HONG KONG AIRLINES (Hangzhou Xiaoshan to Hong Kong Airport), BUSINESS CLASS, AIRBUS A320

5/8/2015

Route: Hangzhou Xiaoshan Airport to Hong Kong Airport (Chep Lap Kok)

Departure date and time of flight: 08:10am in May 2015

Flight number: HX129

Flight duration: Two hours 15 minutes

Cabin: BUSINESS CLASS

Aircraft type: Airbus A320-214

Aircraft registration: B-LPL

Aircraft serial number: 6003

Engines: Two x CFMI CFM56-5B4/P

First flight: 28/02/2014

Airline callsign: Bauhinia

Loyalty program: Fortune Wings Club

Punctuality of the flight:

The flight departed on time from Hangzhou. For me, it was a bit of a sad feeling because this was my last flight out of Hangzhou, and I was not sure when I will return. The Business Class lounge at Hangzhou is shared by many international airlines, including KLM, Qatar Airways, Eva Air, Thai Airways and many others that fly direct to this beautiful city. Hangzhou has been a city that is close to my heart and I will no doubt miss it a lot. But, for me the time had come to personally move on and go back to the UK for personal reasons.

The nice thing about the flight was that as we departed, I was presented with some of the best views of the city that has effectively ben my hoe for the past year. I could clearly see West Lake and Binjiang District, as we made our way towards south of China and towards Hong Kong.

Any baggage issues:

No issues. In Business Class each passenger can carry up to three pieces weighing a total of 30KG.

Comments on check-in and any issues:

The check-in staff at Hong Kong Airport were polite, and very professional. There was no problem what so ever.

Comments regarding the pre-meal service:

Business Class passengers were offered a choice of champagne, orange juice, tomato juice, and apple juice out of a hand tray service provided by the crew members. A choice of either sparkling or still mineral water is also offered.

All Business Class passengers are handed out hot hand towels just prior to the meal service. The towels have a lemon scent.

Comments regarding the first meal:

Passengers in Business Class are offered a detailed dinner menu (the same menu is provided for flights leaving around lunch time as well).

Main course:

There were two choices for the main dish. These included:

Stir fried beef and bean curd sheet with satay sauce with vegetable rice and Chinese vegetables,
Grilled chicken with red wine sauce with roasted parsley potato, with western vegetables

I opted for the grilled chicken – poultry always tastes better as airplane food because it does not lose its taste even at high altitude in a pressurised cabin. The chicken breast had a generous covering layer of the tomato concasse, which made the meat melt in the mouth with each bite. This dish was not just about the chicken but also about those lovely boiled baby carrots and vegetables (which were fresh, unlike in some other airlines were you get some food that has been in the freezer for the past three days or something!). A neat sprinkling of salt and pepper goes fine with the meal (both are provided in small 3D square ceramic cubes that have the Hong Kong Airlines logo on them (the lotus flower). The main meal was provided with a selection of bread rolls and pastries from the bread basket.

Dessert:

Pistachios and coconut cream cake.

Comments regarding the drinks service:

A second round of drinks was offered after the meal. This included coffee and tea (green tea and black tea).

Comments regarding the in-flight snacks (if any):

Plenty of offerings of tea and coffee throughout the short flight.

Comments regarding the second meal (if any):

None

Comments on the in-flight system (if any):

On the Airbus A320-214, Hong Kong Airlines provides a mobile 10.6 inch PTV screen in Business Class and a 10.6 screen in Economy Class as well. Economy Class seats have the screens embedded at the back of the seats while passengers in the Business Class cabins have their screens neatly tucked away in the armrest and can be pulled out wherever you want. A330-300 and A330-200V feature 15.5” TV monitors, and the A330-200 features 10.5” TV monitors for your viewing pleasure.

Noise cancellation headphones are provided to every passenger in Business Class, and normal headphone are provided in Economy Class. In Business Class there is also the provision of purple slippers and a cotton blanket.

Comments of professionalism of the cabin crew:

The staff were very proud of their brand image and represented their airline at the highest level possible. When under a situation of high pressure, the staff seemed to act with professionalism and integrity.

Comments on the interior of the aircraft (including seat comfort):

Hong Kong Airlines has an emerging brand that is beginning to be globally recognised. For A320-214, Business Class cabin accommodates eight passengers in a 2-2 seat design, while Economy Class cabin caters for 259 passengers in a 3-3 setting.

The seats in Economy Class on the Airbus A320-214 have a pitch of 32 inches recline, and are 17.5 inches wide.

Business Class seats on the Airbus A320-214 have a pitch of 60 inches recline, and are 20 inches wide.

All the Business Class seats come standard with a plug for laptop or mobile phone (though you can only recharge the mobile phone but you cannot use it!), and an inbuilt massage system (the seat vibrates), Hong Kong Airlines are very proud of their brand image and have encrusted the lotus lower logo onto every product that they have on the aircraft. Lovely purple and red colours adorn the seats and the interior of the cabins.

Overall rating 1-10 (worst-best): 10