CX 238 London Heathrow - Hong Kong
4 July 2024
Business Class

Cathay uses Terminal 3, which looks like a new facility but the check-in area looks claustrophobic with low ceilings and utilitarian finishes. BA also uses this terminal for some of their flights, which I used a few weeks earlier for my short hop to Sweden.

There are many check-in machines available and it was fairly straight forward to print the bag tag and boarding pass. The bag tag is smartly designed as I don't need to peel off anything and just need to slap the two ends together where the red dots are and it will magically stick.

There were no lines for the Business Class counter had I wanted a more in-person experience and my bag was off to the belt in no time.

There isn't much to do land-side otherwise so I headed upstairs to go through priority security right away, and there was barely a line to get through. By the time I exited into the air-side departures hall, it was only 3:34pm, roughly 20 minutes after I got off the Underground.

There was already a huge crowd in the seating area around the shops and my gate hasn't shown on the screens yet, so I browsed around looking for some inspiration and last minute souvenirs. WH Smith and Boots had their full selection, including meal deal sandwiches and even sunscreen if you're headed to Spain. There were also fancier shops should you want a new designer handbag for your flight. I saw Fortnum and Mason wares available but not Harrods while 200g bags of Walkers' short-bread were only going for 13.99 pounds for 2.

With blue skies outside, I opted to do some plane spotting instead, heading towards the high 20s gates, which is along a dark and low ceiling corridor. Aeromexico is not a typical visitor I get to see on my travels.

My flight's gate number appeared around 3:45pm and I headed back across the terminal to gate 1. It's a pier at the opposite end which is bright and airy but each gate is segregated, meaning we get scanned in first, then will be stuck in a holding pen without shops or restaurants. I saw an Emirates A380 parked near my gate but it wasn't too crowded along the corridors. But do use the toilets before you start walking because other than at the start of the pier, that's it and there won't be any more afterwards.

I also helped myself to some reading materials.

Each gate has a large section of window facing the runways with full view of arriving planes. I parked myself at the bench to observe the diverse array of birds visiting Heathrow. This airport won't disappoint aviation enthusiasts.

Boarding was late, starting at around 15 minutes before departure. I noted the crew was very busy and quick organizing themselves and their shelves. My seat is at the second Business Class cabin where it is a little more private with 2 rows only. The A350's seat looks a little more spacious than the 777 I flew 2 months ago. An amenity kit, meal and drinks menus, and bottle of water were already in position while slippers and the bedding were in the footwell. However, its pitfalls are similar to the 777 - it didn't feel so private especially being in the middle seats since my neighbor and I face inwards so I could clearly see him on his laptop and there is no screen divider to pull out so I felt a little exposed. But otherwise, it's a comfortable seat and definitely enjoyable for the 11 hour flight today.

Welcome drinks were served with champagne and orange juice on offer. I noticed Cathay Delight in the menu but they were not offered on the tray. Afterwards, hot towels were distributed.

We pushed back just 14 minutes late, which is quite remarkable given how late boarding started. We taxied for a while and took off just after 5:30pm. Without a window, I turned on the plane's camera for a bird's eye view of the scenery as we bid farewell to London, taking off towards the west then looping around southeast to cross the English Channel. There are 2 cameras available - one beneath the belly and the other on the tail.

The TV screen was huge and I had to slouch ahead to touch it and get through the menu. Cathay's IFE is quite extensive and I quickly turned on the BBC News live feed as we roared into the summer sky.

After the seat belt sign came off, the crew came around to take dinner orders. I was delighted to find soup. Cathay was not the first to offer hot soups on board. I recall ages ago, Qantas served me Chinese soup from a thermos on their Hong Kong - Sydney flight, and back then I wondered why Cathay didn't do the same?

It's a long flight since we need to avoid Russian airspace. Strangely, Cathay's East Coast North America flights can overfly Russia through the North Pole without issue.

With dinner past, I headed to the lavatory to peek out the window while there was still light.

As we neared Hong Kong, it was time for breakfast. The selection was quite similar to Economy Class - a noodle, dim sum, or a congee. I guess you can't spice up the breakfast menu so much compared to the other meals. However, the portions and presentation are much better in Business Class while you get a better tea bag as well. Cathay uses Jing, a fairly good tea brand and their tea menu includes a fairly wide selection to choose from.

Since all Business Class seats have direct aisle access, I was comfortable to drink a lot more on board, whether it is water or tea, and visit the lavatory often to get some exercise. The A350's lavatory is quite nice with a big wide sink. I also like to use the body lotion to keep hydrated and the alcohol gel comes in handy after touching all the surfaces. The window is also a good draw to visit.

Strapped in for landing, I went back to the plane's camera to check out our approach from the east. The views would have been great from the left window though.

Hong Kong's arrival experience is always fast and efficient since I can use the kiosks to go through immigration. Soon, I was at the baggage claim and I managed to exit shy of 12:30pm, about half hour after arrival.

Soon, I was on the bus heading to the city. While it is a slower journey than the train, it's more scenic as you pass through some huge bridges and the skyline emerges.

It's always nice to sit up front in luxury and I felt quite refreshed even after so many hours in the air.