Outdated seats and entertainment, but the price is right

The seats are in a 1-2-1 layout in the run-class booth, which means everyone can directly access the corridor. The seats are an older design, with interconnected shapes, which means every second seat is close to the corridor. This can be a little annoying when trying to sleep as you can feel the wave of air when a crew member goes through. The seats near the window, or to the center of the cabin, are a better bet. Other than that, they are quite comfortable and spacious, and the design means you can have your smaller bag sitting beside you during the flight if you want it.

The executive class convenience kit is well fueled with a mask, socks, tooth and paste brush, mouthwash, hand cream, moisturizer on the face, lip protector, hair brush and ear buffitions, and you also receive a pair of disposable slippers. I find the blanket a little too thin, given how cold the cabin is during the flight (I nambo an extra from the empty seat on the other side of the hall and fold). The aerial boxes are very small, requiring a standard cabin bag to be placed to fit. It is not a problem in the business class, but economic crates can be squeezed.

Entertainment + Tech

Many of the Hong Kong Airlines routes are in mainland China and this is reflected in entertainment options – English options are very limited. There are only a few films in English (the latest, as far as I know, is 2023’s John Wick Chapter 4) and some TV series. Screens are larger than you will find in the economy, but they don’t have the clear and clear image you find in the most modern business class systems. Noise cancellation headphones are provided. There is no Wi-Fi and, strangely, the flight map is not working (“disabled by crew” is the message that appears on my screen). My recommendation? Load your own device before flying. There are no USB ports, but there is a universal energy point.

Service

Although entertainment may be missing, the service does not. The flight attendants are friendly and highly attentive. The two times I get up to use the bathroom, they inform me that you are busy and invite me to go back to my place – they will come pick me up when you are free. Perhaps it is a subtle way of keeping passengers out of the way in the kitchen, but I have never experienced this ordered way to manage bathrooms to any other airline. To top it off, I had the distinct impression that they gave the bathroom a quick cleaning every time.

Food

There are three options for the main meal: baked meat with mashed potatoes; Cheese tortellini with pumpkin cream sauce; Fried seafood with xo sauce and fried rice. My rule on Asian airlines is always to ask for an Asian dish and fry it does not disappoint. The xo sauce is very tasty and seafood (vieiras, prawns and fish) and rice are cooked perfectly. A ham salad is served as an appetizer and, for dessert, is a slice of cake or a cheese plate. The last one comes with three large pieces of cheese, but strangely only two small crackers. I ask for a little more and they are delivered quickly. A second meal is served at the end of the flight – again I go to the Asian option, meat fillet cubes with rice and vegetables. It’s not as good as the first meal, but acceptable. There is no alcohol listed in the menu, but it is offered – you should ask what you want.

Sustainability

The airline says it is committed to “green aviation”, but currently seems limited to waste reduction.*

One more thing

Hong Kong Airlines now flies its A330-333 model on this route, but the airline has two different types of A330-300s and each has a very different business class cabin. It is worth checking exactly which aircraft you are flying when choosing your seat.

Price

From about US $ 4300, return of the executive class. **

The verdict

While seats are very dated by modern standards and entertainment lacks, service helps compensate for deficiencies. If you can get an application class rate at a cheaper price than rivals on this route, it is worth considering. A comparison at the time of the newsroom put the Hong Kong Airlines executive class $ 1500 to $ 2000 cheaper than the Cathay Pacific and Qantas rivals on the same dates.

Our classification outside five

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★★★

The writer flew as a guest of the Hong Kong Airlines and the Hong Kong Tourism Council. See Hongkongairlines.com

*For more information about air travel and sustainability, see Iata.org.

** Tariffs are based on available for travel three months from the time of publication and subject to changes.