilities then

She always does. She once slept through both meal services on a DOH-GRU flight. Go figure.

Quoting sultanils (Reply 40): Err, explain yourself young man

LOL what's that indeed!! I think I meant to type "much less cramped" then I decided it wasn't that much less cramped so changed it to "little less cramped" but then forgot to erase the word 'much'.   

Quoting sultanils (Reply 40): Which is/was? Something with kiwi I assume?

Well I decided to dig out the menu from my cupboard and here's what it says "Cathay Delight - A kiwifruit based non alcoholic drink with coconut juice and a touch of fresh mint." There you have it! Kiwi it is.

Quoting sultanils (Reply 40): How can you tell the difference from this angle? Or did you look it up?

Mainly from the shape and size of the engines! Can't you tell one's so much larger than the other??

Quoting sultanils (Reply 40): Like fokpur or purfok or...

   Actually purfok sounds like a nice alternative nickname.

Thanks for stopping by my friend! Funny comments to perk up my otherwise dreadful day today.


pokfur

Quoting pokfur (Reply 41): Did you watch it??

Sorry, I did not...   

Quoting pokfur (Reply 41): Can't you tell one's so much larger than the other??

I can but in the next phase I can’t deduct which is which  

Sultanils