A Royal (dis)HHonor: Cathay Pacific First Class San Francisco to Hong Kong

Excellent report, as always!
I agree with most of your impressions on Cathay.
BTW, what was the mielege redemption award for 1st class that you had to pay?
Thanks

@ David -- Thanks! The one-way first class award from Seattle to San Francisco to Hong Kong to Singapore cost 67,500 miles plus about $20 in taxes.

Thanks for the great report!
How was 777 first class compare to 747 in terms of space and ambiance? If you had to choose between 777 and 747 which one would you choose?

@ sk -- I like both the 777 and 747 for different reasons. I prefer the 747 because it feels a bit more private in the nose. There's little traffic up there, especially if you're in row one. So if I'm traveling with someone else I LOVE being in 1A and 1K, and if I'm traveling alone I love either 2A or 2K.

That being said, the service tends to be better on the 777. There are only six seats in first class, while the 747 has nine seats in first class. Despite one cabin being 50% bigger, both cabins have two flight attendants.

So even though I've flown both products a handful of times, I really can't say which I prefer.

Awesome report! How would you compare the service with your Emirates First experience? From reading your report, I feel both airlines have a similar concept on being more reactive than proactive (and to use that call button!)

Great trip report as usual. I had the dim sum from HKG to YVR and it was very good - in fact, it was better than some of the dim sum i've had in chinatown

@ Joey -- That's a great question. I'd say the major difference is that on Emirates you can order room service by phone, while on Cathay you have to order face-to-face. 😉

In all honesty, I find Cathay Pacific is a lot more consistent. On Cathay I don't feel like the crew is putting on a show for me, as they are on Singapore or Emirates. I feel the service is generally sincere, friendly, and not over the top.

On Emirates the service is over the top. Not the quality of the service, but the words they use ("it will be my absolute honor to service you today, Sir"), though sadly the words aren't followed up by actions.

So I think Cathay is consistent, and Emirates isn't. On Emirates you can get a very good flight attendant or you can get a completely indifferent flight attendant.

Hope that makes sense...

I swear you had a F/A named Kitty in a previous trip report! :O

What happened to not eating 10,000 calories? 😉

@ Roland -- Hah, I did indeed have a "Kitty" on a Bali to Hong Kong flight a few years back:
https://onemileatatime.com/asia-on-a-whim-dps-hkg-on-cathay-pacific/

Loved reading this! You've convinced me to book on Cathay Pacific for our first ever visit to Asia. Thank you.

Awesome sub TR, lucky. I love the flight time on this trip.

Hi Ben. Is this something that can be booked straight from AA.com or do do you have to call in? Thanks!

@ Winston -- You do have to call to book, as Cathay Pacific award space doesn't appear on aa.com.

Wonderful read! I booked my husband and our teenage daughter for the 747 flight to HK for this Christmas in first class. Wish I was the one flying instead of the kid 😉 Instead I would be in biz class with the other two kids few days earlier. I wonder if it would be worth the change fee of $75 plus 12500 miles each to change to first class if seats open up two weeks prior to my travel day?

@Lucky, yep that made sense. Love reading these trip reports and can't wait to read the HKG-SFO return on CX F (also can't wait to read your detailed trip report on the flight before that on Royal Jordanian...)

@ Sharon -- Thanks! Yes, if you're using American miles and the space opens up I'd definitely say it's worth the cost to switch. And Cathay is GREAT about opening up more award space close to departure, so it's quite likely something will open up.

Enjoy your trip regardless!

Thank you for your comment! I have malaysian airlines a380 in first kul-lhr but thinking about changing it to cathay first kul-hkg-lhr. How does malaysian compare to cathay?

You need condensed milk for HKG milk tea, perhaps they ran out of that?

@ sk -- That's a toughie, they're both great products that are worth trying. Frankly between those two I'd probably go with whichever has a more convenient schedule. Or I guess you could try them both and fly the Malaysia A380 from Kuala Lumpur to Hong Kong, and then Cathay Pacific from there.

But you really can't go wrong with either airline...

I just flew CX 889 to YVR last week in F and completely agree with your point about the call buttons. The flight attendants are really particular about keeping the curtains closed so as not to disturb passengers with light from the galley, and they don't walk around much. However, when I woke up and wanted a drink, I pressed the button and the flight attendant popped into view in a matter of 3 seconds. She thanked me profusely, and seemed genuinely excited that she was able to get me something.

for a first class service... they ran out of many things... there was no diet coke left in business or first?

Was this booked using Avios or AAdvantage miles? Very impressed that they served Macallan 17 Fine Oak and Johnnie Blue - some very impressive Scotch!

Nice, flying the opposite way coming back from Oz in Sept business class. Do you get jammies in J as well?

Alou and Kitty...sounds like exotic dancers 🙂

@Subspacetom - The Hong Kong-style milk tea is actually an instant 3-in-1 pack made by Lipton. Just so you know it is available in all classes - including EY!

I used to be a CX flight attendant and I constantly drank those milk tea in-flight to stay awake 😉

Cathay doesn't require that all electronics to be turned off during land or you just covertly taking photos?

@ Eitan -- Hah, happy to hear others agree!

@ Lantean -- That's how it seemed, unfortunately.

@ Truthiness -- It was booked using AAdvantage miles for the lower redemption rates and lack of fuel surcharges.

@ TravelOG -- Unfortunately pajamas are only offered in first class.

@ David -- The latter. 😉

If aa award itinerary is consisted half on business and half on first, will redemption amount be in between? (i.e. 60000+80000/2 = 70000) It happen to me before where combination of economy and business quoted less than business all the way.

@ sk -- For any given one-way you're charged for the highest class of service you're flying in that direction. But if you did something like first class on the outbound from San Francisco to Hong Kong and business class on the return from Hong Kong to San Francisco, you'd be charged the individual prices (67,500 miles and 55,000 miles, respectively).

For AA awards, is there an advantage to booking "roundtrip". Or are they all simply just treated as one ways.

Sorry never mind, just checked your stopover rules post!

@ E -- Nope, no advantage either way with American. They allow a stopover at the North American gateway on both one-way and roundtrip awards.

Did you dance around the bed in G strings ben?

Interesting, you used to love the steak dishes on Cathay in the past. I guess now that you've sampled other airlines versions (especially the steak on Asiana), it's not as good as you once thought it was?

@ wwk5d -- Yes, after you've had steaks on Asiana and Swiss, Cathay really can't compete.

Great report. Thanks for something to look forward to in October when we take the 747 to HKG.

When I flew SF0-HKG in Cathay F in November, I had a SF based crew. After I turned on the entertainment system, I realized that the flight attendant I had was the same girl featured on the splash screen of the entertainment system you have above. I asked her about it and she said they can volunteer to be part of promo materials, and she was chosen as one of the 4 (2 male 2 female FA) that are on the 4 different splash screens that randomly rotates as you turn it on.

I forgot her name but yes, she was fantastic (they all are).

About Hong Kong Style Milk Tea, I think they just use the powder stuff on board, not the fancy version that you can find in local Hong Kong style cafe.

MIxed crew - there has been lots of complain about the SFO and LAX based crew, so I believe that's CX strategy to operate with a mix HK/SFO/LAX crew, whenever possible. That happens to my London flight too... a mix of HK/UK crew. I guess mixed crew is the future of CX, and now with some Mainland F/As in the mix too (interns from CA/MU for a year).

In Hong Kong, Coke Zero is definitely preferred diet soda these days, so I guess CX has increased the amount of Coke Zero stocked, and reduced the amount of Diet Coke (Coke Light is the term referred in Asia) stocked.

The Dim Sum is always better catered out from HK but SF is actually not too bad in terms of Chinese food.

Thanks,
Carfield

btw, when did you fly Swiss F? I don't remember a report about it...

Reactive service is no service at all. As a FA recently told me, one shouldn't ever have to use the call button in FC. That's ok in BC, but not FC.

It's difficult of course to be proactive without being overbearing. The top hotels manage to achieve that balance. But CX? Don't see the point of FC there.

Drinking Krug and Diet Coke at the same time is as bad as strolling into a pub in Dublin and asking for an Irish Car Bomb!
haha

Interesting. We were on the ORD-HKG flight on 4/17. They must have multiple sets of Pyjamas, ours were Blue with Red ribbon. Also no handwritten cards for us. Other than that I could have written the same report. 😉 My wife LOVED it that I moved us from Business to First two days before departure.

Ben,

My father and I have JFK-YVR-HKG-KUL booked for 24 May; first flight in F, second in J. Is there a Malaysian flight from HKG-KUL that has an F cabin we could fly instead for the second leg? What would be best way to search for it, BA?

Thanks!

Maybe I missed it but what "brand" of points did you use for this trip?

Nevermind, just found / booked MH73. Seems worth 2 extra hours in HKG airport.

@Lucky

Can the flight attendants tell if you've booked your ticket with cash or with miles? I wonder if they would treat folks differently if they knew how it was paid for.

@BigTex

I don't know if they can tell, but when I did the same flight I told the FTs that I'm on an award ticket and their service remained impeccable. If they did know and treated me differently since the beginning, I wouldn't know since I can't imagine how much more the service can improve. It was damn good.

@ Lantean -- Have done Swiss first class several times. Some of the reports:
https://onemileatatime.com/the-last-aeroplan-hurrah-swiss-first-class-lounge-zurich-swiss-first-class-zurich-to-bangkok/
https://onemileatatime.com/chasing-the-a380-swiss-first-class-chicago-to-zurich/
https://onemileatatime.com/quest-to-istanbul-and-hong-kong-part-12-muc-zrh-jfk-on-swiss/
https://onemileatatime.com/quest-to-istanbul-and-hong-kong-part-3-ord-zrh-on-swiss/

Apparently the Swiss are branching out into sophisticated electronic clocks.

@ Mike Smith -- Yes and no. While I agree I prefer the proactive service, on an airplane I can also appreciate reactive service. Cathay is great about keeping the curtains shut all the way, so I kind of like that the cabin is always dark. In a way that's better than the curtains being opened every five minutes so they can see if you want anything.

And on airlines that have proactive service I do almost feel guilty when I push the call button, because I feel like they'll think they're a failure for not having anticipated my needs at the right time.

So I like the Cathay "model," though I do wish they'd clarify the process to passengers. Maybe explain at the beginning of each flight that they'll leave us alone to maximize our privacy, but if we need anything we should push the call button and they'll be there right away.

@ Michael -- Definitely! Can't beat another segment in first class, let alone on an A380. Enjoy!

@ Patrick -- I used American miles. A summary of how I paid for the trip can be found in the introduction post:
https://onemileatatime.com/a-royal-dishhonor-introduction/

@ BigTex -- At some airlines FAs can and at some they can't. Maybe a Cathay flight attendant can chime in, but I don't believe they can at Cathay. That being said, as I posted below, I've never found treatment to be different on a foreign carrier no matter how I paid:
https://onemileatatime.com/are-award-passengersguests-treated-differently/

My favorite quote:

"I wish more airlines would serve both caviar and salmon."

That thoroughly cracked me up; most of us who's usual travel is domestic first class are just happy to survive the meal!

@ BigTex and lucky - No on a CX flight the flight attendant cannot tell if you paid full fare or used miles. They definitely know if you are an op-up or an ID (staff) though. Also, your oneworld status is also on the list and sometimes ground staff would add special messages.

I personally saw notes that say "smooth handling" next to a passenger's name a couple times meaning that the passenger was not happy during check-in due to whatever reason so we were expected to go above and beyond to do service recovery throughout the flight 🙂

@ hahaha03 -- Awesome, thanks for letting us know.

Guess I'll have to throw more of a fit at check-in next time... :p

Great report as always! This July, we're ticketed in CX First from Hong Kong to Tapiei on a 747, possibly the SHORTEST Full-service International First flight in the world (1h40 mins, using exactly the same hard product as to America, and 13,500 Avios each way). I'm looking forward to seeing how the service compares to a transcontinental flight.

Sadly 1A and 1K are blocked out so we're seated in row 2. However, Row 1 is available to buy as a revenue ticket. In your experience, does this open up closer to departure?

^ - OK Probably not the shortest - although I wonder if the shorter flights (eg: SIN - KUL) have a full meal service? Emirates also used operate triangular flights DXB - SIN - KUL - DXB, and I wonder what service they offered during the Straits hop.

@ James H -- They may be blocking it off for elite members, so I'd suggest calling them vs. trying to select seats online, as there's a chance they may let you reserve those seats.

As far as service between Singapore and Kuala Lumpur goes, I've flown the route in business class, and here's what that service was like:
https://onemileatatime.com/four-continents-and-37000-miles-in-two-weeks-singapore-airlines-silver-kris-lounge-terminal-3-a-day-at-singapore-changi-airport-singapore-airlines-business-class-singapore-to-kuala-lumpur/
https://onemileatatime.com/four-continents-and-37000-miles-in-two-weeks-plaza-premium-lounge-kuala-lumpur-sri-lankan-business-class-kuala-lumpur-to-singapore/

Since we're not 'elites' in any sense of the word (BAEC Blue), I might leave it until we get to the airport to see what they can do. Thanks for the advice.

Ah yes - thanks I remember reading those reports when you posted it and thinking that it was rather impressive to have a hot food option. Thenagain, I've done the Singapore - Kuala Lumpur hop in Singapore Economy before, and even then was impressed that they managed to do a rather rushed juice, tea and coffee round to an entire 777 in what seemed like only a half-hour flight.

Lucky, great trip report! I really think you've summed up the service approaches between SQ and CX.

I've never had the pleasure of taking a flight with Janesis (hopefully soon). I've taken about 8 flights now in SQ F/R and never been completely blown away by any the crew members on SQ flights. They've ranged from good to "meh." On the other hand, I've hand some exceptional CX, TG and Jet (India) crews in F. Don't know why I keep striking out with SQ! 🙁

Ben,

Will AA allow me to book SIN-HKG-LAX for 67,500 miles? (I actually need to get from SIN-SNA).

Cheers.

@ Simon -- Yep, they sure will!

Thanks Ben - I have a couple of options on the return.

I have never flown F in the 773 (only flown F on the 744 HND-HKG). 773's are on offer HKG-LAX, but the 744 is on offer HKG-SFO (I could then do SFO-LAX I assume - therefore SIN-HKG-SFO-LAX, 67,500 miles?)

I thoroughly enjoyed HND-HKG, but the dilemma I have is more towards the menu on offer based on a 12.55pm or 4.25pm dep to LAX, or mid afternoon to SFO. 6 F pax on the 773 could be the deal breaker.

Which way would you lean?

@ Simon -- I'd go with whichever is more convenient. Both products are equally good, in my opinion -- slightly prefer cabin on 747 but service on 777. Meal services should be identical as well.

You could indeed do SIN-HKG-SFO-LAX for 67,500 miles.

Thanks Ben - the SFO departure would give me more time to enjoy The Wing in HKG, and I really would like to experience F in the 744 nose again. I appreciate your response.

Did you fly CX870 HKF-SFO on your recent return (last leg of current trip report)?

@ Simon -- I took CX872 on the return on this trip, the midnight departure. I took the afternoon departure on my last trip:
https://onemileatatime.com/chasing-the-sun-cathay-pacific-first-class-hong-kong-to-san-francisco/

I just returned from HKG into JFK and unfortunately noted some differences from my previous JFK-HKG flight (both in F). On the outbound, everything was great.

But on the return I couldn't help but notice several flaws: no turndown service was offered and noticed at least two other pax who also did not have their mattress pads while sleeping, no welcome card, and no pajamas and amenity kit were offered (recieved these after asking following takeoff). This experience was in contrast to my outbound which was pretty flawless.

Not meant to be a gripe, merely an observation for others who might have experienced something similar. Just immensely grateful for being able to fly in F for ~15 hrs each way (despite paying an arm and a leg in Avios points and fuel surcharges 😉 ).

@Ben, I like your commentary about the FA standing behind the curtain just waiting for someone to ring the call button! I always feel guilty, but I shouldn't, I know.
You didn't mention the great real woven quality British blankets that I've amassed a rather large collection of over the years. Which curiously have remained very close year to year. I would have thought they might have gone the way of all the other nice things in the air. Keep up the great and accurate reports.

Since it is a midnight flight, how many people choose to sleep instead to eat? If they sleep, can they eat dinner later?