Having read many a glowing review of Cathay Pacific First Class in the lead up to this trip, the wait was finally over.
CX 840 to New York JFK was conveniently departing from Gate 65 so only two travelator lengths from The Pier First Class Lounge.
The boarding process was very well organised with distinct lines for First Class and Business Class, with ground staff proactively checking boarding passes to ensure passengers were in the right queue.
Soon enough the boarding call was made, boarding passes scanned, passports checked and off we went down the aerobridge to the waiting Cathay Pacific 777-300ER.
In this post:
Cathay Pacific First Class Review – CX840
Cathay Pacific 840
Hong Kong (HKG) – New York (JFK)
Saturday, October 5
Depart: 04:05PM
Arrive: 08:15PM
Duration: 16hr10min
Aircraft: Boeing 777-300ER (77W)
Seat: 1A (First Class)
Both aerobridges were being used today so First Class passengers were able to board from Door 1L, quite a luxury given there are only six seats in First Class on this plane.
The cabin crew escorted me to my seat and settled me in. Each First Class seat has its own storage locker located behind the screen, which comfortably fit my Rimowa roller and Tumi laptop bag.
As you can see from the photo below (taken later in the flight), the seat is a very generous width and a comfortable cocoon for the 16 hour flight to New York.
Before long a bottle of champagne appeared and was poured seatside, rather than in the galley. Today the Amour de Deutz 2009 was being served, one of a rotation of champagnes that includes Krug 2004, Piper-heidsieck Rare Millesime Champagne 2002 and Tattinger Comtes de Champagne.
It is a lighter champagne than say the Krug but still had plenty of finesse and flavour.
Amenity kits and pyjamas from Bamford and PYE respectively were then distributed. The Bamford amenities and bedding were brand new, having been introduced at the start of October, and seemed of excellent quality.
The final door was then shut, the captain came on the PA to welcome us aboard, and soon we were taxiing for takeoff bound for New York.
Cathay Pacific First Class Food & Wine Menus
One of the main ways airlines differentiate First and Business Class, now that the latter have flat beds with aisle access too, is the food and beverage offering.
Cathay Pacific prides itself on offering an extensive Western and Chinese menu with premium ingredients like abalone, lobster and caviar.
The First Class wine list features a prestige champagne, a Grand Cru Bordeaux such as the Château Lynch Bages Pauillac 2008 served on this flight and a strong selection of Scotch.
Cathay Pacific First Class Caviar & Dinner
Dinner service commenced with an amuse bouche featuring a generous serving of crab, a light and zesty start to the meal.
The table is then set for the caviar course with each passenger getting their own serving, mother of pearl spoon and blinis. I continued with the champagne for this course.
As I enjoyed a few pieces of garlic bread, the cabin crew opened the Lynch Bages to allow it time to breathe before the main course.
The grilled bone-in beef tenderloin with Marsala morel mushroom sauce, roasted potatoes, sauteed baby spinach with garlic and tomatoes was cooked medium as requested and was absolutely delicious. Naturally, the steak and Lynch Bages combined beautifully.
It was at this point I was glad that the meals at The Pier First Class Lounge were on the smaller side.
Feeling like a lighter dessert, the fresh berries with rose water syrup hit the spot and was a suitable close to the meal.
Cathay Pacific have partnered with JING Tea and First Class passengers have a wide selection on board.
The Jasmine Silver Needle, a delicate blend of white tea scented with fresh jasmine flowers, was a fragrant post-meal beverage.
Service throughout the meal was perfectly paced and polished, very much fine dining at 35,000ft.
Cathay Pacific First Class Bed
Once meal service has concluded, most passengers stayed awake for a few more hours watching movies on the IFE or working on their laptops.
It was then time to convert this wide seat into a wide bed, so the cabin crew worked their magic while I changed into the navy blue PYE pyjamas. I was glad that they kept the PYE pyjamas despite the switch to Bamford for amenities and bedding, as they are some of the most comfortable and highest quality First Class pyjamas offered by any airline.
The bedding consisted of a mattress pad, plush duvet and a large pillow. All three items are 600 thread count cotton and felt very comfortable next to the skin.
I managed about four hours sleep in the bed and then enjoyed listening to music through the provided Bose Quiet Comfort 25 noise canceling headphones (ironically I also had an identical pair in my laptop bag).
Cathay Pacific First Class Breakfast
A few hours out from New York the crew began serving breakfast to those First Class passengers that were awake.
Having had the Western menu for dinner, I was in the mood for the Chinese menu for breakfast.
First up was a fruit plate with fresh berries, melon and a mango cheek.
The abalone and chicken congee, stir fried rice roll, diced shrimp, spring onion and X.O. sauce really is classic comfort food and really hit the spot. There were only a few pieces of abalone but the flavour shone through in the congee.
Cathay Pacific also offer a snack menu in First Class including Hong Kong style egg tarts. They were a nice sweet treat to go with another pot of JING Jasmine Silver Needle tea.
I requested another glass of the wonderful Lynch Bages to go with my chocolate, which were actually handed out at the end of dinner service, and enjoyed them at a leisurely pace as we neared New York.
The Captain came on the PA again to advise that we were about to commence our descent to New York Kennedy and that we were 30 minutes to landing. Opening the three window shades revealed the start of a soft sunset.
Unlike is often the case after the 30 minute to landing mark in Business Class, the cabin crew insisted I continue with the Lynch Bages and I managed another glass or two as we came in over Queens and into JFK. My glass was finally cleared late into the final approach.
Summary
Cathay Pacific First Class is an excellent way to fly and compares favourably to airlines with newer hard products. Service on this flight was textbook First Class where every passenger was addressed by name at every interaction and looked after very well indeed.
This was the longest flight I’ve taken to date but was so enjoyable that it didn’t feel like 16 hours had passed by the time we touched down at New York JFK.
Introduction – The Cathay Pacific New Year Deal Trip
Review: Singapore Airlines Silver Kris Lounge Sydney Business Class
Review: Singapore Airlines Business Class 77W
Review: Silk Air Business Class 737-800
Review: Four Points By Sheraton Danang
Review: CIP Orchid Lounge Danang
Review: Cathay Dragon Economy Class A320
Review: The Pier First Class Lounge
Review: Cathay Pacific First Class 77W
Review: Fairfield Inn Manhattan Downtown East
Review: Blue Hill At Stone Barns
Review: Le Bernardin
New York Activities
Review: TWA Flight Centre
Review: AA Flagship First Dining JFK
Review: Cathay Pacific First Class 77W (via Vancouver)
Review: Hyatt Centric Victoria Harbour
Review: The Pier Business Class Lounge
Review: Qantas Business Class 787
Summary – Highlights & Points Earned
