Review of Cathay Pacific flight from Hong Kong to Rome in Economy

INTRODUCTION

Hello FlightReporters
For an aviation geek like me summer means only one thing: flying
At the beginning of June my family and I started to discuss about a big trip in August
We evaluated many places in South East Asia and also India
Finally we find an Italian tour operator offering an interesting 14-day trip of Vietnam and Cambodia
The tour spaced between many places in Northern Vietnam (like Ha Noi and Ha Long bay), Central Vietnam (Hoi An and Hue), South Vietnam (Saigon and Mekong's delta) and Cambodia (Phnom Pehn and Angkor's temples)
To get there from Rome we would have fly with Cathay Pacific through Hong Kong
After some worries about Hong Kong's political situation we left on August 18th
Return planned for September 1st

TRANSFER AT HKG

After landing in HKG from Siem Reap we had just 65' to get to our flight to Rome
While transfering in Hong Kong last time we had to rush to the gate since we didn't know about the underground APM

We desembarked at a remote stand and were carried by bus to the center of the Terminal
The apron bus left us at the Terminal around 23:30
Boarding time was scheduled to start at midnight

Our gate was reported to be number 41, located in the Western part of the Terminal
(We desembarked where the red dot is)

Security was a bit crowded
Fortunately the airport provides a fast track for connecting passengers with less than one hour before boarding
We used it and we past through the checkpoint in less than 10 minutes

The departure lounge
Most of the shops were already closed
This made the Terminal's atmosphere silent

Since our gate was number 41 we proceeded downstairs to get the people mover
If it had been between 10 and 36 we should have walk

I really like this Terminal, designed by award-winner architect Norman Foster

Going down towards the APM

It runs around every five minutes
First stop for us: gates 40-80
The second stop serves the Satellite Terminal

The ride lasted around one minute
Going upstairs to the departure lounge

The departure lounge is incredibly long!
We had to walk it entirely last time we transfered here

Turning left for gate 41

We arrived at the gate around midnight
People were already queuing, but boarding still had not started
The plane seemed to be full

Our plane for tonight's flight
Cathay Pacific Airbus A350-1000, B-LXD, delivered in October '18 (1 year old)
It's equipped with 334 seats (C46-W32-Y256)

Twin A350 parked next to ours

My boarding pass

THE FLIGHT

Boarding was called 15 minutes later than scheduled

Our plane from the jetway

While boarding I gave the flight report form to the Purser
She saw my camera and asked me not to take pics of the crew
The first Economy Class cabin

Our travel agency had already assigned the seats
My family and I had 74A-B-C-D
In Siem Reap we asked for two window seats, but since the plane was full, they couldn't change it
Being a night flight I decided to take the 74D, on the aisle
Very good seat and pitch
Unfortunately the headrest was broken, it didn't stay in the upright position

The view from my seat as boarding continued

IFE showing Colosseum

Differently from FCO-HKG flight the front camera was working
It is located under the fuselage and shows the landing gear

Tail camera

While boarding ended the crew delivered the menu

Time to go to the active runway

During taxi the mood lighting was gradually lowered

At 00:45, five minutes after scheduled, we took off from Hong Kong

The two Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97 engines went full thrust

Bye Bye Hong Kong
Hope to visit you one day

After T/O I made a short nap
I was awaken for the dinner, one hour into the flight
The cabin during meal service

DINNER MENU

Vegetable salad with beef pastrami - Bread and butter
Choice between
Traditional salt baked chicken, pak choy and steamed jasmine rice
Or
Pan fired fish, green beans, carrot, new potato and tomato lemon myrtle sauce
Or
Mushroom and olive penne with tomato coulis
To finish with
Ice cream - Tea - Coffee

Since I spent most of the vacation eating chicken and was afraid about pasta I decide to get fish
It was very tasty and the pan fried was quite delicate
Potatoes were perfectly cooked
I ate also the pastrami slice, jumping the salad

My dad took pasta and told me it was decent, just a bit overcooked

Strawberry ice cream to finish, very good

The cabin immediately after dinner

Since I was very tired I decided to jump movies and tried to sleep

Contrary to my usual I spent around 8 hours sleeping :D
I woke up two hours before landing, while flying over Balkans
Outside sun was rising

BREAKFAST MENU

Seasonal fresh fruit - Fruit yoghurt - Breakfast bread - Fruit preserve and butter
Choice between
Omelette, bacon, roasted potatoes, mushroom and cherry tomato stew
Or
Seafood congee
To finish with
Tea - Coffee

Breakfast with view

I chose the omelette, which was fine

The still-sleepy cabin during breakfast

The Purser came to my seat to give me the flight report back
Surprisingly the captain also gave me the weather chart
I really appreciate this kind of gifts
Moreover the flight report was very well filled

One hour left
Already feeling home's smell

Crossing Adriatic Sea

While flying over Italy my sister kinldy gave me her window seat, 74A

Ice crystals on the window

Raked wingtip with a wake

Entering Italian's airspace

Windfarm

Meanwhile cabin was prepared for landing

Finally…Rome in sight

Fiumicino Airport in the distance

Hainan Airlines Boeing 787 Dream)Liner landing at FCO

Tyrrean Coast

Banking over the coastline north of the airport
We'd land from north

Bracciano Lake in the distance

Landing gear down

Cabin crew prepare for landing

Parallel landing on RWY16L
We'd land on 16R

Toll plaza on A12 motorway
It connects Rome to Genova

Rome countryside while approaching FCO

RWY 16R on sight

Almost on the ground

50…40…30…20…10…Retard! Retard!

At 7:48 (28 minutes after scheduled) we touched down at "Leonardo da Vinci" International Airport

Alitalia and Emirates (in Expo 2020 livery) Boeing 777s

Qatar Airways Boeing 787 Dream)Liner and American Airlines tail behind

Blue-Express Boeing 737 taking off from RWY 25

Some heavies parked at the Satellite Terminal
Qatar Airways Boeing 787 Dream)Liner and United Airlines Boeing 777

United Airlines and Alitalia Boeing 777s

Hainan Airlines and China Souther Airlines Boeing 787s and American Airlines Boeing 777
I really like CZ 787 livery

I realized we'd be parked at a remote stand

United Airlines and Alitalia Boeing 777s and Hainan Airlines Boeing 787 Dream)Liner
The latter is the plane I saw landing from air

Just landed American Airlines Boeing 787 Dream)Liner

Blocking at the stand minutes before 8:00

The cabin during desembark
I prefer waiting on the plane instead of rushing to get to the bus

Blue Air Boeing 737 taxiing

While disembarking I tried to visit cockpit, but the bus was waiting and I had to give up
I was so happy to see this beauty from the tarmac
Fuselage shot

Etihad Airways Boeing 777 in the distance

Bye bye B-LXD, you're the best

That engine looks massive from outside

Love that elegant nose with eyeliner

Etihad Airway Boeing 777
The nose cone was a bit ruined

United Airlines Boeing 777 and Air China A330 in the background

Ryanair Boeing 737

Alitalia Boeing 777s in the distance

The departure lounge seen from outside
That glass bubble is really nice

R(H)ome sweet Home

Taking right gate for European Passports

The arrival inspection area had been improved in the last years
A lot of new control booths were added and also a lot of eGates
The eGate inspection took just few seconds
Belt number 9 for our baggages

Our baggages started to be delivered once we got at the carousel

We greet our group mates and proceeded through customs

Meeters and greeters hall

We went outside to take parking shuttle bus
The airport seemed like it had just woke up

The bus arrived in around 5 minutes

In about 10 minutes we got to the long term parking to take our car
We arrived at home in less than half a hour

I've been really happy making this vacation. We've seen wonderful and surprising place and encounter this particular culture
Moreover our groupmates contribute to make this travel amazing

See you to the next report