Last week I wrote about Cathay Pacific’s announcement that they’d be unveiling a new destination this week. They said that it would either be Boston, Miami, Newark, or Seattle, and unfortunately based on some not-so-subtle hints it was pretty clear that Newark would be the new destination.
Well, that has been confirmed today, as Cathay Pacific has announced daily service between Hong Kong and Newark as of March 1, 2014. The service will be daily and operated by a three cabin Boeing 777-300ER, meaning there will be economy, premium economy, and business class, though no first class. The schedule will be as follows:
CX890 Hong Kong to Newark departing 5:00PM arriving 9:00PM
CX899 Newark to Hong Kong departing 1:50AM arriving 5:40AM (+1 day)
Award availability on the route is downright spectacular in all cabins, including business class. I see at least nine business class award seats available many days.
The inaugural from Hong Kong to Newark even has five business class award seats, while the inaugural from Newark to Hong Kong has at least nine business class award seats.
As a reminder, all of Cathay Pacific’s longhaul 777 aircraft have the new reverse herringbone seats, which I find to be one of the most comfortable products out there.
While I’m still mildly puzzled by Cathay Pacific’s new route, I at least give them kudos for their schedule, which differentiates them from United on the route, since they’re almost on the opposite side of the “clock.”
(Tip of the hat to Jimmy)
One other question - in your esteemed estimation, what is the likelihood of one additional CX F seat (for 2 total) opening up on any HKG-US gateway city flight?
@ CPS -- All depends on the route and date, but in general Cathay Pacific is still quite good about opening up award space last minute, so I would say chances are fairly decent.
Lucky - we have two business class award seats via AA reserved on this route for March 2015 (no CX F available for two seats to SFO, JFK, LAX or anywhere else close.) Any chance two F seats open up and if so, can I rebook at no additional fees (just 12,500 extra miles pp)? Thanks!
@ CPS -- Yep, you should be able to, at least per the current policy.
@DBest but this flight is ALL about EWR O/D passengers (in NY/NJ/PA) who want to avoid JFK. Connecting pax will use JFK and one of its four CX flights.
Not so good for New Yorkers Josh, but for those of us who have to connect, I think I'd like it since you could arrive in the morning and spend the day in the city, then have plenty of time to get to EWR, without having to spring for a hotel.
Huh. Guess I'm alone in hating those times. Who wants to depart at 1:50am, be nodding off during take-off, be exhausted for supper service at 3:00am, fall asleep for six hours, and then wake up in a darkened cabin to go stir crazy for the remaining nine hours? I'd much rather board the flight fresh, have a few glasses of wine, watch a movie, enjoy a meal, and then eventually try to sleep once I've...
Huh. Guess I'm alone in hating those times. Who wants to depart at 1:50am, be nodding off during take-off, be exhausted for supper service at 3:00am, fall asleep for six hours, and then wake up in a darkened cabin to go stir crazy for the remaining nine hours? I'd much rather board the flight fresh, have a few glasses of wine, watch a movie, enjoy a meal, and then eventually try to sleep once I've gotten bored. I hate waking up on a plane with hours and hours to go, facing an eternity of nothing to do. But YMMV, and clearly many people's do ;)
@patricia & @lucky
Per USA Today...
Hong Kong-bound flights will depart at Newark at 1:15 a.m. and arrive in Hong Kong at 6 a.m. the next day (all times local). Once daylight saving time begins, that schedule will shift to a 1:50 a.m. departure and a 5:40 a.m. arrival. The Newark-bound flight departs Hong Kong at 6:20 p.m. and lands in New Jersey at 9 p.m. (8 p.m. once daylight saving time begins).
wow this is awesome! i hate the united flight times to/from HK out of newark and i always feel like i am wasting so much time when ever i fly it. now it'll just be a question of prices when choosing cathay or united out of newark! this is wonderful! i can't wait to try it out.
@ Jeremy -- Whoops, I've been mixed up with years for the past few weeks. Thanks, corrected!
no first? bleh...
:(
@ patricia -- Hmm, you're right, that is a bit odd.
as much as I hate newark, I love the timing of this new flight. can really get in a full day of work and even dinner before flying out to Hong Kong.
Think you mean as of 3/1/14?
I love the timing of this. Likely won't ever use it as JFK is much better for us, but this is the sort of schedule that allows work on the NY side on both travel days which is always nice.
have you noticed the flight times what's posted on airline route .net and what's showing on BA.com award search doesn't match ?
Departing at 0115 versus 0150 is a huge difference.