On my final day I ate a late breakfast and surfed in the lobby for a while before heading back up to my room. The internet in my room worked initially but after an hour or two on the first night refused to let me connect to the network. I reported it to the staff and the IT man spend ages trying to find out what was wrong but to no avail. Instead my only option was to use the free wifi in the lobby for my stay.
I checked out and headed over to the station again and hopped on the next train to Chitose airport.
Once there I made my way down the long walk to the international terminal and sought out the CX check-in desks.
CX operate this snow bunny route all year but in the winter they often need to add extra flights to cater for the load. Today was no exception and there were three flight leaving for HKG. Needless to say the queues were horrendous at check-in. There was quite a long line at the business desks but a much shorter one with a sign noting it was for CX diamonds. I asked if that also included other OW Emeralds and she let me join. I was processed around 5 minutes later and the agent informed me of a 30 minute delay to the flight and apologised.
Security was a breeze and emigrations likewise as the agents had to wait for people to trickle through from security.
Once airside I made the obligatory green tea and cherry blossom kit kat purchases before locating the lounge. CX use a third party lounge and as you can imagine it became quite crowded towards flight time.
The lounge had some soup and Onigiri and some packaged nuts etc. They also had the famous beer machines that pour the beer for you. I grabbed some nuts and a beer and headed out to a terraced section overlooking the main concourse.
Snacks Business Lounge CTS
Business Lounge CTS
I sat out on the terrace for a while before a family with irritating children drove me to leave.
I wandered up and down the short international concourse before making my way to the gate for my flight. Queues were already forming for both the fast track and economy lines. I joined the long fast track line and a wandering official checked my BP and PP. They started to board at 16:10 and processed just the fast track line that moved quite quickly. I eventually made it to the front and walked on down to the aircraft.
Flight CX0581 CTS-HKG Seat 1A (First seat Business service)
Aircraft: B747-400
Departure time: 16:00
On board again I was escorted to my seat and my coat was hung for me. A crew member introduced herself and offered me a drink and went with the good old champagne option.
Pre-Departure Bubbly
The captain came on and announced a flying time of 5 hours and 1 minute, a full hour longer than the outbound. A hot towel was handed out on the ground before push back at 16:56. We eventually took off after a long taxi at 17:24 over an hour and twenty minutes past our scheduled departure.
A similar service to the outbound began after belts off with a drinks and nuts service. I went with the scotch and dry option this time to accompany my almonds. Again more offers of nuts were made before the meal service began.
Scotch & Nuts
The menu was the same as the outbound except for the food elements.
Again I had a prawn starter served on the tray with a salad with yummy sesame dressing and a bowl of buckwheat soba. Of course some of the delicious CX garlic bread was accepted when offered.
Dinner Tray
Starter
Soba Noodles
For main I again chose the western option of a delicious piece of steak that was cooked beautifully.
Main Course Steak
Main Course Steak
This time I did opt for some cheese and port along with the fruit.
Cheese & Fruit
Cheese
Window Reflection
Finally the meal topped off with a coffee and some ice cream and a praline.
Ice Cream & Coffee
There were plenty of offers of wine and water with the meal and the crew used my name at all times during this flight. In a rare lapse of CX protocol the ISM did make a visit to everyone on board this time.
After the meal another hot towel was handed out and during the remainder of the flight the crew topped up my water many times.
We touched down at 21:16 and I was through immigration e-channel by 21:35.
I then hopped the AEX back to Kowloon for another night stop at the W hotel.
This time I was given a Fabulous Suite on the 16th floor that had views out towards Lantau island.
I was quite tired and didn’t have much of a chance to appreciate the upgrade and hit the sack soon after arriving.
The next morning I decided it was time to join the 21st Century and headed over to the Apple store at the IFC centre on the island.
After my purchase it was time to go back to the hotel and have a shower and get ready for my next flight.
After checking out I checked my bag in at the Kowloon station check-in desks and made my way to the airport on the AEX.
At the airport I wanted to make sure things went smoothly the next day as I had to separate tickets I wanted to check bags through on. I approached the ticket desk and explained my dilemma. The agent was able to link the two PNRs and said that the agent SIN would be able to check my bags through.
Security and emigrations were again quite quick and I was headed towards the Wing F lounge once again. I grabbed an ice coffee and relaxed in the lounge for a while.
CX Wing F Lounge HKG - Iced Coffee
CX Wing F Lounge HKG
CX Wing F Lounge HKG
I then proceeded into the Haven restaurant for a spot of brunch. I kept it light with some dim sum and rice and a pork dish.
CX Wing F Lounge HKG – Haven Restaurant Snack
CX Wing F Lounge HKG – Haven Restaurant Menu
Closer to my flight time I headed down to the 60s gates and dropped into the CX Pier business class lounge as I hadn’t been in there for a long time. The agent escorted me to a dedicated F section where a dedicated waiter looked after me.
CX The Pier Lounge HKG
I grabbed some champagne first and the agent convinced me to have some noodles as well. I went with the dan dan noodles that are far superior to those the CX lounge do at Heathrow.
CX The Pier Lounge HKG
CX The Pier Lounge HKG – Dan Dan Noodles
CX The Pier Lounge HKG – Dan Dan Noodles
It was soon time to board and my gate was just above and along the lounge, where the F lounge used to be.
I joined the short fast track queue and had my PP and BP checked. Boarding started shortly after and I made my way down on to the plane.
Flight CX0735 HKG-SIN Seat 1A (First)
Aircraft: B747-400
Departure time: 14:25
I was escorted to my seat and my jacket was hung for me. I was then offered champagne that I accepted. I had originally booked seat 2A on this flight but decided that there would be fewer opportunities to fly in the nose of a 747 in F in the future. Most airlines, at least in the OW stable, are phasing out these beautiful birds and the joy of sitting further forward than the flight crew will soon be a thing of the past.
Pre-Departure Bubbly
A hot towel was handed out and the menus presented to me. My glass was re-filled on the ground and immigrations cards for Singapore were handed out.
Pre-Departure Hot Towel
I prayed for a closure of the doors as the only other two occupants in F were loudly jabbering on their phones being total DYKWIA types running a very important business no doubt.
The captain came on the blower and announced a flight time of 3 hours and 22 minutes. Finally doors closed and the noisy importants shut up and peace descended on the first cabin.
We pushed back at 14:30 and taxied out for a take off at 14:52.
Once in the air my meal order was taken and a drinks round began the service. Yes I had a scotch and dry OK.
Scotch & Nuts
The ISM dropped by for a brief visit and thanked me for flying Cathay.
I was offered another drink but declined. My table was then set for the ‘refreshment’ service.
Yet another prawn starter appeared before me. There was a time in the past where I commented that all CX starters were scallops, now it seems prawns are the taste of the day.
Lunch Starter
Starter
I followed this up with the lovely soup and chomped on, yep you guessed it, garlic bread.
Lunch Soup
The main I opted for was a huge hunk of steak that was beautifully juicy inside and after all the food in the lounges I couldn’t finish it.
Lunch Main Steak
Lunch Main Steak
I did make room for the light mousse cake dessert though and a lovely espresso to end the day.
Lunch Dessert
Lunch Coffee
My crew member dropped by and asked how long I would be in Singapore. I said only one night and I would be off to Bangkok the following day. He asked if that was on the CX flight and I confirmed this. He said I will see you then as I am on that flight as well.
I listened to my music for the remainder of the flight and we touched down at 18:25 local time. I thanked my great crew and said I would see him tomorrow.
Immigrations had short queues that moved quite quickly and I was through waiting at the carousel before any bags started to appear. Mine was the third one out when they started to appear a few minutes later.
I grabbed a cab to the ST Regis and got the now usual mediocre upgrade to a deluxe room. The previous wine evening Platinum benefits seems to have been eroded away also but I was still offered the full breakfast at least. For such a pricy hotel I would have expected the room to be better maintained. The TV in the bathroom did not respond to the remote and I couldn’t switch it off, the Bose sound system had a mind of its own and kept going loud then soft, the security chain on the door was hanging loose and didn’t function and the curtains didn’t open fully.
St Regis Singapore Bedroom
St Regis Singapore Bedroom
St Regis Singapore Hallway
St Regis Singapore Bathroom
I mentioned these items on check-out the next day and in an online survey I was asked to complete after my stay and no one bothered to respond to these issues. It seems then that this was to be my last stay at the ST Regis in Singapore. Once a favourite of mine now on the no go list.
My RTW ticket is parked here in Singapore now, just over half way through, until April when I complete the journey.
I will be back next time with the long convoluted route home to the UK that will end this section of my report.