Went through security with quite a few passengers as they connected to various AA flights... Shaped like DFW, gates were housed in a circle. Gates and airlines were grouped by alliances. CX share the area with AA. Star Alliance have their own area, and so do Sky Team.
I wanted to get back the 747 I arrived in, but I knew my return flight would be in an Airbus 330... I asked the Transfer Desk whether they could move me to the 747 flight which also departs earlier than mine... She told me that flight would stop at Taipei and would make it back to HKG later than mine... Hmmm, OK, I guess I would stick to my programme...
Went upstairs to the lounge, and it seemed pleasant enough, and maybe slightly bigger than the BKK lounge. This lounge also have free wireless Internet, (just as the HKG lounges), but my laptop has died a long time ago... The lounge would have a very good view onto the tarmac, but the windows were strategically frosted at eye level when you sit down, so you couldn't see anything... Smart...
Just as the HKG lounges, this one was maintained with absolute efficiency, everything was clean and tidy. I could have stayed longer if I haven't read all the offered magazines that I was interested in or perhaps it was the guy who wouldn't blow his nose and preferred to sniffle every 5 seconds...
The Departure area was buzzing with quite a few AA flights leaving to New York, LA, San Jose and somewhere else I couldn't remember... I've never been to this terminal (1) before, so I decided to explore. The range of shops on offer wasn't that impressive, but to make the trip slightly less weird, I bought something. At least I could say I went there to shop and not to just earn air miles and enjoy flying. Not that there's anything wrong with that...
Still had plenty of time left, what to do...? As I walked further and further away from my gate, I ended up using many of the moving walkways. I could now say I've the wonderful achievement of using every single moving walkway at NRT Terminal 1. Could you say that?
On the other hand, that almost got me into trouble. I didn't realise the terminal was actually really big. I started to hear boarding calls from my flight, and I was at the UA side of the terminal... Man, was it a long (and hurried) walk back to my gate... By the time I got there, it was 'final call' already... But the credibility of 'final call' had somewhat gone out of the window for me. Various airlines and airports cried wolf by announcing every single call a 'final call'. Even at NRT, I've heard at least 5 'final calls' for the same flight here this afternoon...
Anyway, by the time I got there, I was the last business passenger to board, but there were still a handful of economy passengers queuing. (Separate queue and separate doors again.) Wow! Business was full, with many suits. Perhaps it's a good 'commuter' flight for people finishing a day's work in Tokyo.
This flight had the old long-haul business seats and the older IFE system. With a full flight, it wasn't practicable for the CSD to introduce herself to every passenger individually, and certainly pre-departure service was rushed. I hate it when people take over your overhead storage space. I know that space is shared, but I'd to put my bag about 4 rows behind me. It's just stupid when you leave the plane and had to go against the flow. At least with the bulkhead seat, I was able to put my legs up a bit.
If you're still reading this trip report (thanks!), you'd notice that I don't pay too much attention to the food and drinks in flight. From memory, dinner on this flight wasn't too exciting either. The only stand-out things from these Japanese flights were small bowls of cold udon that weren't available on any other CX flights, and the smoked salmon. It was yummmm... (I've a soft spot for salmon, particularly smoked salmon...)
Now flying against the wind, our scheduled flying time of 4:45 took well over 5 hours. We were about an hour late by the time we arrived at HKG. With our late arrival, CX had already arrived connecting passengers (mainly to MNL) to be met once we arrived.
This time, our walk back to the main terminal wasn't as far (still needed a train ride though), and without checked luggage, I was able to get back to landside in minutes. Again, I was at the 'wrong' Arrival Hall, so I'd to walk all the way across the airport to get to the walkway to the hotel...