[ronsby]

I agree with PDLM & auss that you may have a trouble at check-in if you don't have right on aboard or proof of onward travel.

[KnowItAll]

PDLM - I'm glad we got that out of the way ... was begining to suspect that you were so in awe of your super-duper-diamond-fan-boy status that you'd lost objectivity about CX.

[PDLM]

Originally Posted by KnowItAll

your super-duper-diamond-fan-boy status

Which will be somebody-who-just-about-knows-where-the-(shock,horror)-business-lounge-is-silver from January

[taihunggao]

Airline staff have more power than the immigration dept.
If you approach them with a problem, they give you a problem.
"Ticket, passport and smile" at check-in desk gets you everywhere you need to be 80% of the time.
If you bring up a problem and look worried - you're going nowhere. They have a job to do lah and they can't ignore anything you point out, but they really do exercise discretion if you're lovely.

PS to back this theory up, against all rules I have changed, without fees, six of the last 10 cathay flights I took, and I am scum-brown-low-fare-economy-bought-from-a-guy-on-the-airport-express-for-less-than-the-cost-of-the-paper-the-ticket-is-printed-on-class.

[taihunggao]

and anyway "silver/gold" devotees, what do you DO in these "business lounges" aside from wank each other off? most normal people only have time to get to the airport, enjoy HK's ONLY Burger King, quick smoke in the cancer room and go.... what's the point of paying extra to sit in a free bar and read some newspaper on a stick ah?

[fsklee]

Originally Posted by PDLM

- their new long-haul J product (which is dire if you want to do anything other than get on the plane, sleep, get off, and is particularly bad if you travel as a couple or with a child);

Correct, J is not child-driendly

Originally Posted by PDLM

- the way they make it very difficult to buy tickets for other people (requiring the credit card used to buy the ticket to be presented at check-in); and

Buy from a TA instead of CX direct.

[fsklee]

I was traveling with a friend to TPE three weeks ago. He had an electronic ticket that was trapped inside his notebook. He is on a US passport. When the immigration officer at TPE asked for his outbound ticket, he told him it was in his notebook. The immigration officer did not bother to ask him to show it.

[fsklee]

Originally Posted by taihunggao

and anyway "silver/gold" devotees, what do you DO in these "business lounges" aside from wank each other off? most normal people only have time to get to the airport, enjoy HK's ONLY Burger King, quick smoke in the cancer room and go.... what's the point of paying extra to sit in a free bar and read some newspaper on a stick ah?

I normally get to the airport 2 hours before departure. I spend a minute or two at check in, about five minutes at immigration and security, and still have more than an hour before boarding. I can have a decent meal, and sometimes take shower in the lounge, and possibly do some work before heading to the gate.

I also use the lounge when I am transiting. The Wing/Pier is very comfortable. Food is also very good.

[taihunggao]

Originally Posted by fsklee

I normally get to the airport 2 hours before departure. I spend a minute or two at check in, about five minutes at immigration and security, and still have more than an hour before boarding. I can have a decent meal, and sometimes take shower in the lounge, and possibly do some work before heading to the gate.

I also use the lounge when I am transiting. The Wing/Pier is very comfortable. Food is also very good.

i'm guessing the shower experience is a whole lot better than the "municipal" shower at gatwick? yeuck. argue for a towel which looks, smells and feels like it fell of the back of a prison laundry van, pay £3 for about a minute of lukewarm water in a smelly disabled toilet cubicle converted into a shower room.... head to the office after a red-eye feeling like a true VIP

[fsklee]

Originally Posted by taihunggao

i'm guessing the shower experience is a whole lot better than the "municipal" shower at gatwick? yeuck. argue for a towel which looks, smells and feels like it fell of the back of a prison laundry van, pay £3 for about a minute of lukewarm water in a smelly disabled toilet cubicle converted into a shower room.... head to the office after a red-eye feeling like a true VIP

Taking a shower in the CX lounge in HK (Wing or Pier) is free and is pretty good. The towels are clean. I normally do that when I am taking an 8am flight. The Wing also has a bath (The Cabanas). It is always available at 6:30-7:00am, but I have not used it yet.

Having lounge access is just a matter of convenience.