CX has three "Starlight Express" flights departing around 3:00 AM for SIN, TPE and KIX. Quick question: (1) How do you get to the airport at this hour? Is the Airport Express train running? (2) Can you use the Wings lounge? Thanks in advance.

Silver san,

You can use Airport Express as its last train leaves about 130am. I am not sure, however, that CX check-in counter at Hong Kong Airport Express Train station is open at that hour or not, even though the station check-in counter is supposed to allow you to check-in up to 90 minutes prior to departure.

I would suspect Wings lounges stay open as all of the three 'Starlight Express' flights operate on the same day, i.e, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri only. But do not count on the Elmis Spa to open.

According to the CX web site, "The Wing [is] open each day from 6.00am until the last flight of the day departs..."

I would infer from that that you wouldn't have access to The Wing, someone else might legitimately infer that you would have access to The Wing, and someone who has actually taken a SLE flight and tried to use the Wing would be the best source of information!

New Pet Peeve Alert!
CX's lounge in HKG is called The Wing, not The Wings or Wings.

There. That feels better. (Sort of a Wing-Wings whinge.)

[This message has been edited by wideman (edited 11-10-2000).]

silver san, CX's latest timetable (effective Oct. 28), which lists SLE, also says what wideman san says.

And as Kaoru san says, according to the timetable, Elemis Day Spa is open from Monday to Sunday 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.

Are these SLE considered the 'last' or the 'first' flight of the day?

But I noticed an error in the timetable. (It lists a SLE to SEL in the Flight Info at a Glance section.) So I am not sure if everything it says is true.

These SLE are listed as joint venture/codeshares. I wonder which carrier is operating them.

Chiangi...I haven't looked at the CX system timetable for a while...but from what I remember these "starlight express" flights are joint-ventures with DHL...

they actual fly from HKG to 4 destinations, TPE, SIN, KIX, SEL...they do carry passengers for the first 3 destinations and not SEL...

and, as I have noted in another post...they are offering extremely attractive fares for ex-HKG to TPE/SIN, and ex-SIN to HKG...while these low fares do not earn you normal asia miles / Club miles...they do get you the first-time online booking bonus of 5000 asia miles !!

[This message has been edited by tedhl (edited 11-12-2000).]

Hi Kaoru, Chiangi and Tedhl and wideman (what's a pet peeve alert?), thanks for your insight. I guess in order to find a decisive answer, somebody has to go and check in person... I'll let you guys know next time when I'm in HKG.

On the top page of http://www.cathaypacific.com/ there are quite astonishing fares to TPE and SIN. Too bad they don't have any for KIX, which was the flight of my interest (departs KIX at 22:30, gives me plenty of time to do HND-KIX after work).

Anyway, some of these flights arrive to HKG after 1:30AM, e.g. KIX-HKG arrives at 1:50AM. Obviously the trains are gone, I wonder how we get into the city?

Concerning the Starlight Express, it is a
joint venture service with DHL. The cargo
load is filled with DHL packages. The
passenger load will be limited to about
80 passengers.

Getting into downtown HK will not be easy
during that time. There is an overnight bus
service to the major areas of Hong Kong --
Central, Causeway Bay, and Tsim Sha Tsui.
(You can always take the bus to a major area, like Causeway Bay, and then catch a taxi to your final destination.) Your other option will be taxi, which is quite expensive.

I actually have one question in my mind
Do those flights feature any meal service,
like regular CX flights? I know that there
will be F/As, but will some kind of snack
service be provided?

Carfield

Hi Carfield, love your trip reports. Thanks for the code share info. Do you know what equipment they're using? I don't recall that CX had combi equipment... And I hope DHL doesn't have 'em either... I only hope CX uses regular aircrafts with limited load...

Hi Silver,

CX indeed does not have any combi aircraft.
I think CX restricts the passenger size, so
it can load more cargoes. Also, due to that
awkward timing, I don't think a full flight
can be anticipated.

TPE will see the A330 utilized.
KIX and SIN will see the Boeing 777-300s.
Actually there is an A330 service to Seoul
as well, but passenger service is not
available.

Thanks for reading my trip reports!

Carfield

Wow Carfield, you're in the know! Good to know that they're at least not DHL metal! Thanks for checking out.

I just inquired about Star Light Expresses at The Wing, where I am now.

This is what I was told.

The Wing Lounge is open but only the small section downstairs. (I didn't know there is one downstairs ) The upstairs section is closed for cleaning.

The aircraft used for these services are CX equipment but with a cargo section. Seating arrangements may be different due to weight adjustments.

Meals may not be offered or at least they are not regular meals otherwise offered on the routes -- the staff I talked to was not sure of this point, though.

They have business class.

Acess to and from downtown is limited to either taxis or midnight buses. No Airport Express services.

Thanks Chiangi. The downstairs seciton is usually for smokers right?

Anyway, hope you had a nice flight.

silver, they told me it is for smokers. Upstairs it's non-smoking.

And sorry for a dupe. (This post was 'originally' a dupe message.)

[This message has been edited by Chiangi (edited 11-18-2000).]

Siver,

Call the Peninsula and have them send a Rolls-Royce... ah, the only way to and from the airport... and only HK$700 each way

On a more serious note, overnight buses are probably the way to go... HK$10-HK$20, with service to Causeway Bay, Central, Mongkok, Star Ferry TST, and Tsuen Wan.

------------------
preez mine da pratform gahp.

Does anyone know what a ticket to Singapore costs? (Starlight Express)

Anyone tried it yet?