With a nearly two hour delay on our inbound from Hong Kong, our revised departure time was now 12:40am instead of the originally scheduled 10:55pm depature. Finally, at just before midnight, I headed out for the trek to Gate 73.
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Gate 73 is configured as a transit gate and is used by Cathay for thru passengers on their HKG-YVR-JFK flight. YVR originating passengers are required to remain outside the gate until transit passengers have boarded.
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Vancouver YVR to New York JFK
Cathay Pacific CX 888
777-300ER
10:55pm-7:00am +1 (sked)
12:40am-8:30am (actual)
September 10, 2018
First Class Suite 2A
As I boarded, my amazing 6 hour Cathay First experience began, with FA Roos escorting me from door 2L to my suite. It may be dated, but the 6 seat 77W First Class cabin is still one of my favorites.
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The First Cabin was full tonight with 5 thru pax and me, the lone YVR-JFK pax. A week ago the cabin was still F4 so I'm guessing that most of the pax, like me, were on mileage tickets. I used 40,000 Asia Miles which I accumulated on my Cathay Synchrony Visa card.
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Not Krug, but the William Deutz was very nice.
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FA Kylie insisted that I take a pic of Roos with the Deutz.
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My first of 3 glasses while still at the gate.
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Perhaps this is the YVR-JFK kit as I don't recall the long-haul kit being this meh. PJs were offered by I declined for the short flight tonight.
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OMG, only 4h13m tonight?? In the end, it would us being more like 4h45m.
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Tonight's menu.
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Once in the air, Kylie and Roos began what would wind up being 90 minutes of flawless dinner service.
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Showtime, Cathay Pacific style.
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My aptly described jumbo tiger prawn and crab meat salad, with saffron and tomato sauce.
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The personalized Cathay First note is always a nice touch.
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The Green Pea Soup was delicious.
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Next up, how can I pass on the Chateau Lynch Bages Gran Cru Classé.
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For my main, OMG.. The Grilled Canadian AAA beef tenderloin with broccolini, baby carrots, zuchini, mashed potatoes, demi glace and Bearnaise sauce.
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The beef tenderoin was spectacular... perfectly medium rare as requested and as Roos promised. Add in Bearnaise and Lynch Bages and this is heaven.
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I was so far gone on the consumption scale, that I just kept going. I didn't want to disappoint Roos. LOL. Aged cheddar and triple cream Canadian brie. And another glass of the Lynch Bages.
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And of course dessert, white chocolate banana cake with black berry sauce. Yummy.
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At this point, we're somewhere over Manitoba and only a couple hours to JFK. Roos made my bed with mattress and duvet and I pretty much feel alseep right away. Amazingly, I got 90 minutes of sleep and it was only the captain announcing our descent that woke me.
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Despite heavy fog at JFK, it was a perfect smooth landing.
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What an incredible flight, with simply amazing service. Hands down, this is the best transcon North American flight one can fly.