Review: Cathay Pacific B777 First Class, New York-Hong Kong

Cathay Pacific B777 first class, New York to Hong Kong

This was actually my 51st flight in first class and just like my previous flights on Cathay Pacific, the crew were amazing, the food was excellent and the service was impeccable. Join me as I show you why Cathay Pacific first class is one of the best.


Trip from Europe to the US via Asia flying Qatar Airways Qsuite & Cathay Pacific First Class

In 2014, I did two round-the-world trips, flying Asiana Airlines, Lufthansa and British Airways first class using miles. This year, I´m doing it again although it will be a bit different. I will fly from Europe to the US via Asia and will take the same route on the way back so it won´t really be a complete round-the-world tour. I´m flying Qatar Airways business class and Cathay Pacific first class (thanks to the mistake fare) so I´m really looking forward to a trip full of jet lag but nevertheless fun!

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Flight: CX831
Departure time in New York (JFK): 14:50 Terminal 8
Arrival time in Hong Kong (HKG): 18:55 (+1) Terminal 1
Aircraft: Boeing 777-300ER, B-KPX
Seat: 1K
Duration: 16h 5m
Date of flight: August 15, 2019
*This is a revenue ticket, First Class flight #51

Video from my YouTube Channel 📺

A Night in New York

We only had 5 days in the US where we spent our first and fifth night in New York and three days in Washington DC. On our last night in the US we stayed at the Millennium Times Square New York which was perfect as we were just steps away from Times Square. We decided to watch The Phantom of the Opera which was fantastic and which I would highly recommend to everyone 👍

New York JFK Airport Terminal 8

I left the hotel around 10:30am and arrived at the airport at 11:45am.

New York JFK Terminal 8

List of airlines using Terminal 8, New York JFK

Check-in, Aisle 8

The check-in desks used by Cathay Pacific are located in Aisle 8 of Terminal 8.

I was helped by a friendly agent with the check-in process, confirming that I didn´t need a Visa to Vietnam as I was only transiting and had a connecting flight to Kuala Lumpur. Moments later, I was given my boarding passes all the way to Hanoi as well as a Lounge Invitation card.

American Airlines Flagship Lounge

As a first class passenger flying with Cathay Pacific, I had access to the American Airlines Flagship First Dining, due to agreement between the two airlines. Otherwise only first class passengers on AA have access here including those flying to San Francisco and Los Angeles as long as it´s a 3 cabin flight.

Aircraft, Boeing 777-300 (B-KPX)

Boarding, Gate 47

American Airlines plane 😉

I left the lounge around 2:05pm (just after visiting the Bridge Lounge) and arrived at the departure gate before 2:15pm. At 2:20pm, an announcement was made informing us that the flight is delayed and that the new departure time would be 3:10pm.

At 2:50pm, boarding began and as usual, I had access to priority boarding.

Newspapers before boarding

First Class Cabin

The first class cabin consists of 6 suites in a 1-1-1 configuration with seats 1A and 2A separated to the other 4 seats by a divider. Unfortunately, there was no wifi on this aircraft

I was greeted by one of the crew and was escorted to my seat which was 1K.

Seat Map

On this flight, there were only 3 passengers in the cabin, 2 of them seating in seats 1A and 2A and I in 1K.

Suite 1K

Welcome to my suite, 1K 👍

My home for the next 15 hours or so 😍

3 windows and beautiful orchids

In front of me is the ottoman with a pillow and to the left is the personal screen.

The personal screen is not really the largest being offered in first class nor were the pictures really sharp. Still, it is a decent size and offered great selection of movies.

Seat controls and IFE controller

Storage compartment for headphones, etc.

IFE controller and BOSE headphones 👍

Reading lamp, magazine rack

Magazines, safety instruction card

Power ports and USB port

Seat controls

Pillow

Closet where I kept my rollaboard suitcase

Pre-departure Beverage

Moments after settling in, Ivy came to my seat to take my predeparture beverage order. I settled for a glass of still water which was served with warm nuts.

Hot towels were also offered. The CSD also came to welcome me onboard.

First Class Amenity Kit, Aesop

I was also offered pyjamas and the Aesop amenity kit. I requested to have the female kit instead, which was offered with no problem.

The contents of the Aesop female travel kit were basically the same as the male kit (Aesop Parsley seed anti-oxidant serum, Aesop lip cream, dental kit, ear plugs, mouthwash and screen cloth) with the addition of the Aesop Parsley seed anti-oxidant facial toner and the hair brush.

Just like on the outbound flight, the PYE pyjamas, slippers and eye mask were color dark green. Bose headphones were also offered.

Safety Video & Taxi

Around 3pm, the captain came on the PA to welcome us onboard and to apologize for the delay. He also gave us some flight information including the weather in Hong Kong and the temperature of 30 degrees and our flight time of 15 hours and 5 minutes.

At 3:10pm, the safety video was played on the screen. A minute later, push back began.

Taxiing

A British Airways B747 being catered by DO&CO 👍

Moving camera

😍

Airshow

Airshow enroute to Hong Kong

Take Off

Take off was at 3:35pm.

View of New York skyline after take off.

Dining

Menu card

Lunch menu

Lunch menu

Snacks menu

Dinner menu

Drink list

The champagne onboard was the Krug Vintage 2004 👍

Aperitifs and cocktails

Once the seat belt sign was turned off, immigration forms were distributed. I already have a frequent visitor sticker so I didn´t take it. To start the meal service, I was offered some warm nuts and a glass of apple juice.

As usual, I watched a movie and ended up watching "Boy Erased".

At 4:12pm, my table was set complete with the bread basket, salt and pepper shakers, olive oil, butter, glasses and a Bon Appetit card 👍

Krug champagne (only for picture taking)

On this flight, the caviar was King´s Imperial ... and it was 👍👍👍

A card from the crew 😉

Next was the Cured Salmon Loin, brown quinoa, green beans and quail eggs which was fantastic 😋

For my main course, I had the Wok fried lobster with spring onion and ginger, choy sum and steamed rice.

The lobster was phenomenal 😋

Me enjoying my meal 😉

Then, it was time for my dessert: Sticky toffee with vanilla ice cream and caramel sauce and green tea.

I was also offered a bottle of Naya mineral water (not Evian 😉), hot towel and dental floss.

And yes, the pralines 😋

Time to Sleep

I went to the lavatory after my meal and when I came back to my seat, my bed was waiting for me.

Lavatory

1 of 2 lavatories located in front of the cabin

Aesop products

Lavatory

Lavatory

Snacks

I had a good night´s sleep and woke up with 6.5 hours left before landing.I was asked by the flight attendant if I wanted to drink something and I asked for some green tea and the black sesame sweet soup.

Green tea

Black sesame sweet soup

Dinner

I fall asleep again and woke up with just 1 hour and 55 minutes left before landing. Ten minutes later, one of the flight attendants came to my seat to take my dinner order.

Table setting

I started with some fresh seasonal fruits.

For my main course, I had the Steamed sea bass, black bean and chilli, stir fried kailan and steamed jasmine rice. It was fantastic 😋

To end the meal, I had some Lemon meringue and raspberry sauce 😋

Then, it was time for a hot towel, toothpick and some pralines.

Landing in Hong Kong Airport

At 6:15pm, the captain was back on the PA with updated flight information including the temperature in Hong Kong which is 28 degrees and that we would be landing in 45 minutes.

View before landing

We landed at 6:49pm and made a pretty long taxi to our gate.

Air Niugini plane 😍

Philippine Airlines plane

We reached our gate at 6:57pm and as usual, I was one of the first passengers to disembark. From the gate, we took the train to immigration, and moments later, I was on my way to the Regal Airport Hotel where I´d spend the night before flying to Hanoi.

CONCLUSION

In general, first class on airlines from Asia are among my favorites and with this flight, I can confirm that Cathay Pacific is on my top three list. The crew on this flight were just exceptional, always with a smile and addressing me by my name. One of the flight attendants in the first class cabin has been working with Cathay Pacific for more than 20 years and I can understand that. He loves his job dearly. As for the dining experience, the food was fantastic from lunch to snacks to dinner. The seat was very wide and comfortable I slept very well. The Aesop amenity kit and PYE pyjamas were also adorable. The only thing I would have hoped for was wifi connection although it is not a must. Overall, I enjoyed everything on this flight and would gladly fly Cathay Pacific first class again, with or without the mistake fare 😉