Aaaahhh ... back in the days when you might get into the cockpit, I was on a CAA business trip to Oz. Homeward bound [on the UD, with Cathay], we did the great GAFA transit from MEL to HKG, during which [after presenting my business card] I was invited up front for a chat. Nice. The view was really boring, but it was nice to talk.

About 30 minutes out from HKG, I was invited back to experience the RW 13 approach from the jump-seat ^ ^ ^

Simply incredibly awesome. Watching people hanging out their laundry as you fly by, seeing that mass of metal manoeuvre in ways it was never supposed to do, and watching the co-ordinated skills of the FD crew as we greased onto the runway.

The best commercial flying experience ever.