Having flown this route in October via Vancouver, I was keen to review Cathay Pacific First Class on a direct New York to Hong Kong routing. My flight today, the lunchtime CX831 departure, was boarding from Gate 47.
In this post:
Cathay Pacific First Class Review – CX831 New York To Hong Kong
Cathay Pacific 831
New York (JFK) – Hong Kong (HKG)
Friday, December 20
Depart: 01:50PM
Arrive: 07:05PM
Duration: 16hr15min
Aircraft: Boeing 777-300ER (77W)
Seat: 1A (First Class)
Boarding was on time and with a dedicated lane for First Class passengers I was aboard within minutes. It was great to be ensconced in the oversized seat again for the Polar Express to Hong Kong.
The seat has a large amount of storage, and fit my Longchamp Travel XL comfortably under the ottoman. There is also a locker behind the IFE monitor that can hold a cabin roller and your coat.
Inflight service began immediately with the new service moment of sparking JING tea and a hot towel.
And was followed by the arrival of the Bamford amenity kit and PYE pyjamas.
And once properly settled in, the first pour of the excellent Krug 2004 champagne. It was nice to see the sun out, the first sunny day of my time in New York.
Boarding was completed on time and we were soon taxiing out for takeoff. As we climbed, we were treated to views of the island of Manhattan in the distance.
Once at cruising altitude, it was time to enjoy a Cathay Delight. This non-alcoholic kiwi and mint based drink is refreshing and served in Cathay lounges too.
First Class Food & Wine Menus
The catering on the outbound flight from Hong Kong was a noticeable step up from the October trip so I was keen to review the offering on this flight.
Lunch is served after takeoff and dinner just before landing in Hong Kong.
Caviar is served as part of lunch, which offers both Chinese and Western menus.
Dinner is a less elaborate service but still offering Chinese and Western options.
And the all important drinks menu featured Cathay Pacific’s strongest lineup with Krug 2004 champagne and Chateau Lynch-Bages.
First Class Caviar & Lunch
Cathay Pacific offers a caviar course with all the trimmings, including a mother of pearl spoon. I prefer a simple caviar on blini combination for maximum flavour.
A personal serving is a nice touch, though airlines like Thai add a touch of flair with their caviar trolley and seatside preparation.
Having had my fill of great food in New York, I was ready for some quality Chinese food. The first course of a hot American ginseng chicken soup and a cold plate of abalone with plum sauce really hit the spot.
The abalone was a generous serve with thick cut slices and worked very well with the plum sauce.
The sun began to set outside, making for a nice photo out the window.
The braised pork rib main course was excellent, with tender meat and again a generous serve. This was paired with a winter melon and shiitake mushroom side that was enjoyable. And of course, Cathay Pacific serves the best rice in the sky given they have a dedicated rice cooker in the galley for First Class!
Having indulged in New York, including multiple desserts at Jean Georges, I went with a fruit plate to round out the meal. The quality and variety of fruit was notable with dragon fruit, blackberries and raspberries in the mix of nine fruits.
To round out the meal, I ordered a JING Silver Needle White Tea, which was served with pralines and a hot towel.
Cathay Pacific First Class Bed
While all First Class beds are comfortable and a luxury when flying, Cathay Pacific offers one of the best in terms of width and bedding. The new Bamford bedding with 600 thread count sheets and plush duvet make for a wonderful bed when the seat is turned down.
I managed a few hours of sleep and then decided to see what was on StudioCX, the inflight entertainment system with plenty of content to keep one entertained during a long flight. A selection of Friends episodes were available and I especially enjoyed the Thanksgiving one where Joey and Ross go to the Rangers game. Something I had done a few days earlier.
First Class Dinner
A few hours out from Hong Kong, the cabin crew began preparations for dinner. None of the dinner options jumped out at me so I asked if there was a portion of the lamb from lunch available.
Service started with a fruit smoothie and hot towel, served on the new brass trays that I thought were stylish.
The cabin crew checked in the galley and were more than happy to serve the lamb for dinner, naturally accompanied by a glass of Lynch-Bages.
The lamb chops were juicy and tender, cooked to pink perfection.
Another fruit plate rounded out the meal with a slightly different selection of fruit.
Once the table was cleared, the cabin crew insisted on me finishing the bottle of Lynch Bages, which I enjoyed while tracking our progress into Hong Kong.
Cathay Pacific First Class Review Summary
Having flown both via Vancouver and direct, the flight from New York JFK to Hong Kong is a better option. Being a lunchtime departure you still enjoy a meal at the excellent Flagship First Dining facility, enjoy an uninterrupted sixteen hours in the air and arrive in Hong Kong in the evening for a good night’s rest.
The new catering again proved to be excellent and service polished, as is the norm in Cathay Pacific First Class.
Introduction – The Cathay Pacific Encore Trip
Review: American Express Lounge Sydney
Review: Cathay Pacific Economy Class 77W
Review: Cathay Dragon Economy Class A321
Review: Cathay Dragon Business Class A320
Review: The Wing First Class Lounge
Review: Cathay Pacific First Class 77W
Review: Fairfield Inn Manhattan Financial District
Review: Jean Georges New York
Review: Olmsted Brooklyn
New York Winter Activities
Review: AA Flagship Lounge & Flagship First Dining JFK
Review: Cathay Pacific First Class New York – Hong Kong
Review: Mira Moon Hong Kong
Review: The Wing Business Class Lounge
Review: Qantas Hong Kong Lounge
Review: Qantas Business Class A380 (New Business Suite)
Summary – Highlights & Points Earned
