March 27, 2010
Cape Town - Johannesburg
1Time Airlines Economy Class
McDonnell-Douglas DC-9-80 ZS-TRI
2:20pm – 4:10pm
Even though my bus from Upington was four hours late, my pre-arranged transport was still waiting for me at the big downtown bus station in Cape Town. Truth be known, I’d kept him updated with phone calls along the way about our progress (or lack of same) but I was nonetheless impressed that he hung in there despite the delay. He didn’t even charge me his usual waiting time fee. I tossed in an extra $100.00 Rand to the normal fare anyway.
In the six years since I last flew out of Cape Town, its airport has transformed from a couple of old and dingy terminals into a new and modern airport that would do any medium sized city proud. No doubt much of the impetus for this improvement is due to the upcoming FIFA Football World Cup, which has also resulted in major improvements to South Africa’s sport infrastructure as well. A number of new, large stadiums have been built across the country and everyone is excited for this opportunity to showcase South Africa to the world.
1Time Airlines got its start in February 2004, flying three round trips per day between Johannesburg and Capetown. Since then, its growth has been phenomenal. Consider the following:
• Their 10,000th passenger was carried 20 days into operation.
• Their 100,000th passenger was carried on 27 June 2004.
• Their 1,000,000th passenger was carried on 19 October 2005.
• They now carry up to 120,000 passengers a month.
• They currently operate ten aircraft in their fleet.
• The name 1time, is a reflection of the South African soul of the company. In South Africa, the phrase "one time!" is a colloquialism meaning "for real!"
1time now flies between Johannesburg and Durban, East London, Port Elizabeth, Cape Town and George. From Cape Town they also serve Port Elizabeth, East London and Durban. They’ve got an excellent website where I had no problem booking and paying for my reservation two months ago from Alaska.
Although there were no automated kiosks available for check-in, I managed to get my backpack checked to JNB and a boarding pass issued with very little wait. As an added bonus, I asked for and received a window seat in the very first row of the airplane – seat 1E. Extra leg room, extra quiet. Security was a breeze, thanks to the fact that I only had to remove my laptop, not my shoes.
Now then – on to the lounge! The Bidair Premium Services Lounge is located just past security, around a corner, up an elevator and then down a corridor. Once I finally found the place, I was quite impressed with what I saw – a spacious two level lounge with comfortable seating, a nice selection of food and drink and large floor to ceiling windows that brightened up the place quite nicely while affording superb views of the tarmac.
Bidair Lounge at Cape Town Airport
I grabbed a cold Windhoek Lager and took a seat near the center windows. Parked to my right were 737s from Mango and British Airways (Comair) along with my colorful 1Time MD-80. To the left were a 777 and 747 from British Airways, an A340 from Lufthansa and a variety of A340s from South African.
Although 1Time’s traditional livery is a bright red fuselage with yellow 1Time titles, the airplane operating my flight had a white fuselage adorned with smiling cartoon faces. A check on this aircraft’s history revealed that it had worn a variety of liveries since its first flight in 1988. Originally purchased by Air Liberte of France, it was leased for a year to German Wings before returning to Air Liberte and being sold to Sweden’s TransJet. In 2002 it was sold to Prisoner Transportation Services of the U.S. Department of Corrections before finally being acquired by 1Time in 2006.
My 1Time DC-9-80
Once onboard, I found my leather seat to be well padded and surprisingly comfortable. I couldn’t help but wonder if 1Time, a true budget airline, had inherited these seats from Prisoner Transportation Services or if they’d had them installed after accepting the aircraft. The usual variety of prepackaged sandwiches and snacks were available for purchase on board, along with a decent selection of beers and soft drinks. Flight time was a quick one and a half hours, putting us into Johannesburg ten minutes early. Unfortunately, baggage delivery took a good while longer. My backpack finally appeared thirty-five minutes after we’d landed.
I’d pre-booked a room at the Africa Center, where a budget ensuite single room could be had for about $60.00.
Swimming Pool at Africa Center
Waiting for me as I exited the baggage hall was John, a Malawian who’d been working at Africa House for the past two years. He took my daypack and drove me ten minutes to the hotel before having to turn around and head straight back to the airport again. I asked John what his hours were and he replied that he’s essentially on duty all day. That said, the last flight of the day is usually a KLM arrival at 10:30pm and assuming it was on time, he was generally free until about 6:00am the next morning.
March 28, 2010
Johannesburg – Hong Kong
Cathay Pacific First Class
Boeing 747-400 B-HKT Seat 2K
12:35p – 7:45a Flight Time: 11:40
John must have earned a well-deserved day off because a different driver returned me to the airport this morning. I intentionally arrived three hours early, hoping to check-in with plenty of time to enjoy the First Class lounge facilities. Unfortunately, check-in for CX748 didn’t begin until about 10:30am.
By 11:00am I was well on my way down the concourse towards the Shongololo Lounge, serving the Premium Class clientele of Cathay and a number of other airlines. After handing over my invitation card to the desk personnel, I entered the lounge only to be confronted with the sight of a man’s bare legs
and feet hanging over the edge of a couch while he lay down and read a book. Evidently travelling in a Premium Class is no guarantee of consistently encountering classy decorum.
Moving on, I was generally impressed with what I saw. Although this lounge was located downstairs and had no windows, the lighting and overall ambience reminded me of one of those 1960s era faux-Polynesian bars but with an African touch. All that was missing were the torches and Mai Tais.
Although it wasn’t yet noon, I helped myself to a Windhoek Lager from the well stocked beer fridge.
My Kind Of Refrigerator
This is by far my favorite African lager and since I’ve yet to see it sold anywhere off the continent (although I’ll bet it’s available in Germany) I might as well take advantage of my last opportunity to enjoy it now regardless of the hour. A nice selection of pre-prepared foods were also available – things like spicy beef over rice, chicken curry and a variety of sandwiches. Since as a good sized hot breakfast was included with my room rate, I passed on all the foodstuffs preferring to wait until luncheon was served onboard the plane.
About 40 minutes before departure, I gathered my gear and began the long trek down to gate A18, the very last gate located down at the end of the concourse. Along the way I passed an Air Mauritius A330, an Emirates 777, an Air Namibia 737-500 and a Zambesi 737-200. I want to fly them all! Another day, perhaps…
Arriving at A18, I took note of the registration number of my 747-400 before proceeding to the First and Business Class boarding lane. Even from a distance, this airplane looked in need of a new paint job. I could clearly see chipped paint around the windows and on the nose. Additionally, some of the fuselage paint looked faded as if this airplane had been parked in the desert for awhile. As I later found out, it had, but more on that in a moment.
As I approached the First and Business Class boarding lane, an airport or possibly airline representative (He wasn’t in particular uniform) inspected my boarding pass and then escorted me past all the assumedly Business Class passengers to the front of the line. Although from my perspective this was unnecessary, I reckon in some parts of the world class still has its privileges and when it comes to flying between Johannesburg and Hong Kong, you don’t get any classier than Cathay Pacific’s First Class.
Boarding through the First Class Jetway at JNB
At the aircraft door I was greeted with typical Cathay Pacific flair and escorted to my usual suite, 2K. It occurred to me that if I could manage to keep up this style of travel, I’d have to change my FlyerTalk handle to Suite 2A. Today I’m on the K side because I think it offers the best views of Mozambique and Madagascar as we fly over.
Although I am not a huge aficionado of Champagne, I do respect that it has become a traditional and proper way to celebrate the start of a voyage whilst traveling in a manner as stylish as Cathay Pacific’s First Class. As such, I gladly accepted a sparkling glass of Krug Champagne, downed it and requested a refill before we’d pushed back from the gate. I wish I could tell you Champagne lovers that Krug’s superior quality was immediately apparent, but to date my favorite Champagne remains the 1989 Louise Pommery proffered in British Airways First Class back in 2002. I know, I know, there’s just no accounting for taste, but there you have it.
As I savored the crisp effervescence of the Krug, I noted that while this aircraft may have looked old on the outside, inside the First Class cabin everything was modern and up to date. A check of its history showed that this plane entered service with Singapore Airlines back in 1993. After eight years of faithful service, it was sold to El Al for whom it toiled until it was parked in the desert (Marana, AZ) in September of 2005. In March of 2006, Cathay Pacific rescued it and today it’s doing a fine job while operating as CX 748 on the 6,870 mile flight between Johannesburg and Hong Kong. All it needs is a proper paint job.
As we taxied out to the runway, I noticed an awful lot of assumedly derelict aircraft parked a long distance from the main terminal. Amongst them were a couple of DC-8s, some mid-sized DC-9s and a fair number of 737s. Surprisingly there were no 727s that I could see. Before the advent of Next Generation 737s in 1983, the 727 was the best selling jetliner of all time.
Takeoff took a good long while, but then that’s to be expected for a stately old aircraft loaded down with enough fuel to fly all the way to Hong Kong plus reserves. Unfortunately a good sized low pressure system had moved into southeastern Africa and so heavy clouds were our only companions as we climbed away from Johannesburg and sped northeastward towards our date with Hong Kong twelve hours hence.
Actually, there was further bad news. The captain, in his welcoming comments, advised us that we’d have a good tailwind for much of our flight. The result of this would be a surprisingly quick flight of just eleven hours and forty minutes, putting us into Hong Kong almost an hour early. The Captain presented this as if it were good news, and I suppose that were I crammed into a narrow seat back in Economy Class I’d take it as such. Seated as I was however in the plutocratic confines of a First Class Suite, sipping Champagne and nibbling caviar, well, you know how it is – you just don’t want this ride to end any earlier than it has to.
Speaking of caviar, let’s have a look at today’s wine list and menu offerings:
Wine List JNB-HKG
WINE LIST
Champagne
Krug Grande Cuvée Champagne
White Wines
Helen’s Hill Yarra Valley Chardonnay 2006
Henri de Villamont Meursault 2005
Red Wines
Chateau Lynch Bages 2003
Bouchard Pere & Fils Morgon 2009
Cloof Shiraz 2006
Port
Ramos Pinto Quinta da Ervamoira 10 Year Old Tawny Port
Menu JNB-HKG
LUNCHEON
Johannesburg to Hong Kong
Caviar and Balik Salmon Delight
Oscietra Caviar and Balik Salmon “Tsar Nicolaj”
Served with Warm New Potatoes and Crème Fraiche
Soup
Cream of mushroom soup
Salad
Mixed lettuce with cocktail tomatoes, feta, toasted pine nuts, peppadew
and Balsamic Vinaigrette
Bread Basket
Assorted Bread and Rolls
** ***** **
INTERNATIONAL FAVOURITES
Chicken Breast
Stuffed with leek, feta cheese and olives, accented with red pepper sauce
Served with parsley mash and asparagus
Lamb Rogen Josh
With basmati rice, cauliflower and pea curry
CHINESE FAVOURITES
Starters
Chicken Soup with water chestnut, carrot and sweet corn
Cold Plate – Roasted duck breast with pickled ginger
Steamed Kingklip Fish with Soya Sauce
or
Pan-Fried Beef Fillet with Hot Chilli Bean Sauce
Served with steamed jasmine rice, choy sum, black mushrooms and capiscums
** ***** **
CHEESE AND DESSERT
Chevin Herb, Zevenwacht Cheddar, Camembert, Simonzola Blue Cheese
Poached apple with raspberry compote and sweetened cream
Warm sticky toffee and ginger pudding with vanilla ice cream
Black sesame dessert
TEA and COFFEE
Pralines
SNACKS
Roasted duck with noodle in soup
Onion bagel with beef pastrami
Served with mustard mayonnaise
Assorted Sandwiches
Mozzarella cheese with lettuce and tomato, roasted chicken and cucumber, air-dried ham rolled with date and cream cheese
Ice Cream
The wine list was the same as we’d had on the flight out, and since I’d already tried all the red wines I decided to accompany my caviar and salmon starter with a glass of the Helen’s Hill Yarra Valley Chardonnay. Unfortunately, it only confirmed why I generally stay away from Chardonnays. I tend to like my white wines dry and crisp, a style that, from my unabashedly limited experience, I feel the Germans manage to accomplish the best.
One thing I have noticed on this trip is that in years past, we used to always get two scoops of caviar with our salmon on Cathay. On two flights now – both of them full – I’ve only been served one scoop. Were a US airline, I’d be tempted to assume that the Flight Attendants were probably saving some for themselves to eat later on but since it’s Cathay, I’ll assume that this must be the result of cost cutting.
Caviar and Salmon Service JNB-HKG
Moving on – this menu presented some tough choices for me. Everything looked good. I was tempted to go Chinese, especially because of the Pan-Fried Beef Fillet with Hot Chilli Bean Sauce. That even sounds tasty just saying it. Dang! Chinese or Chicken? Or the Lamb Rogen Josh – always a flavorful choice. Arrrgh! Indecision is hell! Meanwhile Carmen waited patiently at my seat…
Okay, I’d like the soup and salad for sure. Annnnnd, let’s go with the… stuffed chicken breast.
Finally. Something about being stuffed with leek, feta cheese and olives, then accented with red pepper sauce proved to be too much to pass up.
The Cream of Mushroom soup was superb, highlighted by large sections of mushrooms accompanied by tasty garlic bread. I particularly enjoyed the salad, accented with flavorful feta cheese, tasty toasted pine nuts and sharp Balsamic Vinaigrette. As for the chicken – an excellent choice. Moist, succulent and flavorful, it will go down as one of the nicer chicken dishes I’ve enjoyed aloft.
Cream of Mushroom Soup JNB-HKG
Salad JNB-HKG
Stuffed Chicken Breast JNB-HKG
Meanwhile, the clouds that had obscured all of southern Africa cleared shortly after we’d passed the coast of Mozambique. Now the sun shone warmly off the Indian Ocean below. Sitting in a wide comfortable seat, a fine glass of wine at hand and delicious food at my table, I reckon this is as close as I’m ever going to heaven while I’m still alive.
Enroute Sky Map JNB-HKG
Later, I languished over a plate of fine cheese and a glass of port while watching
Up In The Air for a second time. It’s rather a sad movie at the end, but it definitely captures how air travel is for those of us who do fly a lot. Toffee and ginger pudding with vanilla ice cream closed out the movie.
Great way to watch a movie inflight
Cheese and Port Service ~ JNB-HKG
Toffee & Ginger Pudding Dessert ~ JNB-HKG
and shortly thereafter I had my suite converted to a bed complete with mattress, two pillows and a folded down top sheet. Even though it was only about 5:00pm local time, the prospect of sleep has rarely been so inviting, at least visually. A tab of melatonin helped and, after a few pages from my latest John Lescroart novel, I slept fairly well until about an hour and a half out of Hong Kong. I suppose I could have slept even longer, but the delicious breakfast aromas wafting through the cabin roused me past the point of any return to sleep.
Dawn over Asia
While I freshened up in the exceedingly spacious lavatory, (Sorry, I don’t do lavatory pictures) Larina transformed my bed back into a seat. No sooner had I arrived back at my seat than she appeared with a tray bearing coffee, full cream, sugar and a wine glass filled with mango energizer. A true goddess of the morning! A few minutes later she returned to take my breakfast order:
BREAKFAST
Orange or Apple Juice
Mango Energizer
Fresh Seasonal Fruit
Natural or Low Fat Fruit Yogurt
Assorted Cereals
** ***** **
MAIN COURSES
Eggs ~ Freshly Scrambled, Fried or Boiled
Served with your choice of back bacon, pork sausage, cheese potato cake,
sautéed mixed mushrooms or cherry tomatoes
Seafood Congee
With ginger julienne and spring onion
Braised Udon Noodles
With beef strips and mixed vegetables
Bread Basket
Assorted Breakfast Bread and Fresh Toast
Served with Preserves, Honey and Butter
Tea and Coffee
A fruit plate starter followed by a plate of eggs with all the accompaniments has been my breakfast of choice for years in First Class. Occasionally I’ve deviated with a French Toast and even some Braised Udon Noodles once, but more often than not I find the old classic egg breakfast to be the best choice for me on the menu. One exception came a few years ago aboard British Airways between London and Singapore. I opted for the Eggs Florentine and I have been pining for them ever since.
The Full Egg Breakfast ~ JNB-HKG
Shortly after the last of my plates had been cleared away, we commenced our descent into Hong Kong. As per my usual experience with Hong Kong approaches, it was a gray and rainy day. Just once I’d like to see this area on a bright and sunny day. I’m sure it would be a beautiful sight.
We landed at 6:35am and parked way down by gate 63, meaning a long, long walk up to Immigration and Customs. As ever, I was waved through as if I were visiting royalty and soon found my way to Cathay’s arrivals lounge. On that note, I’d just like to say that the signage at Hong Kong International is as good or better than any airport I’ve ever been in. Anyone capable of reading and comprehending the English language should be able to find their way through that airport.
As to the arrivals lounge, it was surprisingly small but otherwise well stocked with breakfast items, computer terminals and showers. I availed myself of a refreshingly hot shower, then put in a little time on the internet before making my way to the Tiger Airways check-in counter, located in Terminal 2.
Part 2 can be found
HERE