Qantas FF and Cathay Pacific

[Bolman]

We're back now, thanks for your help guys.

So in summary we visited both Cathay louges in HK- one on the way over and one on the way back. My fav was the one with all the video games.

I didn't take one piece of advice offered to me however - that was to print out a copy of my statement to show them I was platinum status - so unfortunately we didn't get access to the first class lounge - bummer! But my status is good for another 14 months - hopefully I get another chance to try one out before it expires.

BTW - what is the diff between bus and 1st class lounges?

We didn't get time to lounge it in Taipei, either. Were running late and only arrived 45 mins before boarding.

ANNNDDD - we couldn't get ugraded to business class - despite my hard sucking up to the check-in lady! She did, however, let us on with 60kg of luggage. Is this normal?

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

We're back now, thanks for your help guys.

So in summary we visited both Cathay louges in HK- one on the way over and one on the way back. My fav was the one with all the video games.

I didn't take one piece of advice offered to me however - that was to print out a copy of my statement to show them I was platinum status - so unfortunately we didn't get access to the first class lounge - bummer! But my status is good for another 14 months - hopefully I get another chance to try one out before it expires.

BTW - what is the diff between bus and 1st class lounges?

Too late now, but may help others. You should have asked the lounge bouncer to look up your status. Unlike BA dragons they are happy to do so - at least they were for me when I'd just passed the threshold for platinum for the first time and thus no card.

The CX HKG F lounges (pier and wing) are great - much better than any QF F lounges.

 

[kelpie]

The Cathay F lounge in HKG is out of this world. The idea of the "cabanas" is unreal. Dying to get back there again on my next northern hemisphere flight.

 

[simongr]

I should be there in March with tgtwwm - he should qualify for WP on that trip (before we get to HKG - unless I route via Brazil/Argentina - but that's another story). I was disappoined I only 40 mins in the J lounge - it was great. Just wish I had sampled the noodle bar before flying.

One strange thing was the self service bar. I was down at the noodle bar end and all there was was beer and soft drink - a little surprising - but I didnt have time to find the real bar (desperately checking/sending emails at the time)

S

 

[NM]

One of the big benefits of the CX F lounges at HKG is the dining room (buffet food with waiter beverage service). Excellent Chinese dim sum at breakfast time .

 

[simongr]

Mrs simongr will love that if the RTW trips comes off for her next year. We migth even have to review the fligth options to spend more time in the lounge

 

[serfty]

Mrs simongr will love that if the RTW trips comes off for her next year. We migth even have to review the fligth options to spend more time in the lounge

One trick here is to use the airport express and in-town check-in for HKG and head out several hours before your flight (IMHO 4 is a minimum). This works better since if you go to the airport directly you generally cannot check-in until at most 3 hours before the flight, reducing the FLounging to perhaps an hour or so.

Once your are EXP you can experience the service NM refers to (or just both fly oneWORLD F ex HKG, evening preferably).

A good flight I have employed is the overnight QF128 back to SYD, departs HKG at a comfortable evening time.

 

[simongr]

Once your are EXP you can experience the service NM refers to (or just both fly oneWORLD F ex HKG, evening preferably).

I am in cathay F class for four flights next week - two out of HKG. So I will get to enjoy F experience at various times - afternoon out of SYD, morning out of HKG, evening out of NRT and midnight out of HKG.

Compared to my recent QF F experience (where I crashed out and slept :evil: ) I will be wide awake for some of these flights

 

[NM]

I am in cathay F class for four flights next week - two out of HKG. So I will get to enjoy F experience at various times - afternoon out of SYD, morning out of HKG, evening out of NRT and midnight out of HKG.

For evening flights, enjoy the cariar and Balik Salmon. It is excellent. For breakfast flights, give the Chinese Dim Sum a go - again excellent.

Oh yes, and they serve Krug champas and JW Blue scotch. Very civil indeed.

 

[simongr]

Krug????

I am going to be in so much troube with mrssimongr :shock:

 

[serfty]

Krug????

I am going to be in so much troube with mrssimongr :shock:

What one's SO does not know does not hurt ... until they tag along with you one day, then say "... and you've been having this??" :shock:

Never having experienced CX F in flight, I'm still sure NM was referring to the Cabin service ...

 

[simongr]

I have a policy of complete disclosure with mrssimongr (which means I also have a policy of visiting Tiffany's frequently).

And yes NM was referring to the cabin service which I will be availing myself of next saturday

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

You know if you fly SQ F you have a choice of Dom or Krug (both catered onboard)

 

[simongr]

Krug is perfectly acceptable to me I dont recall ever having drunk Dom - my preference is (in reducing order of desire):

Krug
Vintage 1998 Bolly
Vintage 1999 Moet
Verve Cliquot
Moet/Bolly
Grant Burge (which isnt a bad drop for A$18)

Out of interest is the CX F lounge in Syd basically the QF F lounge? Apart from the Moet I am thinking I migth enjoy the J lounge more on a saturday early afternoon.

S

We hover around

 

[serfty]

... Out of interest is the CX F lounge in Syd basically the QF F lounge? ...

Yes!.

Looks like they have not updated the site as the J and F lounges are no longer next to each other.

IMHO, the T3 (Domestic) QP after 1pm has better facilities than the T1 J lounge. (Postmix Beer indeed!)

 

[JohnK]

Looks like they have not updated the site as the J and F lounges are no longer next to each other.

Sorry Ross, not knocking your post and I know I am just a party pooper and I do not belong on a FF forum but there is no significant difference between a J lounge or an F lounge. Does not matter how many different ways you disect the subject. It is certainly not worth the fuss associated with it even if it was for top notch champagne or dim sum. Surely there are more important things to worry about in life or frequent flying!

Thank you very much Lindsay Wilson for inviting me to BNE F lounge last year but I certainly would not be paying any extra money or trying very hard for the privilige to visit it again. Who cares whether it is Krug, Dom or Great Western sparkling! Same effect once you have had more than a few! Same people make it sound like it is the greatest thing to happen to humanity since sliced bread. Grow up!

 

[straitman]

Sorry Ross, nothing to do with your post and I know I am just a party pooper and I do not belong on a FF forum but there is no significant difference between a J lounge or an F lounge. Does not matter how many different ways you disect the subject. It is certainly not worth the fuss associated with it even if it was for top notch champagne or dim sum. Surely there are more important things to worry about in life or frequent flying!

Thank you very much Lindsay Wilson for inviting me to BNE F lounge last year but I certainly would not be paying any extra money or trying very hard for the privilige to visit it again. Who cares whether it is Krug, Dom or Great Western sparkling! Same effect once you have had more than a few!

JohnK,

I think a few of us will have to agree to disagree with you here.

IMHO the 'F' lounges are often a lot less crowded and considerably nicer than the 'B' lounges.

 

[JohnK]

I think a few of us will have to agree to disagree with you here.

Bill, you have every right to disagree with me. I just cannot comprehend what all the fuss is about but I am just a simple person that does not deserve to be, should not be, a frequent flyer. For me they are all the same. I am sorry. Same same but not the same!

Hope to see you at Ozfest IV.

 

[straitman]

Hope to see you at Ozfest IV.

Most definitely:!:

 

[serfty]

Sorry Ross, not knocking your post and I know I am just a party pooper and I do not belong on a FF forum but there is no significant difference between a J lounge or an F lounge. Does not matter how many different ways you disect the subject. It is certainly not worth the fuss associated with it even if it was for top notch champagne or dim sum. Surely there are more important things to worry about in life or frequent flying!

Thank you very much Lindsay Wilson for inviting me to BNE F lounge last year but I certainly would not be paying any extra money or trying very hard for the privilige to visit it again. Who cares whether it is Krug, Dom or Great Western sparkling! Same effect once you have had more than a few! Same people make it sound like it is the greatest thing to happen to humanity since sliced bread. Grow up!

Bill, you have every right to disagree with me. I just cannot comprehend what all the fuss is about but I am just a simple person that does not deserve to be, should not be, a frequent flyer. For me they are all the same. I am sorry. Same same but not the same!

Hope to see you at Ozfest IV.

Introspective tonight John ...

OK, all I mentioned on this thread was in regard to the CX website not being current with the information that the QF F & J Lounges in SYD are separate. Once they had the one entrance off the concourse but not any more.

You are correct in that the BNE F & J lounges look similar with the only real difference being the catering. This is the same for CNS and AKL. The lounges vary somewhat in decor in MEL & SYD, although new F lounges are to open in those locations next year.

Strangely, the biggest differnence in lounge catering is in SYD. John, you like beer. Have you tried the flat, watery postmix so-called beer available in the J lounge. No small bottles/can of beer there, just put you glass under the spout and press the button. Gaaahh! The food is poor as well when compared to the Domestic QP.

There are other issues too; for instance, I find it nice to occasionaly have a champers insead of an aussie sparkling. As you imply, different poison, same result.

However, things are generally better in the Flounges, variances in catering notwithstanding.

All this is my humble opinion, and as always in things like this, YMMV!