Hi, everyone! Wishing everyone a Happy New Year and yet another welcome to the final leg of the Summer 2018 travel series! After a relaxing month in Hong Kong, it was time to head back to New York. Given the fact that I usually land at JFK, I decided to fly to Newark this time primarily due to the fact that CX is currently serving the route using the Airbus A350-900 (which I was quite excited about), and that flights to JFK were full to capacity as I was yet again going through a redemption booking. On the bright side, this is the first time I'll be experiencing flying on the A350 on a long-haul flight!
Booking this flight was quite easy, although there were a few seats available from when I bought the ticket, but I was able to get everything done within a matter of minutes. Nevertheless, I hope all of you enjoy reading this report.
25 August 2018: CX890 HKG-EWR, A350-900, BusinessYou are here
Pre-flight
I got the private car that I always hire in order to go to the airport. I arrived at around 4:15 PM, which gave me enough time to check-in, go through security/immigration, spend time in the lounge, and plane spot before the flight, as well as avoid the rush since it was approaching the end of the summer peak season.
HKG Interior
Check-in counters
Special check-in area for US-bound flights
Before actually checking in, there were questions being asked about our stay as well as our bags, which is a normal procedure for flights departing for the US. Once that was done, we were able to check-in, where the whole process took less than 10 minutes.
Heading towards security
Post-security
Since my flight was departing from gate 48 this evening, I decided to head to The Bridge, located near gate 36
Heading towards the airside
A couple of shops at HKG
An interesting attraction of a Hong Kong taxi
Heading towards The Bridge via the Automated People Mover, which eases the journey to the other side of the airport
Automated People Mover
The Bridge entrance
Lounge invitation
Generally, I would go to the lounge which is closest to the gate, and I wasn't really a huge fan of The Bridge from my past visits. However, this time, I was able to get a completely different perspective as I went to a different wing which was more spacious. The south wing of The Bridge has multiple dining options such as the Bistro, the Long Bar for those who want a drink, and a little IT area for productivity
The Bistro
Views from The Bridge, including a shot of Cathay Pacific Airbus A330-300, B-LAN, which will serve as CX699 to BOM
More shots of The Bridge
Boarding pass
After some time, I went to the main departure area in order to do some plane spotting
Airside
Air New Zealand Boeing 777-200ER, ZK-OKB, which will serve as NZ80 back to AKL later this evening
Lufthansa Airbus A340-600, D-AIHL, which arrived from FRA as LH796
British Airways Boeing 777-300ER, G-STBD, that arrived from LHR as BA27
Cathay Pacific Airbus A330-300, B-HLD, preparing to depart for BKK as CX613 with a special appearance by Finnair Airbus A350-900, OH-LWC, which is currently on remote standby and will serve as AY100 back to HEL later this evening
Cathay Pacific Airbus A350-900, B-LRA
Virgin Atlantic Boeing 787-900, G-VWOO, which just arrived from LHR as VS206
Cathay Pacific Boeing 777-300ER, B-KPG, which will serve as CX812 to BOS
Korean Air Boeing 777-300ER, HL8274, preparing to depart back for ICN as KE602
On the way to gates 60-71
FIDS
I've always referred to HKG as plane spotter's paradise!
Qantas Airbus A330-300, VH-QPF, which arrived from MEL not too long ago as QF29 and will depart for BNE as QF98 later this evening
Gates 60-71
Emirates Airbus A380-800, A6-EDR, which will depart back for DXB as EK383 this evening
After spotting the planes I could find, I went back to The Bridge and decided to hang out there before boarding my flight
Some options at the Bistro
IT zone, a perfect area for some productivity
The Long Bar
I couldn't resist!
I was back at the lounge for about 15 minutes before I headed to gate 48 in order to board the flight
Heading towards gates 40-50
Walking towards gate 48
The boarding process went very smoothly
Well, time to head back home!
Before boarding, there were officers asking every passenger about our hand luggage as a secondary security measure, which is a normal procedure for a US-bound flight
Plane to EWR: B-LRJ
Let's board!
Some pre-flight information: Date: 25 August 2018 Airline: Cathay Pacific Flight Number: CX 890 Route: Hong Kong (HKG) - Newark (EWR) Aircraft: Airbus A350-900 Registration: B-LRJ Distance: 8061 miles Scheduled Departure Time: 6:20 PM Actual Departure Time: 6:59 PM Scheduled Arrival Time: 10:15 PM Actual Arrival Time: 10:07 PM Flight Time: 15 hrs 55 mins Departure Gate at HKG: 48 Arrival Gate at EWR: 55
Inflight
Main business class cabin
My seat, 17K with inflight controls
Seat signage
View from my seat: Cathay Dragon Airbus A330-300, B-LBE, preparing to depart for FOC as KA662
Brush wing logo in the back
Storage space
The good 'ol legroom!
Entertainment system
I just love this camera view!
Welcome drink - Champagne
I'm definitely going to enjoy the next 15 hours!
Interactive remote control
Seat space
Cabin views
Before I knew it, the cabin crew came around to distribute amenity kits prior to departure
Once boarding was finally complete, the captain came on with his pre-flight welcome, advising us that we would be arriving into Newark ahead of schedule with the flight time of 15 hours and 9 minutes, as well as that there was going to be the usual turbulence which would occur on and off throughout the entire flight, which is generally expected.
Hot towel
Flight info
Table space
Pushing back from the gate approximately 15 minutes later
LED overhead signage
HKG Control Tower
Cabin view with mood lighting in preparation for takeoff
The sun was beginning to set already
AirAsia Malaysia Airbus A320-200, 9M-AGG, preparing to depart as AK137 back to KUL
VietJet Air Airbus A320-200, VN-A675, preparing for departure as VJ877 back to SGN
Taxiing to Runway 25L
We then took off 40 minutes behind schedule at approximately 6:00 PM
High above the clouds
A few minutes after departure
Peace out, Hong Kong!
I actually like the new entertainment interface as it look very refreshed compared to the one shown on older aircraft
Within 10 minutes after departure, the crew came around the cabin to distribute menus and other amenities such as water bottles and US customs forms
Evian water bottle
Menu cover
Menu for today's flight
Drink menu
Cruising with a view of the A350-900 engine
Overall cabin view
Yes, I watched Moana yet again on this flight!
It wasn't long before the cabin crew came around the cabin to take drink orders. Like always, I got a Perrier
Table setup with the appetiser and garlic bread
A second round? Don't mind if I do!
For the main course, I ended up going for the prawns with crab meat served with vegetables and jasmine rice, which was not bad
Enjoying my prawns while watching Moana
Soon after, I finished the main course and that was when the trolley with fruit and cheese plates passed by. I wasn't in the mood for cheese or dessert, so I just asked for some fruit.
Hot towel to officially end the dinner service
At that point, I made the decision to open up the inflight map to find out our current location. It turned out that we were above northern China
Cabin views
More seat views
The next thing I knew was the cabin lights changed, making it the perfect environment for passengers to rest
Filling out the US customs form
After looking for more programs to watch during the flight, I ultimately went for The Big Bang Theory yet again
After watching a couple of episodes, I decided to call it a night above Russia
A dark cabin
Within five minutes, I was ready for bed with the seat fully flat and the duvet all nicely spread out.
I slept for a good 9 hours only to wake up just in time for the breakfast service. I have to admit, the beds were quite comfortable on the A350
Orange juice
Waking up above Canada
Cabin views yet again, with different settings of mood lighting
Fruit platter along with yogurt
For the main entrée, I chose one of my favourites: assorted dim sum!
Hot towel
Afterwards, I headed on to the bathroom which looked completely used and messy after a long flight
Evian water bottles were handed out once I got back to my seat
It wasn't long until the captain came on again stating that we are starting the descent into Newark and that we would be landing in 30 minutes
Time was really flying
Starting the descent
View from the tail camera while upon descent
Final shots before landing
Only 5 minutes left until we land
Cabin with mood lighting in preparation for landing
Before I knew it, we landed at Newark Liberty International Airport at 10:07 PM, 8 minutes ahead of the scheduled arrival time. However, the taxi to the terminal took about 5 minutes
Actual flight route
Taxiing to Terminal B with the view of Emirates Boeing 777-300ER, A6-ECV, which arrived from DXB via ATH as EK209 and SAS Airbus A340-300, OY-KBA, which arrived from CPH as SK901
Docking at gate 55, with a side view of United Airlines Boeing 767-400ER, N67052, which arrived from LHR as UA921
Post-flight
Disembarking/Arrival into EWR
Another arrival, Primera Air Airbus A321-200, OY-PAD, that arrived from CDG as PF21
To cut a long story short, immigration and retrieving my bag were a breeze, but going through customs took quite some time as the lines were so long that I didn't make it to the arrival hall until 35 minutes later
Terminal B Arrival Hall, which was quite crowded
Afterwards, I headed downstairs to the passenger pick-up area where I met my private cab driver, and then headed on home.
Level 1
Terminal B arrival hall exterior
See more
Verdict
Cathay Pacific
8.9/10
Cabin9.5
Cabin crew9.0
Entertainment/wifi8.5
Meal/catering8.5
Cathay Pacific The Bridge
9.3/10
Comfort9.0
Meal/catering9.5
Entertainment/wifi9.5
Services9.0
Hong Kong - HKG
9.6/10
Efficiency9.5
Access9.5
Services10.0
Cleanliness9.5
Newark - EWR
7.4/10
Efficiency5.5
Access7.0
Services8.0
Cleanliness9.0
Conclusion
I would say that this was a decent flight on Cathay Pacific, especially on the Airbus A350-900 for a long-haul flight. I'm glad that I chose this flight to Newark rather than flying to JFK on the Boeing 777-300ER. Don't get me wrong, I love that aircraft, but I wanted to try something new once in a while.
As always, CX always have an outstanding seat onboard business class along with the other features such as the inflight entertainment, good crew service, as well as the on-time performance of the flight where we departed and arrived on schedule!
Thanks for reading this trip report as this is the end of the Summer 2018 trip report series. I hope you enjoyed them. I will be posting more trip reports in the near future. So, be sure to tune in next time for my next travel series coming up soon!
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Happy New Year to flight-report’s favourite Hong Kong to New York in CX J commuter!
Your shots of the hustle and bustle of HKG remind me that I need to get back to Hong Kong sooner than later. Hmmmm…
Interesting to see The Bridge — I’ve walked past that lounge so often, but I feel it’s so relatively under-reported compared to its more famous peers in the CX HKG lounge system. Glad your most recent visit was more enjoyable than your previous ones there, it looks like a competent business class lounge.
Some great spotting, that shows why you call the airport a spotter’s paradise. It’s very spotter-friendly in layout, and there’s lots and lots of variety in terms of traffic.
I don’t remember if I’ve seen the CX J-seat storage bin before. Very handy.
I love it when they hand out arrival forms early in the flight, even on a 15-hour epic like this one.
Moana again? You’re welcome!
Catering looks decent quality, but a little light — especially compared to the sheer fit of gluttony in First.
Nine hours of sleep is nothing to sneeze at on a plane. Nicely done! I presume one has to set up one’s own bed in business class?
The dim sum for breakfast looks very good — almost certainly the right choice.
Primera Air on arrival. Alas, poor airline. We hardly knew ye.
Great that you got to ride the A350 on this one — aside from the novelty factor, what did you notice as the big differences, especially given the cabin looks so similar on CX between the two aircraft?
Thanks for sharing this one, and I look forward to reading your next series — and more New York to Hong Kong in CX J — in the near future.
Thanks for the comment and kind words, Hometoyyz! I agree as well in regards to The Bridge. I usually go to a lounge which is closest to the gate, so I thought this was a good option. The seat storage is considered a recent addition by CX as it is mostly shown on the Airbus A350-900 and A350-1000. I'd have to say the seats as a flat bed were extremely comfortable and quite refreshed compared to the Boeing 777-300ER. So, I'm glad to say I was able to get some good quality sleep on this flight.
"Primera Air on arrival. Alas, poor airline. We hardly knew ye." - It was sad to hear about Primera Air since it recently ceased operations
To answer your question, the other factors would include the WiFi onboard, the flat bed which I've mentioned earlier, more modern cabin, as well as the more interactive entertainment system, which I thought was a plus. Once again, I'm so glad you enjoyed reading this trip report! Happy travels! ;)
A fantastic report as always! It's nice that you got to discover a nicer part of the Bridge and change your opinion. CX lounges are always nice, but with the closure of the Cabin and the Arrival in the last year, I fear the hub J lounges will get more crowded--though I know they opened the Deck, which seems to have gotten mixed reviews.
Beautiful planespotting! HKG really is a planespotters paradise with so much variety and huge windows with great views. Though I like my local airport IAD, planespotting from inside the terminal (A/B Concourse) is always difficult.
I really like the look of the updated Zodiac Cirrus seats on the CX A350s. It makes the cabin look brighter and more modern.
Catering looks good by CX standards, though the pre-arrival breakfast's portion seems rather stingy. Having flown AA J to HKG a few times, 3 meals are served, and the mid-flight snack on AA is about the same size as that breakfast on CX. Granted, US carriers tend to overfeed, and I'm sure the quality of CX catering is better, though AA's mid-flight dim sum was surprisingly good the 2 times I've had it.
Thanks for the comment and kind words, KévinDC!! I haven't been to The Bridge in a year and I'm glad I was able to explore more of the lounge than just one wing thaT I've gone to so frequently. I've heard a lot of good things of The Pier but never got the chance to explore it. Hopefully, I'll do so in the future!
I do the best I can when it comes to plane spotting! Glad you like them!
Well, in regards of the pre-arrival breakfast, I'd say that the dim sum being served onboard is the same portion from what I've seen in the past. So, I wouldn't say that especially with the other courses that come during the breakfast service.
I'm so glad you enjoyed reading this report! Happy travels! ;)
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4 Comments
Happy New Year to flight-report’s favourite Hong Kong to New York in CX J commuter!
Your shots of the hustle and bustle of HKG remind me that I need to get back to Hong Kong sooner than later. Hmmmm…
Interesting to see The Bridge — I’ve walked past that lounge so often, but I feel it’s so relatively under-reported compared to its more famous peers in the CX HKG lounge system. Glad your most recent visit was more enjoyable than your previous ones there, it looks like a competent business class lounge.
Some great spotting, that shows why you call the airport a spotter’s paradise. It’s very spotter-friendly in layout, and there’s lots and lots of variety in terms of traffic.
I don’t remember if I’ve seen the CX J-seat storage bin before. Very handy.
I love it when they hand out arrival forms early in the flight, even on a 15-hour epic like this one.
Moana again? You’re welcome!
Catering looks decent quality, but a little light — especially compared to the sheer fit of gluttony in First.
Nine hours of sleep is nothing to sneeze at on a plane. Nicely done! I presume one has to set up one’s own bed in business class?
The dim sum for breakfast looks very good — almost certainly the right choice.
Primera Air on arrival. Alas, poor airline. We hardly knew ye.
Great that you got to ride the A350 on this one — aside from the novelty factor, what did you notice as the big differences, especially given the cabin looks so similar on CX between the two aircraft?
Thanks for sharing this one, and I look forward to reading your next series — and more New York to Hong Kong in CX J — in the near future.
"Primera Air on arrival. Alas, poor airline. We hardly knew ye."
- It was sad to hear about Primera Air since it recently ceased operations
To answer your question, the other factors would include the WiFi onboard, the flat bed which I've mentioned earlier, more modern cabin, as well as the more interactive entertainment system, which I thought was a plus. Once again, I'm so glad you enjoyed reading this trip report! Happy travels! ;)
A fantastic report as always! It's nice that you got to discover a nicer part of the Bridge and change your opinion. CX lounges are always nice, but with the closure of the Cabin and the Arrival in the last year, I fear the hub J lounges will get more crowded--though I know they opened the Deck, which seems to have gotten mixed reviews.
Beautiful planespotting! HKG really is a planespotters paradise with so much variety and huge windows with great views. Though I like my local airport IAD, planespotting from inside the terminal (A/B Concourse) is always difficult.
I really like the look of the updated Zodiac Cirrus seats on the CX A350s. It makes the cabin look brighter and more modern.
Catering looks good by CX standards, though the pre-arrival breakfast's portion seems rather stingy. Having flown AA J to HKG a few times, 3 meals are served, and the mid-flight snack on AA is about the same size as that breakfast on CX. Granted, US carriers tend to overfeed, and I'm sure the quality of CX catering is better, though AA's mid-flight dim sum was surprisingly good the 2 times I've had it.
Thanks for sharing!
I do the best I can when it comes to plane spotting! Glad you like them!
Well, in regards of the pre-arrival breakfast, I'd say that the dim sum being served onboard is the same portion from what I've seen in the past. So, I wouldn't say that especially with the other courses that come during the breakfast service.
I'm so glad you enjoyed reading this report! Happy travels! ;)
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