...so says UK general manager Gerard Clarke, talking about his new all-business class service from Gatwick to Hong Kong – he says the flight times are strategically designed to link UK business travellers with the airline’s extensive China network from its Hong Kong hub. Clarke adds that the carrier is increasing frequency on key China routes and adding more second and third tier Chinese destinations.
I had the opportunity to experience the new service when I joined the inaugural media trip. We met at an almost-empty North Terminal at Gatwick – the flight’s 21:30 departure makes it one of the last flights out. I didn’t need the fast-track security that the all-business flight offers passengers, as there were no queues anywhere – bliss.
First stop was the stylish and well-appointed No 1 Traveller lounge. The level of amenities varies: business centre, buffet snacks and drinks for paying guests (£25-30 for 3hrs), plus what individual airlines decide to offer their customers – a steward told me HK Airlines offers its flyers the most: champagne (£8 a glass otherwise) and free 15-minute spa treatments. It’s not invitation-only, but presumably the late flying time avoids an influx of holidaymakers. Clarke says the airline hopes to build its own lounge in the terminal at some point.
We flew Club Premier; the front two cabins with 34 fully flatbed seats in a 1-2-1 configuration. The seats are comfortable for sleeping, eating, working and relaxing, and there’s a 15.5in screen with a decent picture and noise-cancelling headphones.
The service comes with all the trimmings: you’re given a well-stocked Bulgari amenity bag, slippers and resplendent purple pyjamas. When you’re ready, the crew make up your bed with under-mattress and duvet.
The rear cabin is the Club Classic product: 82 cradle seats, 22in wide with a 51in pitch, in a 2-2-2 config, which HKA says competes on price with premium economy rivals while offering superior levels of comfort and service. Another aspect worth pointing out is the massive 96kg (3 x 32kg bags) luggage allowance for all passengers – Clarke says this is a boon for SMEs travelling to exhibit at trade fairs and expos. (Top tip in the Classic cabin: look to book the single-row seats at the back.)
After takeoff, there was Lanson champagne followed by dinner including smoked salmon with mustard potato salad, asparagus soup and a very good 35-day aged beef fillet and cheeks with ginger glazed carrots and a raisin and caper tapenade – this is the signature dish by Michelin-starred chef Jason Atherton. There’s a decent wine list including a quality Chateaux de Lisse St-Emilion Grand Cru 2006.
We were asked if we wanted to be woken for breakfast, three hours before landing: a refreshing mango & orange smoothie, fruit, yoghurt and cereal, and choice of hot dishes: omelette, congee or waffles with maple syrup.
The service still had a few wrinkles to be ironed out in terms of timings and speed – it had only been running a week – but was friendly and highly solicitous. The airline offers complimentary wifi – 10mb for Club Classic passengers, 20mb for those in Premier. After this you can continue working online by paying a fee to the provider Onair. Other benefits include a chauffeured car service for Premier customers in all London postcodes, and the VIP arrivals lounge at the Gatwick Sofitel for all passengers.
All in all, a thoroughly pleasant start to a great weekend in Hong Kong: we enjoyed excellent hospitality from the Hong Kong tourist board and the sumptuous Grand Hyatt (pictured), where we stayed in rooms with fantastic views overlooking the harbour towards Kowloon. The tough weekend assignment included a memorable dinner at Hyatt’s One Harbour Road restaurant, spicy Sichuan cuisine at Hutong while viewing the city skyscrapers’ ‘Symphony of Light’ show from the 28th floor, lunch on the famous Jumbo floating restaurant, alfresco champagne at chic Sevva, blissful treatments at Hyatt’s Plateau spa, cocktail hour onboard the red-sailed Aqua Luna traditional Chinese junk boat, riding the Peak tram and other Herculean tasks…
The facts: Return fares from LGW from £1,800 for Club Classic; £2,850 for Club Premier, including taxes and charges. For information, visit www.hongkongairlines.com or call 0844 371 8393.
Grand Hyatt Hong Kong: rates from HK$ 3,900 (£317) +10% per night for a Grand Harbour View Room. For information, visit www.hongkong.grand.hyatt.com or call 0845 888 1234.
For information about Hong Kong visit www.DiscoverHongKong.com