I am bringing this chapter to you from the British Airways first class lounge courtesy of Cathay Pacific.

After my second flight with Cathay Pacific, I received a card in the mail entitling me to a free membership into the "Marco Polo Club". This card gives you certain priviledges such as access to the first class lounges, priority boarding and priority luggage. If you check in your luggage, priority luggage is definately a must.

So I arrive at the airport and park my car. I then make my way to the ticket counter, which is no easy feet. After checking in, the ticket clerk tells me that I may have access to the lounge. I go upstairs past the area where all the working men wait for the airplane. The working man's area is crowded full of the Asian family crowd, kids screaming, lots of retirees, ugh, nightmare. Then I go up another flight of stairs to a place in the airport where I have never been. A man stands in front of a roped off section checking identification almost as if this was an exclusive nightclub. Then I go to another counter to officially check in with the receptionist. The receptionist then tells me that there is no need to look at the monitors, they will page me when it comes time.

The lounge itself is nothing like I have ever experienced. My experiences with airlines up until this point has been from a working man's point of view. I have only used the economy section and, frankly, it sucked. The screaming kids, lots of characters, etc. Now I can see why so many people choose to spend the extra cash to go first class.

The lounge itself is filled with nice plush couches, an area where you can access the internet, large satellite televisions, lounge chairs and umbrellas that you might find at a pool, free food, and QUIET. There was a nice waterfall built into the wall. There was a bar as well and waitresses to boot.

I took a few pictures of the lounge to illustrate from where I am seating now. I didnt take too many pictures as I dont want to seem like some weird guy snapping pictures around the lounge.

I have read complaints about Cathay Pacific, but there has been no airline that has shown me this type of treatment.

My airline ticket only cost $850 (inclusive of taxes and such). The airline ticket was really $150 less. When you include the taxes and fees, its about $150 more.

Oh one more thing about the lounge. FREE BEER! A fully stocked bar to make cocktails and lots of wine.




(Message edited by ironeagle on April 15, 2006)

Im sorry, bear with me. Im a little rusty at posting photos on here.

To Hombre: Can you integrate the lounge photos into the top post and then delete the other posts? Thank you.

(Message edited by ironeagle on April 15, 2006)

what airport is this?

I assume you'll be on the ground soon and have better things to do than keep us all updated on such vital details as what kind of toothbrush you packed.

As I am about to begin a trip myself even the packing and traveling details are appealing right now. Hell it's more interesting than work, but do post the good stuff soon!

Now Porkster --my friend I've never met -- aren't you the guy who keeps saying that us rude dudes(me and DM primarily) are discouraging new posters from writing trip reports ??

I seem to remember you trying to ream me a new one for suggesting that a reporter was posting useless info a while back.

Let's allow the guy to tell his story however he likes .

KM, I'm indeed mindful of that, as when you and DM and the boys are 'on safari' that often leaves me at home talking to myself. The more participating here, the merrier, and 'any on topic post is a good post', blah, blah, blah...

But indeed I'm wondering how important the brand of this dude's toothbrush is going to be to him once he hits the ground in Asia!

I looks like the Terraces Lounge at JFK.

http://www.forbes.com/lists/2001/10/25/1025feat.html

What flight do you get for $850? From where to where?

(Message edited by abramom on April 15, 2006)

Porker

I hope he brought the value pack of toothbrushes from Costco so he does not get ripped off by a girl taking the toothbrush supplied by the hotel for his "convenience" at 3 times the going price cause they forgot theirs. Other than that I'll wait to see what transpires and give him plenty of slack. A report written from day to day is bound to contain way too much useless detail by nature. Written after the fact the details become irrelevant.

Porker, thanks for bringing up the subject of toothbrushes--which IE himself does not mention, BTW--because KM just gave me a good idea. The girls never seem to have enough toothbrushes, Costco is the answer, better than buying a few at the 7-11. Newbies, take note for your planning.

Good job so far, Ironeagle.

"I didnt take too many pictures as I dont want to seem like some weird guy snapping pictures around the lounge. "

Too late.

j/k Ironeagle. I should look into flying Cathay Pacific from MNL to BKK. It costs just a bit more than Phil Airlines but it seems like it's a lot nicer.

*FINAL UPDATE*

The boarding call sounded in the lounge. Wow! A personalized boarding call.

I walk out the doors of the lounge and to the terminal where I find Asian people in mass waiting to get on the plane. Since I had priority boarding, I zoomed right onto the plane ahead of the masses.

Here I was with my hands full and I just had to take that last free soda from the lounge with me. In one hand I had my laptop case and the other all my documents and the soda. I get to the seat of the airplane and an accident happens. A full can of Coca-Cola all over the seat. I grab the blankets trying to soak it up, however, everything is still wet.

Was I going to sit in this wet Coke filled chair for the 18 hour flight? All of a sudden I hear from behind me in a rude and curt Hong Kongese voice, "EXCUSE ME!". It seems that I had read the seat number incorrectly and this actually wasnt my seat. I wouldnt have to sit in this seat afterall.

I finally get to my seat(economy section) and would like to accurately point out the physical comfort level during my trip. The most accurate comparison is of riding in a Greyhound bus. Small, tight seats. Lots of characters surrounding to include the sick coughing elderly man, the couple with the screaming baby and my favorite, the woman who simply cant stop eating. The woman to the side of me wolfed down a 12 foot hero to be followed by two other meals during the flight and lots of snacks. Fortunately, the service on the flight was very good and there was a flat screen tv built into the seat in front of me. It included many videos and games.

I then arrived in Hong Kong and was treated to another well equipped lounge. Trip note, take a towel with you and shower there in the airport lounge so you can hit the ground running in AC. The lounge had showers, couches, and was just as nice as the previous lounge. Then the boarding call sounded for the final leg to Manila. Uh oh? Another Greyhound bus type experience?

No way! I was bumped up to Business Class (for free) which seemed to be a much nicer experience. Reclining chair, the stewardesses address you by your given name, nice entree of food, lots of room, etc.

I included some pictures of the economy class video unit and the economy class food for all those curious.

Cathay runs deals each month on their website and thats where I found this fare. Its to note that I am a member of the "Marco Polo Club" which I believe now is the only way to fly on this airline. The membership entitles you to certain upgrades. Besides the Greyhound bus type experience in Economy on the first leg, everything seemed to work well.

Dude! We've all seen economy class food (except maybe KM)--why not pics of the biz class food? I hope you'll be posting pics of the first class girls, not the economy class!

Trip note, take a towel with you and shower there in the airport lounge....
I don't know about that specific lounge in HK, but I would be very surprised if they didn't provide you with towels for your shower (plus soap, shampoo, razor, comb, etc.).

Hunterman, I know Cathay does provide towels, etc.

You can see some pictures of Cathay's Hong Kong Lounges and showers in this thread



(Message edited by xenono on April 16, 2006)

(Message edited by xenono on April 16, 2006)

Hunterman,

Patience.

Seems as if we have a Xen protege in Ironeagle. Looking forward to a guide to grocery stores in AC and an interactive map of Fields Ave....sorry Xen...just havent seen this much meticulous details about mundane things since your original reports although you reports have been very entertaining.

I was wondering how long (given some of the criticisms of the details of his report) it was going to take for someone to break out with the "Hey, these reports are just like Xen's with lots of mundane details" smack.

Somehow it does not surprise me that person was Blazers.

No worries Blazers. One of these days I will get back to exploring new destinations and maybe the excitement will be there again. I think part of me just wanted to share the excitement I felt when I first started traveling so I wrote about EVERYTHING I experienced. I can see both sides now. I can definitely understand wanting to put a lot of details into a report and where the reader is coming from reading that as well.

(Message edited by xenono on April 16, 2006)

Hey Hunterman
I did not know they even gave you guys food back in cattle class. Nice touch !!

I could not take a pic of the food in first class as it comes in 4-5 courses so it's never on your table at one time.

IE

I hope your report is as detailed when we get to the real purpose of this trip. I expect pics of the foreplay as well as the main event .

Well, I don't fly in the front with KM, but, I do fly Biz. The food is just a fancy grade of awful, in 4 courses. Vulcanized Chicken in a bed of couse couse that tastes like dirt, a dry, overdone filet or a smelly piece of salmon, wilted greens in a vinigrette and the like, served on real plates with real knifes and forks. Nice wine if you care for that stuff.

The only good thing is the ice cream sundae.

For me, it's all about the seat. How wide, advanced video and can I sleep. Some day I'll pony up the FF mile to get one of the sleeper suites that are available on the pimp trans-pacific carriers but discounted biz is all I will pay for. Food? You are on a flying aluminum tube of death, why are you hungry?

Ironeagle,

I am sorry for all the (TJ Amigos Style Shit - [inside joke]) that you are taking heat on. Fuck The Critics! Write your trip on your terms as you are doing! I feel like I am in the back seat with you. I am enjoying your posts and pictures! Keep them coming! - The scilent masses...

Xen-- I for one liked your level of detail, this report sets a new record as far as mundane details go.

IE-- don't wear yourself out before you actually bang a girl.

details please. The stuff i already know, i'll skim pass. don't listen to dm, he's just f* with ya, either that or he's extremely solipsistic.

If you've never been to a place, or are not well traveled, theses types of details can save you a whole lot of hassles.

I travel alot but not enough to make packing automatic. I require some sort of check off list but have been too lazy to write up one up....I just scribble things to do on a cocktail napkin when it occurs to me. Now with this report, i can just pull up the pre-travel section and go down the list, saving me time and effort. thx

Smitty--Damn! You have such a rosy view! But it might improve if you changed airlines.

IE--Keep it coming, we're all into friendly ribbing here (except "you know who you are").

Socrates69 wrote: "I travel alot but not enough to make packing automatic. I require some sort of check off list..."

I have a new strategy. I literally stay packed all the time. Right now I'm in Miami. Back home in my Palau apartment is a suitcase fully packed with a whole second set of clothes, toiletries etc., ready to go for my next PI/LoS trip, 4 days after my return from Miami. When I leave Palau again for MNL, I will instruct my Filipina DH (that's Domestic Helper, not Dick Handler - she's short, fat and 54 yrs old...) to wash all the clothes in the suitcase I took to Miami and re-pack them. So, when I get back from PI/LoS, I will have another ready-packed case in my apt waiting for the next trip. I keep a backpack with laptop and camera on me at all times. I started doing this last year and have never forgotten any trip necessities (or luxuries) since then.

This is one loooooooong introduction. But anything with pictures is interesting. Even one of the remote control unit.

agr, i have one of those ready packed bags for local TJ (actually, i merely don't unpack), but not for long term destinations like sea or s.a. where i'll be gone for weeks at a time.