Growing Old in Style - Cathay Pacific CX376 Düsseldorf to Hong Kong in Business

Growing Old in Style – Cathay Pacific CX376 Düsseldorf to Honk Kong in Business Class.

AUTHORS NOTE: PICTURE HEAVY.

Index:

CX376 Düsseldorf to Hong Kong International Airport
Cathay Pacific, Seat 12F, Boeing 777-300ER
5730 Miles flown, 0 Avios earned, 0 Tier Points Earned

With a skip and a bounce, I headed down the jetway.

I was welcomed aboard, and escorted to my seat in front business cabin (Cathay Pacific have two business class cabins aboard their 777-300ERs – 2 rows in the front section, and the bulk of the seats behind.

As a result the forward cabin is a very intimate affair.

I popped my stuff in the overhead bin and took stock of my surroundings.

So the seat – it’s a very nice reserve herringbone seat, in a 1-2-1 formation. I’ve gone for a window seat… well.. just because.

In another place, there maybe other seats than window seats… but not in my world.

The seat itself was comfortable and didn’t feel like a bench, with multiple controls for it. IFE system controls were also there too.

The seat mood-light.

L-R Light, IFE Controller, Seat Controller. Power

IFE inputs, Power outputs and USB Output/Input

Headphones provided were the noise cancelling variety in a vanity box to the site of the seat.

Headphones

Welcome drinks were offered – and there was only one drink to go for…

Might as well start as I mean to go on….

The forward Business Class mini-cabin.

Departure was slightly delayed as I sat back and watched the world go by. In that time two members of staff greeted me

On the tarmac. Bubbles – check. iPhone in a Pikachu case…. check.

In front of me, was a 15″ screen of Cathay Pacific CX Studio screen.

15″ IFE Screen

The safety video played indicating it was time for us to push back and make the long trip to Hong Kong.

The plane begun its taxi past the parked Germanwings, Air Berlin and Eurowings planes, and lined up for the runway.

The maintenance and holding pad.

With a roar, the twin GE-90s spooled up, powering the accent into the sky

With a smooth take off, the German countryside unfolded below me.

With Germany and more underneath, it was time to explore the IFE system.

Let’s start with the negatives – of which there are two. Firstly, before any programme plays on the IFE there’s a 4 minute set of adverts that plays.

Secondly – and perhaps more importantly, the content whilst varied wasn’t that great of actual content – and it seemed the IFE programming was put to together in a hurry rather than planned.

Compared the content of a modern British Airways 787 or a Qatar Airways A350/787, it was distinctly lacking.

That being said, I found appropriate content to enjoy on the system. Well, anything involving Supermarionation, Minions and American Dad can kill time happily.

Hot nuts were handed out, along with orders for drinks .

Bubbles with nuts.

I do like to vary my diet… so I tried a Pacific Sunrise – made of Champagne, Drambuie, lemon & orange zest.

See. I can be different.

Table cloths were handed out as I fumbled around to release the table (and also.. re-configuring the seats too).

A tray arrived with the starters and a salad.

The tray.

So here we have a Salmon and Avocado mouse special. Rather tasty.

The salad – a rather deep bowl, with carrots, radishes and of course – lettuce.

Bread was also offered..

Garlic Bread in the air – that’s a new one on me.

And a top up of the Pacific Sunset. Rather delectable.

The mains arrived – I went for the Chinese option – Chicken with Pak Choi, Carrots and fresh rice.

With Chilli sauce. Because everything is better with Chilli sauce.

The rice was nice and fresh and the chicken dish was a nice compliment to the dish. It was a simple dish – but simple dishes work really well in the air when they have good flavours.

With the cheese tray passing, I slowly was yawning myself to sleep as the sun was setting outside.

I pretty much crashed out after lunch and popped the bed in flatish position. Well, lets put it this – I was out cold for a good 5 hours or so.

Guess the lack of sleep caught up with me.

By the time I woke up, there was a bottle of water beside me… the blinds drawn and the world was still a good place

With 4 and a bit hours on the clock still to go, I was feeling a bit peckish. There was also turbulence. So after getting a drink, and waiting for turbulence to settle, there was a delivery of Wantons and Noodle Soup.

Well… why not?

Mmmm. Lovely Wantons and Noodle Soup. Well. I like noodles, wontons and soup.

I settled into into a film… and found… Minions!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5CqxtagHZM

(You’ve got to admit – the Universal theme sounds a lot better with Minions singing it).

Hello Minions!

And of course, Big Kevin is wandering around London. But enough about me and my tummy.

As you can see, a tablecloth was set for the breakfast service. Drinks were offered

A tray was offered with the first parts of breakfast – Muesli with Yoghurt, and fruit

I’m not a fan admittedly, but it does look nice.

Fruit portion.

The cabin during breakfast – First class beyond those curtains.

The cooked breakfast. A little mean (almost like a Club Europe breakfast), made up with an omelette, spinach, chicken sausage and a potato hash.

The tray

With breakfast being served whilst we were over China, our plane was heading towards its destination of Hong Kong.

Time is an illusion. It’s also sponsored as well (a lot of things seems to be on Cathay Pacific).

The cabin itself was cycling through the colours as the cabin was tidied up for landing.

With the cabin tidied up, we were all set for the approach into Hong Kong. This being early in the morning was in darkness.

Glimmers of sunrise as the plane descends.

With the plane descending, it made a powerful landing at Hong Kong International Airport.

The pane turned off reasonably quickly off the runway, passing the cargo ramp to the right of the plane and the passenger terminal to the left.

The taxi to the gate was unusually short – indicating that there would be a heck of walk coming up to arrivals and immigration. Wonderful.

Arriving after 10 hours and 30 in the air, our Boeing 777-300ERs engines spooled down, and the jetbridge connected.

Disembarkation was via Door 1L, with the curtains not pulled back until the First Class passengers had disembarked.

I thanked the crew, and headed off into the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

OVERALL: A pretty good product. The seat itself was comfortable for the lounge haul trip, the food was great (if a little mean portioned… but that’s just me), and the interaction with the staff was faultless. The IFE system is good in principle, but the content needs a good look and examination.

But nothing overly bad to report in the least in the air – and that’s a good thing.

Next: Hong Kong International Arrivals and CX The Arrival

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Comments

CraigTPA says

28/12/2015 at 6:41 pm

Very enjoyable report., And even though I’m not a Pokemon fan, I want a Pikachu phone case now.

But it looks like the Spell Check Demons goosed you on the title. (Apologies, Worst. Pun. Ever.)
- Kevincm says
  
  28/12/2015 at 6:44 pm
  
  Those demons love to sneak in anywhere these days.
  
  Fixed. Thanks.
  
  And yes. It is possible to look professional with a Pikachu phone case. My colleagues in the office disagree – but that’s besides the point…
Tom says

28/12/2015 at 7:28 pm

How would u rate CX biz against other OW or *A carriers ?
MDR says

29/12/2015 at 8:30 am

Note that if you can position to OSL, there are some relatively inexpensive business-class fares on CX (about £1000 return) from there to HKG for mid-week travel through the end of June 2016. Other points in Asia are a bit more, and originating from ARN or CPH also adds a bit more. Bookable on CX website (only?).
Christian says

29/12/2015 at 12:40 pm

At the risk of nitpicking on spelling, your Boarding Area headline reads “Honk Kong”. Great report, though.
- Kevincm says
  
  29/12/2015 at 12:43 pm
  
  Good nitpicking. It was fixed last night – I’ll be doing the back end in a bit 🙂

Growing Old in Style – Cathay Pacific CX376 Düsseldorf to Hong Kong in Business

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