I'm back in HKG and sitting in the BA/QF Lounge.

Wednesday 22nd June (Continued)

The outbound flight to CTS was delayed for 30 minutes due to thunderstorms. They could not refuel the aircraft until they had passed. There were 14 pax in Business but only 2 of us were in the First Class cabin. The crew were very welcoming and quickly offered Champagne. I was handed a quite substantial menu for a lunch service and was offered the opportunity to eat when I felt like it.

The CX First Class Suite is good. I don't rate it as highly as the QF or BA Suites but it is perfectly acceptable. After take-off I settled down and watched a movie on AVOD and read some more of my book. I had Lenny with me and the crew began to make a real fuss with him. The insisted he have his own seat and watch cartoons. They insisted that as CX was a OW partner he could have his Skyflyers og Book filled in! The Senior Purser took him up to the flightdeck and he was there for about an hour until the Capt personally brought him back to me.

The crew were superb. They were talking to me about my trip and were very interested when I told them about FT. The Senior Purser and Purser were beginning to plan ex-CMB or BKK oneworld Explorers! They thought I was crazy for doing the back to back and were doubting me a bit until I showed them the itinerary.

We arrived in Sapporo (CTS) about 5 minutes late. I didn't have a BP for my return and I was a bit concerned as there was only 60 minutes until the return and I didn't fancy my chances of clearing Immigration, getting a BP and back through security. I need not have worried. The CX Station manager was waiting for me and arranged for one of his staff to take me to the JAL lounge and get my BP issued. It was great VIP treatment by CX.

I asked for a seat in the First Cabin again but was told it had been blocked off. I wasn't too bothered as the standard CX Business seat would be good enough for the 4.5 hour flight.

When I boarded the Senior Purser automatically went to take me to the First cabin but I told her they had blocked it off. She could not understand this as they were fully crewed for all cabins. She went off to speak to the Flight Manager (or whatever they are called on CX) and came back and said they would move me shortly. Just after take-off the Manager came up to me and took me through to First. I had the entire cabin to myself! There were four flightdeck crew on board as they were training so one of the First Officers joined me. Shortly after the Capt came down and sat chatting to me for about 30 minutes.

I passed on the offer of more food and chose to get a bit of sleep.

As we were about the leave Japanese airspace we began making some large orbits. This went on for about 20 minutes. The Capt later told me in the arrivals hall that there is a bit of nonsense going on between Japan and Taiwan at the moment and he suspected they were playing games.

I decided to “enter” Hong Kong again so I could go to baggage services and check to see if they had located my bag. I gave the baggage agent my file reference and he tapped away. “We’ve found it.” He said. “It is here in Hong Kong.” I was delighted. “In fact, it is right behind you.” I looked at the “Rush” label and saw that AA had routed it to NRT and CX had brought it down from there. I had fully expected not to see it for a few days. One plus point was that it saved me days Left Luggage cost! (You can take the boy out of Scotland but not…….)

I am now hoping that my bag will make the relatively tight connection in BNE to AKL. This will be my last night in an aircraft for a couple of weeks and I must say I am looking forward to my night at the Hyatt in AKL tomorrow.