My flight was departing from Hong Kong at 4:05PM, so I got to the airport at 2:45PM. I was already issued my boarding pass in Chicago a couple of days prior, so proceeded directly to immigration and security, which took about 15 minutes. I briefly stopped by Cathay Pacific's First Class "The Wing" Lounge, which…
Continue reading: Review: Cathay Pacific Business Class A330 Hong Kong To Jakarta
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Hmmmm...the entree looks like something from economy class.
Is the Hong Kong weather you experienced common or do you also see sunny days on your visits?
Waiting for the Maldives post which can only be deemed comprehensive if it includes a selfie in the new swim attire. Maybe an attention-grabbing headline like "Lucky in Male"? 😉
Ben,
I could be wrong, but I'm confused by the timing you put up for the flight. Am I missing something?
Sunday, February 15
Depart: 4:05PM
Arrive: 8:00PM (+1 day)
Duration: 4hr55min
@ Peter -- ROFL! As far as the weather goes, it does tend to be overcast in Hong Kong quite a bit, so not too unusual, unfortunately.
Lucky me...my CX HKG-BKK-HKG flights later this year are on A330s with the newer reverse herringbone seats. Surprised to see them on such a short route.
i don't eat meat but i am quite puzzled by your hate against dark meat chicken... i think it's only an american thing, in many parts of the world white meat chicken is considered dog food because it's dry and chewy.
I agree with @Lantean. It seems like you have developed a recent aversion to dark and/or fatty meats (i.e. the best tasting ones).
@ Tom -- It's not recent, I've never liked dark meat. And like I said, this was especially chewy.
I was on CX139 last week from HKG to SYD (as if the BNA-LAX-SYD trip isn't long enough already, I flew CX through HKG for an extra 7000 EQM cheaper than the shorter QF route...win)! That menu looks identical to what was given in premium economy on a 777. Most of the food selections are the same, too. So it seems the regional business class isn't largely different than the international premium economy.
I flew HKG-BKK during the month of January on the same aircraft you flew to Jakarta, while the service was incredible as usual from CX - I was struggling to find the "Comfort spot" to sleep since the angled bed position in business class it's rough..The blanket also seemed to be fairly ran down which is something I would like to see them improve. Great report Ben!
Oh god, what mess did CGK get itself into this time?
Define "exciting" transit please. I'm curious =)
April and May will have very few 77W (4 classes) flights between Hong Kong and Singapore/Bangkok again.
Lucky, I will have to disagree with you regarding the new regional business class to be no better than the old one... I thought it was miles better than the old one... The old one had a plastic piece around the knee around that keep hitting your knee... And the old one never recline enough nor does the foot rest raises high enough to make into a comfortable sleeping position. At least with this new one, it attempt to get you into a lazy boy Z position. Which sleeps miles better! You will understand it if you fly alot of red eye flight around Asia with it! I absolutely hate the old seat with a passion!
I was very disappointed with the new regional business seats. The use of a legrest, but not a real footrest, meant pressure under the thighs. If you aren't overnighting in Hong Kong, then connecting to one of these leads to an uncomfortable flight (i.e., from a Transpac)
@ W -- Hah, I decided I'll do a separate installment about the transit experience. Stay tuned!
Hmmmm--your avatar changed. How will we recognize you without the iconic eyewear? 😉
I've done the regional thing twice on CX. To BKK and to SIN. I lucked out on one of the SIN legs with a 77W, which is of course lovely for a 3-4 hour flight. That said, I thought the A330 was fine. With the meal and a magazine, we were there before I got a chance to get bored or uncomfortable in the seat.
Having done Trans-Continental on New York to West Coast in UA J, and Intra-Europe's J, there is absolutely nothing to complain on Asia's Regional J by CX.
You get widebodies planes for CX, really good seats even if it's still considered sort of a recliner for some of their older regional planes, and even champagne for short flights.
For CX flights from HKG to TPE, a short 500-mile flight gives you a full meal, with wines and champagne. Try that in Europe. An Econ seat, with the middle seat blocked, and sold as business class. Try the recline. I need not mention about food and wine.
When I took UA's J from New York to West Coast, it was narrowbody, and the food and wine cannot be compared to CX. Not to mention even older recliner seats.
And if we want to compare Fs of Transcon in US vis-a-vis Regional F within Asia? Try CX's F from HKG to HND.
And SQ flies F to quite a few routes within Asia as well. Some are using their A380 which comes with Suite F class.
If the comparison is CX regional J with other airline's longhaul J, then it is no longer apple vs apple. If we are comparing CX regional J with Intra Europe's J or Intra North America J or even Transcon J, seriously, CX would easily come out tops.
Even within Asia itself, CX's regional J is extremely competitive. And the new generation A330 regional J from CX is a 1-2-1 Flat bed.
I was also lucky and got a 1-2-1 on an A330 next week HKG-PVG. Is it exactly the same hard product as on their longhaul flights on a 777 for example or maybe slightly modified for regional routes?
@ Thomas -- It's the same A330 they use on longhaul routes, so is virtually the same seat.
hey lucky great report! Myself and partner will be flying next Sep on the same Aircraft SGN to HKG
Looking for some advice on seat choice please? We were going to book seats 11D and 11G, but ive read that folk on the left hand side of the aircraft use the space in front of these seats to get to the toilet, is that correct?
We cant book 11A/C or 11 H/K as these are basinets.