[QF009]

Originally Posted by NYCguy

Sorry, I should save my snide remarks for more deserving targets.

You're lucky I have a damn thick skin.

[chooms]

Originally Posted by QF009

It had been an exhausting weekend; I've arrived home close to midnight after spending the previous 2 days in Sale - a town approx 212km away from Melbourne. No it was by no means an extension of my holiday - I had answered the call of duty to assist in a by-election effort in that area and have had very little sleep. Alas the results were disappointing though not totally unexpected; at least there was free alcohol at the commiserations party and I wasn't stuck at the Victorian/NSW border with next to zero mobile phone reception unlike some less fortunate comrades.

lol... QF009.... I was at the same by-election for the last week, although I was on the winning team!

PS... always enjoy reading your TR's!

[straitman]

QF009 & chooms,

Wish I'd known you were here.

I live in Sale.

.... and I won't comment on the result publicly (read that however you wish)

[Evan]

Politics in politics... win or loose, no matter who you support this is why we are a democracy. (Even if we dont have the right to speak feely !)
I know sale well since the extended family has a house down at Metung.
E

[QF009]

Umm... please don't cause my TR to be exiled to the Playground....

[Evan]

Sorry, agreed !!!!
So shall i post my feet shots from CX new F ? Anybody want a trip review, sorry i did not steal the menu so it would be only from memory, But i did notice on JNB-HKG they servers Krug and in HKG-(BKK)-SIN only some other cheaper stuff.

E

[chooms]

Originally Posted by QF009

Umm... please don't cause my TR to be exiled to the Playground....

Sorry guys... didnt think my post would cause a stir. Was just noting that I was in that area (not necessarly Sale though) at the same time.

VOTE 'NO' to QF009's TR to be exiled to the Playground.

[oz_mark]

Originally Posted by QF009

You're lucky I have a damn thick skin.

Would be a prerequisite for someone in your field?

[QF009]

CX108 AKL-HKG, 30JUN2008, Business Class: "Pinot noir? Is that red or white wine?"

Flight was delayed by one hour due to late arrival of the aircraft. At that point I began to be suspicious that the delays follow me... given that I don't have Heathrow or fog in London as excuses this time unlike my trip at the start of the year. To all the little Gremlins that set out to wreck my flight schedules - please let me the eff alone. To the rest of you, best to check my ba97 page and avoid every single one of those flights listed there. OTOH they did have sufficient supplies of Matua Valley pinot noir in the QP at AKL to keep me happy...

Unlike the day before, we boarded promptly at the revised boarding time. Was greeted at the door by Sharon, the very nice Malaysian ISM. The aircraft for this 2 class service used to be a 3 class 343 aircraft even though only 2 classes are ever sold but today it was only 2 classes, so no pseudo upgrade to FCL. Not sure if my lowly OW SPH status would've yielded such an upgrade anyway.

The status did however bring about some unexpected niceties, even though it wasn't a Cathay status. This refers to the benes which are over and above the published OW benefits, completely unnecessary but a perfectly nice touch. The stuff which other carriers reserve for their own elites. For starters, I was personally greeted by Sharon along with the other elites onboard, which ended with "welcome back to Cathay Pacific." It was a lovely gesture but I felt a bit guilty as they aren't normally my first choice of carriers.

Got NBC, and it was a 2-2-2 config again and so I'd yet again chosen a centre row aisle seat. I was invited by Sharon to move to an empty row by myself, so I'd ended up sitting in 15D with no one next to me. I'd have welcomed some company normally but the gentleman next to me in row 14 didn't seem v eager to engage in convo.

A rather comprehensive Agnes B amenity kit was given out. A good mate of mine is also a huge Agnes B fan so this would make a nice little gift I thought.







To my utter shame and horror, I failed to finish my glass of champagne prior to take off. But I am not particularly enamoured with Champagne Deutz either, it's far too citrusy for me and I just wish that Cathay would stick to Billecart-Salmon for all its flights.

Then the first bar service began, and I went for the sauvignon blanc, a nice Marlborough number. The Senior Purser couldn't confirm whether the canapes contained shellfish and so I had it swapped for (warm) nuts instead. Cathay seems to have improved its JCL wine list, it was still lacking in breadth unlike QF's v extensive selection but the stuff on offer were nonetheless fairly high quality and they were also serving the Palliser Estate pinot noir like on QF25 the day before. Perhaps this was a New Zealand flight and they'd felt like they should have a better wine list? I alternated between the sauv blanc and pinot for the entire flight.

Unfortunately any compliment I have for the wine list cannot be extended to the execution of said list. Whilst QF cabin crew regardless of seniority can often be seen actively making expert recommendations off the list and offering advice in pairing wines with meals, 2 of the Cathay crews I had on this flight could not even identify what I wanted when I asked for pinot noir or sauvignon blanc. And this were Pursers, the girls in red blouses and surely they must have had a certain level of seniority. I concede that Pursers on Cathay do not mean the same thing as and are far more junior in comparison to the FA designated as the Purser on say, BA - but these aren't the most junior FAs either. I must say this is all rather poor for an airline regarded by many as one of the world's best. I finally found it easier to reach for the wine list and point out what I wanted or wait for the SP to come around.



That little rant aside, the service on this flight was rather adequate. Both the SP and the ISM were v warm and personable; the Ps less so but nonetheless quite efficient.

The lunch service began shortly after the initial bar service. We were served in order of status. It is nice of CX to extend such courtesies to not only their elites but also elites from their OW partners, but I think I'd have felt awkward and a little embarrassed if I'd had a seat mate.

I had to skip the prawn entree, so went straight to the salad. Had the stir fried chicken with rice which was fragrant but was far too spicy for my palate, as it contained some chili bits. It did however pair well with the pinot noir which dulled the spice a little. The presentation hasn't changed and the main course still came in that casserole which I felt was rather lacking in refinement. The meal then concluded with a most delicious cheese plate.

[QF009]

The IFE had some gems which I'd missed on the big screen. I started with Jumper just because I've not watched Rachel Bilson since The OC had concluded, unfortunately she doesn't seem a particularly versatile actress and it was like watching Summer Roberts all over again. Then I went on to The Pelican Brief, and enjoyed the strong performances in The Other Boleyn Girl. I must confess - as much as I dislike any 'old world' decor, shun museums and art galleries, sleep through operas - I quite enjoy watching period Hollywood movies. Yes a great contradiction indeed. Also saw some of 27 Dresses before the IFE was turned off for landing.


Feeling weary I had a little nap after lunch. I found the NBC seat rather comfy for sleeping unlike other people, and didn't experience any wedgie effect. I woke up just as lights were turned on again for the refreshment service.

I'd thought that I must have been really out of it and had slept through the entire flight, but it turned out that the crew was performing the refreshment service just 2 hours after the main meal service on this 10hour and 40mins service... huh?? We had more than 6 hours left to go on the flight at that point. The service started with fruits which were more like dessert and tasted rather strange. The rissotto that came with the main course of chicken was tasty, as was the sticky date pudding.







The v odd timing of the refreshment left me hungry towards the end of the flight. I couldn't be bothered to hunt down a resto in Hong Kong as all I wanted to do was check in and hit the clubs (though it was a Sunday night the clubs would be pumping as Monday was a public holiday). The SP said he could offer wonton noodles for a pre-landing snack - as the wonton contained shrimp I simply asked for the noodles by themselves. They came beautifully presented in a cute little black bowl.





Full menu can be viewed here.

Despite the delayed take off the flight deck had managed to make up for some time along the way and we landed just 20 mins behind schedule. Overall a decent flight, aided by the excellent ISM and SP. However the rest of the crew were v clinical and I was disappointed with their 'deer in the headlight' reaction with the wines. So whilst an adequate flight on the whole (got fed - tick; did not puke - tick; got my booze - tick; got there in one piece - tick; efficient crews - tick), I still fail to understand all the hype about Cathay. There just isn't that extra 'sparkle' on the flights I've had with Cathay to make them memorable, with v rare exceptions. And I'd consider today one of the better days I've had on the airline. My first choice is still the Flying Kangaroo, thanks.

Next: Sheraton Hong Kong; CX466 HKG-TPE whY; Sheraton Taipei; Westin Taipei