While I enjoyed my fight from Los Angeles to Hong Kong very much, I was pleased to experience Hong Kong’s newest aircraft for the flight home to LA, featuring the carrier’s latest business class seat.
After a long layover divided between the Hong Kong Airlines Club Autus and the American Express Centurion Lounge, I lined up about 60 minutes prior to scheduled takeoff for boarding. It was there that I met the disgruntled United 1K who had fallen in love with Hong Kong Airlines.
Boarding began on time. I had an appointment about an hour after landing in LAX and had been been monitoring the flight…it typically ran late. But my flight departed on-time and arrived early LA.
Hong Kong Airlines 68
Hong Kong (HKG) –Los Angeles (LAX)
Sunday, November 18
Depart: 12:00 PM
Arrive: 8:50 AM
Duration: 12hr, 50min
Aircraft: Airbus A350-900
Seat: 16A (Business Class)
Based on the tail number, I already knew this flight would feature Hong Kong Airlines’ latest business class seat, but was nevertheless excited to see it in person.
Hong Kong Airlines A350 Business Class Seat
The brightly-lit cabin with white seats and red seat covers presented the perfect color scheme. Hong Kong Airlines has gone with a reverse herringbone seat for its latest A350. I love the personal space these seats offer, including three compartments for storage of personal items like passports, wallets, and mobile phones.
Two USB ports and a universal power outlet were available, as well as a handheld controller for the in-flight-entertainment and a separate one to adjust the seat.
Bedding included a plus pillow and blanket. In lie-flat mode, I slept soundly for the majority of the flight.
Hong Kong Airlines A350 Business Class IFE + Wi-Fi
I browsed the IFE after takeoff and ended up watching a very sad movie called Me Before You about euthanasia during dinner. Thankfully, some Disney music cheered me up after. Best of all, though, was the HD tailcam, which offered great views of our flight path. Other IFE selections included games and TV programming. Noise-cancelling headphones are provided.
While Wi-Fi was technically available, I attempted to connect twice and failed twice. Good thing it was a Sunday…
Newspapers were offered prior to takeoff.
Hong Kong Airlines A350 View From the Window
I usually include pictures I snap out the window toward the end of my trip reports, but the weather was absolutely perfect when we took off from Hong Kong and I snapped many pictures of our taxi and takeoff.
I took some more pictures out the window as we landed at LAX:
Hong Kong Airlines A350 Business Class Food + Drink
Menus were distributed prior to takeoff.
A choice of water, orange juice, or iced tea was also offered prior to takeoff:
Lunch was offered after takeoff. It began with a small ramekin of mixed nuts, choice of beverage, and warm towel.
A tray arrived with a small side salad and foie gras appetizer. For Amy reasons, I do not eat foie gras, but it looked as revolting as ever.
Thankfully, warm garlic bread was served and a soup course soon arrived, today a tasty roasted tomato soup.
Three choices were available for the main course (two western, one Chinese) and I chose the Gabriel Choy special, a black bean tapenade gratin chicken breast with pumpkin gnocchi in a pesto-like sauce with tomatoes and peas. Every bite of it was delicious.
That was followed by a cheese course. Compared to the delicious cheeses on the LAX-HKG flight, today’s selection of brie, bleu, and a very mild white cheese was rather boring.
I concluded the meal with an espresso and some blueberry cheesecake.
Although I slept right through it, a cheese and tomato calzone or pan-fried pork loin were available as mid-flight snacks.
About 80 minutes prior to landing in Los Angeles, breakfast began. The meal began with a small fruit plate and strawberry yogurt. I chose the leek, pumpkin, and mushroom frittata as my main course. It came with a cooked tomato and sugar snap peas on the side It was just okay, though I still was not all that hungry (since I generally fast until noon each day). The muffin was good, but a croissant would have been better.
After four flights in Hong Kong Airlines business class, I have absolutely nothing to complain about in regards to the meal service. Expect tasty food on your flight.
Hong Kong Airlines A350 Business Class Amenities
Slippers and an amenity kit were provided. My feet aren’t huge, but the “large” slippers were still far too small. The amenity kit included L’Occitane amenities, toothbrush, toothpaste, socks, eye shade, and ear plugs.
Hong Kong Airlines A350 Business Class Lavatory
I changed into my pajamas shortly after takeoff and noted the lavatory was clean, but otherwise ordinary. With the exception of a small flower, no other personal touches or amenities were added.
Hong Kong Airlines A350 Business Class Service
Service was not as sharp on this flight as my outbound. While FAs called me by name on the way out, none did on the inbound. Don’t think I need my ego stoked by being called “sir” or “Mr. Klint” but I do think it is important to note the difference between this flight and my previous flight.
Furthermore, service was less attentive. Dishes sat empty on my tray table for far too long and simple request like coffee or dessert took ages…45 minutes to bring out the cheesecake and another 15 for the coffee. Come on…
The first meal service trimmed an hour of my nap…it was unnecessarily slow. I also did not sense that the crew on this flight enjoyed their jobs. Rather, they were just going through the motions. Two exceptions were the ladies below, who conducted the manual safety demonstration. Sadly, they were working the other side of the aisle and I only rarely encountered them.
CONCLUSION
We landed nearly in LA, though lost all eat extra time in a very long taxi around the airport to the our gate in the Tom Bradley International Terminal. All things considered, this marked another excellent flight on Hong Kong Airlines. While the service was not nearly as good as my flight in the opposite direction, I still was well-fell and well-rested upon lading.
Hello Matthew,
So I took advantage of the hongkong airlines business class date back in August. Yesterday I got an email from HKA and Expedia about a schedule change. When looked at my itenarary I didn’t see any change but my seat change from business to economy (J). I called airline and they said they see my confirmed seats in business class, but they mentioned the email is regarding a connection time which is not enough. I’m kind of worried at this point. What would you suggest I should do.
If you pull up the reservation on Hong Kong Airlines’ website, do you see business or economy?
I can’t look it up on their website. Nothing comes up. May be I’m not doing it right.
Sorry just checked again. I see business confirmed. Really appreciate it!!
@ Sonu – Same thing happened to me a few weeks ago. I had a flight cancellation, and then a schedule change. Expedia quickly offered alternatives, but it took them nearly a week to confirm the new ticket (after numerous phone calls and emails). Keep at it! When the new itinerary was confirmed, it noted economy on all legs. I called HK airlines, and was still in J – (Business Class). I’ve checked a few times since, and nothing has changed.
This is absolutely littered with errors. For ‘Amy’ reasons. We landed ‘nearly’, lost ‘all eat extra time’, ‘lading’ etc.
Does anybody read this stuff before publication?
Hah, I’m sorry these major errors detracted from the meaning of this review, Sam. Time to get a refund for all the money you paid Matthew to write this.
Seriously, how pedantic are people these days?
Sorry pal but it’s not pedantic to expect a professional travel writer to respect his readers enough to do a minimal amount of spell and grammar checking. (Of course that argument never worked with Gary Leff, but he gets a pass because he’s an accountant…)
Professional travel writers are on the payrolls of professional travel publications. This a personal travel blog… I’m with Alvin, if you are not happy with the product, ask for a refund.
Belinda, I’m flattered that you consider me professional. I do my best, but was under unquiely stressful circumstances yesterday. Those will be explained in a post tomorrow.
I will go back tonight and correct the errors in this post.
Matthew, great review and exceptional pics of Central and Kowloon. Unlike those who have nothing better to do but to microscopically examine your writing, I appreciate what you do while running a business and raising a family. Please ignore them as I for one do not expect perfection.
May I also wish you and your family a wonderful Holiday and thank you for a great year of blogging.
Yawn. Ok, I’m a pedant. Unless we have paid money or the blogger is a ‘professional’ we can’t expect these posts to be checked before publication. Sorry for stumbling onto somebody’s personal blog.