A full service experience from the Gold Coast to Hong Kong, complete with super-hero blockbuster flicks, cinnamon and apple hotcakes, and noodles with wood-ear fungus & assorted dim-sum sounds like a winner to us.
The details
Flight: HX016 Airbus A330-300
Aircraft: A330 Airbus
Seat: 16G (Aisle)
Configuration: 1-2-1
KarryOn star rating: 4/5
Hong Kong Airlines operates a thrice weekly, triangular Gold Coast – Cairns – Hong Kong service conveniently connecting Queenslanders and folk from northern New South Wales with Asia’s Big Apple. This service increases to 5 x weekly seasonally between 09 December 16 and 25 March 2017.
Incredibly, Gold Coast Airport is now a gateway to Hong Kong, Singapore, New Zealand, Japan, Malaysia and beyond. For residents of the region, it’s now a viable international departure point, avoiding the drive to Brisbane or a transit through Sydney to meet your international flight.
What started out as a seasonal service was smartly upgraded in February this year to a year-round schedule bringing consistency to the OOL-HKG route.
The service is operated by a 292-seat Airbus A330 aircraft with 32 business class seats departing for Hong Kong on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday mornings.
Travelling via Cairns adds some time to the outbound journey, but the stop is quick – on the ground for just an hour – and you’re away again before you know it. It does, however, make for a bit of an odd sector service-wise between the Queensland cities. A muffin, a cuppa, and just enough time for a full flick.
The checking in
Outbound from the GC check-in was quiet. Really quiet. This was one of the lightest flights I can recall, with more people seated in Business Class than in Economy. Not surprisingly, we were checked in promptly and headed for security, boarding passes in hand within a matter of minutes.
At a little after 9.00am, we walked across the tarmac, up the stairs and boarded a gleaming A330-300 aircraft bound for Cairns and Hong Kong.
Inbound check-in at Hong Kong International Airport was a significantly busier affair with multiple Hong Kong Airlines flights departing to destinations across the airline’s network. Still, check-in was completed swiftly, with a smile and no fuss.
The seat
Business Class seats enjoy a 1-2-1 configuration, have a generous 72-inch pitch and convert to 1.98 metres long (plenty longer than this writer needs) fully-flat beds. They are arranged cleverly with the centre pairs alternately together and then apart in rows down the cabin. Likewise, the window seats alternate against the window and the aisle, giving every passenger direct aisle access.
For mine, the pre-programmed ‘Read’ seat position was just as comfortable as lying flat out.
Food and drinks
Meal Pork HX16
The alcohol service was a bit hit-and-miss, with a request for white wine resulting in a red, for example. And somewhat disappointingly, there was no ‘welcome aboard’ chilled glass of bubbles offered. When requested, we were advised that they’d have to chill a bottle. Unusual for the pointy-end, I must say.
Having said that, the food on board was really tasty. Full service kicked in once the aircraft departed Cairns with good quality meals served shortly after take-off and before landing in Hong Kong.
We especially enjoyed the pan-fried fish with papaya salsa, and the wonderfully named three-cup chicken with steamed rice. The fried Dan-Dan noodles with wood-ear fungus and assorted dim-sum was also delicious. Western dishes are offered for the unadventurous. And any airline that serves cinnamon and apple hotcakes for breakfast and Haagen-Dazs ice cream for dessert gets a gold star from me.
The entertainment
Kid kicking back HX16
Loads of entertainment is available on demand from the IFE service on the generous 15.4 inch PTVs.
The selection generally seems skewed to kids and lovers of super-hero blockbuster flicks. But with a sprinkling of rom-coms and meatier content there was plenty for everyone.
The difference
Safety video
The difference is really the Gold Coast factor. The fact that GC pax can enjoy a full-service experience to Hong Kong and beyond on the airline’s network into China, Japan, Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand and more is pretty extraordinary. And name another airline that serves Dan-Dan noodles with wood-ear fungus. Just you try.
Hong Kong Airlines caters well for little ones with a signature ‘Happy Angel’ crew member aboard every flight.
Happy Angels ensure families are well looked after. Kids 3-12 years receive a travel journal with journey pages and designated space for the Captain to sign. A nice touch.
In addition, the airline offers a range of pre-booked ‘Sweeten You Up’ services for passengers departing Hong Kong that include a (paid) cake and champagne service (‘Give a Sweet Surprise’) and greeting cards signed by cockpit and cabin crew; birthdays perks and (‘Sweet Birthday Fun’). Your birthday also means chocolates at check-in and an invitation to the VIP Lounge for you and up to two companions, as well as a celebratory Polaroid instant photo and large birthday themed photo frame.
Sweet, non?
Published Fares
OOL/CNS to HKG Return Economy Adult AUD850* & Child AUD774* including taxes
OOL/CNS to HKG Return Business Adult AUD1928* & Child AUD1424* including taxes
*Terms & Conditions apply. Fares are subject to change and availability. Fares include taxes as at 12Oct16, based on low season departures 09Jan-17Nov.
About Hong Kong Airlines
Established in 2006, Hong Kong Airlines is a full-service airline based in Hong Kong with a wide destination network covering over 30 major cities across the Asia Pacific region.
The current operating fleet is made up of 33 Airbus aircraft with an average age of around 4.1 years – one of the youngest fleet in the world. Hong Kong Airlines has been awarded the internationally acclaimed 4-star rating from Skytrax since 2011.
Contact Details: Hong Kong Airlines Australian Contact Centre Phone: 1300 889 190, email: hongkong.sydney@worldaviation.com.au, official website: www.hkairlines.com, facebook: www.facebook.com/hkairlines
