CX524: HongKonG » NaRiTa

Miscellaneous
Date: 2014/08/01
Flight: CX524
DEP: 0100HKT, Actual (push-back): 0116HKT
ARR: 0625JST, Actual (touch-down): 0621JST
Class: Business
Fare: Restricted Business

Check-in
The Hong Kong in-town checkin was deserted a little before 23:00.  No issues.

Lounge
Cathay Pacific had a few lounges in HKG.  I went to the one closest to my gate, gate#30.  It was too warm, and noisy, and crowded.  Still it was better than the ones offered by JAL. The "quiet" section was more peaceful though it was still too warm.

Onboard
Equipment was a 777-300.  Business class cabin was around 80% full, surprisingly full for such a red-eye.  Business class seats were CX's "New Regional Business Class" seats" which were much better than those cubicles in a herringbone formation.  However, it's not lie-flat.  Far from it.  The panel covering the recessing storing the remote-control was in an odd location.  I flipped it open a few times by mistake.  It simple didn't afford the seat pitch and comfort to justify the price of a business class ticket.  This is especially bad for a red-eye flight.  I might as well have flown Premium Economy.

The in-flight service manager, over the P.A. system, welcomed passengers and reminded us all that we should store carry-ons properly, and that flight-attendants will not assist in storing over-sized, and/or overweight bags.  He then repeated the same message, a minute or two later.  Then, again. And again, till the door closed.  The repetition was annoying. especially bad for a red-eye flight, when I wanted to catch some sleep ASAP.

After air-borne, lights were turned off and I managed to doze off.  Woke about an hour before landing and requested dinner.  The flight attendant was concerned that they wouldn't be able to reheat the food in time and offered me fruits and cheese. They needed at least 20 minutes to reheat or heatup the food. I would suggest that Cathay does what JAL does; have on-board microwave ovens. In the end, the flight attendant brought me a fairly hot plate.  The bowl of rice was heated OK but it had dried up.

Verdict
Thumb DOWN.  The in-flight service manager repeating his announcement was most annoying. For the price of a business class ticket, the seats were a rip-off.