How to best maximise my CX (first ever) First class flight to London.

[PaulST]

Hi everyone, I'm flying CX F for the first time in May and I'm keen to hear your tips on how to maximise the experience. I only do limited overseas flights per year and flying in J and F is still a massive novelty for me and I'm really keen to enjoy the entire 13hr flight.

I leave HKG at 14:40 so I plan to get to the airport at around 0900 and head to The Wing for breaky and a bath in the cabana. Then I'll head to The Pier for lunch, massage and the day bed and head to the gate at around 13:50.

I understand that CX are meant to have the best rice in the sky so I'll be sure to check that out, but otherwise I really know little about CX F other than what I've seen in trip reports (here and youtube).

Many thanks!

 

[Danger]

One of the most comfortable beds and bedding in the sky. Impeccable, attentive, quality service. Super PJs and amenities. Wonderful food, including caviar. A personal handwritten card from the FAs welcoming you on board (although I noted one blog post recently where that didn't occur). Really just outstanding.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Use the call button if you need anything. The cabin crew are fairly 'hands-off' in between meal times. This also means you may need to ask for your bed to be made (some passengers have complained they waited the whole flight and no one asked them if they wanted to go to sleep - strange but true).

CX assumes the passenger knows what they want, when they want it, and will ask if necessary (rather than cabin crew dropping by every five minutes to see if everything is alright).

 

[boomy]

You’re going to be on daytime flight so avoid a common mistake many do - don’t eat or drink much in the lounge. The Pier restaurant is very nice but food and alcohol onboard will be better.
Didn’t know CX claim to have the best rice in F, always thought JL hold this unofficial title but anyway, it’s rice...
The bedding on CX is on par with QF and JL, which means it’s bloody good. They made some cuts on the menu recently but nothing major, you’ll still get caviar and their steaks are quite good.
Service maybe not as superior as on Japanese or Korean airlines but at least on CX they all speak good English so nothing will be lost in translation.
You can expect some very good ground service as F pax in case there will be any unexpected problems.

 

[Flying Fox]

I leave HKG at 14:40 so I plan to get to the airport at around 0900 and head to The Wing for breaky and a bath in the cabana. Then I'll head to The Pier for lunch, massage and the day bed and head to the gate at around 13:50.

You might want to double check how early you can check-in with bags @ HKG.

Of course you can check-in via the Hong Kong or Kowloon MTR stations with bags at your intended 09:00 time and then train it to the airport.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

You might want to double check how early you can check-in with bags @ HKG.

Of course you can check-in via the Hong Kong or Kowloon MTR stations with bags at your intended 09:00 time and then train it to the airport.

Same day check in (any time) is fine either at the airport, or HKAE stations.

 

[deka2]

Try and allocate 1A or 2A as your seat. They only have 6 seats in a 1-1-1 configuration, with the centre seats open to the F seat side.

If you have an A seat you won't see another passenger walk past your seat. Very private

 

[MEL_Traveller]

2A is probably the pick of the bunch for F seats. You might find this is blocked, but a call to CX reservations in HKG will release the seat with a warning that you might be moved if the bassinet is required.

 

[Bundy Bear]

When flying F on any airline act like a DYKWIA, you do need to ask for stuff don't think they will check on you all the time and think you may have flown F before and want to leave you alone.

Also the A side will be the sunny side so I would almost be tempted to take a window on the non sunny side, remember the serfty rule of seating away from the sun, maybe there will be more foot traffic but it is a day flight and I think some interaction with staff would be good.

 

[craven morehead]

Look forward to the TR on this as have only done CX J

 

[PaulST]

Thanks for the replies.
Yep, I've got 2A booked and it was available from when I booked the award via QF mid last year. From what I can see, the A side has the aisle to itself (similar to QF F). I suppose it will be in the sun the entire flight which is a pity as there's something magical about sunrises and sunsets at 40K feet! Ah well, you can't have everything!

It's good to know that I may need to be a little more proactive with the staff. I'll be sure to let them know that it's my first flight in CX F so I suspect they'll probably explain everything (my QF F was great in explaining everything last year) .

A TR (or Trip Video) will definitely be done!

 

[PaulST]

I just double checked my booking and I'd actually selected 1A (purely for the prestige of that number... haha). Why do you believe that 2A is superior?
Many thanks

 

[BriarFlyer]

I'm looking forward to your trip report, Paul, both because I love F TRs and also because CX F is on my wishlist for 2019.

 

[boomy]

1A or 2A really doesn't matter, it's small 8 seat cabin and no toilet/galley noise issues.
I'm always going for 1A on CX just for that little bit extra privacy to see no one in front.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I just double checked my booking and I'd actually selected 1A (purely for the prestige of that number... haha). Why do you believe that 2A is superior?
Many thanks

in 1A you have the FA passing you twice for every service request to the passenger behind you (there and back), and you have the passenger from 2A passing you on the way to the WC (and back). There is also a very small chance of noise if the crew sit in the doorway at 1L and are having a chat (the 's'es' in speech can have an annoying habit of travelling).

2A also has more sense of space given the whole cabin in front of you, rather than the bulkhead.

 

[Jeffrey O'Neill]

I'll be doing this flight in September. Really looking forward to seeing how well they stack up to NH / OZ / SQ.

I think you can check in up to 24 hours before your flight. I'm hoping that's right as i want to check my bags in then head into HK overnight for some dumplings

Hard to be TGs ground services in BK though. Feel like such a wanker getting the golf buggy to the lounge.

 

[PaulST]

I'll be doing this flight in September. Really looking forward to seeing how well they stack up to NH / OZ / SQ.

I think you can check in up to 24 hours before your flight. I'm hoping that's right as i want to check my bags in then head into HK overnight for some dumplings

Hard to be TGs ground services in BK though. Feel like such a wanker getting the golf buggy to the lounge.

I'll be sure to make a video of the flight which should be online mid May.