Review: Cathay Pacific First Class Hong Kong to San Francisco

Great report! I do knownthat SQ also offers Tabasco sauce on all their flights. It is about the only inconsistency with SQ. Sometimes they poor the tabasco sachets onto a little saucer for you and on other flights they just hand you the sachets.

Ok, here it goes, I finally mustered up some courage to swallow the shame and ask the question. What is the bag like thing (like a money bag with a knot) that is usually served along with caviar?

On my first LH F trip recently, I furtively glanced at the guy in the next seat to see if he does something with the bag. he didn't, so I didn't do anything with it either.

I think I am right in assuming it is not edible, but what is it's purpose?

Are you referring to the lemon which is kept in a "bag" so when you squeeze it the seeds don't fall onto your salmon or whatever?

You need to start ordering the main course even if you are not hungry. You are missing out on a big portion of the trip report by not including it.

@Rasputin

you mean the lemon? i don't really like lemon on my food so i never use it... some do, you don't have to.

btw, i miss wannaporn!
😉

Can't wait for your mom' s trip report

"Rather expensive at HKD60 (golf cart ride) per person, but well worth it if it meant not missing the flight." I know people love to rip U.S. airports, but at every U.S. airport I've been to so far the golf cart ride is free.

Yay, another trip report! I was afraid you had decided to actually take some personal time. Phew! I hope your Mom isn't like mine and feeling guilty for "spoiling" your trip. I am not all that far behind her in age and realizing that my body isnt always as reliable as it used to be 🙁 Tell the truth...after all this intense traveling, do you ever look at the menu and wish they had meatloaf for a change??? (BTW, what do you suppose "pork floss" Is? Hopefully not what I am imagining...) Thanks, Lucky!

@ Rasputin -- Yep, it's usually lemon or lime in there.

How were the HK style egg tarts?!? Unfortunately, when I flew CX back in August, they didn't have any by the time I ordered them! I kindly asked how many they had and apparently for 6 First class passengers, they only had 2 egg tarts :/
Next time I'll order them first thing!
By the way, you're lucky you got Shanghai Tang PJ's! On my trip they provided us with a local HKG-brand PYE. I don't have any Shanghai Tang PJs but the PYE one was quite comfortable.

@ Tom I agree with wwk5d that if one isn't eating the entree, best to skip it. I understand Lucky's point from a prior post that they may toss it out but maybe the FA will get to eat it instead. (Or "could I get this to go?")

Is the dounble boiled aloe vera to eat or for one's skin? 😉

I think this will be a One Mile at a Time first to get Mom's point of view. The anticipation builds...

Thank you everyone for the responses. Lemon/Lime eh! I never would have guessed that. I just left that precious bag alone on both the LH F segments. If I knew that, I would have tried it with the caviar.

Thanks again.

"I love that unlike other airlines, Cathay Pacific offers Tabasco sauce on their flights."

Well, Swiss does...and you should know 😉

I have to admit, their snack menu looks pretty good, especially when compared to SQ's.

Love that you paid for the contract worker as well. (Awkward phrasing, that)

But is your mom okay? I am traveling with my 71 year old mom in a month or so and can see us doing this. Remind me to limit her to a single bag.

@ Joey -- They were GREAT. Interesting they only cater two, guess I got lucky.

And indeed I'll miss the Shanghai Tang pajamas...

@ Dave D -- In the end she was fine, though it took her about a week at home before she was back to normal. Definitely learned that next time taking the most direct routing is important, and also to not be too active. Oh, and good shoes for her are also important!

@ Joey - I heard that PYE PJs are lighter (not as warm) as Tang so may be better for warmer weather.

@ Lucky - can't wait for your mom's report! BTW, is it pretty standard to serve breakfast/pre-arrival meal an hour out?

@ Dave D - my mom's a bit younger but based on her experience I'd try to limit overall time she has to be up (so morning flights are preferable; mom's outbound flight was around 6 pm and she had 4-5 hour layover, so she was up for 36+ hrs total which was a bit much). There are probably different ways to prevent foot problems but my mom says putting feet up as soon as she got on a plane worked on her inbound flight (on outbound she put them up later and they were more swollen). A week or so to recover sounds about right but may depend on time difference.

@ Ivan Y -- Usually it's more like 90 minutes out, though I requested to wait till as close to arrival as possible, and the crew was pretty accommodating.

I have never flown the 747 CX only the 777.

That nose seems a little bit crowded like the BA FC. Do you think it is just the picture or too many seats?

I can't wait for your Mom's installment. This episode feels like a scene "Home Alone" movie.

@ Jorge -- The cabin doesn't feel quite as spacious as the 777, though keep in mind they only have nine seats in the nose, while British Airways fits 14 seats in the same area. So I do think it's still quite spacious.

@ Lucky - Hmm... then SQ crew did start breakfast too late on my mom's flight. It was less than an hour out and they were pretty slow so she felt a bit rushed. I guess, when they are understaffed and/or overwhelmed, they are less accommodating. She enjoyed her flights though and spent quite a bit of time talking to the crew apparently - on one flight there was a husband & wife team working in F which is pretty cool.

Love the trip report. I just got back from HKG flying Cathay first class for the first time thanks to your blog - amazing experience and I'm ready to do it again! I started searching for flights from JFK - HKG next year (I tried May – August), but I haven’t been able to find any availability in F (when I booked my previous flight, there were at least a few days each month with 2 seats available). Have you noticed more limited first class availability on Cathay lately far out? There seem to be plenty of seats in Business. Thanks Lucky!

@ Trevor -- Hmmm, they do seem to be holding back space a bit more than usual. I'd hold off a bit longer and I'm sure they will start releasing space.

So happy to hear you had a great trip!

If you have a short connection like in this situation and end up not getting to the gate in time, then would you be stranded, or would the airline put you on the next flight?

@ Brandon -- They would absolutely book you on the next available flight.

Compression socks, compression socks....my wife makes me wear them on long hauls;..........nice report.

wow, long trip, glad your mom enjoyed it. When my dad and I returned from JNB on CX, it was JNB-HKG-SFO-SEA-HNL, no stopover since we did it on the front end.

F Class the entire trip, but my dad actually survived it a bit better than me. I passed out on the final segment from SEA, but he was bright and chipper throughout. But we had one night at the JNB Intercon the night before travel and had a good chance to rest for nearly 24 hours before and I think that made a huge difference, especially after being up country on safari before that.

Great report, excited to fly this route, I'm also a Tampa resident.

We just arrived on CX 879, SFO to HKG business class. Our flight was delayed 15 hours due to labor problems. I wasn't aware that crews were doing sickins. I lost the cost of one night's hotel and made a reimbursement claim. Very unlike Cathay. But be aware.