CX J, HND-HKG-SIN

[dfs24]

Hi All,

So for the first time I finally got myself round to writing a trip report. I make a trip up to Tokyo once in 6 weeks for quite a while now. I work for myself so I decide on everything myself.

Haneda is very convenient. For my return sector, I opted CX543 on the 744 because of connecting time and it being a 744. The later CX549 requires an overnight HKG-SIN sector and a 6 hour transit time. The only downside of going to Tokyo with CX was not matter how I tried, I couldn't avoid the regional seat. I could do NRT-HKG on the 773, and HKG-SIN on the 77W, or HND-HKG on 744 and HKG-SIN on the 773.

No pictures here until I get to the lounge where I remembered I should probably write a TR.

I get up at 0800 and its a short walk to the JR station. 1045 is a decent departure time provided you haven't been drinking the previous night. I do the usual change at Hamamasutcho for the monorail. I ride the last train car as its closest to the airport exit. Upon arrival, I head straight to check in.

There was a long line at the Y lines, and J & Y counter was attending to them. I was directed to the F counter and was processed within a minute. After I left the counter, a long line had build up, presumably the passengers from the same monorail. There was a priority line but even then it took me 10mins. Fortunately I arrived when the line was shorter than the normal lines. The line quickly built up and ended up being much longer normal lines. I have no idea why no one decided to go for the normal lines.

Immigration took a few mins and was fuss free. I turn left and walk towards gate 146 where 3 floors of new lounges are. 4th floor houses ANA and a 3rd party lounge. 5th floor JL and another 3rd party lounge. 6th floor only had CX. This lounge is very new, just like the Haneda international expansion, where all the 140+ series gates are. The terminal has grown quite a bit.

I find the decor very nice, with a lot of woody dark brown tones. Very classy but it also gave me an EK feel. Food offerings were basic. Dan Dan Mian and Wanton Noodles. The bar had a decent selection, and there was salad, bread and smoked salmon as well.











I grabbed some Wanton Noodles, which was decent tasting and then a Umeshu + Soda water at the bar.



Surfed the web a bit and off I head to the gate, 141 today, at the end of the pier.



Boarding was already underway when I got to the gate. Nice and orderly with 2 lanes.





Straight onto the upper deck.

[dfs24]

In my opinion, these seats aren't bad. It's just that the new reverse herringbone is much better. I don't know how to describe it, but I'll try. When reclined, there is quite a lot of space at the head area, but the space is at the wrong place, where you cannot really use while lying down without twisting your body at a weird angle. So a little cramped at the head area when fully reclined. The mini ottoman was nice to have. The bad thing is there is not much surface space to put your stuff other than the small cup holder. If you have a big charger, like my macbook's, then it kind of sticks out annoyingly. The screen and table also has to be stowed when u get in and get out. Not the most convenient. The thing I really like about this seat is the pillow like headrest covers.

The storage space problem is solved if you seat in 81A or 80K, you have this space to leaving your stuff lying around like your laptop if you are charging it.



Post take off drink of cloud 9 for me, served with Japanese Rice Crackers.



Service is good, and I am always addressed by name. The food offerings were just fine. I decided on the cod with fried rice. The fish was fishy smelling.

[dfs24]

I really like Cathay's garlic bread, more so than SQ's. Unfortunately the bread was cold.



Cathay branded butter



Fishy tasting fish and fried rice







Now for the IFE. It's AVOD but the selection is not wide. The headphones are noise cancelling type but the IFE port is a little old and there is some static when plugged in at a certain angle. The screen resolution is okay.



After a movie, I spend the last 30mins of the flight chatting with the crew in the upper deck gallery.

We arrive at gate 50, and I head to the Bridge. Food offerings is just fine. Catering and food something I think is really borderline for CX J class. I go for some dim sum and satays, then it's to the bar for a couple of G&T and Haagen-Dazs. 45mins later I head to the gate.

[dfs24]

Of all my 12 CX sectors I've flown so far, like the other 10, this one is going to be leaving late. It's really annoying. CX in my experience has the worst punctuality record.

We start boarding at 1605 for a full 773 that is supposed to depart at 1615. To make things worst, this gate only has a single bridge. So it's into 2L, a left turn into 12A. The cabin slowly fills up and 43/45 load today. Not much pictures for this sector as it was full and the regional seat is cramped enough as it is. Crew once again professional and I am addressed by name.

We push at 1640 and today 07 is in use and it's a long taxi out. Interestingly, the 772 safety video was shown instead of a 773. I did highlight it to the ISM later and she showed me the interface to screen IFE and said she probably pressed wrongly. Interesting that all of CX fleet safety video was available to be shown. Maybe its a better idea to just load the relevant video.

So I attempt to find my headphones to catch a movie during the long taxi. Interestingly, I got a Y class headset in my seat, and the apologetic crew fetches a new one when highlighted.



Again, its a cloud 9 for post take off drink and this time, there was a strand of white hair/fishing line like string inside. So I send it back and told them to bring a new one after meal service when they are free.

For this flight, I was expecting dinner service. But nope, it's refreshment.



The drinks list is exactly the same, except for Champange, which is Billecart Salmon. Only Japanese routes get Henriot I am told.

The nice thing was that the fruit plate had really gigantic slices of fruits. But that's about it. The beef noodle entree was not nice. The soup tasted salty and there were just 2 pieces of beef. The noodles was not nice. The tea set and salmon my neighbour had didn't look very appetising also. My neighbour table became detached when she pulled her table out. So it seems things are already starting to give way on this relatively new seat. Dessert was Haagen-Daaz and fortunately, that one cannot go wrong.

After dinner the lights go. Once again, I am picked to fill out the questionnaire, just like 90% of the other flights. Apparently, I'm an easy passenger so that's why I always get it.

We landed 15mins late and dock at D44. Not too far from Arrivals fortunately. At the luggage belt, all the F tagged bags come and go. Then all the J tagged bags come and go. 25mins at the belt, still no bags in sight, and so off I go to make a delayed baggage report.

So after 4 sectors with CX, flying on the 77W, 744 and 773 twice, I have concluded that CX is not the airline for me.

The 77W seat is excellent, but I really hate the regional seat. The 744 seat acceptable but not relevant since they are leaving the fleet. The catering on CX is really poor compared to others in J and the friendly service just does not make up for it. Lastly, Cathay seriously needs to look at their punctuality.

So I have had the flexibility to try SQ, CX, MH, TG, VN, MU, CZ, CA, OZ, JL, NH on this route to date, so here's a breakdown.

SQ is the most expensive, has the best IFE and good catering.

TG with their Mastercard promotions is inexpensive, but the short BKK-TYO sectors make it tough for the overnight flights. The massage in BKK was much appreciated.

MH is very cheap but the A330 seats are horrible and I generally avoid them since the A330 went to NRT. Their lounges are still acceptable.

VN has good food, but their entertainment is poor and there is a risk of getting the old A330 to NRT. Even the new A330s with tight pitch but angle flat are not very comfortable. Their lounges are poor.

MU's A330 has got nice seats, poor IFE, but again the short SIN-PVG overnight sector is brutal. Lounges are very poor. Food is also basic but acceptable for the price paid.

CZ has got nice seats on the NRT-CAN sector, but CAN-SIN is uncomfortable on the narrow body. Also smoking pilots on this airline.

CA is the best of the 3 Chinese carriers. The new A330 on the SIN route makes for a comfortable overnight to Beijing and then onto HND which CZ does not serve and MU only from SHA, not PVG.

JL has very good seats, very nice food, okay entertainment, but Y style headphones.

NH has good food, poor seat, okay entertainment, and Y style headphones also. Service on both these Japanese carrier can be a little slower compared to the other choices.

OZ seat and IFE and catering are just fine. But I do like their wine list.

In terms of value for money, MH is still the best deal, but I really don't like the A330. CX is way overpriced at 3K for the sub-par product. 2K with some credit card promotion is acceptable for CX. SQ 3.6-4K is something I would not pay for. CA/MU/CZ/OZ in the 2K range, OZ or CA is what I will pay for. JL & NH at 3.3K, I would pick JL for the much better seat. But it seems NH is going to go full flat for SEA sometime soon. If so, then I think both are just as competitive.

[mr_botak]

Thanks for the report... yeah I gave up on CX as well for regional. Different matter long haul ex LHR, where there are often some excellent fares, and a great hard product.

[9V-JKL]

Thanks for sharing especially the summary.

[SQGamespeed]

Thanks for the report, as well as the summary at the end!

...

TG with their Mastercard promotions is inexpensive, but the short BKK-TYO sectors make it tough for the overnight flights. The massage in BKK was much appreciated.

...

You may also have to play "aircraft lottery" with them, unless their Japan routes are less afflicted with this.

[dfs24]

Thanks for all the replies.

The long-haul seat makes it definitely worth re-considering for a long flight. For North Asia from SIN, the 4+4 hour combi makes sleeping on either sector not conducive for sleeping, that is if you don't get the regional seat.

As for TG, not too bad at least when it comes to HND/NRT. For SIN, I don't really care, cos it's just 2 hours. The worse you get could get is an angled flat option, nothing near the CX regional seat. Either way, my A380/77W flights to NRT have never been swapped before.

[SQueeze]

Thank you for the report, and especially the summary. That was fantastic

I thought some of the airlines mentioned offer sub-2K J class fares to Japan. VN for example is only SGD 1,600. That is only slightly more than SQ's Y fares. I would take it anytime.

Anyway, a random check for August's Jubilee long long weekend shows VN and MU to be sub-2K (fantastic), and TG and MH to be in the low 2K (also very good).

CX is very expensive and will take an entire day of travel both ways.

[dfs24]

I used to pay for VN J, until they launched optiontown. I easily succeeded paying 500+ promo fare + 500 upgrade fees for all 4 sectors per round trip. They used to give J miles too. No lounge for optiontown upgraded flights but I had Elite+ so it didn't matter. Now they've become smarter, giving only miles for the underlying ticket. Their Plat bonus of 100% was generous but redemption with VN on Skyteam or even themselves was a pain with very very high YQ. In the end, the short SGN-NRT sector proved to be very tiring after a few times and I switched.

You can make CX work overnight both ways if you go via NRT, just that you'd pretty much be wasted the next day, given that all the overnight sectors are operated by regional planes.

For now, HND is really attractive and so it's TG or CA.