Flight Report: CATHAY PACIFIC CX 901 – Hong Kong to Manila – Homebound on a Once in a Lifetime $66 World-of-Winners Hong Kong Return Ticket [December 2023]

In December, my friends and I flew to Hong Kong with Cathay Pacific after being one of the lucky winners of the Hong Kong International Airport Authority World of Winners Campaign. We got free base fare return tickets with Cathay Pacific, valid for travel until December 2023.

In early 2023, the Hong Kong International Airport Authority ran a worldwide campaign to lure people back to beautiful Hong Kong. They conducted giveaways in countries all over the world and specifically gave out over 20,000 return Cathay Pacific tickets in the Philippines.

Previously, I shared with you my first ever Cathay Pacific experience from Manila to Hong Kong on board flight CX 912. I wrote a detailed report about how that memorable flight went by quickly. Today, I will share with you the details and experiences of our flight back from Hong Kong to Manila on board Cathay Pacific flight CX 901. Join me as I run you through the airline’s hard and soft products, and I will let you know why you should consider the airline on your next trip to Hong Kong.

CATHAY PACIFIC

Cathay Pacific Airways Limited, commonly known as Cathay Pacific, is Hong Kong’s flag carrier. According to the airline’s website, two ex-Air Force pilots founded the airline in Hong Kong in 1946. Five years later, the airline acquired its rival Hong Kong Airways and gained additional routes to Japan, Taiwan, and Australia. Since then, the airline has expanded to more routes in Asia Pacific, Europe, and North America. It has emerged as one of the world’s leading airlines and lifestyle brands, connecting the world through Hong Kong.

Today, Cathay Pacific is primarily owned by Swire Group, a diversified Hong Kong-based corporation, Qatar Airways, and Air China. The airline flies to over 80 international destinations using close to 180 Airbus and Boeing aircraft, with 60 more in order. It also has airline subsidiaries, namely Cathay Pacific Cargo, Air Hong Kong, and Hong Kong Express, the region’s budget airline. Cathay Pacific is based and headquartered in Hong Kong International Airport.

Cathay Pacific is a 5-star full-service airline. It offers a free checked luggage allowance, premium amenities, meals and snacks, and personal entertainment systems onboard. The airline is one of the founding members of Oneworld, a major global alliance with the likes of Qatar Airways, Qantas, American Airlines, and British Airways. It has a loyalty program called Cathay Membership Programme, where members can gain status points (previously Marco Polo Club) and Asia Miles when flying the airline or through its non-airline partners.

In case you missed it, I post reviews & features of my flights since June 2019. I’ve covered airlines such as EVA Air, Indonesia Air Asia, Emirates, Singapore Airlines, Philippine Airlines, and Cebu Pacific Air. All posts about these flights are found under the Flight Reports category.

AIRFARE & INCLUSIONS

As mentioned above, my friends and I got our complimentary tickets from the World of Winners campaign hosted by the Hong Kong International Airport Authority. We were rewarded with free return base fare tickets with Cathay Pacific, valid for travel until December 2023.

HKIAA sent out unique voucher codes to all winners. These codes need to be redeemed or booked within two months from the time they were sent out. My friends and I booked ours a few weeks after receiving our respective codes and paid US$66.30 worth of taxes and fees each. My bank charged me ₱3,638.99, including the 1.85% foreign transaction service fee.

The $66 return ticket included 7 kilograms of carry-on allowance, 2 x 23 kilograms of checked baggage allowance, inflight meals, inflight entertainment, and hospitable Cathay Pacific cabin crew service. The ticket was classified under the Economy Essential Fare Bundle, which included an additional 23 kilograms of checked luggage allowance (making it two) and complimentary standard seat selection in both sectors.

My friends and I were lucky to get picked for these free base fare tickets on a full-service airline like Cathay Pacific. We want to say thank you to the Hong Kong International Airport Authority for making this once-in-a lifetime chance and experience happen.

Do you want to know the difference between a full-service and a low-cost airline? Check out my previous post detailing the differences of these 2 types of airlines.

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS

Philippine passport holders are only required to present their valid passports and the E-Travel QR code when entering the country’s borders. Non-Philippine passport holders may be required to present other requirements, such as a valid visa or onward departure ticket. These requirements vary from one nationality to the next. It is always best to check with the relevant authorities regarding the updated entry requirements.

BEFORE THE FLIGHT

A few days before the flight, Cathay Pacific sent out a reminder about the upcoming flight to Manila. The airline also sent an email reminder 48 hours before the flight that online or web check-in is now available. The airline included reminders about checked luggage, the airline mobile application, and its useful features.

4 hours into the flight, the airline sent a final flight reminder, including the boarding time, scheduled flight time, and the assigned boarding gate. Props to Cathay Pacific for keeping their passengers informed.

Aircraft & Flight Information

This Hong Kong to Manila Cathay Pacific flight CX 901 was operated by an 11-year-old Airbus A330 aircraft. The plane, delivered to the airline in December 2012, has 39 lie-flat business class sets on a 1-2-1 configuration and 223 economy class seats on a 2-4-2 layout.

Flight CX 901 flew out of Hong Kong International Airport at 9:26 a.m. and touched down at Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila at 11:06 a.m. The flight took 1 hour and 40 minutes in total.

GROUND & AIRPORT EXPERIENCE

Cathay Pacific operates from Hong Kong International Airport Terminal 1.

CHECK-IN & BAG DROP

Cathay Pacific check-in counters are at the far-left end of the terminal at Counters A, B, and C. Counter check-in is available for those who want to check-in with Cathay Pacific staff. Self-check-in kiosks and automated bag drop counters are also available in these check-in areas.

During our time, the counter check-in had long and slow-moving lines. My friends and I used the self-check-in kiosks to check-in for our flight and to print our boarding passes and luggage tags. After checking in, we headed to the automated bag drop-off counters to leave our bags. We finished this whole process in less than 10 minutes.

PRE-DEPARTURE

We cleared security and immigration immediately after check-in and walked towards our assigned gate, Gate 12, in the main terminal building. We also had a quick morning snack from a fast-food chain while we waited for boarding.

BOARDING

Priority boarding commenced at 8:28 a.m. Business class passengers, Cathay Pacific Programme, and Oneworld Alliance status holders were asked to board the plane first. Passengers traveling with small children, persons with disabilities, and seniors boarded the plane next. All other economy class passengers boarded the plane by group or zone.

The boarding process finished at 9:00 a.m. The cabin crew closed the aircraft doors and waited for departure. The plane was pushed ashore at 9:09 a.m. and headed over to the runway for a 9:26 a.m. take-off.


INFLIGHT HARD & SOFT PRODUCT

SEAT FEATURES

This Cathay Pacific Hong Kong to Manila flight was operated using one of the airline’s Airbus A330-300s with the regional two-class configuration. The plane has 39 lie-flat business class seats on a 1-2-1 layout and 223 regular economy class seats on a 2-4-2 layout.

According to our friends at SeatMaps, each business class seat has a seat pitch of 47 inches, a seat width of 21 inches, and a recline of 180 degrees. The seats feature spacious legroom with decent storage spaces and large entertainment screens. The business class section has 10 rows of lie-flat seats with direct aisle access.

The middle and rear sections of the aircraft have 223 standard economy seats on a 2-4-2 layout. Each economy class seat has a seat pitch of 32 inches, a seat width of 18 inches, and a recline of 3.5 inches. Each seat has a personal entertainment screen, a foldable tray table, a coat hook, a USB charging port, a power outlet under the seats, and a small under-screen stowage space. Each thick-padded seat also features an adjustable headrest and a seatback pocket with an aircraft safety card, magazine, duty-free pamphlets, and headphones. The seats do not feature individual air vents and pillows. Blankets are available upon request.

I got aisle seat 65H on this quick flight back to Manila. I find the airline’s thick-padded seats comfortable for a short haul flight. However, I do miss the individual air vents, which I can open or close whenever I want.

INFLIGHT BREAKFAST SERVICE

Cathay Pacific served a complimentary breakfast service on this flight to Manila. The airline only had one option for this flight: congee and stir-fry noodles with a bottle of water.

The cabin crew started serving breakfast as soon as the plane reached its cruising altitude. The crew finished serving the meals within 30 minutes after takeoff. They also went around for a second round of drink service and offered coffee or tea to those who wanted it.

This breakfast meal was alright. It was not as tasty or savory as the meal served on our Manila to Hong Kong flight. I still appreciate Cathay Pacific serving a complimentary meal service on this short flight to Manila.

INFLIGHT ENTERTAINMENT

Cathay Pacific’s entertainment system on the Airbus A330 offered a decent number of movies, television shows, and music options. The choices may not be as extensive as those in their Airbus A350 and Boeing 777 aircraft, but these are enough for short flights like this to Hong Kong. The entertainment system also features a moving inflight map that shows the flight’s exact whereabouts.

I did not watch any movies or television shows during this flight. Instead, I stared at the inflight map and geeked out the aviation enthusiast in me.

INFLIGHT CONNECTIVITY

Cathay Pacific offers paid inflight wi-fi connectivity on selected flights. The cost can go as high as $12.95 for full-flight access on a short-haul flight. The airline offered a 1-hour pass for $9.95 and a full-flight pass for $12.95 on this flight from Hong Kong to Manila.

Unfortunately, I did not avail of this paid service. I find the flight too short to miss checking things out on the internet.

LAVATORY

This Airbus A330 aircraft has five lavatories shared by all 223 economy class passengers. These lavatories are found in the middle part of the aircraft. The lavatories on this aircraft were clean, fragrant, and spotless. It also had extra amenities like a bottle of hand soap and a bottle of antiseptic hand gel, which can be used by all passengers.

CABIN CREW ENCOUNTERS

Just like the Manila to Hong Kong flight, I had very minimal encounters with the cabin crew. I saw them doing the usual things like welcoming the passengers to the flight, saying goodbye during disembarkation, asking what drinks the passengers wanted during the meal service, and offering tea and coffee during the second drink service.

DISEMBARKATION & LUGGAGE CLAIM

The aircraft arrived at Ninoy Aquino International Airport at 11:06 a.m. My friends and I went through disembarkation, immigration, baggage claim, and customs in about 30 minutes after landing.

Flight Experience

It was a fun and memorable once-in-a-lifetime $66 return flight with Cathay Pacific. I honestly do not think this promotion will happen again in the next decade or so.

Like in any other flight report, allow me to share with you what I liked about this flight. First, the free base fare ticket wins in every angle. My friends and I only paid $66 (around ₱3,600) in return for the airport taxes and fees. We paid this cheap for a full-service 5-star airline with baggage, inflight meals, and inflight entertainment. What a steal!

Second, Cathay Pacific made sure that all their passengers were informed of everything about the flight. The airline sent out numerous reminders about the online check-in, airport check-in process, flight requirements, and even the assigned boarding gate information. Third, the airline has a quick and efficient self-check-in process at Hong Kong International Airport. My friends and I finished our self-check-in and bag drop process in less than 10 minutes.

Third, Cathay Pacific still has a 2-4-2 seating configuration on its Airbus A330 aircraft. The said configuration offers more spacious seats compared to the current industry standard of 3-3-3. Also, the seats feature thick back padding, which makes them more comfortable to sit on.

Lastly, the airline served a complimentary hot meal on this short flight from Hong Kong to Manila. The meal may be a little bit bland to my taste, but at least it is available for passengers who want to have breakfast onboard.

One thing that I did not like about this flight was the absence of individual air vents in the aircraft. I sweat a lot, especially when the cabin temperature is on the hot side. I hope Cathay Pacific brings them back in their new or retrofitted aircraft.

This CX 901 Hong Kong to Manila flight is very much like our CX 912 Manila to Hong Kong flight we took earlier. I like that Cathay Pacific is consistent with their hard and soft products on this Manila-Hong Kong-Manila route.

I enjoyed my first flights with Cathay Pacific. I will consider flying them again in the future; I want to try their Airbus A321neo and Airbus A350-1000 aircraft. I hope you also enjoyed my narration of this once-in-a-lifetime flight experience with Cathay Pacific. Again, I want to thank the Hong Kong International Authority for running the World of Winners campaign and for making this opportunity happen.

Curious about the specific details of this flight? Check out the geeky information below:

Airline: Cathay Pacific Airways
Flight Date: 12 December 2023
Flight Number: CX 901
Route: Hong Kong, SAR (HKG) to Manila, Philippines (MNL)
Duration: 1 hour and 40 minutes
Seat Number: 65H (aisle)
Aircraft: Airbus A330-343X
Aircraft Registration: B-LAX
Engines: 2 x RR Trent 772B-60
Age: 11 years old
Delivered: December 2012

Have you flown Cathay Pacific recently? How was your experience? Will you fly them again soon? By any chance have questions about anything mentioned above? Feel free to share your ground and flight experiences or post your questions in the comments section below. You may also send them via e-mail to contact@thewkndtravel.com.

Thank you for joining me in today’s flight report. I hope you can check out my previous flight reports with Singapore Airlines, Emirates, EVA Air, Air France, Vietnam Airlines, Cebu Pacific Air, and Philippine Airlines. I hope you also look forward to more flight reports in the future.

Before you go, I hope you can like, follow and share my social media pages – Facebook and Instagram. This will help me increase my reach; it will also keep you up-to-date with the latest blog posts, itineraries and flight reports on this website. Thank you and see you in the next flight report!

PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.

Tokyo 2023: SHINJUKU, ASAKUSA & UENO Photoblog [October 2023]

Late last year, my friends and I flew to Tokyo for a little over a week. We have been around the city as a group in 2015 and individually in the following years, so we did not aim to see everything. We took things easy, kept our itinerary open, and enjoyed the city’s vibe.

So far, we have been to Roppongi, Yokohama, Shibuya, Tsukiji, Gotokuji, and Ginza, as per the previous posts. Today, allow me to share with you some details and many photos of our visit to selected places in Shinjuku, Asakusa, and Ueno.

Plane Tickets

My friends and I got ₱1 base fare tickets to Tokyo during Cebu Pacific Air’s anniversary sale last March 2023. We paid ₱7,116.72 each for a return ticket to Tokyo, including 7 kilograms of carry-on allowance, 20 kilograms of checked luggage allowance, and a complimentary standard seat.

I wrote flight reports about our flights from Manila to Tokyo Narita on Cebu Pacific Air 5J 5056 and Tokyo Narita to Manila on Cebu Pacific Air 5J 5055. I hope you can check both.

Accommodation

We stayed at Imano Tokyo Ginza Hostel during this trip to Tokyo. We initially got a private room with a toilet, then transferred to the 6-bed mixed dormitory a few days later. We found the hostel to be quiet, wallet-friendly, and amazing.

I wrote about this beautiful hostel in one of the newest hostel of the day features. I hope you can read the hostel feature here.

Going Around Tokyo

Going around Tokyo can be quite challenging. Instead of thinking about which specific route or subway or train line to take, my friends and I opted to just use our IC cards throughout the trip. We did not avail of a subway pass or an unlimited train pass.

Basically, we searched our destination via Google Maps and followed either the fastest train option (if we were in a hurry) or the most economical or cheapest train option (if we were not chasing anything). Thankfully, we found every destination we intended to go to. Thank you, Google!

In this same trip, my friends and I took a do-it-yourself day tour to Fujikawaguchiko. Check out my post about this DIY day trip here.

Shinjuku

Shinjuku is a bustling commercial, entertainment, and administrative district of Tokyo. The city houses Shinjuku Station, one of Tokyo’s biggest and busiest train stations.

My friend and I first checked the three-dimensional cat billboard and then walked towards Godzilla Head above the TOHO Cinemas Building. We had dinner at Gyukatsu Motomura and eventually walked around the adult-oriented nightlife area of Kabukicho. We went out of the nightlife hotspot and walked our way back to the retail/shopping area.

Nearest Train Stations: Shinjuku Station, Shinjuku-Sanchome Station, Seibu-Shinjuku Station, Shinjuku-Nishiguchi Station, and many more.

Asakusa

Asakusa is one of the few areas in Tokyo that retains its old and traditional vibe. You will see a lot of traditional buildings, craft shops, and food stalls in this famous district.

We got off Asakusa Station and walked near the Sumida River. We talked about the famous ancient Buddhist temple, Sensō-ji (also known as Asakusa Kannon Temple). We walked along Nakamise-dori Street and tried some local delicacies.

Nearest Train Station: Asakusa Station (Ginza Subway Line, Asakusa Subway Line, and Tobu Railway)

Ueno

Ueno is famous for its museums and the spring-favorite destination, Ueno Park. It also has temples, shrines, and monuments that showcase the rich history of Japan.

My friends and I went to Ueno Park back in 2015, so we visited Ameyoko Shopping Street during this trip. We walked around and checked out different shops. We also had one of the best (and cheapest) takoyaki during this trip.

Tip: Ameyoko Shopping Street is one of the best places to buy chocolates and souvenirs. The prices here are relatively cheaper compared to the prices in other parts of Tokyo.

Nearest Train Stations: Okachimachi Station (JR Yamanote Line and JR Keihin-Tohoku Line) or Ueno-Okachimachi Station (Oedo Subway Line)

Thank you for joining me in today’s photoblog. Have you been to these places? Which one do you like the most and why? Is there a specific place that caught your interest or attention? Feel free to share them in the comments section below. Do you have any questions about anything mentioned above? You may also send them to me via email to contact@thewkndtravel.com.

I hope you stay tuned for more Tokyo 2023-retaled content in the future. Before you go, I hope you can like, follow and share my social media pages – Facebook and Instagram. This will help me increase my reach; it will also keep you up-to-date with the latest blog posts, itineraries and flight reports on this website. Thank you and see you in the next one!

PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.

Tokyo 2023: TSUKIJI OUTER MARKET, GOTOKUJI & GINZA Photoblog [October 2023]

In October 2023, my friends and I flew to Tokyo, Japan, to rediscover the city. We were around Tokyo in 2015, but we only visited selected places due to limited time. We were new travelers back then.

In the next few weeks, I will share with you the places we visited. Please note that we did not aim to see everything on this trip. We carefully chose the places we wanted to go to and took our time going around. We also kept our itinerary open and flexible for possible last-minute discoveries and changes.

Today, I will show snippets from our visit to Tsukiji Outer Market, Gotokuji, and Ginza. Prior to visiting these places, I, together with my friends, had been to Roppongi, Yokohama, and Shibuya.

In case you missed it, we were in Tokyo back in October 2015. Check out this post to learn more about that trip.

Plane Tickets

My friends and I booked ₱1 base fare tickets to Tokyo during Cebu Pacific Air’s anniversary sale back in March 2023. We paid ₱7,116.72 each for a return ticket to Tokyo, including 7 kilograms of carry-on allowance, 20 kilograms of checked luggage allowance, and a complimentary standard seat.

I previously wrote about both Manila to Tokyo Narita (5J 5056) and Tokyo Narita to Manila (5J 5055) flights under the Flight Reports section. I hope you can check them out.

Accommodation

My friends and I booked only one accommodation for this trip. We stayed with Imano Tokyo Ginza Hostel, an amazing and budget-friendly hostel on the quiet side of Ginza.

I wrote about our stay at Imano Tokyo Ginza Hostel in the previous hostel of the day feature. I hope you can read here why I consider this hostel to be my new favorite property in Tokyo.

Going Around Tokyo

Going around Tokyo can be quite challenging. Instead of thinking about which specific route or subway or train line to take, my friends and I opted to just use our IC cards throughout the trip. We did not avail of a subway pass or an unlimited train pass.

Basically, we searched our destination via Google Maps and followed either the fastest train option (if we were in a hurry) or the most economical or cheapest train option (if we were not chasing anything). Thankfully, we found every destination we intended to go to. Thank you, Google!

In this same trip, my friends and I took a do-it-yourself day tour to Fujikawaguchiko. Check out my post about this DIY day trip here.

Tsukiji Outer Market

Tsukiji Outer Market is one of Tokyo’s food havens. It has a wide range of food stalls, restaurants, retail, and wholesale shops that locals and visitors can enjoy. The central wholesale market used to be in this area until the Tokyo government recently transferred it to Toyosu.

We went to and walked around the outer market around lunchtime. We saw long lines at food stalls and restaurants. My friend and I ended up having high-quality Japanese beef skewers for lunch.

Nearest Stations: Tsukiji Station (Hibiya Subway Line) or Tsukiji Shijo Station (Oedo Subway Line)

Gotokuji

Gotokuji Temple is Tokyo’s lucky cat temple. The famous Buddhist temple, located in Setagaya Ward, is home to thousands of luck-inviting cat figurines.

We went to Gotokuji after Tsukiji Outer Market and spent some time around the temple complex.

Nearest Station: Gotokuji Station (Odakyu Odawara Line)

Ginza

Ginza is one of Tokyo’s upscale shopping districts. It is home to numerous department stores, luxury brand boutiques, art galleries, and fine-dining restaurants. It is one of the best places to go shopping. Name a shop or a brand, and you will find it here.

It was one of the nearest shopping districts to our hostel. My friends and I walked around Ginza a few times during this trip.

Nearest Stations: Ginza Station (Hibiya, Marunouchi and Ginza Subway Lines) & Yurakucho Station (JR Yamanote Line, JR Keihin-Tohoku Line and Yurakucho Subway Line)

Thank you for joining me in today’s photoblog. Have you been to these places? Which one do you like the most and why? Is there a specific place that caught your interest or attention? Feel free to share them in the comments section below. Do you have any questions about anything mentioned above? You may also send them to me via email to contact@thewkndtravel.com.

I hope you stay tuned for more Tokyo 2023-retaled content in the future. Before you go, I hope you can like, follow and share my social media pages – Facebook and Instagram. This will help me increase my reach; it will also keep you up-to-date with the latest blog posts, itineraries and flight reports on this website. Thank you and see you in the next one!

PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.

Flight Report: CATHAY PACIFIC CX 912 – Manila to Hong Kong – First-Ever CX Flight on a Memorable $66 World-of-Winners Return Ticket to Hong Kong [December 2023]

Early last year, the Hong Kong International Airport Authority (HKIAA) gave away thousands of free base fare tickets to people from all over the world to lure tourists back to the vibrant city. My friends and I joined the Philippines giveaway, answered 4 questions, and luckily made it to the first 21,000 people to get all 4 correct answers. The HKIA authority gave us a roundtrip free base fare ticket with Cathay Pacific valid for travel until December 2023.

We booked our tickets in April 2023 for a trip to Hong Kong in December 2023. We flew with the region’s flag carrier, Cathay Pacific, on both sectors. The Cathay Pacific CX 912 Manila to Hong Kong flight will be the topic of today’s flight report. Read on below to learn how my first ever Cathay Pacific flight went and why this flight became a memorable one.

Cathay Pacific

Cathay Pacific Airways Limited, commonly known as Cathay Pacific, is Hong Kong’s flag carrier. According to the airline’s website, two ex-Air Force pilots founded the airline in Hong Kong in 1946. Five years later, the airline acquired its rival Hong Kong Airways and gained additional routes to Japan, Taiwan, and Australia. Since then, the airline has expanded to more routes in Asia Pacific, Europe, and North America. It has emerged as one of the world’s leading airlines and lifestyle brands, connecting the world through Hong Kong.

Today, Cathay Pacific is primarily owned by Swire Group, a diversified Hong Kong-based corporation, Qatar Airways, and Air China. The airline flies to over 80 international destinations using close to 180 Airbus and Boeing aircraft, with 60 more in order. It also has airline subsidiaries, namely Cathay Pacific Cargo, Air Hong Kong, and Hong Kong Express, the region’s budget airline. Cathay Pacific is based and headquartered in Hong Kong International Airport.

Cathay Pacific is a 5-star full-service airline. It offers a free checked luggage allowance, premium amenities, meals and snacks, and personal entertainment systems onboard. The airline is one of the founding members of Oneworld, a major global alliance with the likes of Qatar Airways, Qantas, American Airlines, and British Airways. It has a loyalty program called Cathay Membership Programme, where members can gain status points (previously Marco Polo Club) and Asia Miles when flying the airline or through its non-airline partners.

In case you missed it, I post reviews & features of my flights since June 2019. I’ve covered airlines such as EVA Air, Indonesia Air Asia, Emirates, Singapore Airlines, Philippine Airlines, and Cebu Pacific Air. All posts about these flights are found under the Flight Reports category.

Airfare & Inclusions

As mentioned above, my friends and I got our complimentary tickets from the World of Winners campaign hosted by the Hong Kong International Airport Authority. We were rewarded with free return base fare tickets with Cathay Pacific, valid for travel until December 2023.

HKIAA sent out unique voucher codes to all winners. These codes need to be redeemed or booked within two months from the time they were sent out. My friends and I booked ours a few weeks after receiving our respective codes and paid US$66.30 worth of taxes and fees each. My bank charged me ₱3,638.99, including the 1.85% foreign transaction service fee.

The $66 return ticket included 7 kilograms of carry-on allowance, 2 x 23 kilograms of checked baggage allowance, inflight meals, inflight entertainment, and hospitable Cathay Pacific cabin crew service. The ticket was classified under the Economy Essential Fare Bundle, which included an additional 23 kilograms of checked luggage allowance (making it two) and complimentary standard seat selection in both sectors.

My friends and I were lucky to get picked for these free base fare tickets on a full-service airline like Cathay Pacific. We want to say thank you to the Hong Kong International Airport Authority for making this once-in-a lifetime chance and experience happen.

Do you want to know the difference between a full-service and a low-cost airline? Check out my previous post detailing the differences of these 2 types of airlines.

Travel Requirements

Regular Philippine passport holders are allowed to enter the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region without a visa for 14 days. Anyone staying beyond the visa-free stay needs to apply for a visa to enter Hong Kong.

Locally, all passengers departing the country are required to fill out the online departure card and obtain a QR code from the E-Travel website.

Before the Flight

Just like any other airline, Cathay Pacific sent out several emails to its passengers, reminding them of everything about the flight. A week before our scheduled flight, I received an email from the airline reminding me that my flight to Hong Kong is a few days away. I also got a reminder about the travel documents and requirements needed, an offer to upgrade to business class, and/or to add additional checked luggage for the flight.

48 hours before the scheduled flight, Cathay Pacific sent another email announcing that online or web check-in is now available for our flight to Hong Kong. The airline included reminders about checked luggage, the airline mobile application and its access to online newspapers, the type of plug or outlet used in Hong Kong, and the weather forecast for our stay in the region.

4 hours into the flight, the airline sent a final flight reminder, including the boarding time, scheduled flight time, and the assigned boarding gate. Props to Cathay Pacific for keeping their passengers informed about their flights.

Aircraft & Flight Information

This Manila to Hong Kong Cathay Pacific flight CX 912 was operated by a 10.2-year-old Airbus A330-300 aircraft. The plane, delivered to Dragonair (previously a Cathay Pacific subsidiary) in October 2013, has 42 lie-flat business class seats on a 2-2-2 configuration and 265 economy class seats on a 2-4-2 layout.

Flight CX 912 departed from Ninoy Aquino International Airport at 8:26 a.m. and arrived at Hong Kong International Airport at 10:10 a.m. The flight took around 1 hour and 44 minutes in total.

Ground & Airport Experience

Cathay Pacific flies out of Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3.

CHECK-IN

My friends and I arrived at the airport a few minutes past 4:00 a.m. We headed towards Cathay Pacific’s check-in counters and asked if we could already check-in for our 8:00 a.m. flight.

The ground staff allowed us to check in early. She got our passports and issued our boarding passes. She was quick and efficient; she managed to finish the whole check-in process in less than 10 minutes.

PRE-DEPARTURE

After check-in, we lined up for immigration and final security for 1.5 hours. We dropped by the Marhaba Lounge to get some snacks before heading to our assigned boarding gate, Gate 109.

BOARDING

Priority boarding commenced 45 minutes before the flight at 7:15 a.m. The staff called all business class passengers, those traveling with children, senior citizens, and persons with disabilities to board the aircraft first. After 5 minutes, the ground staff called regular passengers and instructed boarding by rows, starting from those seated at the back. My friends and I were seated in the last few rows. We were one of the first regular passengers to board the aircraft.

The boarding process finished at 7:52 a.m. The cabin crew closed the aircraft doors and waited for departure. The plane was pushed ack at 7:57 a.m. and headed over to the runway for take-off.

Inflight Hard & Soft Product

SEAT FEATURES

This Cathay Pacific Manila to Hong Kong flight was operated using one of the airline’s high-density, two-class Airbus A330 aircraft. The plane sports the regional seat configuration with 42 angle-flat business class seats and 265 standard economy seats.

According to our friends at SeatMaps, each business class seat has a seat pitch of 47 inches, a seat width of 21 inches, and a recline of 9.5 inches. The seats feature spacious legroom with decent storage spaces and large entertainment screens. The business class section features 7 rows of seats formatted in a 2-2-2 configuration.

The middle and rear sections of the aircraft have 265 standard economy seats on a 2-4-2 layout. Each economy class seat has a seat pitch of 31 inches, a seat width of 18.1 inches, and a recline of 6 inches. Each seat has a personal entertainment screen, a foldable tray table, a coat hook, a USB charging port, a power outlet under the seats, and a small under-screen stowage space. Each thick-padded seat also features an adjustable headrest and a seatback pocket with an aircraft safety card, magazine, duty-free pamphlets, and headphones. The seats do not feature individual air vents and pillows. Blankets are available upon request.

I got aisle seat 72D for this quick hop to Hong Kong. I find Cathay Pacific’s thick-padded seats comfortable, but I also miss the individual air vents, which I can open or close whenever I want.

INFLIGHT BREAKFAST SERVICE

Cathay Pacific served a complimentary breakfast on this flight to Hong Kong. They only had one breakfast option for this flight: beef tapa with garlic rice and eggs. The cabin crew commenced breakfast service as soon as the aircraft reached its cruising altitude. They served the rice meal with a bottle of water and metal cutlery. They also went around for a second round of drink service and offered coffee or tea to those who wanted it.

The beef tapa meal was tasty and delicious. The garlic rice complimented the sweet and savory meat taste. 30 minutes before landing, my friends and I requested hot tea with milk, which the crew served in less than 5 minutes.

INFLIGHT ENTERTAINMENT

Cathay Pacific’s entertainment system on the Airbus A330 offered a decent number of movies, television shows, and music options. The choices may not be as extensive as those in their Airbus A350 and Boeing 777 aircraft, but these are enough for short flights like this to Hong Kong. The entertainment system also features a moving inflight map that shows the flight’s exact whereabouts.

I did not watch any movies because I knew I would not finish them. Instead, I made the aviation geek in me happy by starting at the inflight map throughout the flight.

INFLIGHT CONNECTIVITY

At the time of the flight, Cathay Pacific did not offer inflight connectivity services on their Airbus A330 aircraft. I read on the airline’s website that the inflight Wi-Fi service will soon be available on their A330 and Boeing 777 aircraft.

LAVATORY

This Airbus A330 aircraft only has four lavatories shared by all 265 economy-class passengers. These lavatories are found in the middle part of the aircraft. The lavatories on this aircraft were clean, fragrant, and spotless. It also had extra amenities like a bottle of hand soap and a bottle of antiseptic hand gel, which can be used by all passengers.

Cabin Crew Encounters

I had minimal interactions with the cabin crew on this flight. I noticed the crew on this flight were very serious during the breakfast service. I rarely see them smile at the passengers. I asked for hot tea with milk a few minutes before landing, and I got my request in less than 5 minutes. Quick service, eh?

Disembarkation & Luggage Claim

Prior to landing, Cathay Pacific already displayed the assigned boarding gates of passengers with onward connecting flights with the airline. The flight landed at Hong Kong International Airport at 10:10 a.m. and reached the assigned gate at 10:28 a.m.

Passengers disembarked in an orderly manner. Business class and forward economy class passengers first left the plane. Rear economy class passengers, including our section, deplaned last. My friends and I finished the immigration and baggage claim process in less than 30 minutes. Our luggage was already in Belt 10 when we got to the arrival hall.

Flight Experience

It was a memorable and enjoyable first flight with Hong Kong’s flag carrier, Cathay Pacific.

This flight wins in a lot of aspects. First, my friends and I won complimentary base fare tickets in the Hong Kong Airport Authority’s World of Winners campaign. We only paid US$66.30, a little over ₱3,600, for taxes and fees for a full-service return ticket to Hong Kong. Winner indeed!

Second, the airline made sure that the passengers were well informed about the upcoming flight. They sent emails containing reminders about travel requirements, online check-in, and airport check-in reminders. Third, the airline’s mobile application is updated with all the necessary flight information. It contains the assigned gate, the airport terminal, and the flight status.

Fourth, the airline’s check-in counters at Ninoy Aquino International Airport opened as early as 4 hours before the flight. Fifth, the airline’s Airbus A330 aircraft used here had more spacious seats arranged in a 2-4-2 economy class layout. The airplane’s seats also feature soft and thick back padding, which makes them more comfortable to sit on. Lastly, the airline offered a complimentary, tasty, and savory breakfast on such a short flight. This flight only had one breakfast option, but it was better than not offering breakfast at all.

The only feature I missed on this flight was the presence of individual overhead air vents. The cabin temperature was hot during boarding, and it took some time before it cooled down. The individual air vents could have addressed this issue.

Another thing I did not like during this flight was the long immigration line we had to endure. It was not the airline’s fault. The airport authorities underestimated the number of passengers flying out of the country during that time. I hope and pray for better airport facilities and experiences here in the Philippines.

Anyway, it was still a lovely first-time experience with Cathay Pacific. I will surely consider flying with the airline again in the future. I am keen on trying the excellent Cathay long-haul experience many are raving about.

Allow me to share with you more of a summary of this flight to Hong Kong:

Airline: Cathay Pacific Airways
Flight Date: 8 December 2023
Flight Number: CX 912
Route: Manila, Philippines (MNL) to Hong Kong, SAR (HKG)
Duration: 1 hour and 44 minutes
Seat Number: 72D
Aircraft: Airbus A330-343E
Aircraft Registration: B-HWM
Engines: 2 x RR Trent 772B-60
Age: 10.2 years old
Delivered: October 2013

Have you flown Cathay Pacific recently? How was your experience? Will you fly them again soon? By any chance have questions about anything mentioned above? Feel free to share your ground and flight experiences or post your questions in the comments section below. You may also send them via e-mail to contact@thewkndtravel.com.

Thank you for joining me in today’s flight report. I hope you can check out my previous flight reports with Singapore Airlines, Emirates, EVA Air, Air France, Vietnam Airlines, Cebu Pacific Air, and Philippine Airlines. I hope you also look forward to more flight reports in the future.

Before you go, I hope you can like, follow and share my social media pages – Facebook and Instagram. This will help me increase my reach; it will also keep you up-to-date with the latest blog posts, itineraries and flight reports on this website. Thank you and see you in the next flight report!

PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.

 

Tokyo 2023: ROPPONGI, YOKOHAMA & SHIBUYA Photoblog [October 2023]

In October 2023, my friends and I flew to Tokyo, Japan, for a few days. We have been around the city since 2015 and on separate trips a few years ago, but we wanted to re-visit the beautiful Japanese capital.

Over the next few weeks, I will share with you bits and pieces of the places we visited and things we did around the city. My friends and I did not aim to check out everything about the city. We carefully chose the places we wanted to go and kept our daily itineraries open for last-minute discoveries and changes.

Today, I will share with you snippets of our trip around Roppongi, Yokohama, and Shibuya.

In case you missed it, we were in Tokyo back in October 2015. Check out this post to learn more about that trip.

Flights

My friends and I scored ₱1 base fare tickets to Tokyo during Cebu Pacific Air’s anniversary sale back in March 2023. We paid ₱7,116.72 each for a return ticket to Tokyo, including 7 kilograms of carry-on allowance, 20 kilograms of checked luggage allowance, and a complimentary standard seat.

I wrote about both Manila to Tokyo (5J 5056) and Tokyo to Manila (5J 5055) flights. I hope you can check out both flight reports.

Accommodation

My friends and I stayed at the Imano Tokyo Ginza Hostel during this Tokyo trip. We decided to base ourselves in this comfortable and valuable hostel near Ginza shopping district and Outer Tsukiji Market for a little over a week.

I wrote about our stay at Imano Tokyo Ginza Hostel in the previous hostel of the day feature. I hope you can read here why I consider this hostel to be my new favorite property in Tokyo.

Going Around Tokyo

Going around Tokyo can be quite challenging. Instead of thinking about which specific route or subway or train line to take, my friends and I opted to just use our IC cards throughout the trip. We did not avail of a subway pass or an unlimited train pass.

Basically, we searched our destination via Google Maps and followed either the fastest train option (if we were in a hurry) or the most economical or cheapest train option (if we were not chasing anything). Thankfully, we found every destination we intended to go to. Thank you, Google!

In this same trip, my friends and I took a do-it-yourself day tour to Fujikawaguchiko. Check out my post about this DIY day trip here.

Roppongi

We visited the bustling neighborhood of Roppongi. We started our day with a Sunday mass at the Franciscan Chapel Center (Roppongi Catholic Church). We had an early lunch at Matsuya, then we walked towards Roppongi Hills to check out some shops. We initially planned on visiting Mori Art Museum, but we were told that the museum had just closed for an exhibition change.

Yokohama

After Roppongi, we took the train to Yokohama, the capital city of Kanagawa Prefecture. We walked around Queen’s Square Yokohama, walked towards the Cosmo Clock 21 Ferris Wheel, and walked towards Cosmo World. We also tried our luck with the Cup Noodle Museum, but we did not find entry slots that fit our schedule. We ended up walking to Yokohama World Porters and trying the famous Hawaiian snack, malasadas (fried dough), from Leonard’s Bakery.

Afterwards, we took the train and went to the famous Yokohama Chinatown. We lined up for freshly-fried xiao long bao and bought snacks and drinks that we liked. We spent the rest of the afternoon in the vibrant neighborhood.

Shibuya

After Yokohoma, we took the train back to Tokyo and headed over to Shibuya. We passed by the Hachiko Statue and the famous Shibuya Crossing. We walked around the area and checked out some shops and restaurants. We also checked out the nearest Don Quijote branch. We ended our day with a dinner at Yoshinoya.

Thank you for joining me in today’s photoblog. Have you been to these places? Which one do you like the most and why? Is there a specific place that caught your interest or attention? Feel free to share them in the comments section below. Do you have any questions about anything mentioned above? You may also send them to me via email to contact@thewkndtravel.com.

I hope you stay tuned for more Tokyo 2023-retaled content in the future. Before you go, I hope you can like, follow and share my social media pages – Facebook and Instagram. This will help me increase my reach; it will also keep you up-to-date with the latest blog posts, itineraries and flight reports on this website. Thank you and see you in the next one!

PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.