Pulling into the airport just before 11am, I headed to the check-in kiosk to print out a paper copy of my boarding pass. However, it spat out an error that it's a restricted destination. So I had to head to a manual counter. Not anticipating this, I was coming close to the check-in deadline for my flight, and just at that point a series of families had gone into the manual processing line. Although it didn't take long for my turn, I had only a few minutes left before the 60 minute cut-off. But with only cabin bags, I didn't think I was really at risk of missing my flight for just a printed boarding pass, right?
The check-in agent weighted my hand carry and noted I was slightly over, but otherwise put on the cabin-approved tag. She asked when I was returning back to Hong Kong since it's a one-way, and I showed her my return flight from Taichung on my phone. As I exited the counter, I was right at the 60 minute deadline.
While Hong Kong is not anywhere near pre-pandemic traffic yet, the security line had snaked outside the gates and almost blocked the kiosks to enter the restricted area. It did move fast but it was a bit unnerving given my departure is out in the 200-gates and required a train ride. Luckily, the trains come frequently so after security, everything else went back to Hong Kong-style efficiency again.
Nevertheless, I didn't have time for plane spotting this time.
I also didn't have time to grab a drink and by the time I reached my gate, they were ready to board.
Today's flight looked full and I was automatically assigned an aisle seat. It's a short flight anyway so it wasn't an issue at all, and I didn't want to pay for a window seat anyway.
As we settled into the cabin, my neighbour was getting annoyed because the kid behind her kept playing with the tray table and making a loud fuss. Her family didn't seem able to tell her to knock it off and it kept on going for a while. Eventually, she flagged a flight attendant to pay to move to another seat. As the staff fumbled and searched for the price, the passenger emphasized she'll pay any amount and whether she can move now or after take-off.
In the end, I no longer had a seat neighbour, but it was still annoying with the loud kid buzzing away until after take-off.
This A320 looked new and has slim seats with a more compact tray table. It's not really possible to open a laptop and work on a separate mouse for these seats, and it's not just a comment for LCCs per se, but also mainline carriers that use these narrowbodies. As it was the lunch hour, I explored the in-flight dining menu, with the crew announcement reiterating this airline's policy forbids consuming food and drinks from outside the plane.
The egglet and bubble tea options look appealing.
Buying an upfront seat on board costs more than pre-booking one online, but it's not an extraordinary amount either. I think my neighbour paid HKD 145 for her new upfront seat.
We departed with a slight delay due to air traffic congestion but otherwise was a fairly uneventful short flight.
It's my first time arriving in Taipei at a remote stand. The buses took us to a distant edge of Terminal 1, after which it was still a very long walk to immigration. I wonder why they didn't build a bus gate at a more convenient location. I guess flying LCCs will almost always bring about some sort of suffering.
I haven't had much luck arriving at Taoyuan Airport in the past, encountering long lines that moved slowly during most visits. Surprisingly, we seemed to be the only arrival during the late lunch hour and there was only a short line for immigration.
Impressed by the quick exit, I headed land-side and downstairs to the MRT for a cheap ride into the city. The signage wasn't so clear to direct me down the series of escalators though but I eventually made it to the basement floor for the concourse. I had some leftover cash from my previous trip to top up my Easycard and I was well on my way. They run express and local trains, which cost the same. Watch the information boards carefully as both types of trains use the same platform, with express trains labelled purple and local trains blue.
About 40 minutes later, I reached Taipei station. Departing passengers can make use of in-town check-in if they fly the main Taiwanese airlines or Cathay, but not Hong Kong Express.
Unlike my past trips where I would stay in Xinyi District closer to the city's newest skyscrapers, I opted to be near Taipei station this time because I would take the train to Taichung the next day.
Another uneventful travel experience on Hong Kong Express, and a happy consumer leaves satisfied after scoring a wonderful redemption deal with my Asia Miles!
