Got another reverse-ops flight from LAX today! Back on March 14th, I got to see a number of reverse-ops departures at LAX from Imperial Hill, one of which was a Cathay Pacific 777-300ER taking off for a 16-hour flight to Hong Kong. After this, I’ve got one more reverse-ops trip report to write, which should be done next week.
Server: Solo
Airline: Cathay Pacific
Aircraft: Boeing 777-300ER
Origin: Los Angeles International Airport, Los Angeles, California (LAX)
Destination: Hong Kong International Airport, Chek Lap Kok, Hong Kong (HKG)
Flight Number: CX885
Route: KLAX-VHHH
Seat: 61A (Economy)
Time En Route: 16 Hours 11 Minutes
Looking at our aircraft at Gate 130. Due to high Santa Ana winds today, we’re going to be departing to the east today. This reversed traffic pattern also gives us the opportunity to watch arriving flights coming in over the Pacific. Today, we’re going to be trying out what Skytrax named as the world’s best economy class last year.
Taxiing by the Midfield Concourse on our way to the South Complex for takeoff. First impressions of our seat is favorable. It’s pretty comfortable, and while not the most spacious in terms of legroom, has a fair amount of recline, which will take some of the strain off our knees. The IFE system also appears well-stocked in terms of entertainment options, though it is somewhat annoying trying to start a movie with all the “announcement in progress” messages while we taxi.
Loud, heavy, reverse-ops departure from LAX’s Runway 07L. We’re taking off in parallel with a Southwest 737 MAX 8 going to Kansas City as WN1737 from the North Complex. Now that Etihad no longer serves LAX and Qatar Airways switched to the A350-1000 in 2019 or so, Cathay Pacific’s service to Hong Kong is currently the longest non-stop 777 route out of Los Angeles.
Turning north over Ventura County as we climb to FL3000. Below us, the distinctive radome of a U.S. Navy E-2 Hawkeye can be seen on final into Naval Base Ventura County. Point Mugu, the base’s aviation component, is currently the home of NAVAIRPAC’s E-2 squadrons, with the exception of the forward-deployed VAW-125 “Tigertails” at MCAS Iwakuni.
Eating lunch as we head west over the North Pacific. The food was pretty good, although it isn’t quite what we’re used to in business on Cathay Pacific. Still, it’s better food than we’ve had in economy with any other airline.
After getting some sleep over the Pacific and having a “dinner” (it’s been light out the whole time), we’re cruising down the coast of Japan just after leaving Wakyama Prefecture. This time, the food was significantly better and was presented more appropriately for Cathay’s sterling reputation. Sleeping was okayish, but it’s somewhat hard when the Sun is blazing into the cabin from somewhere, even if one’s window shade is down. However, we’d definitely have no trouble sleeping on an evening flight. Service throughout the flight has been outstanding, being better than on most European carriers, many Asian carriers, and all North American ones save in business class on Delta.
In the intial stages of our final descent into Hong Kong. The evening light is shining off the upper surfaces of the wings, making them glimmer as the Sun goes down. Been a solid flight today.
Golden Hour arrival on Hong Kong’s Runway 25L. Our flight crew absolutely greased this landing, with the main gear seemingly settling onto the runway 1 axle at a time. Off to our left, the cargo ramp has perhaps the biggest concentration of 747 freighters in the world parked on it.
Taxiing by HKG’s Midfield Concourse and the ATC tower. We’re getting our backpack out from under the seat in front of us and preparing to disembark.
Looking at our aircraft after deplaning. After 16 hours in the air, it’s safe to say that Cathay Pacific’s economy class, at least on 777-300ER aircraft with the older long-haul cabin, is a world leader in some respects and could use some improvement in others. The service, for example, was absolutely top-notch. However, the seats seem a bit dated and the food was inconsistent. Still, though, it was a very good experience, and since the new economy cabin on the 777s (same one that has the Aria suites) is supposedly noticeably better, we’re stoked to try it in the future.