Pajama Party Trip

In my life I have visited 6 continents.  Flown well over 1 million miles.  Yet this past weekend I reached a major milestone in travelling.

I received my First Set of Pajamas from airline!.

Now this is sounds like a pretty strange milestone.  When I first started reading trip reports on the internet about flying long-haul international first class, I was fascinated to learn that some airline provide their first class passengers a set of Pajamas to sleep-in.  Ever since this revelation I have longed for the day when I could have a pair for myself.  So without further ado here is my report of this landmark trip.

Cathay Pacific Flight CX888
Vancounver (YVR) – New York (JFK)
Date: June 15, 2014
Aircraft: Boeing 777
Seat: 1A (First Class)

 

This Red-eye flight is the continuation of a flight from Hong Kong. It is one of the rare flights that have long-haul international First Class service without crossing an ocean.

I started this flight with a trip to the Cathay Lounge at Vancouver Airport. After checking-in with the lounge agent,  I was escorted to a large room behind a glass door reserved for First Class Passengers. I arrived about 2 hours before boarding and had the lounge all to myself for the first hour or so.  Later-on a small family and another passenger arrived, although I did not see them in First Class.

This lounge was solid by North American standards, but a pretty weak lounge compared to the one offered by Cathay Pacific in Hong Kong. The lounge does offer some hot-food. I sampled some of the Chicken Penne Pasta and Dim Sum on offer, although in retrospect I should have saved my appetite for the Food served on the plane which turned out to be far superior.

Moet & Chandon was on ice in the lounge.  But First Class Passenger can expect Krug on the plane.

Once on-board I was greeted by name and shown to my seat for a way too short 4.5 hour flight to New York.

This was an exceptionally spacious seat as you’d expect.  Although the seat did not have a door like some airlines provide, it was still incredibly private.  They only people I saw while seated were the flight attendants serving dinner.

Shortly after being seated I was presented with a pre-deparature beverage (I requested ice water) and given a Zegna Amenity kit and a set of PYE pajamas.

Soon after being presented menus for dinner,  The plane took-off.  Then began dinner service. First course was a salmon and scallop appetizer.

 

Next was Corn chowder soup.  I was also served a glass of Krug Champagne.  Although I found it a bit too dry for my taste.

Next Came the Salad course which included smoked duck breast

For the entree I selected the Beef Tenderloin which was the absolute best beef I’ve ever eaten on a plane.

For desert was some chocolate Haagen Daaz ice cream.

After what was way too much food for way too late at night,  I changed in to my PJ’s as the flight attendants make up my bed.  Unfortunately this was now 2 hours into the flight and this proved to be way too short a time to experience the best bed in the air i have ever seen.

Fortunately I will get another chance to experience Cathay’s First class service in about a month when I fly Hong-Kong to JFK direct.  Stayed tuned for my next Pajama Report.