CX676 (TLV-HKG)
Take-off: February 6, 2018, 13:01 (scheduled - 12:45)
Landing: February 7, 2018, 4:04 (scheduled - 5:15)
Airbus 350-900 (registration: B-LRT)
Class: economy, seat 40K

When you're flying east of TLV (other than to AMM) you must fly first north or south. This was our flight path:



Interestingly, the day I left for the trip AI announced it will begin operating a DEL-TLV flights that will fly over Saudi Arabia, hence will be much shorter than LY flight to BOM; today, Saudi Arabia denied that she gave its permission. Oh, I just love middle-eastern eastern politics

CX began service to TLV less than a year ago and it's already a great success. Initially there were four flight per week and from next month there will be six. CX also opened recently an office in Tel Aviv and has plans sending to TLV its new Airbus 350-1000 later this year.

On the way to the gate I could see the beauty (although the glasses at TLV make photography a very hard task):



I knew from the outset that the flight will be relatively lightly loaded but I didn't expect to have the entire three bulkhead seats for myself



In fact, under such condition the bulkhead trio doesn't do much as you cannot spread out

What I really liked is the IFE screen on the wall (you don't get it too often in bulkhead rows), which means you can watch it during takeoffs and landings. Also, the small compartment at the bottom is very handy and the picture quality superb (as well as the selection even if I "wasted" two and a half hours on Blade Runner 2049 )



The pursuer came to welcome me personally onboard (probably because I have an OneWorld Emerald) and said that she is happy to see me again. Nice touch although it was my first time with CX

Then looking out of the window I saw something that a year ago was unimaginable - CX and two HU aircrafts at TLV:



I do not envy LY CEO these days

Menues were handed out and I just knew this is not my typical flight in economy - printed menus, three main choices and two real meals on a 9 hour flight, quite unusual these days...

Service began with a snack and white wine (after twenty minutes) and continued with lunch (a bit more than an hour after takeoff). Food was very good as long as we remember that we're talking about Y food. Here's the menu, lunch and breakfast (served roughly an hour before landing):







And there is a funny anecdote about the breakfast yogurt you see in the second photo. It was initially brought with lunch and then couple of minutes later the FA rushed through the cabin to collect it because it was mistakenly distributed. a rather strange mistake, I must say. I also liked the aft galley and the "island" in its middle with snacks and drinks in between meals. Again, not the usual Y experience. Really, I cannot imagine why would someone fly to HKG with LY's old airplanes (they send here a mix of 767 [not a joke], 747 and 777) and notorious service.

The one thing I didn't really like about the flight was the aircraft Yes, it's shiny, quiet, has nice lighting and you feel fresher at the end but I found the interior design to be outdated or cheapish. I didn't take pictures this time but given that I have three sectors before me on CX A359 I will take them and elaborate more.

So how was my first time experience with CX? In one word - excellent. Great IFE, comfy seat and above all great crew; attentive, courteous and no less important takes safety issues seriously. For example, the flight attendants insisted that a guy sitting near me should close his laptop as we were about to depart (and then decent), that he should have his shoes on for take off and landing (it was a bulkhead row) and that he should not talk on his cellphone during taxi for takeoff Really annoying to see him, but was pleased with the crew's determined yet polite attitude. I recently had some careless, let alone, ignorant crews on TK and I could only hope that this does not reflect the overall safety approach of that airline.

And a final note - we took off fifteen minutes later than schedule and landed an hour and fifteen minutes early. Now, even with strong tailwind this seems a big difference. It seems that this is the case on most days, so I'm not sure hot to explain that.

Landing in HKG was smooth (and very early) and I was getting excited as I was about to set foot for the first time on Far East soil!