Review of Cathay Pacific flight Hong Kong Taipei in Business

Airline Cathay Pacific
Flight CX474
Class Business
Seat 12K
Aircraft Boeing 777-300ER
Flight time 01:40
Take-off 27 Dec 15, 08:35
Arrival at 27 Dec 15, 10:15
CX   #2 out of 95 Airlines A minimum of 10 flight-reports within the past two years is required to appear in the rankings. 509 reviews
dw55
By 2368
Published on 24th January 2016
This is the final leg of my five-segment flight from Los Angeles to Taipei:
1. American Airlines, AA5941, LAX-SFO, First Class - http://flight-report.com/en/report-12916.html
2. Japan Airlines, JL1, SFO-HND, Business Class - http://flight-report.com/en/report-12932.html
3. Japan Airlines, JL25, HND-PEK, Business Class - http://flight-report.com/en/report-12939.html
4. Dragonair, KA997, PEK-HKG, Business Class - http://flight-report.com/en/report-12953.html
5. Cathay Pacific, CX474, HKG-TPE, Business Class [This report]
6. Hong Kong Airlines, HX253, TPE-HKG, Business Class - http://flight-report.com/en/report-12991.html
7. Thai Airways, TG601, HKG-BKK, First Class - http://flight-report.com/en/report-13002.html
8. Thai Airways, TG614, BKK-PEK, First Class - http://flight-report.com/en/report-13015.html
9. Air China, CA887, PEK-LAX, First Class - http://flight-report.com/en/report-13022.html

Sorry for the lack of pictures. I wasn't planning to write a flight report back then.

My flight from Beijing arrived at the North Satellite Concourse at HKG. Being the first passenger to disembark didn't make much difference other than being able to secure a seat on the shuttle bus to the main terminal. The bus didn't leave until fully loaded. Transit was efficient and required just a security screening. I then took the APM to the west end of the terminal, which is where Cathay Pacific The Bridge lounge is located.
photo DSC07126

Cathay Pacific The Bridge lounge entrance (taken from my previous visit)
photo DSC04585

I left Los Angeles on Christmas eve. It had been 45 hours since I left home. Shower was the first thing I needed. It was only 40 minutes from departure, so I had to rush through my shower and a quick breakfast at the lounge. This is totally a first world problem, as I would have walked leisurely to the gate if I were in economy class.
photo DSC07129

Cathay Pacific Boeing 777-300ER
photo DSC07132

What a luxury to fly on a reverse herringbone Cirrus seat for such a short flight. Pre-departure drink was served and menu distributed.
photo DSC07137

The mini cabin (rows 11-12), located right behind first class, is my favorite.
photo DSC07141

After a short nap, the purser asked if I would like breakfast. Sure, why not! I opted for dim sum, which tasted pretty good. Having a meal on a such a short flight is another luxury.
photo DSC07139

Halfway through my meal, I started to notice a flight attendant walking hastily back and forth on my aisle every minute or so. Then I realized she was checking on me, as it was almost time for landing. As soon as I finish my meal, she took away my tray, literally right away.

We landed at Terminal 1 at TPE, which was renovated a few years ago and looks pretty impressive.
photo IMG_5606

TPE Terminal 1 arrival hall
photo IMG_5607

Kuo-kuang bus to town for less than US$4. The airport metro should be completed next time I'm back.
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Verdict

Cathay Pacific

8.8/10
Cabin9.5
Cabin crew8.5
Entertainment/wifi8.5
Meal/catering8.5

Cathay Pacific The Bridge

8.8/10
Comfort9.0
Meal/catering8.5
Entertainment/wifi8.5
Services9.0

Hong Kong - HKG

9.5/10
Efficiency9.5
Access9.5
Services9.0
Cleanliness10.0

Taipei - TPE

8.4/10
Efficiency7.0
Access8.0
Services8.5
Cleanliness10.0

Conclusion

A very pleasant experience for such a short flight. The Cirrus seat is a huge plus, compared to recliner seats that CX and other carriers use on other flights for this route. I managed to take a nap and have breakfast in just one hour. On the other hand, the flight attendants must be under tremendous pressure to get all the service done. Overall the crew was very friendly and efficient, as expected for Cathay Pacific. One point deducted for checking on my breakfast progress every minute or so - at least make it two minutes maybe?

I have visited The Bridge lounge twice, but didn't get to really enjoy it both times. I was sick the first time and rushed the second. I hope to be able to really enjoy this or other CX lounges next time I'm in Hong Kong.

This report concludes my adventurous five-segment and four-carrier flights from Los Angeles to Taipei. Reports on my inbound flights are coming up next.

Information on the route Hong Kong (HKG) Taipei (TPE)

Les contributeurs de Flight-Report ont posté 60 avis concernant 5 compagnies sur la ligne Hong Kong (HKG) → Taipei (TPE).


Useful

La compagnie qui obtient la meilleure moyenne est Cathay Pacific avec 8.4/10.

La durée moyenne des vols est de 1 heures et 38 minutes.

  More information

7 Comments

If you liked this review or if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to post a comment below !
  • Comment 155723 by
    marathon GOLD 10112 Comments
    Yes indeed, J service is a rush on the HKG-TPE route, especially since the actual flight time is typically 1h18', much less than the scheduled 1h40'.

    The seats for people waiting for passengers at TPE are part of these tiny design tricks which cost next to nothing and make an airport friendly for all. The subway link will make things a lot more convenient, although I have a fond memory of KuoKuang Bus #1819 that I took so many times.

    Thanks for sharing !

    PS : the flight should be referenced CX474.
    • Comment 333152 by
      dw55 AUTHOR 45 Comments
      Compared to domestic flights in the US of similar length, this is tremendously better. I'm very impressed by the efficiency of the crew.
      The subway line was originally scheduled to open by this time, but was delayed again. Kuo-kuang bus will always be a cheap and reliable way to town :)
      Thanks for reading!
  • Comment 155957 by
    KévinDC TEAM SILVER 6668 Comments
    This is totally a first world problem
    - Haha, true, but it definitely would have been nice not to have to rush as CX lounges are always a pleasant experience! Showering after a string of long flights is one of the best feelings in the world. All your stress just melts away. One of the best perks of Premium cabins or Elite status.

    What a luxury to fly on a reverse herringbone Cirrus seat for such a short flight.
    - You said it! it doesn't get better than that for a 1.5 hour flight!

    Having a meal on a such a short flight is another luxury.
    - Totally agree! Though I think it's only really a luxury for those of us who live in the US. Seems standards in Asia. Dim sum looks good!

    Thanks for sharing!

  • Comment 156219 by
    NGO85 SILVER 1963 Comments
    Thanks for sharing this FR!

    45 hours without a shower? No wonder the guy next to you on the HND-PEK flight changed seats ;)
    So I took this exact same flight in July, definitely not that exciting (other than the natural IFE out the window on a clear day). My menu and tray look almost exactly the same as yours when I looked at my old pictures, CX is consistent!

    No wonder you complained about the HX seats after getting the CX Cirrus on this flight. It really is a great seat.

    We often complain about the offerings on routes like this, but then you think about what you’d get on a flight of this length (LAX-SFO) in the US and you can at least appreciate everything about this flight (hard and soft product).
    • Comment 333636 by
      dw55 AUTHOR 45 Comments
      Lol, it could have been worse if it was summer!
      I really like CX's Cirrus seat, except there's bump that makes my lower back uncomfortable when lying at 180 degrees. I have to make it around 175 degrees to smooth it out.
      This flight beats the LAX-SFO one by all means. Probably the best short haul flight available in the market.
      Thanks for reading!

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