Within striking distance

Flight Report: HKG-MNL on Cathay Pacific Flight CX 919 (28 January 2020)

I can’t help but feel a touch of sadness as I write this report, given that it concerns the last flight I took before the pandemic put an end to non-essential travel (for the moment, anyway). Nonetheless, with 2020 drawing to a close and 2021 offering the promise of better days ahead, let’s look back on this journey as a reminder of what we can all look forward to once it’s safe to take to the skies again.

Welcome aboard Cathay Pacific flight CX 919.

Flight Report: ICN-HKG on Cathay Pacific Flight CX 417 (28 January 2020)

In one of my recent Flight Reports, we got a good look at Cathay Pacific’s current long-haul Business Class seat aboard a new A350. This time, we’ll fly back from Seoul on an older A330 fitted with the airline’s previous-generation hardware. The equipment might be a little less than cutting-edge, but it’s still more than capable of delivering a premium onboard experience.

Welcome aboard Cathay Pacific flight CX 417.

(Mini-)Lounge Report: Asiana Business Lounge West, Seoul-Incheon International Airport, South Korea

At airports where it doesn’t maintain its own lounges – including the Seoul area’s Incheon International Airport (ICN) – Cathay Pacific (CX) contracts the services of other operators to make the experience comfortable for its premium passengers. Unfortunately, due to the ongoing global health emergency, flight suspensions by both CX and its partner lounge operator Asiana Airlines (OZ) have led to the temporary closure of the facility described in today’s report. For now, let’s take a peek inside this lounge and see what we can look forward to once it’s ready to reopen its doors.

Welcome to the Asiana Business Class Lounge (West).

Field Report: Heungbokjeon Hall at Gyeongbokgung, Seoul, South Korea (27 January 2020)

The architecture may be traditional and the atmosphere timeless, but the age of most buildings within the walls of Gyeongbokgung can be accounted for in years or decades – not centuries. Excepting a few original structures, this sprawling royal palace in the heart of Seoul is essentially a collection of 20th- and 21st-century replicas. That said, these aren’t just theme-park façades but meticulously assembled recreations, as close to the originals as modern craftsmanship can make them.

Today, we’ll take a look at the latest addition to the palace grounds: the newly rebuilt Heungbokjeon.

Flight Report: HKG-ICN on Cathay Pacific Flight CX 438 (23 January 2020)

In today’s Flight Report, we’ll board one of Cathay Pacific’s new Airbus A350s for a look at their latest-generation Business Class product. The journey is short at less than three hours, but with Seoul – one of my favourite holiday destinations – at the other end and a premium cabin experience in between, this promises to be a trip to remember.

Welcome aboard Cathay Pacific flight CX 438.

Lounge Report: Cathay Pacific’s “The Bridge”, Hong Kong International Airport

As the home base of Cathay Pacific (CX), Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) hosts no less than six lounges for this carrier alone. Sadly, due to the ongoing global health emergency, CX has had to temporarily close four of these lounges – including the subject of this travel report. For the moment, whilst waiting for the day when air travel can safely resume, let’s take a tour of this exclusive facility and see what we can look forward to when it reopens.

Welcome to The Bridge.