KA will relaunch HND red eye with revised schedule beginning March 1st
#1
#3
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Join Date: May 2006
Location: HKG
Programs: A3, TK *G; JL JGC; SPG,Hilton Gold
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#4
Join Date: Jan 2006
Programs: AAdvantage Asia Miles Air China
Posts: 870
I flew it once and every seat was taken. Spoke to the ISM as I was rather surprised, but seems a lot of HK'ers wanted to maximise their last day in Tokyo, for instance have a dinner before going to the airport, after an afternoon sight seeing or shopping and preferred this to departures in the early evenings which limited their full day there.
I think it meant it was filling the Y cabin definitely, do not know about the pointy end.
I think it meant it was filling the Y cabin definitely, do not know about the pointy end.
#5
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: CX, UA, Shangri-La, Hyatt, Starwood
Posts: 7,708
I flew it once and every seat was taken. Spoke to the ISM as I was rather surprised, but seems a lot of HK'ers wanted to maximise their last day in Tokyo, for instance have a dinner before going to the airport, after an afternoon sight seeing or shopping and preferred this to departures in the early evenings which limited their full day there.
I think it meant it was filling the Y cabin definitely, do not know about the pointy end.
I think it meant it was filling the Y cabin definitely, do not know about the pointy end.
I'm not sure tourists care about the timing so much as the price. It's often the only HND flight with those super discount Y class seats. That's what I think they really like most.
#6
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Join Date: Aug 2017
Posts: 7
It is also usually the odds-on cheapest option from Tokyo on CX/KA. I don't think it's a very high yielding flight at all, but CX can fill it up and keep a KA plane utilized overnight. The KA fleet has a much lower utilization ratio than CX mainline due to lack of longhauls and lack of many redeyes. This helps them. But I don't think it's high yielding, especially in J...they gotta pack it full in the back with tourists.
I'm not sure tourists care about the timing so much as the price. It's often the only HND flight with those super discount Y class seats. That's what I think they really like most.
I'm not sure tourists care about the timing so much as the price. It's often the only HND flight with those super discount Y class seats. That's what I think they really like most.
Its full. A lot.
I don't understand why, given times, but it's full.
Must be price.
#7
#8
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 116
But it doesn't do that anymore... with the revised schedule it leaves HND at 6:25AM. Does this mean that CX/KA is now targeting tourists from HND into HKG so that they don't have to spend extra flights on hotels, instead of vice versa?
#10
#11
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: CX, UA, Shangri-La, Hyatt, Starwood
Posts: 7,708
The only catch is, they need to be careful because the product is pretty weak for full-fare paying business customers that CX/KA cater heavily to. If they can successfully segment it though as essentially LLC flights, it's a good way for them to utilize the planes.
#13
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 89
I am actually very positive about this flight. The timing looks bad for business travelers, but it is very good for leisure travelers. Also, the timing is good for transit passengers (for both end), which open up more transit options, in particular for passengers transit to South-East Asia (e.g. SIN, KUL, BKK).
KA can consider launch more flights with similar timing to different Asia cities, to provide more options for travelers and improve plane utilization. I guess not every single flight need to have good timing and fit the need of business travelers, Leisure travelers can also make a flight sustainable, especially KA got smaller plane, which is perfect fit for such "bad timing flights", that CX cant make the route viable. For example, CX tried the ICN and BKK to HK red eye for a short period of time and got terminated. KA can take that up to make it viable.
KA can consider launch more flights with similar timing to different Asia cities, to provide more options for travelers and improve plane utilization. I guess not every single flight need to have good timing and fit the need of business travelers, Leisure travelers can also make a flight sustainable, especially KA got smaller plane, which is perfect fit for such "bad timing flights", that CX cant make the route viable. For example, CX tried the ICN and BKK to HK red eye for a short period of time and got terminated. KA can take that up to make it viable.
#14
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: HKG
Programs: CX DM, SPG Pt, Le Club Accor GO, Shangri-La GC Jade
Posts: 1,327
Actually I read a jp blog mentioning that KA397/6 is good for ex-HND leisure passengers to have a quick getaway to HK... Redeye to HK... then evening time back Tokyo...
New schedule will be more favorable for ex-HKG leisure travel and ex-HND business traveler...
New schedule will be more favorable for ex-HKG leisure travel and ex-HND business traveler...
#15
Join Date: Apr 2016
Posts: 380
Whilst these flights are probably low-yielding, they are very popular with leisure travelers in Hong Kong. People here have very few paid holidays so need to maximise what they get.
KA396 will be very popular with these travelers as they can finish work, go home and get their bag and then go to the airport.
This is different with European travelers who have a lot more paid holidays.
And actually, the number of late late flights to BKK always amazes me as there are several between 2200 and 0200 from HKG. These flights are, whenever I've taken them, 100% full in economy with tourists.
KA396 will be very popular with these travelers as they can finish work, go home and get their bag and then go to the airport.
This is different with European travelers who have a lot more paid holidays.
And actually, the number of late late flights to BKK always amazes me as there are several between 2200 and 0200 from HKG. These flights are, whenever I've taken them, 100% full in economy with tourists.