johnkennett

I got back on Sunday night from a long weekedn break visiting a friend in HKG.
I got the ticket in the recent Catay Pacific I class sale, where I class was 45% of the regular business class fare. I also used it get two tickets to HKG and BKK for a quick summer vacation for my fiancee and I at the end of July.

For the Korean domestic flights I used Korean Air.

July 1
USN-GMP KE1600
S.T.D.-A: 0700-0755
A.T.D.-A: 0710-0843

The two alarms set for my 5am wake up worked, and I was out in a cab, and at the airport by 0620. The cab driver took a strange route to the airport, and the 25 minute trip cost 7500 won (7US$), this time- no more expensive, but a little quicker- I'll have to remember it for next time!

Prestige Class (Business) C/I had a family at the counter buying their tickets for the flight, so I was called over to the front of the Y line, and quickly C/I to GMP. It took about 2-3 minutes all up, which is about average for USN airport.

Upstairs to the departure level, and to get some toast- getting up at 5am makes me so hungry.

Quickly boarded, though push back was a little late, and we departed 10 minutes late.

I had 8D on this 737-800 service, which has the standard Korean domestic 38" of J leg room, with 8 seats in the front cabin. 7 of the seats were taken, and I got the empty on next to me, so I moved over to the window seat after the doors were closed.

The announcement was made that there would be some rough patches of turbulence during the flight, so to keep our belts fastened. The flight was the same standard domestic flight I have come to expect from KE, with little of the warned turbulence. As we made our approach to land however, the flight changed. Wheels were down, and we were very close to landing, when the plane pulled up again, very sharply, and started to turn. We weren't landing just yet. The weather was too bad, we were told Though, since we were so close to landing, I don't know why we couldn't have continued.

We circled Seoul for over 30 minutes- going all the way out to the bridge to ICN airport, before landing in the driving rain very late, and managinf to score a remote gate to top it off! The luggage came out quickly considering how far the gate was, but it was all VERY wet. I was on the shuttle to ICN at 0858, and it left at 0900. We had a very quick trip to ICN, as there was little traffic on the road, though I was getting a little nervous, as my CX flight was scheduled to depart at 1030!

We got to ICN at 0930, and I went in quickly to C/I for the CX flight to HKG.

onedog

Thanks for sharing. Waiting for your report on your flight to HKG.

johnkennett

July 1
ICN-HKG CX417
S.T.D-A: 1030-1310
A.T.D-A: 1050-1304
I went up to the Business class C/I for CX, and was a little surprised to find that there were no people there, for either business or economy class.

The agent asked me to check one of my two bags, but I wanted to carry them both on, so she just tagged them as carry on. C/I was done quickly, though I made sure that my AA number was recorded, as this flight was the start of my AA Plat. Challenge!

I stopped at AIG to get some travel insurance, and then cleared security and immigration quickly- I must say that I hate the little rubber slippers they give you to wear when you take of your shoes to clear security at ICN, as they are way too small for me. Also, while shoes have to be taken off everytime at ICN, and most of the time for GMP departures, there is no need to take off your shoes for other domestic airports, or for International depatures from PUS.

By the time I had collected my Duty Free from the bonded collection area, and purchased a new shirt at the Paul Smith store, there was no time left to go to the lounge, so I went straight to the gate, which seemed to be quite far away.

As I made my way to 14C, I was hoping that 14A would be empty, on this A330, but no such luck, I had a seatmate. Business class was around 50-60% full, with quite a few families with their young children. It was the old style business class today, not new Regional Business Class, which unlike many others on Ft, I quite like.

Menus, headsets and HKG arrival cards were all handed out while we were either at the gate or taxiing, as the staff made a couple of rounds.

Take off was a little late, as there was a bit of a delay due to the weather (the same weather that had me flying around GMP for more than 30 minutes!)

Lunch was the meal served on this flight, and the menu was as follows:


The meals was served at a very relaxed pace, sue to the low number of pax, and the fact that there were a number of children having pre ordered kids meals.

I had the Korean style chicken, and though I usually wouldn't take anything fried on the place, I don't eat fish, and make it a rule not to have the beef ex ICN, as it is almost always overcooked- the only time I have had good steak ex ICN was on KE in first ICN-NRT, a few months ago.

I made the right choice- few people took the sole, my seat mate had the beef, and even though we all had metal cutlery, it was hard for her to cut. VERY well done. The chicken was served with red pepper paste, spiced daikon and pickled cucumber. It was actually really tasty, and as I am taking this same flight again at the end of the month, and will get the same menu, I'll be taking this dish again.

I stuck with the Champagne, and water for the flight. The ice cream cake was ok- a little on the hard side when it first came out. The pralines in the menu never made it around the cabin.

The ride was a little bumpy, but nothing too much, and we made it HKG a little early, even with our late departure. I was the first off the plane, and then had to walk for miles to get the train to immigration- we arrived at gate 70!

As I have the Hong Kong International Airport Frequent Visitors Card, I used with express lane for card holders, which was empty as usual. I couldn't use the Yum Sing card print out from the CX website for the discounted train to the city, as it wouldn't shrink to fit on one page, and I couldn't manage to get ha;f of it printed, so the MTR wouldn't accept just half of the voucher- not that I really expected them to! I arrived at the platform just to see the train pulling away, so I had to wait for the next one. From arrival to getting to the train platform took only about 20 minutes, and that included walking from one end of the airport to the other from gate 70.

WEEKEND IN HONG KONG:

Friday:

I met my friend at HKG station, dropped my luggage at his place, and then we headed out- the Grand Hyatt for a late lunch and some cocktails. A bit of late afternoon shopping- looking for a car for him, and then back to get ready for dinner- we had to get over to the Kowloon side for an 8pm reservation at Aqua- which has Italian and Japanese food.

It was full in Aqua of course, though we had managed to get a window table, and arrived just a few minutes before the lightshow and fireworks started- while not a huge display, it was a good show. I liked Aqua, and the staff were friendly- compared to most other places in HKG that is! The Foie Gras starter was excellent- 3 large slices, as was the lamb carpaccio. Japanese for mains- various meats and vegetable skewers- yakatori etc.

We moved up to Aqua Spirit, the bar over looking the restaurant for dessert, as they really neede our window table. The manager came over and asked if we would mind moving, and he escorted us up to a window booth overlooking Kowloon Park, which was good for another view of Hong Kong at night. Chocolate Fondant, and a couple of dessert type cocktails finished off the evening. The total cost for two people, including drinks and service charge was HK$2100 (US$270), which was not too bad I think.

Finished of the night with a few drinks at a couple of other places, including the Mandarin Oriental back on Hong Kong side.

Saturday:

Brunch at Soho Soho, I was not that pleased with it, and will not go there again. Shopping was followed by a late lunch at Spring Moon over at the wonderful Peninsula Hotel- really nice atmosphere, but I think that it would feel very crowded at night when it's full. The dim sum were really nice though. The total for 2 was about HK$700 or about US90, which was a bit expensive, but I've been there now, along with Felix's- for drinks last time I was in Hong Kong, so there is only afternoon tea in the lobby that I want to try at the Peninsula.

Dinner was at a great French place in Central- La Terrasse. It is a small place, which seats only about 20-30 people, and it was almost empty on Saturday night. The menu changes every couple of months or so, but the Foie Gras is their speciality- though I had the escargot for a starter, and the roast pigeon for mains- both were really wonderfully presented, and tasted excellent. It is a hidden gem in Hong Kong. The owner greeted us warmly, as my friend goes there a few times a month, and is well known. The only thing that I disliked was the fact that, since it is so small, the many wait staff were hanging around very closely to our table, and at one stage very obviously listening in to our conversation! With a bottle of nice French Medoc, the total for the two of us was about HK$900 (120US), which I think was cheap for quality of the food that we got. Dinks out and about at a couple of different places of course followed, finishing off a fun, and filling weekend in HKG. Sadly it was time to go to bed, ready to head back to Korea with next morning!

July 3
HKG-ICN CX410
S.T.D.-A: 0950-1420
A.T.D.-A: 1015-1415

I checked in at Hong Kong Airport Station in Central at 0810, with an empty J/F counter. The agent was very friendly and I was on the train by 0820. I was at gate 70 again, so I had to cover the whole airport once more! Immigration and security were as painless as always at HKG. There was only enough time to flick through the paper, and grab a juice in the Wing, before I had to go to the gate.

My seat was occupied when I got to it, two men wanted to get a window and aisle together, instead of the middle pair, and they seemed most annoyed that I wanted to sit in my assigned seat, 18K, which was by myself, as the agent had blocked the seat next to me. The men moved to another pair, and were lod for about 30 minutes, after which they fell asleep for most of the flight.

The lunch menu was handed out by a very friendly FA.


I had the penne, and it was excellent, not dry as I was a little worried that it was going to be.

The flight was unremarkable, there was little in the way of turbulence, though there were repeated annoucements for pax to keep their seatbelts fastened, and stay seated for most of the flight, as it was expected to be very rough.

On time arrival, as far I remember, as I slept for the last hour or so.

For a change, the immigration desk at ICN was not full, and I was through in only a couple of minutes. My bag was the second one off the belt, and I was lucky enough to be selected for an x-ray search by Quarantine. I was on the GMP shuttle by 1455, and after a quick ride, at GMP by 1530 ready to buy a ticket on the 1630 KE flight back to USN. That is when my day started to get LONG!

July 3
GMP-USN KE1613 Business Class 8D
S.D.T-A: 1630-1725
Actual:
GMP-PUS KE1145 Economy Class 31D
S.D.T-A:1830-1930
A.D.T-A:1910-2007

The routing for this trip looks odd, because it was! I arrived at GMP, went to the Skypass (KE FF) desk, to get an award ticket on the 1630 flight to USN. I was told that due to weather conditions in USN, that I would have to wait another 10 minutes, as the flight was being held at the moment. I waited at the desk, the flight was confirmed, an I was issued an award ticket for the flight. I went over and checked in my bag, and headed up to the lounge, which is also a Priority Pass lounge. I went though security, and didn't have to remove my shoes, went to the gate, and saw a lot of people waiting. THe 1615 bparding time came, and the annoucement was made that due to weather in USN, the 1630 flight was cancelled, and pax should go back to the C/I area to try and waitlist for the 1730 flight.

Those with checked luggage had to go the carousel and get it first though. I got my bag, went to the desk an noticed on the monitors that some other flights to the south east of Korea were also being cancelled or held. The weather must have been really bad! I was moved onto the 1730 flight, which was cancelled while I was waiting in line! I was then put on the 1930 flight, but it was then put on hold, and I was told in the business class lounge that it would be cancelled.

That left me with the choices- try and get on the 2030 flight, which was the last flight of the day, and hope that it would make it to USN, or get on a flight to PUS, though they were also getting held or cancelled, anf then get the bus form there to USN, a one hour ride. The final option was the night train, which left Seoul Station at 2230, and arrived in USN at 0430, not really a good choice, but a back up plan anyway.

I went back to the CI desk, and was put onto the 1830 flight to PUS, but only Y was available- I was happy to take it just tp get a seat-one of the last seats, as the 1800 flight had just been cancelled. As this had been a mileage flight I was told that the difference in mileage between the one way Y and D ticket- 1000miles, had been recredited to my account! How's that for great service...

The flight boarded late, due to the late arrival of the plane from PUS. It was unloaded, and prepared for reloading in about 15 minutes! It was a 737-900, and the Y pitch was about 29", so a really tight fit. I was very tired, and slept the whole flight despite the cramped cabin.

Our bags were off very quickly in PUS, and I ran out to get a ticket in the 2020 bus to USN, hoping that it would still be there, which it was. It was full of course, so I asked the driver if I could stand up.He was a little taken aback that a foreigner would want to stand instead of wait an hour for the next bus in the rain to get a seat, but he let me join the other Korean people standing. With the extra 20 people standing in the aisle, and sitting in the doorwell, the bus was well filled, and VERY hot and sticky inside. I slept most of the hour or so that it took, even though I was standing up- that is one of the great skills I have picked up in my years living in Asia- being able to sleep on public transport, even when standing! It was about 2230 by the time I got home- about 5 hours late. I saw on the news that 40 flights had been cancelled in total on the Sunday from GMP to USN, PUS, TAE, KPO and RSU, due to the wind, rain and fog.

I was lucky to get home at all, and I was lucky to get out on Friday- later in the day a large number of flight out of USN were also cancelled due to the weather.

Let me know what you think of the report.

johnkennett

I hope that this report isn't too long, or too boring for people. I will post the restaurant information in the dining forum as well.

airoli

Just read this report now as I am looking into taking the same CX flights... very informative and helpful, thanks a lot!