Review of Cathay Pacific flight Hong Kong Dubai in Business

Airline Cathay Pacific
Flight CX738
Class Business
Seat 20D
Aircraft Airbus A330-300
Flight time 07:25
Take-off 15 Jul 16, 02:35
Arrival at 15 Jul 16, 06:00
CX   #2 out of 96 Airlines A minimum of 10 flight-reports within the past two years is required to appear in the rankings. 509 reviews
KriegerHo
By 4704
Published on 15th August 2016
Hi readers! This is my FR of Cathay Pacific's flight from HKG to DXB. I hope you'll enjoy.

Introduction:
I arrived at Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) for check in for my flight to Dubai International Airport (DXB). My flight is CX745 fro HKG via DXB to Bahrain (BAH). This report will be about my flight from HKG to DXB.

A view of HKG Airport T1
photo hkia

At the airport:
Arriving HKG airport 7 minutes after midnight (0:07am), I checked in for my flight. Oh My God! I've been free upgraded to Business class for the flight! It's the first time in my life. I'm so happy!

Aisle seat… not bad at all. Though I can't see the views, but it was very quiet since there are only 3 people including me at the back of the Business class.
photo 14344966_1577516479222187_182250986036184828_n

How to spend the time in the Airport:
I finished my check in at 0:15, then I headed downstairs for the wifi-egg. The company is crazyegg. Since CX's check in desks are at the B side (of the meeting hall), I have to travel down to 5/f and walk to the A side. This took me 10 minutes. I got the egg by 30 minutes after midnight. Then, another long walk to the 7/f toilet. When I finished peeing, it was 0:40! Time passed so quickly… We could go in from the South side of the immigration, but there are repairing works, so another walk to the north side. After the immigration, it was 0:50… I spent so much time in the non-restricted area… then I tried to get in to the Wing Lounge, but failed. The staff said: "I'm sorry, Mr. Ho, but you can't go in, because your ticket is free upgraded." Then I headed to the departure gate, 19. From gate 2 to gate 19, it was a long walk, at least 8 minutes. On the way, I saw the plaza premium lounge, and I get in using my card. But, I only have a 15 minute stay there. My boarding time is 1:20 (unknown to the delayed boarding time at that moment).

Ate a noodle and drinked a can of oolong tea before heading back to gate 19.
photo plaza prem

The seats are quite confortable there.
photo plaza prem seats

Gate:
I headed back to the gate at 1:15, still unknown to the delay. When I asked them at 1:25, why aren't we boarding? Then they told me because of reduced flight time, we would be boarding at 1:50. I want to swear so much, because there are no announcements made and I could spend more time in the lounge if the announcement was made. Also, I rushed back for the boarding because of the boarding time witten on the BP - 1:20am. They are so "responsible". So I took a few photos before I boarded the plane.

Dragonair A330-300 at the left of our plane to Dubai.
photo dragonair a330-300

Our flight!
photo flight

Flight Information Panel (In Chinese)
photo notice board

First/Business class queue
photo business class

Boarding:
Boarding was commenced at 1:50am with the people with disabilities going first. Then it is business class, oneworld, and Marco Polo members. At last it will be Economy class passengers. I was in the middle of the business class queue. It was a long walk to the plane, an A330-300 from gate 19 because of the design of the terminal. When I reached the aircraft, the crew greeted me very happily with a big smile on their faces. They were very polite. The hot welcome towel and the welcome drink was served after all business class passengers board the plane and settled down.

Control Panel
photo control panel

Welcome drink
photo welcome drink

Welcome Hot Towel
photo welcome hot towel


Takeoff:
After a 11 minutes taxing on the tarmac, takeoff started. We took off on 2:34am. The plane was piloted by professional pilots. At about 5 minutes after take off, the seat belt sign was off.

Airplane meals:
The dinner was served shortly after reaching cruising altitude. At 1hr 20mins before landing, continental breakfast was served.

Dinner Menu
photo supper

Continental Breakfast Menu
photo continential breakfast

Landing:
After 7hrs 17mins on the sky, on 5:51am we landed in DXB airport runway 12R. Before we land, we circled around the airport for a few minutes and the first attempt to land was a go around due to the high altitude (7000ft, 18miles). A second landing was successful and splendid. We were taxied to the terminal by 6am.

Sunrise
photo sunrise

DXB Airport Baggage claim Information Panel
photo dxb baggage claim

Extra:
I wasn't a sleeper on the plane. At about 2:21am Dubai time, I woke up. It wasn't a time where flight attendants work, so when they come and see me awake, they would chat with me. Also, a flight attendant called Sarah Ho was very polite to the elderly on the flight.

Improvements:
The delayed boarding time issue wasn't announced, could be improved.

P.S. Please give me comments on how to improve. This is my first flight report.
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Verdict

Cathay Pacific

10.0/10
Cabin10.0
Cabin crew10.0
Entertainment/wifi10.0
Meal/catering10.0

Plaza Premium Lounge Management Limited The Travelers' Lounge (East Hall)

7.9/10
Comfort7.5
Meal/catering8.5
Entertainment/wifi8.0
Services7.5

Hong Kong - HKG

9.0/10
Efficiency9.0
Access8.0
Services9.0
Cleanliness10.0

Dubai - DXB

4.0/10
Efficiency3.0
Access4.0
Services2.0
Cleanliness7.0

Conclusion

Hong Kong International Airport: A very clean airport, very hygienic. Officers at the Customs are always polite. The bad thing is that they won't announce delayed boarding and due to the curvature of the airport, the bridge linking to the plane may be very long.

Plaza Premium Lounge (Near Gate 1): The reception person there is quite rude, but the lounge is overall ok. A wide selection of food and drinks. The lounge looks dull. Lastly, toilets are very clean.

Flight: I was in the 33E configuration, so I got the long haul business class seat. The seat has amazing seat pitch and width. The food is amazing, very tasty. Amazing flight crew, very polite. They are chatty and always has a smile on their faces. Cathay Pacific will always be my no.1 choice for travel.

Dubai (DXB) Intenational Airport: Terrible. The people was not trained to listen to instructions and only care for money. My grandma's mini wheelchair arrived 50 mins after the plane parked into the gate and the person who hands the luggage is neither deaf or don't know English. I told that guy to give the wheelchair to me and let me handle it. He just put all the luggage he collected and then go away! Than the person who wheeled my grandma through the terminal so fast that I almost can't chase him despite I am a fast walker. My grandma almost faint because of him. Never choose Dubai (DXB) International Airport for interchange/travel!

Information on the route Hong Kong (HKG) Dubai (DXB)

Les contributeurs de Flight-Report ont posté 5 avis concernant 2 compagnies sur la ligne Hong Kong (HKG) → Dubai (DXB).


Useful

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

La durée moyenne des vols est de 8 heures et 48 minutes.

  More information

9 Comments

If you liked this review or if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to post a comment below !
  • Comment 362935 by
    eminere™ 271 Comments
    A flight report requires pictures...
  • Comment 362937 by
    jah718 7 Comments
    It clearly states in the FAQ's that FR's MUST have pictures. Given the high quality of the reports on here, I would say that if you are not willing to put in the effort, then don't bother posting a report at all.
  • Comment 362938 by
    KriegerHo AUTHOR 15 Comments
    I will put the photos in a minute. Thanks for the reminder.
  • Comment 362949 by
    rays 10 Comments
    Hi KRIEGERHO,
    Thanks for your report. The Plaza Premium Lounge looks really really quiet and nice in your photos. In my memory it was always busy.
    I don't think there will be any announcement about delays at HKG, the only announcements are about gate changes. I think CX do have announcement about delays in their lounges, but it would always be nice to check the FIDS inside the lounge before heading to the gate in case you missed anything, or the delay was not announced.
    • Comment 362953 by
      KriegerHo AUTHOR 15 Comments
      Hi rays

      I'm glad to hear that you enjoyed the report. Maybe the lounge will be not so busy in the midnight. It was strange that nothing showed up in the FIDS about the delay. But anyways, thanks for your comments, and another report will be in about 2 weeks time. Hope you will also see it!
  • Comment 363076 by
    RandomBaritone 5 Comments
    Photos of the seat and meals would be helpful.

    Also, you wrote: "At 1hr 20mins before dinner, continental breakfast was served." Perhaps you meant "1hr 20mins before landing"?
  • Comment 363078 by
    hometoyyz 539 Comments
    Welcome to FR! Always love to hear unexpected upgrade stories... especially because all we North American fliers are told that the "big name" Asian carriers never ever ever upgrade anyone unless they're absolutely forced to. A couple of such stories in recent weeks around here with CX.

    I presume the upgrade was based on the flight being oversold in the back, but any insights into why you were selected for the upgrade? Based on your CX or OneWorld status, or a random bit of luck and kindness?

    An interesting first flight report, I look forward to seeing more. Though I would echo (hopefully in kinder terms) that for future flight reports, it would be great to get some shots of the catering that's offered, the basic layout of the seat, etc. For example, this appears to be the reverse herringbone seats, which I don't think I knew CX offered on any of its 330s.

    Thanks again!
    • Comment 363081 by
      KriegerHo AUTHOR 15 Comments
      Hi hometoyyz

      CX is a good carrier in Asia, the Hong Kong carrier. Since my grandma booked a business class for the trip, maybe it's all about luck and I'm an Asia Miles member? I am not a Marco Polo club member. Everything should be luck. I thank for your comment and your comment could help me on the second, third, fourth and all other flight reports.

      Cathay Pacific's fleet of A330-300's business class consists of the 1-2-1 flat bed configuration (long haul) and the 2-2-2 recliner (regional cabin). I was on the 1-2-1 flat bed configuration's business class.

      A great thanks for your comments. My next report will be up on about 2 weeks. Please look at it and give comments. I hope you enjoyed this.

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